Publix Opinion (May 9, 1930)

CUCL ein iy a HRGUREUOUEOEUEREEREUEHERREREREEEOHOREERREEEDS a 3 UVEUUDAAUAESEUAEOSUEUREEEOUREEUEREEOENOUUELUS Vol. III SVMF ETT NTE HEUUUELOEAUDEREEEDECUUEDGEEUEGELOGTEGE FOU EC OED OEOEEUCEEEROGDEDEGDERAEEOEEOEENIENTEGLENL TUPTUEUIELEDEEDEDTEN TETAS CECE EAERRSACC GER LECE HOOT EU COLT EEE EERE EE See Page 5 tie USEEESEOAQULUCERENUODCERCOOCLEESOCEERCOTOCEECOCCEOOO HRCEOUCUENOUL TE en rOtst as NtUaiaNCEENiNTaNOCEON{TGNNENUNENONCENUCETONUENANNNENLCENCCEECACQOUCCEE(LECUGECESCECEECEC/OEEEEC(CEOGEECOUCCEAUENEGEEGAGCEIIUEEHOUEENEEEEEL SEES OAEUUU TEU CECACCHEGE CORES SCERCeES \ \ Wee SZ The Official Voice of Publi’ i i CEEREENCUUEDECESTOCHUETEDEEPODEEDDULODUDEDIUDODULEDEC GY CHULELULESRNCEEEESEELEENUENRRARUA ROP LCCHRLU ER ORTEL ECT HEL CET EEE EEEEELSEELEDEREEEUOREOAEQEUGEEEEESSEREESOEIGEDEDOEDOEEISEOELOEDIEGSEDSERUODERSHNBENDOSBOSTOSESDOEOUNSTOSEEDIDRESODELET Publix Theatres Corporation, Paramount Building, New York, Week of May 9th, 1930 _‘SWIVEL-CHAIR’ MANAGEMENT “I do not mean to infer that said, “but unless it is anticipated, it could easily develop, and leave _ in its wake nothing but destruc tive results, : “T want everybody to hold up before himself the mirror of his daily work-chart, to see how much more time he can spend in actively getting in and around those necessary places and details that contribute to the high standard we all are compelled to demand. By doing this, I expect to see a decrease in time spent at desks. . No Office Managers “Our theatre managers are not expected to be ‘office-managers.’ We do not want them to become ' such. Necessary office routine, reports, etc., must of course be com_ pleted as ordered, but this may be so organized as to be accom_ plished under the kind of super' vision. and selection of juniors that will permit more freedom for those in supervisory capacities. “Ror instance, I expect theatre managers to always be on the floors of their theatres during peak hours. That ‘is the time and place where he can best fulfil most of his numerous functions of observation, guidance, and analysis. “A few months ago-.I directed the Editor of Publix Opinion to call attention to swivel-chair management. You will find an editorial which covers the topic in your files under the date of December 27th. Read it and reread it, for it is a reiteration of the _ policy I have advocated, For the benefit of those who may not have it available, I am causing it to be -. published again in the current is_ sue of Publix Opinion. E Typewriting Showmen “Another thing I want examined is the possible danger that could arise from the practise of writing letters or mimeographing instruc_ tions and letting it go at that. Successful showmanship is not founded upon a typewriter, or a _ mimeograph machine, any more than it is based upon a swivelSehair. “When a showman organizes his efforts and his hours to permit reasonable release of himself ',from the demands of dead-line (Continued on Page Three) ee ee TO BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY Anticipating dangers to successful current operations as well as to careers of men in key-assignments, Mr. Katz today directed his staff to immediately take preventive steps against tendencies anywhere towards “Swivel-chair management.” this practice prevails,’ Mr. Katz NEW LEADERS CREATED BY CONTEST aN lot of new leaders in Publix will be born of the Second Quarter prize contest!” This is the prediction -of Mr. David J. Chatkin, who says: “Never were Ipportunities so abundant for men of resource and Stati na. 10 show the stuff that is in them as at the present moment in the operations of the Publix circuit of theatres. “Now is the time when the| qualities and possibilities inherent in the man power of our operation forces and which may have lain dormant during past months will come to the fore and demonstrate themselves unquestionably in deeds and results obtained—and in such recognizable terms that there will be no mistaking where leadership has raised its head.”’ Mr. Chatkin’s observations are made in connection with the publication of the lists of standings presented on another page of this issue, in which are shown the po-| sitions of the leaders in the profitover-quota campaigns being waged for Second Quarter results thruout the circuit. Regarding these statistics it is to be noted that relative standings of leaders in each group are presented—not the ac See Page 5 for Standings in Profit Drive for April. ATLANTIC CITY CONVENTION With all indications pointing to a most successful year for Paramount Publix, about 300 representatives of the organization will gather at Atlantic City for four days beginning May 16th in the annual spring sales convention. District managers, branch managers, booking managers, salesmen, home office and production executives, and theatre operating executives will gather for the first day of the session next Friday. It is expected that the first day will be devoted to a discussion of product. | Talks by Messrs. Sidney R. |Kent, Jesse L. Lasky, and Sam Katz will be among the _ highlights of the program, Speeches by others will be cut to a minimum, to leave as much time