Publix Opinion (Oct 31, 1930)

PUBLIX OPINION, WEEK OF OCTOBER 3lst, 1930 Correct Procedure There seems to be a general misunderstanding on the part of theatre managers in regard to the manner of handling payroll checks on the Theatre Invoice and Check Register. Under the revised accounting procedure the manager should show on his Theatre Invoice and Oheck Register, in column “B,” the actual amount of the check covering his current week’s payroll. The amount of this check represents the antic ipated payroll, which has previously been sent in, plus or minus adjustments of the previous week's payroll. For example, if tha payroll check for the current week is $300.00 and in i off the manager has actually paid only $295.00, he should enter in column “B” of the register $300.00 and not $295.00, which represents the adjusted payroll for the current week. The adjustment of the difference of $5.00 between the actual amount paid and the amount of the check issued will be taken care of in the next week's register. The theatre manager should also be sure that all deductions (other than adjustments on previous week’s payrolls) are properly entered in column “O” of the register. I would suggest that each manager again read pages 6, 6A and 7 of INSTRUCTIONS TO THHEATRES, pertaining to the revised accounting procedure. T. X. JONES. 67 PAUL TIE-UP) "282 rauery PLUGS PUBLIX IN. 67 SCHOOLS Working through the St. Paul Commissioner of Education, Manager Walter Feist of the Tower Theatre has effected a tie-up which will result in 1300 teachers in the 67 public schools of St. Paul spreading the gospel of Publix to every pupil from the fourth grade up. Attractions at Publix Theatres in St. Paul are regularly announced to all pupils in all classrooms, as a result of this tie-up, and guest tickets to two pupils in each class each month act as an incentive to scholarship. After selling the idea to the commissioner, Feist induced him to interest the Superintendent of Schools in it, and with these two endorsements, the plan was put over at a formal meeting of the 67 school principals, which was addressed by Feist. Plan calls for a complimentary guest ticket, good at any Publix Theatre in St. Paul within the next four weeks, to be presented to the boy and the girl in each class with the highest ranking for the month, as a “Merit Award.” Ticket is filled in with the student’s name and grade, and signed by the teacher. Current attractions are plugged by the teachers in all announcements concerning this monthly award. School bulletin boards are open to Publix theatres, as well. Paramount Sound News To Aid Hurricane Fund Complete prints of Paramount Sound News pictures of the Santo Domingo hurricane will be shown at meetings throughout the country, arranged by J. Ricardo Julia of the Dominican Consulate for the purpose of collecting funds for sufferers. Senor Julia is chairman of the Dominican relief committee. ENTERTAINS KIDS Tying-in the Greeley ColoTadoan, Manager L. A. Starsmore of the Sterling Theatre promoted 2500 packages of animal crackers for a children’s animal cracker hunt in one of Greeley’s public parks, publicizing the Marx Brothers film. Paper also carried a Misspelled Word Contest for Starsmore. FULL PAGE AD Prosperity Week Activity of City Manager Hugh J. Smart, in Spartanburg, S. C., included a full page merchants’ co-op ad. The lease of the Imperial Theatre, South Pittsburg, Tennessee, has been cancelled. “Prosperity Week’? landed on front pages in Pensacola, where activity by City Manager J. A. Jones resulted in a proclamation from the mayor and cooperation of the Pensacola News-Journal in furthering the event. Twin Cities In Eveready ‘Tie-up The Twin City advertising department of L. J. Ludwig’s northwest division has just completed arrangements for a tieup with the distributors of Eveready Batteries. Two hundred gas balloons, 8 feet in diameter, with an order attached to each one, good for $25 worth of radio tubes, as well as copy plugging outstanding attractions will be released from the leading theatres in Minneapolis and St. Paul, following a series of paid newspaper ads and radio broadcasts ballyhooing the stunt. The newspaper ads will tie in with copy and pictures of the master of ceremonies at the Minnesota theatre in Minneapolis, and the novelty organist at the Paramount theatre in St. Paul. The stunt was engineered by Bob LaPiner. LEASE RENEWED The lease on the Gaiety Theatre in Biloxi, Miss., which expires November 30; will be renewed for a period of two years. ANNIVERSARY AHEAD? Within the next few weeks, the theatres listed below will celebrate their anniversaries. Is your theatre among them? 