Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 1 , 1930 Motion Picture N e iv s 121 MANAGER*' ROUND TABLE CLUB "Sound Interference" Important Problem Says R. Mason Hall A lot of folks in the show business who are anxious for a good ventilating system do a lot of crying until they finally get the boss or proprietor to install one; then, after they get it, they don't seem to know how to handle it to the best possible advantage with particular emphasis on "interference with the sound." In this respect we must take off our hats to R. Mason Hall, manager of the Lyric Theatre in Norton, Va. We feel qualified to say that, after visiting several hundred theatres on our recent coast-to-coast tour, not a few of them had plenty of interference with their sound apparatus from noisy or wind-sucking ventilating equipment. Mr. Hall covers this phase of two important conditions in the following manner and we will quote from his letter: "I always sit through the first matinee showing and note the scenes and time that I can run the same with the least interference. I run it between shows and during the comedy, provided same is a musical one, and so, by looking after this particular phase of the business personally, I have so far had but few complaints, and those during the matinee, as the evenings here are always comfortable, but opening all windows and exits." We can appreciate the question raised by Mr. Hall's letter when we say that only a short time ago we were looking at a feature in a Long Island theatre where the sound, the projection and the entire theatre, with the exception of the ventilation was 100%. When we say with the exception of the ventilation we do not mean the efficiency of the equipment, because that was not lacking, but rather the noise of a moaning sound created by an exhaust fan running at top speed and drawing the air through the opening in the ceiling. It is deplorable that such a condition must exist, and upon questioning the manager we were told that he fully realized the handicap he was placing on his sound apparatus by operating the ventilating fan, but it was a one-speed proposition and to turn it off would create an atmosphere in the theatre that on warm days would be almost unbearable. He had appealed, up to this time, without success to his superiors to make the slight alteration which would permit the operation of the fan at various speeds, in which case he could then cut down the speed of the motor and thereby cut down a great deal, if not all of the noise without impairing the ventilating of his theatre. We hope that this frank opinion from Mr. Hall will prove beneficial to many other managers all over the country who are experiencing the same difficulty and will call to mind in many houses where they have a variable speed control that it ought to be put to use for just such a purpose. We are very grateful to Mr. Hall and we know that in the near future we will be able to present some other views of his on the efficient operation of his equipment and theatre. These are the kind of items that we are particularly anxious to feature in the special Showman Editions of the Club pages. Ben Cohen Supplied Dealers With Mats For Newspaper Ads Ben Cohen of the Capitol Theatre, Hazelton, Pa., effected a tie-up with a radio dealer that netted a wide range of publicity for "Follow Thru." Cohen supplied ad mats on "~~ ~ "Follow Thru" for use in the dealer's newspaper ad. Copy in this ad read, "You can FOLLOW THRLI the World Series and all other big events if you choose a Philco, etc." The dealer also sent out 1,000 "Follow Thru" heralds with their ad on the back page — to all people on his mailing list. Six deluxe photos supplied by the theatre were on display for a week in advance in the Philco dealer's window. Both local newspapers published a story on the picture which resolved it=elf into a contest on golf technical terms. There was nothing very difficult about it and it was primarily used to stir up interest in the picture which it did accomplish as was evidenced by the number of contestants sending in their answers. "LOBBY LAFFS" By Dick Kirschbaum WHO ALWAYS 0RESS£S H»S USHERS To FIT THe PICTURE SfRiktS A S ^A<3 HELP WANTED—! Stage Sketch Prior To Trailer Helped Sell Coming Picture T. W. Thompson enhanced the selling value of his trailer on "Raffles" by putting on a sketch just prior to the showing of the trailer. This stunt was used at the Avalon Thea ■ === tre, Grand Junction, Col. A safe was set on the left side of the stage right next to the proscenium. After the subject in the News just before the trailer, the screen goes dark and the beam of a flashlight appears at right stage. The faint form of a man is seen behind the flash as he moves across the stage — sweeps the house with a flashlight until finally it rests on the sate. He moves swiftly toward it and bending down, starts to work the combination. At this moment, the Assistant Manager comes walking down the aisle to inquire what the man on the stage is doing. And then follows a conversation between these two men with the As<=;stant Manager stating upon learning the identity of the stranger that he (RAFFLES) isn't due until next Friday — so Raffles leaves the stage and states he'll be back Friday.