as possible available for’ the screening of new product. The last two to special group sales meetings, At the conclusion of the convention, executives will entrain for San Francisco where the West Coast Sales convention will be held May 23, 24, 25, and 26. Home Office officials will leave iNew York at noon May 15th in a special train, and will report to the assembly hall the following morning. with accompanying personnel transfers, promotions and adjustments, will provide plenty of overtime work for everyone, he said. “It is only natural,’’ declared Mr. Katz, ‘‘that after a long and busy winter, during which every one worked under high pressure, we should feel a tendency to relax a little when the bright, warm weather comes along. That is a tendency which can not and must not be indulged this particular summer. (Continued on Page Four) days of the session will be devoted | 1 “The assimilation of all the theatres which have joined the Publix fe HRURTOREQUAGOEOOEDERD. ml AFUUTHEDOEVOGERUOGNOUOEOODDOOROULAADOSADEESOOEOERLEORNIDSFEIDED AVOGEREDEDODOLEDEDHEDEDOUEREDOVUATEAHEOEAEDEEPGRBSYTINDUOPLCOEOROTRERSUSORDEDSEDEBODEDDDOOISSID EDESEDDADILESULDPFTE EDS: Standings in Second Quarter Contest ECE RTE REEL CEEEECEELEL GEERULSEUEUEEUELECUUEHECUEREULUEGCERLCLEOUUGAERGEGEREUADAGLESUUUHTAOEATICAUCECPOLCEGLLSUESUSEADOOCSDERGOOUGSULUGOOUEGOSESULOEGOTEEGEOECOTEEEODETHOUEEL OnE ODEGGOUEGOOEOOODSEGDOUOGODEGOECOOESOEIFOQU00UN 44 EPOOUAEGGUDGOOGOOSDELESUNOOODEGOALEGOELSOTVEOOUEOOORESEOTUGSESONDEONGUAQNGORONUUSOODUEASUONODONOTEASILUESUEANGL preartinat ST Ti = SUHUOREEREOUUEHEOUEEEROUUEEOOBHERDESERREOROER ES ‘SWIVEL-CHAIR’ MANAGEMENT _ MUST GO! HUNIERUERERBOSRDEEEROBOOORDDSUBRBBEBBRDBRBDUTS No. 35 DEMAND ACTION, NOT MEMOS! PREVENTIVE STEPS AGAINST [300 TO MEET AT|GIANT BOSTON CONCLAVE MARKS PROMOTIONS OF FITZGIBBONS, MULLIN Headed by Messrs. Katz, Dembow, Chatkin and Botsford, a delegation of Home Office Executives journeyed to Boston — last Wednesday to participate in the monster meeting staged by the members of the New England division in that town. The meeting was to mark the entrance of newly acquired theatres into the New England division, and the formal taking over of that division by Martin J. NEW THEATRES CHALLENGE MANPOWER Recent acquisition of new circuits and individual theatres is presenting to the manpower of Publix the dual challenge that spells immediate and frequent promotions as well as the high probability of the most severe strain on showmanly manpower the company has (Continued on Page Three) PUBLIX MUST MAINTAIN PRESSURE OF ENERGY TO ACCOMPLISH FRESH TASK There will be no letup in the energetic activity of Publix during the languorous months of the coming summer season, Mr. Katz told his executive cabinet at the last week’s meeting. The great job ahead of us of assimilating all the newly acquired circuits, circuit during the last few months is a gigantic task. It must be done by us and us alone. It would be a comparatively simple thing if we could go out and hire a number of people to do this for us. That, however, is impossible. The proper assimilation of new theatres into Publix can only be done by Publix-minded persons. It’s our job and it’s a big one, but I am certain we will handle it competently. We have done it before and we can do it again. : “The successful performance of this task, however, requires added (Continued on Page Three) Mullin, upon the promotion of John ——| J. Fitzgibbons to special com pany activities. The giant conclave, attended © y all managers, district and division managers of the New England division — including those of the newly acquired Netoco circuit headed by its president, Samuel Pinanski— began at the Copley-Plaza at 9:45 and ended at 4:30 that afternoon with one hour’s intermission for lunch. A. M. Botsford, presided. The first speaker to be introduced by Mr. Botsford was Mr. Sam, Katz. In one of the most moving and interesting talks of the entire meeting, Mr. Katz described the division as it was in the old days before Mr, Fitzgibbons took it over and the tremendous development of the circuit during the two years that he directed its destinies. He pointed out the wonderful opportunities for progress in the division in_its present developed state, recounting the number of promotions made to take eare of its rapid growth. Company Expansion Speaking of the expansion of the company as a whole, Mr. Katz stated that when he first joined it,, there were 187 theatres actively operating. Now, there are about (Continued on Page Three) j O$O-0B+ S10 O10 +S 02-00 O 101-0 16+ S151-G 61-0 e-S-0Ge p ; WHAT’S DOING AT } + THE DISTRICT, } | MANAGERS’ ‘P { | FOSESSION. | * 4 : Read the day-by-day stories, actually reporting it. : : On Pages 6, 7,,8&9 ; : In This Issue ; £0 +-O+O+-© +O +-@+ O:-O-1O+-@1O:-O-10+-@-18:-@+0:-O-98:-S10»-O-000-o ve ] MAIL IT DIRECT!! ANYBODY! EVERYBODY !! | _ By authority of Mr. Katz—everyone in the com| get help from the paper it can continue only if youl pany has the privilege and duty of contributing ideas, |GIVE BRAINPOWER as well as TAKE it. articles, etc., DIRECT to PUBLIX OPINION. If you | YOUR experience aid OTHER Publix showmen! Let