Publix Opinion (Jul 4, 1930)

ar =, SF Ott aot eal KELLY COVERS FUNCTIONS OF NEW DEPT. Burt Kelly, head of the new Program Construction and Short Subjects department, explained its proposed set-up and . tentative Plans for its operation to district Managers during the third Home Office session. All features will be screened, he said, and several suitable front show programs scheduled for each and included on blue-prints to be sent to all district bookers. These will be available to theatre managers at the time each feature is booked. Selling copy for the short subjects will be included in each blueprint, which will be in the form of a five or six page manual. Special presentation effects will be suggested, too, and the highlights oF closing-in and fader — operaion. “These routines will be set with a number of substitutes and alternatives for each unit,’ he explained. “This will assist in meeting local conditions, but we are anxious to have no change made in the routine of any program of units until it has been given a eee test for audience reacion. “‘Many programs do not look so well on paper, but click definitely when tried. We realize that there are exceptions to all rules and that there will be spots where s0me programs will not meet conditions. But we hope that they will fill the bill in most theatres, With suggested substitutes used for certain units where necessary. “It is the routining of the front shows that has been giving most. of the trouble, and our most important work will be to provide effective routines for shows with €évery picture. That is why we are anxious to have substitutions made as suggested, without altering the routine itself.” At the suggestion of some of the district managers, Kelly will Consider the possibility of suggesting spots in various programs for Organ novelties or other class touches of this character. In addition to above mentioned Services, the new department will Teceive and check over program set-ups received in advance from the field, suggesting changes and improvements in the matter of ea or selection of short subects, COMMITTMENT IS AN ABUSED WORD “The word committment is being overused in discussions of our Problems,” said William Saal, in 4 discussion of his buying booking department before the third sesSion of district managers. “Publix managers have greater latitude than any independent Showmen or manager in any other circuit, An independent, in contracting for product, must make Concessions to the producer or distributor and at times during the S€ason is certain to find himself Obligated to pay for and exhibit “omething which he does not paricularly want. “The production and exhibition of Pictures is a business and busi“58 principles must be observed. tracts are binding and financial ty ligations must be met. Alough the buying and booking “Partment is located in the Home Office, it is as much a field department as it is a New York “Partment. We try to buy with nterests and needs of the field 1 mind, and constantiy are guided Y Whatever information we reCéive from the field about local Conditions.” PUBLIX OPINION, WEEK OF JULY 41x; 1930 GET LOCAL RADIO PLUG WITH HOUR Most radio stations will be glad to make a brief announcement at the conclusion of the ParamountPublix radio hour on Saturday evenings, giving a definite plug to the local theatre and its current attraction, according to John S. Carlile, director of the hour, who told district managers that no charge would be made for this tieup in most instances. Carlile said that more than 70 stations now are included in the Paramount-Publix weekly broadcast, the largest regular hook-up of any hour on the air. He urged purchase of local radio time as good advertising practice and recommended periods during the morning or.afternoon because of better appeal to women patrons. 2nd Quarter Drive Results In Economy The Second Quarter Profit Drive has been of great benefit to the Accounting Department in that it has caused the managers throughout the circuit to watch their bills more closely and curb all expenditures more stringently than ever before. T. X, Jones of the Accounting Department made this statement during the third district managers’ session at the Home Office. Since more than 30,000 bills a week are handled by the disbursement unit, this careful co-operation in the field has been appreciated by the Accounting Department. Jones asked the field executives to urge their managers to be even more prompt in submitting bills for payment. Thousands of dollars may be lost annually in discounts because of delays in sending invoices to the accounting department promptly, he said. In addition, a tremendous amount of work is involved in investigating old bills that have, for some reason, been held up by the theatre managers. Payrolls, petty cash, travelers’ expense and discount bills are given preference over regular bills and invoices, according to Jones, with the result that bills from vendors received in the Home office during the first part of the week may not be paid until the last part of the week. However, every bill received by the Accounting Department during the week is paid before the end of the week with the exceptions of bills which have not been properly approved, or for some other