Publix Opinion (May 9, 1930)

Fee . Sel DIVISION HEADS’ Fitzgibbo PROMOTIONS ACCLAIMED (Continued from Page One) 1561. This unparalleled growth will bring in its wake opportuni ' ties for advancement to a Scale -hever before approached in the history of the industry, he said. A _ glowing tribute was paid by Mr. Katz to the Home Office executives who bore the greatest part of the burden in assimilating this vast growth, the past six months. Following Mr. Katz, Mr. Sam _Dembow, Jr.. traced the growth of the New England division, step _ by step, from the day the Fenway Theatre, the first theatre Publix controlled in New England. He r described the acquisition of the pany. AD G pats r ale icy Ye Black circuit and then the Witl _ liam P. Grey circuit, giving an _ absorbingly interesting history of Publix activities in New England. Barry On Manpower John F. Barry, Personnel Director, then delivered a talk on Manpower, calling it the greatest asset of the company. He declared that it was particularly appropriate to speak about it at this time not only because of Mr. Fitzgibbons’ brilliant career and recent promotion, but because there were more assistant managers, managers and district managers promoted during the last nine months inthe New England division than in any other division of the comBarry enumerated just -_ what was being done in the train ing of Publix manpower and urged everyone to be on his toes in order to avail himself of the marvelous ' selves so as to properly handle their work. Lem Stewart gave a | detailed account of the function_ ing of the department, enumeratq ing the use of ad records, tickler i ala ts | als was brought out by George J. | Schaefer, Eastern Sales Manager ia ik _ stressed the necessity for support| ing that company in order to be assured of a continual flow of good _ aid Schaefer had been in developing Publix in New England. | partment were then outlined by | the great work done by the members of the New England Division. and named a group of people who had moved up with the growth of the division. them were See was outlined by A. M. Botsford, _ who stressed the necessity for ad _ Office Advertising Department. | for the coming year. Moreau, Branton and others. | opportunities opening up before “everyone in that division and in Publix generally, A short summary on advertising _vertising men to organize them files, manuals, trade papers, etc. Stewart particularly addressed his remarks to the new men of the Netoco circuit who were unfamiliar with the working of the Home Must Support Paramount The real meaning of film rent for Paramount. He pointed out that Paramount was the theatre managers’ own company and pictures. Mr. Schaefer then gave a brief outline of the season’s new product, explaining the sales plan He acknowledged his appreciation of the high tribute, paid him by Mr. Katz in his address, for the tremendous Details of the Management De David| J. Chatkin. He spoke of Among Cuddy, Sternburg, Herbert Chatkin, Cruzen, Zorn, Pinanski Speaks plans for the next season. ns Is Honored At Banquet More than 350 persons, including Home Office executives, members of the New England Division and high dignitaries from all walks of life paid honor to John J. Fitzgibbons at a banquet given him by his “friends and bosses” at the Somerset Hotel, Boston, last | Tuesday evening. The gala occasion was to mark his promotion from a brilliant career as Division Director of New England to special company activities. All assembled there that evening came because they wanted to pay tribute to their friend, “Fitz.” Wires were received from about thirty persons, including Messrs. Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky who were abroad, movie stars and other celebrities. Home Office Executives The Home Office executives who attended were Messrs. Katz, Dembow, Chatkin, Botsford. Barry, Netter, Young, Keough, Schosberg and Stewart. As usual, the veteran and always enjoyable A. M. Botsford acted as toastmaster. Among the speakers were Lt. General Edward L. Logan, who represented Mayor Curley of Boston; the Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in behalf of the governor; Al Lichtman of United Artists; and | George Schaefer of the Paramount Distribution Department. All commended the high standing Publix enjoyed in the city, state and section which they attributed, in large measure, to Fitzgibbons. After Schaefer had made his tribute, Mr. Sam Katz arose to speak. Mr. Katz Speaks “Mr, Fitzgibons,”’ said Mr. Katz, “represents the highest standards of Publix. In developing the amicable relationship between Publix and the public; in nurturing this friendliness of the public, in looking after its welfare and safety; in extending it the utmost courtesy and consideration! at all times, he has symbolized the character of our organization.’’ Hyman Fine, head of the music department of the New England Division, made the presentation speech of a magnificent silver service set, on the part of the boys of the New England Division. After the presentation and the glowing tribute from all the speakers, Fitzgibbons responded and, with characteristic modesty, gave all the credit to everyone else. Entertainment from all the Boston theatres regaled the guests. After the banquet, the entire party went to the Metropolitan Theatre to witness the program construction, a picture, ‘Safety In Numbers’ and lobby entertainment. ——————=—=—=————S—S_— dress by Mr. Katz. He mentioned the work of the Service Department under Chester Stoddard and told about the formation of a new short subject department. He discussed the work of the Advertising Department and its great significance in supplying aids to the theatre. Mr. Katz out lined the tremendous work being done by William Saal in arranging He enumerated the advantages which Publix theatres would derive from ' Samuel Pinanski, president of Netoco, was then introduced by ‘Mr. Fitzgibbons. Mr. spoke of his close friendship with Fitzgibbons and how glad he was 'to become a part of Publix. He paid a glowing tribute to Mr. Katz and expressed the determination of all his men to live up to the high standard set by Publix. In a few deftly chosen words, Marty Mullin expressed his appreciation of the responsibility in taking over the New England Diq vision and his pleasure in being ‘back home again. Mullin hails from New England and knows that territory thoroughly. _ The meeting closed with an ad the screen ad service of the Theatre Service Corporation and urged Pinanski| everyone to cooperate in making it a success. The importance of the Second Quarter Profit Drive was stressed by him and the necessity for hard work on the part of everyone to put it over successfully. Starting with Mr. Katz, each speaker spoke in the highest terms both of Fitzgibbons, and Mullin. The concensus of opinion of all the speakers was that, because of their past achievements, both of these men were eminently fitted for the higher positions which their brilliant performances had justly earned. -PUBLIX OPINION, WEEK OF MAY 9th, 1930 © °-D-+ B+ OOo DO @ +O OO © OO O+-@-+O--@ + 0:-@ + O:-S <6 ANNIVERSARY TRAILERS READY Anniversary cartoon trailers, to be used by all Publix theatres a week before the individual anniversary of the theatre, are now ready. All 3 theatre managers desiring a ¢ print should address them” ; selves to L. L. Edwards of + the Home Office Advertising Department. The trailer is 279 feet long and runs 3.1 minutes. The first 158 feet (1.8 minute running time) is devoted to a cartoon picturization of krazy kat and animals shooting off a huge shell from a cannon which explodes into the announcement of the anniversary. The last 121 feet (1.3 minute) is blank but synchronized with music so that each theatre can insert its own anniversary announcement with attractions. Ot O10 10+ © 10+ 18+ © 1O+-@ 0+ O+0+-@+0+-O+0:-O:8--S6+ ‘SWIVEL CHAIR’ MANAGEMENT IS BARRED (Continued from Page One) routine, without endangering the efficiency with which that routine is performed or burdening it with prohibitive cost, he is situated in a manner that makes possible the kind of progress we expect from his service to his company and consequently to himself. Anything less than such organization is not living up to the standard that Publix expects. tee ee ey ee ee ee : ; : i : ‘ ; ; ; ; ‘ : ¢ > : : : ; : “ ; “This applies from the top of. this organization to the bottom— and of course can only be accom plished by correct selection of | juniors, and the careful guidance and supervision that will per mit distribution of responsibility among them.’’ The editorial referred to by Mr. Katz is herewith reprinted, for your convenience: Swivel-Chair Management Those necessary articles of furniture—a swivel chair and a desk—have ruined more careers for good men in the -making than any other destructive in-— fluence known to modern civilization. According to Fred Metzler, Comptroller for Publix, who is the Home Office executive behind the _ accounting-requirements, swivel-chair theatre managers who run. their theatres from a desk and never get | out into their theatre to see what is going on about them, are the ones who are constantly getting dismissed, or rebuked because of the deficiencies of their subordinates. Recently one manager was dismissed instead of getting the promotion he sincerely felt he had earned, because he failed to check up on his juniors who were charged with the responsibility for perfect sound. Another manager lost out because of irregularities in his box office, which his _ surveillance would have prevented. When a manager is appointed, he assumes responsibility for the actions of everyone under his supervision. If he is not sufficiently active to “be everywhere,’ he cannot. know what is going on around him, and thus he fails to live up to the agreement he made in accepting his assignment. In order to ‘be everywhere” and “see everything,” the first thing he must do is to properly organize and systematize his time, . and activities. There is no room in Publix for the haphazard management that always goes with ‘“‘a swivelchair-and-desk manager.” 