Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

56 Motion Picture News December 6 , 1930 Keep Eagle-Eye on Equipment for Success ( Continued from page 30) lie each day. The ushers should always inform the head usher when they find a seat in bad condition or a tear in the carpets. The assistant manager's job, in addition to the items covered by his own list, must understand that he must keep his eye on the work covered by the others as well. Occasional trips through the booth, boiler room, cellars, usher's dressing rooms, and every other part of the house is his job. This he must do, not merely when he gets the chance, but on designated days. His report to the manager will be the basis for such orders for repairs, etc., as the manager shall deem necessary after personal investigation. Alibis Are Taboo Just what the best way would be to make certain that every detail gets the attention it requires can best be decided by the manager in working out this system to suit his own requirements, but as recommended, the better way is to create charts on the inside of regular letter folders, such as is used in files, these should be ruled and arranged as appears elsewhere in this article. No excuse must be offered by those responsible for the various parts of the house. The inspection must be made as a regular and important part of their job. The complete report is then placed in the manager's office, preferably hooked in a row where the house manager can look them over from time to time. When these check-ups reveal something in need of repair or attention it must be called to the manager's attention immediately. If the repair is minor and can be made by an employee in the house, the manager should first give his O.K. Possibly he may not agree with the one making the report and prefer to have the work done by some outside source. Another thing to keep in mind is the various items on the several charts. For instance, the assistant or head usher could also be made partly responsible for the toilets. If the house employs a matron, she should not only see that the ladies' rooms are in perfect condition, but can also be personally responsible for the cleanliness of those rooms. Giving the Job to the Right One Each chart should be so worked out that the supervision of the different parts of the theatre and the equipment should be placed under the eye of those whose regular duties or experiences fit them to know how to check up on the various items. It would not be feasible to place the responsibility for the motors in the fan room on the shoulders of the janitor. The best man for such things is the projectionist. He should see that the commutators are clean, the brushes making proper contact, and above all, that all the motors are suitably lubricated. This last item being of major importance. We can well recall the trouble and expense of repacing bearings on motors. Avoid expense and trouble by watching these things closely. That's why we emphasize the importance of someone supervising those items needing careful attention. The assistant man ager need not be an expert electrician to be able to see that the oil wells or grease cups are filled at all times, but he might stumble on such a condition in time to prevent breakdowns if he is properly trained for such work. And properly training him for these things means schooling him on one of the most important features of theatre management. The Monthly Recapitulation The same applies to your head usher or doorman, they, too, may be anxious to advance in theatre work and need this training if they are to be a credit to you as their superior. The manager's personal responsibility under this system is worked out so that once a week or twice a month he must make a check-up of all the charts, by going over them with those who made the inspections, and then starting at the top of the house and going right on down throughout the entire theatre in company with all department heads. A theatre kept in perfect condition means a manager with plenty of time to work out his advertising and exploitation campaigns. He need not be worried or bothered with constant trouble from some remote part of the house. He is always certain that everything is being watched and checked up carefully. If things are beginning to show wear or require attention he is told about it in sufficient time to have it fixed or replaced. Another good feature of these check-ups is the manner in which you can determine how much service you are getting from different portions of your theatre's equipment and how often repairs are necessary. This could even be used as a basis for a report to your home office maintenance department, if you're house is one of a chain. . Added Dollars from Good Equipment Just as all business enterprises require proper system and supervision, so does a modern theatre. It's as much of a business as anything else these days and only the man possessed of real executive ability and the knack of organizing his staff to function as a smooth machine, can really boast of a well-run business. The smoother your theatre runs the more satisfied your patrons will be. They will be sure to notice these things because they are accustomed to seeing the bigger deluxe houses in the large cities. If you run your house like a dump, that's exactly what your patrons will think of it. And if you lose business because your theatre suffers by comparison the fault is your's as the manager, as the man who was placed in charge of the house and the many thousands of dollars tied up in such an investment. Either you are equal to the responsibility or you are the wrong man for the job. One of the best ways to determine that point is not alone in the business the house is doing, but also in the way the house is run and the way its equipment is kept. Exhibitors discuss equipment in "Managers' Round Table Edited by "Chick" Lewis. Turn to page 99