reason appear to be irregular. Because Many Managers are careless or inaccurate in filling out boxoffice reports and deposit slips, between 150 and 200 letters weekly are written to the field by the accounting department, in addition to dozens of telegrams... “More care, promptness and accuracy on the part of the men in the field would make things mutually easier,’’ Jones said. LINE GIRLS VOTE Photo of unit girls, with Arthur Martel, feature organist of the Met, Boston, casting their votes for Martel in the radio talent popularity contest being conducted by the Boston Record, was good fora picture and story in the Record. Martel, incidentally, ranks sixth among local radio favorites in popularity, to date. PUTTIN’ ON RITZ shiers wore evening gowns, OF cee full evening dress, during the showing of “Puttin” on the Ritz’ at the Capitol, Allston, Mass. Ushers toured in a new model car as a ballyhoo. Local merchants furnished the clothes. SERVICE BASIS OF OVERHEAD CHARGES Importance of taking full advantage of all Home Office services for which each theatre must pay in the form of overhead charges was stressed by M. F. Gowthorpe with district managers who attended the third field executives session in New York. “Overhead charges are just and equitable when you take into consideration the services which the Home Office proffers in return at actual cost,’ Gowthorpe said. “They are an unprofitable expense, it is true, if you do not take full advantage of these services. “The various aids and co-operation which the Field and Home Offices give the men in the field are not entirely automatic. If you utilize them intelligently, however, you can increase their value and receive your due proportion of benefits. “Admissions, seating capacities, profits and many other factors were taken into consideration in the allocation of overhead. The charges are proportioned as fairly as is humanly possible.’’ Fixed charges, Gowthorpe explained, are not fixed in the sense that they cannot be changed or controlled. They are written off against rent, investment, insurance, taxes. and other definitely determined items, but most of them are subject to adjustment under certain conditions and. circumstances. The cost control executive stated that in addition to ordinary wear and tear obsolescence is a most important factor in the matter of property and equipment depreciation in theatre operation. He pointed out that the government makes a more liberal allowance for depreciation from this cause in theatre than in any other industry. Changes in policy, new opposition from theatres opening in the same vicinity, loss of important product through changes in booking policies, local business depression from unusual causes, and emergencies arising from fires, floods or other calamities are some of the. factors which would justify revisions of overhead charges against any theatre, Gowthorpe told the field men. CANDY MACHINES NOW TOTAL 500 The candy sales department, which started in New England and New York with approximately 40 machines less than a year ago, now has in operation more than 500 machines, covering the following states, New England, Connecticut, New York, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, California, North and South Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Washington. M. Schosberg, who reviewed the activity of the department before the third district managers session, added that the weekly gross is about $7,000 from 115,000 individual sales. “Realizing the large amount of detail which is placed on every manager’s shoulders, we have kept our reports and forms down to a minimum,” he said, ‘The only report requiring any time is the weekly candy inventory and sales report examples found in the back of the candy sales manual.”’ Schosberg warned against the practice of stocking more than a supply of candy sufficient for two weeks’ sales as fresh merchandise is always obtainable on two days’ notice. He said operations will be started within six weeks in the southern divisions. “P05 O10 O-+0+-0+0+-0-+0+-O+0+-0+0+0+0+0+6--010-o10-oes 5 DISTRICT MANAGERS’ SESSION NEWS! 20+ OB+ O-+ 0+© Or + 8+ OS OO 0° O-+ 0° O-18+O-8+O0+ KNOCKS WOOD } f Henry Anderson, director $ of the insurance department, ¢ 1S superstitious and admits f it. In speaking to the dis$ trict managers during their ? recent session in New York, f he frequently rapped. the $ wooden table with his ? knuckles, but not for emf phasis. It occurred at points $ where he mentioned unusuj ally good records on the part ¢ of the company with respect ¢ to robberies, fires, ; $ hold-ups and other risks. O+-O+0+O-+0+O-+0+O-+0°-O+0+0+ 8+ 0+ 0+-O+6+6-8+O-1 0°06 0+-O--8+-o Insurance Expert Tells How to Avoid Risks Accident and fire prevention in theatres is largely a matter of good housekeeping, coupled with good judgment in-all phases of operation, Henry Anderson, director of the insurance department, told district managers. “For example, in planning to observe Fourth of July, a display of fireworks on the marquee naturally has occurred to many theatre managers,’”’ he said. ‘The risk of such exploitation far exceeds its benefits. Fireworks are dangerous and they would be used in a dangerous spot. “Remember that the ‘average marquee is designed