Publix Opinion (Feb 7, 1930)

\ . . PUBLIX OPINION, WEEK OF FEBRUARY /7rtu, 1930 DISTRICT MANAGERS MEET _ AT HOME OFFICE TO HEAR ABOUT POLICIES AND PLANS » (Continued from Page One) course, the men write letters to Mr. Katz, giving him their personal reactions. He also asked for suggestions from the district managers as the session progressed so that the next meeting might benefit by their constructive criticism. David J. Chatkin, General Director of Theatre Management, who followed Mr. Dembow, said that the object of the session was to make the district managers thoroughly familiar with the functions of the Home Office in relation to the field and the field in relation to the Home Office. : “A great deal of additional service,’’ declared Mr. Chatkin, ‘over and above what the Home Office regularly dispenses to the field, has never. been utilized because the men in the field don’t know just how to get it. One of ‘the main objects of this gathering is to give the men this information. The program has not been mapped out by any one man, but represents the crystallized. information which each department head wants to seep out into the field. A record, which will briefly -eover the highlights of this session will be given to every district manager to serve as a guide in the future. ; “Most important of all, the purpose of this idea is to get an appreciation from the men in the field of the Home Office and to give them a chance to see that we, here in New York, know what ‘all the shooting is about.’ We don’t want any credit. All we want is -aneven break. ss, “The first District Managers Session ‘will get information out to the field: in..a manner, never attempted before. It is based on the only surest way of conveying any information — by personal contact.’ Jack Barry then explained in detail the schedule of the session and the hour by hour routine to be followed. The district managers who attended the session are A. L. Anson and Harry B. French, from E. R. Ruben’s division; M. F. Barr, from George Walsh’s divigion; Al Lever, from lL. E. Schneider’s division; Lea Richmond, from Arthur Mayer’s division; Emmett Rogers, from J. J. Friedl’s division; Myron Shellman, from J .J. Fitzgibbon’s division; Henry Stickelmaier, from J. J. Ruben’s’ division. Session Opens After the introductory meeting in Mr. Katz’ office, the district managers convened in Comptroller /Metzler’s office. The rest of the morning was devoted to a talk by B00 0 0-0-0819 0-O-9'OO e-O-9O*-O-1O1S98 OO" OO" S10" Suckers! Mickey Finn, the incorrigible office boy for Publix Opinion, says now that Mr. Katz has publicly praised Guy Martin for creating “Merchants of Entertainment’’ as a swell pat-phrase, he is never going to rest until Mr. Katz bestows equal recognition upon the Finn. child. Mickey claims that the way to discourage the pass evil is to make it smart to pay admission to theatres. “Prinstance,” says Mickey, get ‘Variety’ or some other paper that folks read and believe—any paper but this lousy Publix Opinion — to print this slogan: “Only a sucker asks for or expects passes (skulls, ducats, annieoakleys, readers) and only a sucker would put out any!” Mickey also suggests that the idea or slogan be used like this “A Sucker is a guy who usks for passes—or gives any!” So, boys, help Mickey to get famous. Give the little boy a big hand, try to create that atmosphere of ear ae dom around the pass situation—and see what happens. 0B SGP Or-O1 Br SG 0-B1O0-O0G Gs Ge@ 6-6-0 6-26) Go-S-2Go-G-0 Ge G-49eS-1Ot-O-1OrGS-1 Oo-S 1 Gt-O-09-O-0OGOe S-1Be-4s5 00-010 +C0 +9-02-90 -O10+ G1 0-S-B2-O-1 0-01 OS -O1-G-181-O-O+O10" S2O:-O-O" GO O18" G16" S10" G10" 26: O10" DO" O20" OG" 8+ BiG S-0GeSG SG : t { : : : t i i i : 4 -department. OOOO GO e-S-2O0-D-2O-O-O>DO OO OOo D Oe OOo OOo Ooh, Look! The Paramount sound news reel was holding the attention of the audience at the Paramount Theatre. The shot was that of the group of naval officers in Washington, listening to the broadcast of King George’s speech at the opening of the Lendon naval conference. A fade-in of the king, with his crown and ermine robes, ap ' peared against the black mouth of the radio set. A girl in the second row nudged her companion: “Ooh, look—Television!”, she said. -O-9eOO @ OO 2OOo SO e-S-0 Oe GO e-O-2 Oe G9 Oe -G-B!