Publix Opinion (Jan 3, 1930)

« s Sven TEnETETEEEEE LET'S MAKE 1930 PUBLIX BANNER YEAR =a ail Vol. III ZAI _ su UHHH HNN HAAN NRRL See Page § For “Short” Reviews! ZOUK NHOKHOKMKHUCHAKKURHARUGQNRHNUAHUMHMANMMHMRMNGON PULL LOLs Pho Tee NENETAUETLISAE UND AMSAI NEY SUPTTEOGUUODENEDAGHGEOHOQEONUROUODQOUS Publix Theatres Gorcntion 4 Paramount Building, New York, Week of January 3rd, 1930 ST B WE HAVE ALL IT TAKES TO DO i SUULUEAUAAUCOUADOUDURENDEOUOEOOOEOOOLE No. 17 >PUBLIX PROGRESS IN 1929 PRAISED _ DIVISIONAL CHANGES CALL FOR 2 NEW DIRECTORS Appointment of two new 3 Dein Directors, and re-ar rangement of several of the divisional territories in Publix, was announced yesterday by Mr. Katz at his Executive Cabinet meeting. The New Division Directors who will immediately assume PARAMOUNT PRODUCT WILL MAKE 1930 BANNER YEAR their new status, are: J. A. KOERPEL, who has made a splendid record as Division Manager in Tennessee, and later in Ohio. GEORGE WALSH, whose work as Division Manager for New York State, outside of Greater New York City, has been outstandingly successful. Mr. Koerpel will be placed in charge of a newly created division which will consist of North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. Mr. Walsh will be Division Director in charge of the Saenger Circuit, with Bob O’Donnell as Division Manager. Re-organization of territories of Division Directors brings these changes: L. E. SCHNEIDER: Division territory to consist of Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma and Arkan sas. JOHN FRIEDL: Division territory to consist of Georgia, Alabama and Florida. JAY J. RUBENS: Division territory to include all of pres (Cont. on Page 2) 'VAGABOND KING’ CIRCUIT WIDE MUSIC PLUG With a rush of enthusiasm, the entire Publix music department, headed by General Director Boris Morros, comes to the front today in Publix newest activity aimed at establishing new high-grosses at every boxoffice, with Paramount’s masterpiece, ‘The Vagabond King.” a Competently shouldering the burden of musical exploitation, Mr. Morros immediately arranged to make available to every Publix theatre, not later than January 10, at least four musical novelties based on ‘“‘The Vagabond King.”’ -Organ-solo-slide events, special overtures consisting of ‘‘Vagabond _ King’ medlies, and other entertaining ideas, are now being created by the music department. Mr. _ Morros has asked PUBLIX OPINION to relay to every musician and E Manager in every theatre, the de_ sire of the Home Office Music Department for enthusiastic co-opera tion, both in quickly submitting ideas that might be used circuitwise, and also in presenting the novelties that are being prepared. It is Mr. Morros’ idea that every (Continued on Page Two) \ _ Every Publix town MUST send in a complete scrap book. on its DECEMBER DRIVE activity not later than January 10, by order of Mr. Chatkin. See last issue of PUBLIX OPINION, page 11, columns 1-and 2, for additional information. FOR PUBLIX, SAYS MR. KATZ’ Indications that 1930 is to pe a record year for Publix and a mile stone in motion picture history finds its first expression in a statement from Mr. Sam Katz lauding the pictures to be released within the next few months. “We are entering the new year with an extraordinary collection of fine product,” declared Mr. Katz, after reviewing the Paramount releases scheduled for the first quarter of the year, “and I expect box-offices all over the country to reflect the excellence of these pictures. This product will play the leading role in making 1930 a banner year for Publix.” In addition to ‘‘The Love Parade,’ ‘‘The Virginian,’’ and ‘‘The Vagabond King,” the schedule includes a score of pictures of unprecedented rank largely because of the efforts of stars and directors who have made favorabld impressions with the public in the past year. The attractions that will be available shortly and that have so impressed Mr. Katz are as follows, listed in order of re—— 2 “DANGEROUS PARADISE” ee Carroll’s first starring venture made under the direction of William Wellman, who (Continued on Page Two) BOOKINGS MUST BE SET MONTHS IN ADVANCE Starting immediately, by order of Mr. Katz, each divisional director is to satisfy himself that all bookings for all theatres in each division are set up several months in advance. This is so that all programs can be correctly plotted and that intelligently planned ad vertising campaigns may be rigorously executed. In the booking set-ups a slight tolerance for emergency changes will. necessarily be made. However, this is expected to be very slight. tunity to do so. ~ are not entitled to it. OD Oe OB Be DOD Oo-D9B+B28! -H 0+ OO e-@-+Bs-@-1eOO -O-O0-B-B>-O-18+-O-18r-O-1O>-D-O0-O-18-O-1824 9Oe-D-2O+-S-0 O-S-e BeDo 9 o-S-0 Oe-S-0 SeGH He-<GHBe-S0 Oe-S0B | Oe-O-1 GO e-B-O0-S-1 O-SB$SG SS SG GS-18 S Go S 1H S81 SSeS READ AND EARN? nce ucla: from Mr. Chatkin to all Publix now make the contents of PUBLIX OPINION available to all Publix employees who desire to read it. hands, musicians, operators, or any