4 20+ DOo-D ODO OS @O+-B-1O+-@-9 O+-@-+O2-B-O:-@ OO -O:-@ 0+ OO Check Heating Equipment At Once In order that heating equipment be in good working condition for next heating season, the following items should be checked and the proper steps taken: to make the necessary repairs to the heating equipment during the summer months, directs J. H. Elder, head of Publix maintenance department. If major repairs are necessary, send a requistion to the Maintenance Supervisor for your territory. Frederick S. Willert of the maintenance department has compiled thig list, which has Mr. Elder’s approval. It will serve as a handy reminder for you. 1. Just prior to the discontinuance of the heating service in your theatre, a sal-soda wash should be applied through the safety valve connection, or any other accessible point, on the boiler and the water should then be brought to a boil and continued for at least several hours. Fire doors should then be opened — ash pit doors closed, and allow the water to drain off slowly at the same time injecting fresh water into the boiler slowly until it is found that the boiler has been completely cleaned of all dislodged sediment. : . Fire box, ash pit back connections, and oil burners should be thoroughly cleaned. . All boiler brick work, grates, sections, tubes, flanges, or seams should be inspected, repaired and replaced wher found neGessary. . Damper’ regulators, safety valves, and gauges should be adjusted, repaired or _ replaced. . Gauge glasses should be cleaned or replaced. Vertical and horizontal fiues or chimneys, boiler sections and tubes should be thoroughly cleaned. . All air leaks in horizontal or vertical flues should be properly sealed by cement or other fire resisting material (leaks can be determined by the use of a candle light, as the leak -will either draw or blow the flame, thus indicating that a leak exists.) . Repair or replace all defective or leaking pipes, valves, radiators, or other parts of equipment; re-pack air valves or hand operated valves on radiators, pipe lines or boilers.’ Check pumps and motors attached. . Have all sections of piping or radiators where pockets exist, removed so that steam will not condense at these points during the coming heating season, and thus prevent proper circulation. Be sure that all condensation or water resulting from heating system returns to the boiler or hot water return tanks wherever practical, so that same will not leak into the sewer or drain. (Unless this is checked, it will be necessary during the next heating season to use quantities of low temperature water to replace that leaking into the sever or drain, thus increasing the fuel consumption.) Have boiler room thoroughly cleaned and free from waste, debris or flamable material. 12. See that fuel left over from 10. 11, 5 MUST MAINTAIN PRESSURE OF ENERGY (Continued from Page One) energy and effort from every one in the Publix circuit. That this new pressure is demanded at a time when everyone else is letting down and taking things easy is unfortunate, but extremely necessary. You must remember that in an organization such as ours, every effort for the company is an effort for yourself. “Consequently, the lasting benefit of .a permanent share in the growth and prosperity of the company which is daily advancing in huge strides should amply recompense us for the added effort we are now expending to organize and direct that growth. “T feel certain that every man in Publix, from the Home Office executives to the last usher in the field, will meet the challenge which this expansion program imposes upon him. The lion’s share of this work will, of course, fall on the Home Office. However, much is left to be done in the field. If every man in every theatre were to lend his utmost effort and ingenuity in making his theatre show. the maximum profit during the coming period, not only will he release the attention and time of his supervisors and seniors for the new task, but he will be doing his share in building up that huge manpower required for the rapidly growing organization, to his own definite benefit.” NEW THEATRES TAX MANPOWER (Continued from Page One) ever faced. _ In the new acquisitions, Publix gets a great many “‘ace” showmen recruits. The manpower of. these will not be disturbed, but the job of quickly acquiring mutual aequaintanceship and smooth operation of policies and personnel, will be a monumental one. It was with this thought in mind that Mr. Katz forewarned everyone last week against any letup of pressure during the forthcoming Summer. The personnel of the new acquisitions will be infiltrated with veteran Publix showmen, and the newcomers into Publix will be given opportunity to learn the methods of their new colleagues. The new additions inelude the Goldstein Circuit in Massachussetts; The Commerford Circuit which has theatres in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and New York; the Netoco Circuit which has theatres in Connecticut, and Massachusetts; the Reade Circuit in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. ———————=_=—_=—_—_=——=—=[= the previous heating season, is located so that it may be used first, at the beginning of the next heating season. Inspect fans or blower systems, in connection with indirect radiation, making necessary adjustments, repairs or replacements. To properly inspect the parts as enumerated above, the manager in company with his operating engineer should make a complete survey, noting all matters requiring attention, and then take immediate action to have the condition remedied where necessary. Delay may not only be costly, but may cause serious interruptions in 13. the operation of the theatre during the coming winter season. OUR BIRTHDAY PARTIES! May 9 to May 15— This week Publix Opinion congratulates the follow ing theatre, which is celebrating its birthday anniversary with exploitation stunts. THEATRE. Grand TOWN Rutland, Vt. OPENING DATE May 10, 1910