Publix Opinion (Jan 17, 1930)

| SAUTTEDEEERERREUEGUEERGRGREQEGHEGEREQOEEROEDEE CHECK UP ON YOUR ADVANCE BOOKINGS PEDERGNGRGECRORGECEGEORCECEEROOROE ou FT| SUUUANNNNNONT I, AUTH 00004400 0040005 059 ENHLADURAAAADOONDOOSUEDOOAAENTOUEDOUDUGG04300001008808080500;0080 HRUEUIUGNE40UOREENUUOUS00UUEEN4GEGEOOHDEUEEOOCCERONAUUCEURDscENGAUOOUOUELENOALUTEQOAOELUCDUEFEE4ASCUNaBaRBesaupsubessseusaasindauaeeouaeanes Live Lobbies Sell Tickets! EC._ZC!I.TC ARN MRKKGORGNONMNKMNHK AKINORI OEEEADECLUCOCERCETEERETEREUERT ENING ERED pre avtarat The Official Voice of Publix ft Nae SS ie SAUTUTTAULEELUGLUOUGGLUGROGREREOOROGEOGEOREOOH | S| CHECK UP ON YOUR ADVANGE BOOKINGS cUUNBENUOUNGOENOOEDBORROOLNBEADOBRUBERNEENOUENDSS: STU = bias uibiotdae lace usta PUXEREHOGUOUQNNEERESEOOUONUENEHEREORES Vol. III $25,000 IN PRIZES OFFERED! TALKIES CARRY FILM BOOKINGS |< ARE SET FOR 3 MONTHS Advance bookings set up for two months and in some cases three months, for all Publix Theatres, have earned for William M. Saal, director of film buying and booking, and his entire departmental staff the congratulations not only of Divisional Directors, but of the showmen in the fild working under Divisional Directors. This is the first time in Publix history that such an opportunity for advance ticket-selling effort has been accomplished. Mr. Saal’s department has reported to Mr. Katz that these bookings have been set up with about a five per cent tolerance for unexpected changes. Below is given a list of the screen attractions which will be played in Publix Theatres generally during the next three months. Mr. Katz urges that everyone immediately put orders in work for trailers, posters, and other advertising media. Press books and other advertising accessories are available at local exchanges on all | of these pictures. The following is a list of the features booked: PARAMOUNT “The Love Parade’ — Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette Mac Donald. “Burning Up’’—Richard Arlen. “Street of Chance’ — William Powell. . “Dangerous Paradise’? — Nancy Carroll. “Sarah and Son”—Ruth Chatterton. “Honey’’—Nancy Carroll. “Only the Brave’’—Gary Cooper. “THE VAGABOND KING’’—Denis King and Jeanette MacDonald. “Men Are Like That’? — (from “The Show Off’’)—Hal Skelly. “Slightly Scarlet’’—Evelyn Brent. een’ on au Two) $ as = 3 »} ; | o -1 LICENSES! Are you preparing to renew all licenses that expire? A statement from David J. Chatkin, Director of Theatre Management, calls attention to the importance of renewing all city, state, and country theatre licenses and other licenses required by law. If this is done before the expiration of the licenses now in force, not only will a favorable impression be left with municipal and state authorities, but checks can be requisitioned and sent by regular mail instead of special delivery or air mail. Penalties for late payment will also be avoided. You cannot operate a_ theatre without a license where such. is required by law. Make your requisition for checks on time! D100 0s-O-0-O-O*0-8 *-G-°O*-O+6*-S +6: SO: +6 -G 6: 1 Oo-D -Oc-@ @--@--Or-S O° SO:-@-O:e @ 22-9 O eB Oe-S-+Os-S 9 OsDOs DOs S$ O°-D+O" PO° DOs BO" DOr $0 : : i é i i : : ¢ Publix Theatres Corporation, Paramount Building, New York, Week of January 17th, 1930 2 e-O-$Oe-D + Oe-O-+ Oe-S + @+-SO-S-+ OS + Oe S Oe O-O+ SOS Oe O ‘LOCKED DOOR’ OPENS JAN. 18 “The Locked Door’’, society melodrama, will follow “The Virginian’ into the Rialto, New York, on Saturday, January 18. The picture, a United Artist’s production, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Rod La Rocque, is an adaptation of the stage play ‘‘The Sign on the Door’’ which served as a vehicle for Marjorie Rambeau on Broadway. Included in the cast are William Boyd and Betty Bronson. #O+S Oe S °Oe-O +O°-S-O°BOs @ 0 c-@ +O e-@Oe-@-0Or-O-° Oe-S 2 Ge-SOe @-O*-S © 0 0O10 O10 0-1 02 -O 02-1 O9-D-1 0-10: O* 9Os-O-2O+-O-10+-O1O+-O-Os-O 19:-O 010+ 010+-0101-0101-0:0+-0101-010-010+-00+-010010-0: LOBBY STUNTS HELP BUILD BOXOFFICE Following his demand for more high pressure showmanship in de luxe operations, President Sam Katz indicated live lobby entertainment as an effective means of bringing this about, not only in de luxe operations but also in practically every theatre on the circuit. “Live lobby entertainment offers tremendous opportunity for high pressure publicity and _ sales. manship,’”’ declared Mr. Katz. ‘‘Instead of trying to sell double features, we now have the opportunity to sell double shows. I would not object if we used trapeze acts in some of our lobbies (Continued on Page Two) ‘Burning Up’ Will Sizzle All Records! After an enthusiastic pre-view of “Burning Up,” Paramount’s zippy racing classic with Richard Arlen and Mary Brian, Home Office executives were unanimous in their opinion that this picture would burn up all previous records, provided it were properly sold. “This picture possesses all the qualities of a sensational box-office success,” declared Mr. Dembow. “It has angles that will appeal to every possible type of theater-goer. Its exploitation possibilities are limitless, both on account of the title, and the nature of the story. With the application. of the proper sales effort; initiative and energy, “Burning Up”’ will reap a rich harvest for any theatre which is fortunate enough to play it.’ See page 5 for Russell Holman’s ‘.. selling tips on this picture. MESSAGES OF EXECUTIVES Due to the pressure of affairs which renders it impossible for them to make the contemplated group tour over the circuit, home office officials are being movietoned and these will be sent to district managers for midnight showing before district mass meetings of Publix showmen. The first executive talkie has been made by Mr. Katz, and will be distributed immediately. No attempt was made to do any. thing except show Mr. Katz in close-up, as he is in ordinary every-day business life, delivering a message of current importance to his organization. Other home office executives and cabinet members are being photographed as they deliver their various messages, and these will also be distributed in the same manner. At the time that these pictures are being shown at Publix district mass meetings, the District Manager will be prepared to answer any questions that would otherwise have been propounded to the home office speaker. 31 START NEW COURSE FOR | MANAGERS The seventh Manager’s Train ing School course started last Monday with an enrollment of thirty one students from Publix Theatres all over the circuit, under the directorship of Elmer ‘| Levine and his associate Henri Schwartzberg. The course, which will last thirteen weeks, will cover all phases of theatre management with which the men are unfamiliar. The men selected, as announced by John F.. Barry, Director of Personnel, are as follows:— Clarence Batter, Modjeska Thea tre, Augusta. D. M. Merritt, Florida Theatre, Jacksonville. Roy H. Rowe, Montgomery Theatre, Spartanburg. Robert Cullinane, Paramount The (Continued on Page Two) Et OLORS 1Or S165 O10 O 18°S106--60-87 O :0+918-0 16: Warning Do not beh lulled inte a sense of false security by any | January thaws. Bad weather may break any time. KEEP AFTER YOUR “BAD WEATHER EXPLOITATION” IN A CONSISTENT AND SYSTEMATIC MANNER | 10 8-@ 9 OD0 O0-D-O 2 D1 OeD1 OD O-O 9 SOS : 4 ey eed eet eet te ey De eo re $Oe-O-+6'-S+O+ SOO 16'-O+O--S +6 S18 O16: @ 6:-S-6:-@ <8: e No. 19 CASH TO REWARD EFFORT IN BIG PROFITCAMPAIGN Exciting news that will thrill every showman on the Publix rolls, was confirmed today by David J. Chatkin, general director of theatre management, who announced that approval has already been granted by President Katz and Vice-President Dembow for $25,000 in cash prizes, to be awarded throughout Publix during the second quarter of 13 weeks, including April, May, and June. | The money will go to the circuit’s “ace” profitmaking showmen in each district. A committee, composed of Home Office executives, and division directors, is now at work, completing the plan for methods of making the awards. =D A SALUTE TO DAVID J. CHATKIN! Hats off, Everybody, to David J. Chatkin, that mild-mannered, self-effacing showman who in a little more than a year in command as General Director of Publix Theatre Management, has swiftly provided so much of the inspiration and liaison that has made Publix the closely-knit, smoothly functioning, super-giant of theatre-operation that it is! Mr. Chatkin is the man who not only conceived the idea of offering a staggering cash-prize total—but he’s also the man who sold the idea and got the money with the appproval of the Cost Control Committee! It’s the first time in the history of show business that such a gigantic amount of.prize money has been offered. Also it’s the first time in the history of organizational prize-award methods that this staggering fortune will be distributed on a basis that will be completely — the control of those who will compete for it. Sam il “There are several things that I want distinctly understood at this time, by everyone,” declared Mr. Chatkin. ‘The first is that [ want the present first-quarter of business throughout the circuit to show the fullest benefit of current operating effort and merchandising. The fact that the prizes will be awarded during each of the months in the second quarter, is no reason that diligent effort should not be exerted during January, February and March. Asa matter of fact, the prize awards will not be made on the. basis of comparative-quarterly-grosses, so a theatre that does record breaking business in the first quarter, might find that it has earned the national capital prize, or its division or district capital prize on a second quarter showing not nearly as good as the first. The object of the prize-award, of course, is primarily to offer added incentive to accomplish more satisfactory profits. SIND AALAT Vigor Is Needed “This accomplishment may be consummated by intelligent application of vigorous showmanship; by strict adherence to. the principles of economy in operation that sensible-spending implies; and by the complete organization of local merchandising possibilities. “T am conscious of the fact that a mere prize, no matter how large or small, cannot be the means of deciding whether or not a local theatre will turn in its maximum profit potentialities. However, I do believe that the friendly spirit of competition between districts, and divisions, will have the wholesome effect of knitting all the farflung. Publix groups into a closer bond and feeling of goodfellowship and will make for added effectiveness. . Campaigns Arouse. “T am not in favor of ‘drives,’ nor is Mr. Katz or Mr. Dembow. I believe most showmen will agree with me that the spirit of being ‘driven’ is a negative one. However, each of us is holding down his job on the theory that he wants to turn in the best results possible. Whether those best results come (Continued on Page Two)