class of personnel. The limited number of copies available however, makes it impossible to furnish a copy to everyone who wants one. Therefore, each. house or advertising manager who requests it, will be sent additional copies which are to be read by the theatre employees and RETURNED to the manager. Under no circumstance is a copy of the publication to be permitted to leave the theatre, or to fall into the hands of non-Publix theatres, or non-Publix personnel. In widening the scope of service for PUBLIX OPINION, it is Mr. ‘Chatkin’s purpose that anyone in Publix who wishes to improve his knowledge be given this opporHe definitely emphasizes the fact that this privilege is not to be abused to the point of harming the company by making its costly material available to those who Certainly he does not mean that its contents shall be available for use by non-Publix theatres. 8-9-1 e-B0-5 -B-oG -H-9Os-S1Oe-S-9-GS Ge-S<Be-S1O-S1Ge-S1-H 1G 0-10 -SG-H-O-S-OeSSeS Ge Gee-S1S-SsO-S ee: This includes ushers, stage : : : ; ? : : MR. KATZ SATISFIED WITH POLICIES, PERSONNEL AND FUTURE OUTLOOK With his cabinet of Home Office executives and Division Directors grouped about in the final meeting of 1929, President Sam Katz declared himself as completely satisfied with Publix policies, progress, personnel, and outlook for future progress. ‘DEMANDS MORE INSTITUTIONAL SELLING At the meeting of the Executive Gabinet last week, President Sam Katz stressed the importance of institutional advertising of talking picture product as well as theatre and organizational leadership as a direct means of aiding the box office. He urged everyone in Publix to devote more time and effort to this particular type of selling. Following in line with his suggestion, PUBLIX OPINION is printing on page 10, a timely institutional story prepared by the Paramount Advertising Department on what the year 1929 meant to the motion picture industry. The timeliness of the story and the general nature and interest of the information included, makes it a push-over to plant in any paper. Yet, it contains a great boost for Paramount and its individual pictures, most of which will play your theatre. Read the story carefully. Then, re-type it as an interview with your district manager and plant it in your local paper. In doing so, you will be carrying out the orders of Mr. Katz, and will be benefitting your own box-office. NEW POLICY ON PASSES NOW IN EFFECT Publix’ new ‘“‘pass policy’’, as it has been explained, has aroused the expected storm of discussion, pro and con. Regardless of this, however, the plan is now in effect and is to be given an enthusiastic, optimistic, intelligent. and sympathetic workout in every theatre. It has the complete endorsement of Mr. Katz, Mr. Dembow, Mr. Chatkin, Mr. Botsford, and every division director. Naturally, it is expected that in the first days of its application a few unforeseen difficulties will arise. Since the entire structure of this plan is based upon the idea that the theatre manager’s discretionary powers are to be trusted, it is not expected that any foolish steps will be taken that will endanger necesary good will on the part of officials} or those who control ticket-selling media. Two Purposes “This plan is designed principally for two purposes—each of which is as important as the (Continued on Page Two) a ay MUU TiTTTITiCiniini mi Tic ATTATNh A ill “Publix and. Paramount today stand as the undisputed leaders of the amusement industry, a position that has been won by proper co-ordination and_ application of the advantages we — have in personnel, and sound financial anchorage. Upon that most solid foundation, we have built a happy, harmonious, intelligent and vig© orous organization. “As I review the progress and accomplishments in Publix, today, I wouldn’t know how to lay my finger on a single individual in Publix who has failed to turn in an exceptionally fine job,” said Mr. Katz. “If I had all of the present jobs to fill again, I’d appoint every man to his present place. I don’t think any job in Publix can be filled by a man better fitted to hold it, than we now have in that post. In the last seven or eight months, Publix has (Continued on Page Two) litte HOME-OFFICE POW-Wow! With the exception of Ralph Crabill, who was unavoidably detained in California, all Division Directors gathered in the Home Office last week for a roundtable discussion of 1930 problems. After spending several days with each Home Office Executive, and getting the viewpoints of Messrs. Katz, Dembow and Chatkin the Division Directors returned to their respective territories to put into effect new plans for development of manpower, and for the refinements of operations where needed. Following this meeting of the Division Directors, arrangements will be made to bring all District Managers to New York, in groups of eight or ten at a time. Only the District Managers who can arrange for competent understudies will be brought to New York. The stay will last at least two weeks, and possibly three weeks. uM Te.