Publix Opinion (Dec 20, 1929)

EEE ee oS UL rf gomrersscontstcevtecncencet it: =ONLY |] MORE =DAYS TO MAKE = DECEMBER OUR = GREATEST = = MONTH! : om i dobsdetal star sack SlAVHQaMu4USuS4YEORUNOOMRGGAAUAAHASOU2O0081= Vol. III on ii COIN-PRODUCT TO RETAIN PROFIT PEAK IN JANUARY The customary boxofice stunt slump that follows the holidays, and usually finds the first week of January a loser, will find stiff opposition this year from Publix showmen. convention Mr. Katz spotted the week of January 3 as a danger-signal, and immediately his tip was followed up by Messrs.. Dembow, Chatkin, Saal and Botsford. Mr. Chatkin ordered continuation of the De cember Drive effort, so that its momentum will carry on thru to January 10. Mr. Botsford released the ticket-selling aids necessary, and William A. Saal came forward with eight sure-fire money-getting features for bookers to select from. Here are the attractions avail able for January. Choose now and tell your district booker: 1. “THE LOVE PARADE.” This stupendous $2 all talking, singing and laughing sensation, with Maurice Cheva. lier, Jeanette MacDonald, Lillian Roth, Lupino Lane and other stars, broke records _ at the Criterion, New York in its third week. ‘When one _ considers that this house har' bored “Wings”? for two years, ' “The Covered Wagon’? and similar hits, one can get a (Continued on page 3) PUBLIX TO PUSH PARAMOUNT SHORTS We | in Pe come home office believe that the lion’s share of, the short subject business rightfully belongs to Paramount,’’ declared Mr. Sam Katz at the recent Paramount in New York City, “and our theatres will certainly take their part of the load. _ President Katz reassured those assembled at the convention that the men of Publix were staunchly Paramount too. “They are going to carry on identically with the same viewpoint all of the company’s problems that you have carried on for so many years.”’ He announced that plans are _ being made to absorb all the shorts which the company finds it good business to make. “Mr. Lasky has been most ' magnanimous to us in the matter of short subjects. He has said to us: ‘You in the Theatre Department decide what kind of _ short subjects you want, the names of these shorts, and you can even name some of the people to make them. We will do our best then, to furnish you with a product which will be satisfactory from your angle.’ “We, of Publix, can ask no more. We are now going ahead with our plans for developing this new trust of ours.” Merry Happy MMMM LLL Start Selling January Tickets° ;uuuanevnyaguucunneceneeengQanuaveeeg44aqueseeeeegsastd eed eeeeudQetsUkCUeU AUN UAC CUTAN PTTL CRU na Lng SOAURNOONEANEOHOAEERERRRHRORARNRGHESRORE SOULS: — ld os) me) = ONLY 1] MORE = DAYS TO MAKE DECEMBER OUR GREATEST MONTH! ttl RAUSHUSHRNMU BRAN RIORM RG SY DOR UA RRR RR ONER NINES = No. 15 What is regarded as a most important and far reaching step towards closer organizational understanding, is announced today by David J. Chatkin, General Director of Theatre Management, in eae plans for immediate instruction-courses for District Man agers. of the important material contained in this issue, properly classified, will be found on page 12. ie <<. ss eS 1 St Yaeeanusaeaauuus, Christmas amd a New Year from Everybody in Publix in Everybody in Publix PUBLIX SPURRED 10 F EFF( INAL RT ON XMAS DRIVE Publix zeal and spirit, both organizationally and individually, and its firm determination to push the December Profit Drive to a successful finish were clearly illustrated in the flood of PUBLIX PARAMOUNT RADIO HOUR IS ‘BEST ON AIR’ A survey by. the Publix-Paramount Advertising, Publicity and Promotion departments, of the Paramount-Publix Radio Hour indicates a degree of popularity and public appreciation that has hitherto been unsuspected. Charles E. McCarthy, General Director of Public Relations for Paramount and Publix, sent a questionnaire to every Paramount and Publix exchange and theatre executive. From these he received glowing reports. Then he sent his questionnaire to owners of radio stations. Here he received a re (Continued on page Four) telegrams and letters received by Mr. Katz, in response to his wire urging everyone to all possible effort in putting the last two weeks of the drive over with a smash. From division, district and theatre managers, all over the circuit, vigorous pledges were sent in which rang true with every