and constructed to carry its own weight, plus a normal snow load, when new. Deterioration may have weakened it, so we should think twice before loading it with exploitation accessories of any kind. “Many injuries have been caused by signs or cutouts falling or being blown from marquees.” Prevent Accidents General illumination in and about a theatre is important in preventing accidents, Anderson pointed out. resulting from ice, broken gratings or other similar causes, usually are preventable, he said. Lack of maintenance has resulted in collapse of seats and injuries to patrons, and roof tank structures seldom are given the attention they require. “Bad housekeeping usually is responsible fore fires,’’ Anderson said. ‘Cooling plants which use CO2 gas require extra caution to prevent it from leaking into auditoriums and causing panics. Roof fans and motors sometimes burn up from lack of maintenance. Fusible links of fire doors need constant inspection. Asbestos curtains should be tested daily and a semi-monthly inspection of sprinklers should be made. “Tt is not sufficient to have exit doors clear and operating freely. The passages leading to them must be unobstructed and well lighted. Counter balanced fire escapes need frequent attention.”’ Caution with Film Anderson said that watchmen and other employes on duty at times when the theatre is clear of patrons should never attempt to fight a fire of any size without calling the fire department. He also warned against the use of Pyrene on burning film, because of the resultant deadly gas. “Watch your old film closely and don’t let children have it for home projectors,’ he said, ‘‘The responsibility is yours, whether you give it to them or sell it to them.” Anderson suggested methods by which insurance rates might be reduced. He cited an _ instance where $750 was spent in one theatre building, putting four sprinklers in a store and closing holes in a wall where pipes had gone through. Not only was $7,000 in cash refunded at once, part of three years’ premium which had been paid in advance, but a fire a few months later was extinguished by the sprinklers. Sidewalk accidents, EXPENSE ANGLE IMPORTANT IN LAW SUITS Theatre managers should consider legal problems from an expense angle, according to Austin Keough, head of the legal department, who told district managers in the third Home Office session of the importance of saving the company the cost of unnecessary or avoidable court actions. “Most of our men realize that it is desirable to maintain the good will of the public and the dignity of our company by avoiding lawsuits,’ he explained, ‘‘But it is just as important to avoid trouble as a strict matter of economy.’’ Keough pointed out that since the company usually is the defend ant in types of court action to which he referred, it always costs the company a_ considerable amount of money for attorney’s fees and other expenses, even though it wins the suit and avoids payment of damages. “It is not always necessary for a manager to stand upon his legal rights in cases where only the price of a ticket or two, or merely a principle, is involved,’ he told the field executives, ‘‘Frequently it proves much cheaper to waive them peaceably.’”’ The legal department head warned against causing the arrest of patrons on any charge, then failing to follow through with prosecution. “Be sure such an arrest is justified, then go all the way in the matter,’ he advised, ‘‘Prosecute the charge or make sure that you receive a release of civil liability from the person if the public authorities want to drop the charge for any reason. A damage suit for false arrest will inevitably follow, otherwise.”’ No contracts should be signed in the field, Keough said, because they might conflict with other obligations of the company or might impede unannounced plans for policy or other changes. “Be careful to watch for restrictions on the use of theatre premises in leases or deeds,’’ he added, ‘“‘Sale of a prohibited commodity in competition with stores in the same building, for example, might jeopardize the lease. Making alterations without the landlord’s consent might cause trouble, too. “Use of common sense and good judgment is essential when unusual circumstances arise. A manager never should act hastily, except in special emergencies, and then as coolly and calmly as possible, to avoid unwise actions an serious future trouble.” . Operation of Goldstein Mass. Circuit Assumed Paramount Publix assumed actual operation of the recently acquired Goldstein circuit of Massachusetts on June 10th. Sixteen theatres included will be in the New England Division, under Division Director M. J. Mullin. Operations in this new acquisition are as follows: Regent, Worcester; Strand, Palmer; Casino and Bijou, Ware; . Strand, Westfield; Palace, Spa and Colonial, Pittsfield; Playhouse and Elm, Chicopee; Victory and Strand, Holyoke; Calvin and Plaza, Northampton; Garden, Greenfield; Capitol, Athol. WEEKLY BREAKS Harry Browning, publicity director of the Metropolitan, Boston, has planted a set of photos of Paramount stars with the roto editor of the Boston Traveler. Paper runs one each week in its rotogravure section, giving same space to each one, and Suggests that fans clip ’em for scrapbooks.