Publix Opinion (Oct 10, 1930)

PUBLIX OPINION, WEEK OF OCTOBER 10rn, 1930 STAGECRAFT GLOSSARY The education of a showman is not complete unless he has at his fingertips the language of the stage. This is especially important in theatres playing Publix units, or occasionally putting on prologues, anniversary stage shows, etc. The glossary which follows contains only the most used and best known terms. Read it for 'your general information, and if it contains terms important for you to know, by all means learn them! —————————E __—_iaE£Z-;,_-Z~A~|Epemr Apron: Portion in front of curtain | Tormentor: Set piece. line. Used in entrances for masking purposes. Trim: Particular height to which drop is raised or lowered. Trim, Live: A temporary trim. Asbestos: Curtain embodying fire resisting qualities. Fire protec tive measure. Batten: Pipe or wood (1% in. ESAS A permanent trim. thick) suspended from lines. | mpjeaux Curtain: Curtain shaped “Used to hang curtains. Border Lights: Strip of lights composed of alternate colors. Bach color on different, circuit. Used to light interiors. Border Foliage: Scenery used as masking. Bridge: Catwalk directly behind proscenium arch. Bunch Light (Olivette): Box light (open) usually at ‘entrances. (Carries high wattage.) Back Stage Light: Generally found on border. (Work or pilot light. Allows stagehands to work while stage is dark. On separate circuit.) Baby Spots: As name implies, small spotlight. 250 watt lamps. Bobbinette: Fabric consisting of fine netting. Securely holds cut pieces of scenery (foliage border). Bowline Knot: Loose knot used to tie battens to sets of lines. To tie curtains, etc., to battens. Border, Concert: Border light in conjunction with first border. Can be lowered separately from first border. Curtain Line: Division between apron and full stage. Counterweight: System of weights used to raise and lower drops. (Old method). Cyclorama: Curtain which encloses stage. (Backdrop). Dutchman: Patch in scenery, etc. Flipper: Small piece of scenery attached to wing by means of hinges. Fouling: Producing of bad trim. Improper draping. Flash Box: Effect box used to give a flash or smoke effect. Fly Gallery: Usually located on stage right. Head Block: A sheave with more than ordinary amount of pulleys. ‘ Jack, French: heavy scenery. Jog: Set piece. Smaller than wing. Leg Drop: Scenery in form of tree trunk, ete. Masked in by border. Lines, Sets of: Used for suspending battens. Nigger Head: Electrically operated winch. Olivette: Bunchlight, flood. Oleo: Atmospheric drop. Set Piece: Piece of scenery supported by brace. Brace used for Stage Screw: Fastens brace to stage floor. Stage Brace: Supports movable scenery. Scrim: Closely woven netted fabric which is transparent. Safety \ Tie-Off: Knot made to withstand slippage of heavy drops on lines. Strike: Clear the stage. Set Stage: Fill the stage. USES DIRECT MAIL Tactful letters written to Catholic schools by Manager F. V. Kennebeck of the LeClaire Theatre, Moline, suggesting group attendance on ‘Song O’ My Heart,’ met with unusual success. Theatre party of 346 children and a number of Sisters resulted. in particular form by means of pulleys. Wing: Set piece composed of pa per canvas on frames. Deep Sea Diver Plugs Show in City Streets An effective ballyhoo on ‘The Sea God,’ playing at the Orpheum, Phoenix, Arizona, was created in the form of-a man, in a deep-sea diver’s outfit, being driven through the town in an open truck. times he alighted from the truck and gested corners. At stationed himself on con School Tie up on Byrd Filn Duplicated The story in last week’s Publix Opinion, page 4, describing the splendid results obtained on ‘‘With Byrd” through the co-operation of local school teachers, has been duplicated in Des Moines, Ia. Irving Grossman, publicity director at the Paramount, arranged the tie-up for that attraction when it played at the Garden, another Publix operation in Des Moines. Instead of promoting buses for the transportation of the children to the special matinees, held at 8:30 and 10:30, Grossman secured the free use of street cars. As