evidence of sincerity. All Publix is aroused. A comparison with the box-office receipts of last year shows that half of the new book of history in the amusement industry has been written. The combined hammering of 1200 theatres, each in its own community, could not help but show results. DON’T STOP, BOYS! The last mile is always the hardest and you’re on that now. This is the last lap, so PUT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE INTO IT! over the last four issues of Pub (Continued on page 3) Go back} Shortly after January 1, Mr. Chatkin will bring all District Managers who can arrange for satisfactory “understudies,” into the Home Office, for an intensive three or four weeks’ tour of all departments. TAX PROVIDED IN NEW PASS POLICY Announcement of the adoption by Publix of a new policy in the matter of issuing ‘‘passes’’ is made today by David J. Chatkin, general director of theatre management, following a meeting with all division directors and interested Home Office executives. The new policy is founded upon ‘‘that fine line of managerial discretion and judgment” that enters into every other policy, and it has additional definite regulation that has been lacking heretofore. The policy is effective as of January 1. It does not effect circuit passes, except that these must be presented only by the person to whom issued. Presentation of same by anyone else is to be the subject of a warning letter to the offender, issued by proper Home Office officials, for the first offense. Dis (Continued on page 2) PRIZE -WINNERS IN DECEMBER DRIVE We are publishing today the list of those Publix showmen who were awarded PUBLIX OPINION prizes, for submitting the most outstandingly useful suggestions offered in behalf of the DECEMBER DRIVE. The award committee, which passed on several hundred letters submitted, arrived at their decisions that these winners are entitled to the awards, on the basis of each having presented their ideas in sufficient time to be available to the whole circuit. Home Office and New York winners were given prizes for having contributed originally to the general drive structure, which contained innumerable practical ideas, both original and timely-revival hunches. The following is the list: 1. MADELINE WOODS, Publix Great States (Wahl Desk Set) 2. ARTHUR SCHMIDT, Pub lix-Detroit (Gold Knife & Chain) 8. D. A. LIPTON, Publix-De troit (Golf sticks and Bag) HARRY McWILLIAMS, (Continued on page Three) 4. When they complete the course, they will be as thoroughly familiar with every Publix and Paramount home office department ag they are with their own theatres. They will then know the requirements of each department, and the reasons for each requirement. They will thoroughy know the entire New York personnel, and how to quickly get needed contacts and helps. Likewise they will tell Home Office departments of the problems of their districts. They will then return to their home districts, to disseminate their information: to each theatre manager. Thus it is expected that with complete first-hand understanding in every district, of all problems and personalities, quicker and more effective solution to problems will be reached, and a firm ground work will have been laid for frequent and easy application of circuit-brainpower to whatever operation seems to need help. (Continued on Page Two) TRAILERS MUST BE PREVIEWED Failure of theatre managers to preview their trailers far enough in advance has resulted in certain theatres running trailers that were so bad that they actually discouraged desire to see the attraction ‘‘advertised’’ as coming. The “Taming Of The Shrew’’ advance trailer is a very bad one, and is discarded by all of our theatres. Orders from Mr. Chatkin are that all trailers be previewed as far in advance as possible, so that if necessary, a substitute may be arranged. SUNN 6 PASS’ WORDS The editor of VARIETY, from his many years of intense analysis and observation of show business, prints some comment on the “pass situation” which is worth while repeating for the benefit of everyone in Publix. Here are some of Sime Silverman’s observations: “It is unlikely if a better check can be put on the pass thing than the local managers judgment and discretion.” “It is an axiom of show business that a deadhead is deadly.” Sail IONNN 00000 FULHAM UU aT Sul NULL ort eet = CEBEREEERREDEREEDEEDECEREEREERQEESES