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 anniversary trailer you may get by writing to L. LL. Hdwards. THHATRY Broadway Gary, Ind. Modjeska Augusta, Ga. Imperial Augusta, Ga. Strand Raleigh, N. O. Oakley Lake Worth, Fla. Palace Dover, N. H. Gets Much Free Space To Exploit ‘Good News’ A great deal of newspaper advertising, at no cost to the Carolina, Charlotte, N. C., helped sell ‘Good News.’ Manager HEH. H. Whitaker secured a full-page merchants’ co-operative ad, five special 14-page ads donated by circulation department of newspaper, in advance of showing and 2 fullpage ads furnished by Metro, in addition to 5 small teasers announcing the full-page’ ads. A lease has been taken on the Palace Theatre, Hamilton, Ohio. —“MEET THE BOYS!”— NOW YOUR ORGANIZATIO GEORGE D. BICKFORD George D. Bickford, manager of the Garden, Davenport, Ia., has been in the entertainment field for 13 years. During that time he has been as sociated with the manage 1ment and presentation ends of the theatre, also organizing bands in the country, which toured the United States for 3 successive and successful seasons. At one time he was in the advertising department of the Chicago Herald and Examiner. In 1924, he accepted a position as a solo organist for the A. H. Blank Corporation. Later, he also staged acts for bi-weekly presentations, which work gradually brought him in contact with the advertising and exploitation departments. In September, 1929, he was made assistant manager of the Fort, Rock Island, Ill. he was transferred to the Paramount, Des Moines, in thé same capacity. His first managerial assignment was given to him in April, 1930, at the Des Moines Theatre. Prior to receiving his present post, Bickford managed the Fort Armstrong in Rock Island, Il. G. D. Bickford PHILIP D. DEPETRO Philip D. DePetro, assistant manager of the Capitol, Allston, Mass. is a graduate of the eighth session of the Manager's Training School. Prior to his entering the ranks of Publix in October, 1929, DePetro had acquired considerable theatre experience at the Rialto Theatre, Provi.dence, R. I, his hom town. P. D. DePetro DePetro, re alizing the tremendous opportunities offered in Publix, accepted the assistant managership of the Paramount in Newton, Mass,., as his initial stepping stone in this organization. His successful adaptability to his work put him in line for a recommendation to the Managers’ School. When he had completed his intensive training there in June, 1930, he was assigned to his present position. Three months later. T. Y. WALKER Constant alertness to superior showmanship methods employed by Publix managers has served T. Y. Walker, presjjent manager of the State, ence when he entered Publix in 1922 and since then he has acquired T, Y. Walker ‘Such valuable tips on successful showmanship that he is classed with the top-notchers in his present territory. Walker joined the ranks of Publix.as doorman at the Theato and Noble theatres in Anniston, Ala. He served in various other capacities at these houses, which aided him in studying the numerous phases of theatre operation. In June, 1925, he was promoted to the position of manager of the Theato and Noble. Later, he was transferred to the Rialto, Durham, N. C. Before being assigned to his present post in July, 1930, Walker managed the Paris in Durham. JAMES H. ESHELMAN James H. Eshelman, assistant manager of the Capitol Theatre, Aberdeen, §S. D., has been in show busi ness more than six years. Like iimany other executives in Jgradually applied himself to higher responsibiilties. 4 Eshelman i|first connect )j)/ed with Pub slix in Ft. Smith, Ar James H. Eshelmank2nsas, where he ya Oe as ‘The ng ing Usher.’ Later, he travelled with many road troupes and medicine shows as an entertainer. After a season with a carnival, he tried his hand with various stock companies in the Twin-Cities, He tired of this life and returned to theatre management in the emPloy of F.