a preliminary to the selling of tickets at 10 cents, teachers of geography, history, ete., discussed the Byrd Expedition, to give the students a clear conception of the epoch making flight. “The advertising brought to the homes through the youngsters and the fact that it was the first time that any such tie-up has ever been put over with the public schools, more than repaid us for the time and effort expended,’’ declared Division Director Arthur L. Mayer. Within the next few weeks, celebrate their anniversaries. If it is, start thinking NOW how you can turn that event into money at your box office. Exploitation stunts? Newspaper stories and tieups? Also, don’t forget the Home Office special anniversary trailer you may get by writing to L. L. Edwards. THEATRE @ Rivoli Beatrice, Neb. Garrick Duluth, Minn. Majestic Austin, Texas Arcadia ‘Tyler, Texas Tampa Tampa, Fla. Strand Hastings, Neb. Montgomery Spartanburg, S. C. Fayetteville, N. C. Carolina Metropolitan Boston, Mass. ANNIVERSARY AHEAD? the theatres listed below will Is your theatre among them? OPENING DATH Oct. 1926 Oct. 1912 Oct. 1915 Oct. 1925 Oct. 1926 Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. 1925 1925 Atmospheric Display Proves Eye-Catcher A realistic atmospheric setting in the front of the Paramount, Montgomery, Ala., was the tip-off on the type of picture currently featured. Palmetto leaves, imitation palm trees and cut-outs of Jack Oakie and Jeanette MacDonald comprised the display that advertised ‘Let’s Go Native.’ TALKS ON THEATRE Address of Miss Lea Duhamel, publicity director of the Providence Paramount, before the Better Films Council of Rhode Island, procured institutional stories for the theatre in three newspapers. —“MEET THE BOYS!’— Kyow YOUR ORGANIZATIO ARMAND J. MOREAU Armand J. Moreau, district manager in the New England division, has al theatre activity to jjthat territory, since his debut in show jjbusiness in > 4/1920. m| His first \jtheatre job was as man Moreau had jjbeen employied by severe! n er. he entered the In 1921, A. J. Moreau employ of Paramount as manager of the Palace, Artic, R. I. During the next two years, he managed other operations in. Chelsea, Mass., and Waterville and Bangor, Me. In October, 1923, Moreau Was appointed Field Representative in New England, a position which fitted him for an opportunity to observe deluxe operations in the B & K Chicago theatres, several years later. His present Sap enmens was given to him in WILLIAM H. COLLIER William H. Collier, manager of the Tivoli, Beaumont, Texas, and a graduate of 7 the Managers’ 3} School, has been actively engaged in {| theatre oper j}ation since | 1916, when as |}owner and |} Manager of the Dame, Homerville, Ga, he got his first taste of show business, During the i} next decade ‘}Collier mastered all of |}the intrica| cies of suc‘| cessful show‘|}manship and in September, 1929, entered Publix as assistant pone Ser of the Victory in Tampa, Florida, after having taken the Managers’ Training School course. In February of the following year, Collier was appointed manager of the Strand, Birmingham, Ala, One month later he was transferred to his present position, W. H. Collier T. WILSON ERWIN Engaged in the theatre busi ness since 1924, T, Wilson Erwin, district man—~ ager in the || Texas Central {| Division, obtained his present position by his untiring no Peg} lyn studying and mastering the countless phases of theatre operation. Erwin, a graduate of Texas University, with a degree inlaw, secured a job as salesman with the KelHilogg Com—Jpany in Dallas, upon his graduation from the university. This type of work was uninteresting and dull to the imaginative Erwin, which prompted him to desert that field of endeavor in 1924 and pursue show business as manager of the Majestic, Austin, Texas. He attacked his new vocation with a zest and a zeal that won him his present position in October, 1929. T. W. Erwin CHARLES F. SHIRE Charles F. Shire, whose present position as city manager in Lin‘ coln, Nebras— ka, is his first j|Job under the Publix banij{ner, has been sjiconnected with show ‘business for ‘|ten years. i| Shire entered the theatrical industry i}in 1920 as an y jjemployee of ijthe Princess {;Amusement Company. Previous to that time, he worked for several large department stores in Salj| isbury, souri and Lin‘coln, in a cler sure @& more career, roseate theatre EMMETT R. ROGERS A former newspaper man, Emmett R. Rogers, city manager at the Para mount, Atlanta, Ga., brings to his position all of the imagination and resourcefulness accredited to members of the Fourth Bstate. Supplementing his reportorial ex}perience, ‘| Rogers at one | time was sales manakijeer for a large retail firm. He is a graduate of the first Managers’ School. In the theatre business since 1917, Rogers has been associated with several theatrical enterprises in various capacities. He was publicity man with the Signal E. R. Rogers Amusement Co., for a time, later joining the Tennessee Enterprises in Chattanooga, doing booking and general management work. When Publix acquired that chain in 1924, Rogers was retained. RAMMON J. WHEELER Four years of intense study and practical work in and around he theatre has given Rammon J. Wheeler, manager of the State, South Bend, Ind., a clear ij] understandjjing of the va‘|rious phases of theatre operation. Incidentally, this is Wheeler’s first managerial assignment. In Novemj|ber, 1926, he 4|made his bow in show busi4|ness as usher jiin Wolf & Young's Palace Theatre, Canton, Ohio. aes the nex Wheeler diligently applied him self to the various tasks given him at this house and was rewarded with the assistant managership, a position he held for two years. Later, he was transferred to the Colfax, South Bend, from where he was Promoted to R. J. Wheeler his present post in April, 1930. Good Will Of Officials Obtained With an eye to future tie-ups, Manager Ray N. Peterson of the Strand, Gulfport, Miss., pulled a goodwill stunt on last day of showing of ‘Song O’ My Heart” that will undoubtedly prove of value in the future. Thursday noon, on last day of picture, there was a luncheon at the High School, attended by the members of the school board, the city commissioners, officers of the Parents Teachers Ass’n., officials of the Chamber of Commercé as well as the Superintendent of Schools and all city school teachers. The purpose of this luncheon was a general meeting for discussion and get-together prior to the opening of the city schools. Peterson took this opportunity to invite this group to the theatre. Peterson’s purpose in doing this was to get the theatre in the minds of the teachers and to form a spirit of goodwill at the start of school. The Supt. of Schools and the Principal personally called on Peterson to thank him for the courtesy extended to their faculty and expressed. their desire to fully co-operate at anytime in exploiting and advertising the theatre’s programs. The President of the Chamber of Commerce also expressed his appreciation. TIE-UP AUGMENTS CAMPAIGN SPACE Circulation tie-up with the Indianapolis Star effected by Ted Nicholas and W. Hurley Ashby of B. V. Sturdivant’s crew of exploiteers netted six ads on the personal appearance of Davey Lee at the Indiana Theatre. Ads, each distinctive in makeup, art and copy, ran for five days in advance and on the opening day, amounting to 145 inches of space in all. Week of Davey’s appearance was publicized as ‘‘Family Week,” with the co-op ads valuably supplementing the regular campaign. Doughnut Matinee Gets News Space, Good Will Now it’s a “Doughnut Matinee” that gets the free newspaper space and good-will of local residents! Manager Al F. Weiss, Jr., held one in conjunction with the showing of ‘Dough Boys’ at the Florida in Jacksonville, which resulted in stories and photos in local papers. All children presenting 3 doughnuts to the box-office were admitted to a morning matinee. More than 500 attended, proceeds go0ing to Salvation Army. | RE-OPENINGS ; Theatres in the Northwest Division which have re-opened include the Strand and Orpheum, Grand Forks, N. D., and the Strand, Fairmont, Minn. Bijou Theatre, Huron, S. D., re-opened with sound on October 3rd.