-D Oe SOe @ Oe S O° D-Ge }-D-9B 2-S-2Oo-O-0B -O-O +--+ Os-G-+O-O + O-B-O*-GO*-O-O+SO Mr. Metzler on the organization and function of the Home Office Accounting Department, covering the origin and destination of forms, and the-elimination of possible .duplication of forms and correspondence. ‘The afternoon of the first day was devoted to further discussions by members of the Accounting Department on financial, accounting and bookkeeping supervision. Among: the subjects covered were district managers’ supervision of cash receipts, petty cash, purchases, tickets, passes, refunds, payroll; checking unpaid bills; forwarding bills for discount; supervision of employees’ handling tickets and money; city, state and county licenses; memberships in clubs; donations ete. Later in the afternoon, Mr. Ludwig spoke on Cost Control, Home Office overhead, fixed and capital charges and budgets. Second Day On Tuesday morning, Dr. Stern spoke to the district managers. He enumerated compensation and welfare cases, compensation laws of particular states and the routine to be followed by the district managers. ee The organization and function of the Booking Department was taken up on Tuesday afternoon, with talks by Messrs. Saal, Netter, Kelly and other members of the The buying and booking of product was explained; commitments; the relation of the district manager to the division and district booker; screenings in the field; special services; handling emergencies in booking and program arrangement. Third. Day Music was discussed by Boris Morros on Wednesday morning. The organization and function of the Music Department was gone over; special services available; theatre record library; organ novelties; radio programs; lobby entertainment and music sales. In the afternoon, Messrs. Schosberg and Powell took up the problem of Candy Sales with the district managers. Legal advice was dispensed by Mr. Keough after that, explaining the functions of the Home Office Legal Department and discussing local ordinances, admission of minors, contracts and special problems requiring guidance. Thursday was devoted to the Insurance and Real Estate Departments. Mr. Anderson, Direc tor of Insurance, spoke on the or-|. ganization and function of his department, covering safe burglary and hold-up; safe combinations; fidelity bonds, public liability and how supervision can influence insurance costs. In the afternoon, Messrs. Young, Hughes, Green 4 OOOO o-G 9 Oe-O-O--D9 O>-O-O 2-H + :-S 1 Be-G-G+-GO+-S OS O+-S +O" G1 Os-S9--S * MEET THE BOYS! To promote acquaintance, respect and mutual understanding of the splendid individuals who comprise Publix, these one-minute biographies are offered. They’re not printed as vanity ticklers for the showmen here portrayed. We want the photo and biography of everyone in Publix. HENRY L. DAVIDSON Henry L. Davidson, manager of the Palace, Canton, Ohio, in his twenty years of theatrical experience has managed both straight sound and presen tation houses, as well as spending several years as a musician and newspa-' perman. Davidson’s first taste of the theatre was in 1912 when he aid ed his family in the opera tion of their theatre in Cherr y vale, Kansas. As a member of a nutes . of concer ; H. L. Davidson aon dd ace bands for two years, Davidson was in a position to study audi ence reaction. He later used this knowledge to advantage as man ager for the Blank circuit and now for Publix. Davidson was ‘advertising manager and sports writer on a Kansas newspaper for one year before joining the Burford Amustment Co, as pub licity manager of four theatres. He was manager of three Daven port, Iowa theatres for Publix before he was given his present assignment. JAMES C. CARTLEDGE James C. Cartledge, manager of the Fotosho, Miami, Fla., has been in the theatre busi. ness for more tiheas net ean years. Prior to his entrance into that field, he was employed in various mercantile establishments as salesman and cashier. Ines be OF Leg, while employed by a local merchant, | Cartledge ushered at night for toh se @Si~ A. Lynch Enterp r-ise s,at their Liberty and Pastime theatres, Greenwood, S. C. A regular job as doorman was given to him one year later. In 1923, he was made assistant manager, of the Strand, Washington, D. C. A year later, Cartledge became part owner and manager of the Princess, Greenwood, S. C., where he remained until 1926, when he obtained his first job with Publix, as manager of the Alhambra, Charlotte, N. C. Since then he has managed other theatres in Miami, Fla., and Asheville, N. C. | J. C. Cartledge t FRANK V. KENNEBECK Frank Vincent Kennebeck, a graduate of Creighton University and the. fifth Mana gers’ School, is manager of the State, Omaha, Neb. Prior to his entrance into the Managers’ school in March, 1929, Kennebeck worked as booker and salesman at the Par amount exchange in OFA a he a ~where he reremained for two years. In \ 1923, he entered the theatre game as assistant manEK. V. Kennebeck ager of the Grand and North Star theatres in Omaha. When he left in 1926, he had also been manager and advertising man of those theatres. Previous to his job at the Paramount exchange, Kennebeck assisted at the opening of the Riviera, Omaha (now the Paramount.) GEORGE P. HUNDLING George P. Hundling, manager of the Capitol, Newton, Iowa, had a varied career prior to his entrance into the theatre managing field in 1921. Upon his gradu ation from school, Hundling sold merchandise. for several department stores in Hull, Iowa and Huron, Sec De. wn tid 1910, when he was employed as Ssalesman by the Merrill, Greer Chapman Co., Of St.Paul: selling china, : zlassware, ete. He worked for this