Ballyhoo (Oct 28, 1955)

Page scan 0000 from Ballyhoo

Record Details:

Title:
Ballyhoo
Date:
Oct 28, 1955
Volume:
Ballyhoo (Oct 28, 1955) Profit Blitz for 'Fitz'
Leaf #:
0000
Language:
English
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System, Global Cinema, and Canada
Format:
Periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Greig Dymond in memory of David Dymond, Paul Moore and Jessica Whitehead
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:

Ballyhoo

  • Ontario 'B' District Ballyhoo, editor: Dan Krendel (1952-55)
  • Profit Blitz for ‘Fitz’, editor: Dan Krendel (1955)
  • National Ballyhoo, editor: Dan Krendel (1956-57)
  • Time Out for Ticket Talk, editor: Norman Barker (1960-61)

Ballyhoo (1952-61) was published by Famous Players Canadian Corporation as a mimeographed internal sales and theatre managers’ newsletter. Editor, Dan Krendel, had been division manager of the Ontario ‘B’ District since 1942, and initially created Ballyhoo in 1952 to circulate weekly updates for a regional sales contest. Ontario ‘B’ District Ballyhoo continued until 1955 as a tool for sharing and incentivizing new sales techniques and publicity methods as the movie business declined in the face of television and the baby boom.

In Fall 1955, Profit Blitz for ‘Fitz’ was a nationwide sales contest, named for Famous Players’ president J. J. Fitzgibbons, honouring his 25th year as head of the business. Dan Krendel was made National Drive Captain and edited a weekly newsletter for the campaign.

From 1956 until at least 1957, National Ballyhoo was published weekly with Krendel as editor. He continued the style and content developed earlier for his Ontario ‘B’ District, but now extended vastly for a chain-wide coast to coast scale. Ballyhoo’s sharing promotional tools came at a time of contracting box office as television and automobile ownership became prevalent in the mid-1950s.

By 1960 until at least 1961, Time Out for Ticket Talk continued as a mimeographed newsletter, edited by Norman Barker of the head office publicity department. Time Out was compiled on a less ambitious scale than Ballyhoo. Compared to the earlier national compilation of local publicity gimmicks, Time Out often contained only a single memo or reproduced local story, and was often undated and only informally edited.

– Paul Moore, March 2024

Date Added:
April 17, 2025
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$10,000 IN CASH PRIZES manship FIT with show RO SEPT. 5th E SERVE with) showmanship TO DEC. 3rd with showmanshi 1955 aaa ith showmanship HONOURING 25 YEARS OF INSPIRED LEADERSHIP IN FAMOUS PLAYERS National Drive Captain DAN KRENDEL October 28, 1955 SOLILOQUY "Brother am I bushed «-just plain beat. What a day ... haven't worked so hard in longer than I can remember ... S!'funny though, I feel kinda good about it ... sort of warm inside ... mmmm !!!!! "That Johnny's a good lad ... have to see if I can talk the D.M. into placing him in a house of his own, Swell assistant and I'll miss him ... but he's earned a break, and he's ready for it. Golly I'm glad he found that eleven buck shortage ... I searched for an hour and couldn't even come close ..." "Seems like only yesterday that I started with Famous, and here I've already been inducted into our Quarter Century Club... just doesn't seem possible. Wonder what made me get into this business, and stick ... when I know darn well I could have changed jobs a dozen times ,.. could have had myself an eight-hour-a-day job, with my evenings, Saturdays and holidays free, Maybe I'm just crazy ... but it's been fun ... plenty of headaches along the way, and I've had to be steered onto the right course once in a while ... but, it's been a thrilling life, and ... might as well admit it ... a very satisfying and happy one too," "I get mad at those guys in head office once in a while, for catching me in an error ,.. but then, where would I be if they didn't wise me up once in a while? Guess they've got jobs to do too ... and they're not such a bad bunch of Joes at that ..," {And that Fitz ... I don't suppose he minds my thinking of him as "Fitz" ,,. Now there's a guy who doesn't go around making noises like a boss ... One would almost think we were pals. Well, guess we are in a sort of a way ... and what he's done for my family and myself over the years ... I sometimes can't help wondering why? Guess he's just made that way, and I ... well, I guess I'm one of his boys ...!! "Swell idea this PROFIT BLITZ FOR FITZ .., and before it's over I'm sure gonna cop myself some of that prize money ... if only as a means of expressing a small part of my appreciation .., Better make a note right now ... must call Jack about that doubletruck first thing in the morning ..."! "Gosh I'm tired ... guess I'll turn in, and tomorrow ... well, Tomorrow is another day ..."