&R. When Publix took over that chain, Eshelman again affiliated himself with Publix as assistant manager of the Shubert St. Paul. He was also at the Pyndala) ang Vetown in Minne efore being assi his present B epee situation. HARRY T. SUMRALL Harry T. Sumrall’s initiative and executive ability was appar. ‘ ent even dur j\this job when j)he returned to |his academic -j/pursuits, this ‘iitime earning his spending money after school hours. At present, he is manager of the Saenger, Mobile, Ala, Before he was graduated from high school, Sumrall had been promoted to manager of one of the ice firm's service stations, holding the distinction of being the youngest executive in their employ. Because of his efficient and earnest efforts, he was given & position in the office of the L & N railroad. His thoughts turned to more imaginative undertakings, however, and in May, 1929, he entered the theatre business in the employ of the Lyric in Mobile. His executive ability again asserted itself and he was made assistant manager of this Alabama operation. He adapted himself to his new tasks and in February, 1930, was transferred to his present position. STERLING JERMSTAD A graduate of Dakota Wesleyan University and the eighth Managers’ Training School, Sterling Jermstad brings to his position as assistant manafer of the Metropolitan and Lyric theatres, Mitchell, S. D., a varied academic knowledge and a complete understanding of the various phases of theatre management, J e re me ne d made his bow in show business as an usher an one of the Finkelstein and Ruben houses in Mitchell. Later, after serving his apprenticeship as a newcomer to the theatre, he was Promoted to the position of assistant manager. He held this post when Publix acquired the F.&R. organization. Then he was assigned to the Mana for an intensive rar sence course in cessful management. Upon “Hic sompleticn: of As training, he -assigned t Metropolitan. 0 he Lamicend. Harry T. Sumrall Sterling Jermstad OPENING DATH Nov. 1916 Nov. 1916 Nov. 1918 Nov. 1919 Nov. 1924 Nov. 1926 FOOTBALL GAME NARRATED IN THEATRE Football fans of the northwest, roused to a frenzy by the terrific ballyhoo that preceded the recent intersectional game between Minnesota and Stanford, left the Minnesota Theatre in Minneapolis raying about a clever piece of business devised by Manager Gordon Greene and Advertising Manager Cliff Gill. As the two teams battled up and down the gridiron to a scoreless draw, action clips of the Minnesota team, prepared during the preyious week, were slipped into the news behind a leader reading “Minnesota and Stanford clash in great intersectional battle at Memorial stadium.” The clips hit the screen to the orchestra’s strains of ‘Minnesota, Hats Off To Thee,’ while Stan Malotte cut loose on the loudspeaker through the organ mike with “The Gophers are holding them...they are fighting with their backs to the wall...there goes Jack Manders crashing through the line...the score is nothing to nothing at the end of the third quarter, etc.” The hot news had been taken from a broadcast, and the clever presentation of the entire idea sent the house out talking. Prosperity Week Makes Debut With Auto Parade A mammoth parade staged by J. T. Stroud, manager of the Capitol, Aberdeen, S. D., was the opening shot of a successful Prosperity Week campaign. The State Normal College band followed a float carrying Publix ushers. More than 85 entries comprised the parade. All local agencies supplied autos. Cameraman took shots of the procession, which was 4 blocks in length. Pictures were later shown at the theatre. Pupils Urged To Attend Theatre By Films Group The Macon Better Films Committee responded whole-heartedly to ‘The Silent Enemy,’ playing a return engagement at the Rits Theatre, by sending detailed letters to teachers at all schools, requesting them to urge their pupils to attend a showing of the historical picture. In order to create an interest in attendance, the committee offered a prize to the school having the largest representation. GETS FULL PAGE AD Capitalizing on a Publix Opinion tip, Manager Rex Minkley of the Royal Oak Theatre, in Royal Oak, Detroit suburb, obtained & seven column full page ad on “Manslaughter” in return for @ theatre party for employees of the Royal Oak Tribune. STAGE ACTRESS SIGNS Tallulah Bankhead, noted youns actress who has won distinction 0B both the American and Eng stages, was recently signed to % contract by Paramount. At pres ent, she is in London appearing in “Let Us Be Gay.” y