concern for ten years, and then, appearéd as cornetist in the Hundling Family orchestra, which furnished music for theatres, hotels and amusement parks in Iowa and South Dakota. .The Hundlings purchased one-half interest ine Newton Rialto theatre from the Blank circuit in 1921. In 5 years patronage became so great that a new theatre had to be built, which was called the Capitol. Hundling managed this house and was retained in the same capacity when Publix took over the theatre. : G FP. Hundling and Briccson described the organization and functions of the Real Estate Department, speaking on hte district real estate office; theatre development; city information; surveys; closed theatres; rents receivable; taxes; and property management. The day ended with a talk on Motion Picture Producers and Distributors by Mr. Milliken. Beginning this morning (Friday) the program for next week and the speakers who will address the meetings are: Friday, February 7 District Manager’s weekly letter; profit and loss cards at theatres; statistical services available; breakdown of daily results. Jack Barry and Joseph Walsh. Mr. Katz’ Executive Cabinet meeting. Fire insurance; accident and fire prevention; fire drills; fire hazards; safety lighting; extinguisher maintenance. Mr. Anderson. Saturday, February $ New York = District Weekly Meeting. Program arrangement discussion by Mr. Feld. Managers’ Training Messrs. Barry, Levine & Schwartzberg. . Front house operation; services School,| of field men; account number twelve; selection, training and supervision of service staff; theatre cleaning. Mr. Stoddard. Monday, February 10 Organization and function of Construction and Maintenance Department; services available for special problems in decorating, painting, lighting, ete. Mr. Greenberg. Projection; lenses; carbons; projection defects. LaPorte and Mr. Rubin. Ventilation; heating; theatre maintenance. Messrs. Armspach, Perkins and Cavanaugh. Tuesday, February 11 Sound Projection. Dr. Porte. Warehouse; supplies; advertising accessories. Messrs. Elder, Cavanaugh and Blakely. Mr. Chatkin’s theatre management meeting. Wednesday, February 12— Projection novelties; positive and negative slide effects; magnascope. Messrs. Greenberg, Rubin and Dr. LaPorte. -Sound Projection. Production Department. Halperin. ; Sound Projection. Dr. LaPorte. Thursday, February 13 screens; Dr. La Dr. LaPorte. Mr. Organization and function of. “HARVEY F, OSWALD The manager of the Globe, New Orleans, La., Harvey F. Oswald, has been in the theatre game for more than twenty years. During that time he has been connected with road produ ec tions and picture operations as treasurer and manager. Oswald’s early training in the show business was received while in the employ of Henry Greenwall. When Greenwall merged with the Schubert interests in 1910, Oswald was appointed treasurer of their Dauphine Theatre, New Orleans, which was playing legitimate road show attractions. He left after four years to enter the employ of a Pullman company and later the New Orleans Sewerage Board. In 1922, he joined the Saenger circuit as treasurer of the St. Charles. The promotion to his present position was made from the New Saenger, where Oswald served as assistant. manager and treasurer. H. P. Oswald MIKE WAINSTOCK Mike Wainstock, manager of Orpheum, Sioux Falls, S. D., has been associated with the theatre for more than ten years, having worked as usher at the Minneapolis Orphehoa Weert overall aie while still att.eonm dine school. W ainstock served in various capacities from usher to manager in several Finkelstein & Ruben theatres. He was also employed at the; T. & oR main offices as assistant Mike Wainstock to Theodore L. Hay s, when the latter was general manager and later under H. D. Finkelstein. Wainstock remained at the Main Office for five years, -and was then assigned to the Aster, Minneapolis. At the end of six months, he was promoted to manage the Regent in Eveleth, Minn., from where he was assigned to his present position. Wainstock, for a time, worked on the Minneapolis Daily Star. the Advertising Department; makeup of manuals; booking let-— 4 ters; checking of ad-records; special materials available; advertising files. Mr. Botsford and members of Advertising Depart. ment. ; Advertising principles on which emphasis is placed. Mr. Botsford. District Advertising Manager; Poster Department. Paramount’s national advertising. Mr. Holman. Paramount-Publix radio grams. Mr. McCagthy. Friday, Febrary 14 Organization and functions of the personnel department; theatre training assignments; reports on personnel; employees insurance. Mr. Barry. Mr. Katz’ Executive Cabinet meeting. Theatre and stage lighting; elements of illumination; color lighting; wiring; lamps; marquees; lighting equipment. Dr. LaPorte. Production and Short Subject Department. Mr. A. J. Balaban. Saturday, February 15 -Community analysis. Mr. Barry. Routine of District Manager. Messrs. Chatkin and Barry. pro