Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

December 13, 193 0 Motion Picture News 47 MANAGE!?!' ROUND TABLE CLUE Natalie Tolman Has Her Say On Kid Biz. Building Problem "Supervisor of Juvenile Activities." Whoo-eee! What a title ! We certainly didn't have them like that in the days when we used to work around a theatre. But today — ah! that's different. The title heading of this paragraph is the one conferred upon Natalie Tolman, the "Big Sister" in charge of Paul W. Kunze's Kiddie Klub at the State Theatre in Stoughton, Mass. Under Miss Tolman's guidance, the Kiddie Klub has grown to gigantic proportions. She has put plenty of work into it. It should. Let's give you a line on what she does to keep the kids happy, and at the same time boost business for the State Theatre. In showman language — boy, she sure picked this up quick — she tells us about her work on Children's Book week, saying: "Plans for our celebration of Children's Book Week by our State Theatre Kiddies' Klub, Nov. 16 to 22, had been running through my mind for quite some time. Noticing your box-comment on the approach of this week and your advice for its observance caused me to construct a complete workable outline of activities which I feel may be of some assistance to managers planning to recognize National Book Week. Incidentally, next year, posters and other helpful Book Week material may be obtained from National Association of Book Publishers, 34" Fifth Avenue, New York City. "3eing a nation-wide activity with the Parent-Teachers' Association in back of it, makes it a very easy opportunity for beneficial tie-ups and likewise creates tremendous good-will. It seems to be the consensus of opinion, especially of the Parent-Teachers' Association, that "movies" are more or less an injury to children rather than an educational feature. Here is the chance to break down this barrier to some extent. "The first step was to interview the superintendent of schools and find out what the schools planned to do to observe this week. If this interview did nothing else, it put the theatre in right with the super. To have the schools in back of the theatre is a valuable asset — children are great boosters. We have found with our Kiddies' Klub here that the week-end business has increased in adult admissions practically double that of last year, as a direct result. "Several contests were arranged with the superintendent's permission. For the Junior High pupils we had a poster contest for Book Week — three prizes awarded at the theatre Saturday afternoon of that week and donated by the theatre. Local drawing teacher and several art students to judge posters and the best work displayed during the week in the lobby-. "For lower grades — a word contest — object being to make as many words as possible from the words "Children's Book Week." Each room teacher took charge of this contest and prizes, donated by local book store, were presented in each room on Friday of the week. Thus giving myself as theatre representative an opportunity to make personal visit to each room to talk to the children. This works out as a spelling feature with the spirit of rivalry. Likewise, being done in the homes, gets the parents interested due to the fact that adults get a "kick" out of this type of contest. This contest itself does not require any special talent and goes over big. FLASH A special from Florida informs us that our Regional Chairman, Earle M. Holden, was married recently. Earle manages the Fairfax Theatre in Miami. Congratulations, Earle! All Aboard for a Good Time! The lid's off. The Round Table crowd is going to throw a party and a get-together that will keep 'em talking for months after. THE TIME: January 13th, 11:30 P. M. THE PLACE: Hotel Astor, Times Square, New York. THE AFFAIR: Monster Beefsteak Supper and Rally of Club members from in and around New York. Our only regret is that everyone of our members can't be there. But those who can make it are going to have one hell of a good time. What the committee is planning is nobody's business now — but at midnight on January 13th, it'll be everybody's business. If you have not received the "dope," shoot us a line and we'll see that you are told all you ought to know. BEEFSTEAK COMMITTEE, Eddie Hitchcock Wally Allen "It can also be carried into the High School English Department, by an Essay Contest on "Books" sponsored by the Woman's Club with rewards donated by them. "Every afternoon during the week story hours were conducted on the mezzanine floor following the matinee. In every community there can be found some one with the ability to tell stories; either an elocution teacher or a school teacher. This is a tremendous good-will proposition. Due to many houses running a continued policy, it is possible to work out a story hour at Library with the theatre sponsoring story teller. This tie-up is a great newspaper publicity bet. Every child attending the story hour was given a souvenir book-mark with the compliments of our Kiddies' Klub. "The local book store gladly put a New Book Display in lobby and also co-operated to the extent of supplying books for the Story Hour and advertising the same, in their window display for that week. "Our Kiddies' Klub arranged a tie-up with the library. The Klub furnished book marks to be put in all the outgoing children's books — one week in advance and during the week. This book mark was a souvenir of the Kiddie Klub and mentioned the daily Story Hours to be held at theatre during that week. "For our Saturday afternoon meeting coming in Children's Book Week we worked on a little playlet entitled 'When the Books Speak for Themselves.' It was a very simple little thing requiring very little effort to put on, but containing a marvelous lesson. "For this same meeting we had booked a special educational short subject on 'Printing' showing the evolution of printing and how books are prepared for the public. In this way it was possible to get children into the theatre whose folks are not active picture-goers. "We observed the Book Week last year in less elaborate a manner due to the fact that the Kiddie Klub was not active at that time. We did, however, find much co-operation from the schools, newspapers, and library, and, as the observance can be made at negligible cost to the theatre the effort is really worth while. This is a dignified proposition and establishes a contact with an element which can not be reached by ordinary theatrical promotions. "Sincerely hope that this outline can be of some use to you, and that it will be found helpful to the rest of the Round Table Club's showmen. "Keep smiling with "Natalie Tolman." Oke, Miss Tolman. And let's hear some more from you.