Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

Page 20 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW October 25, 1941 Cartel? Club Hudson's Institutional Plan Gaining Nationally in Scope Detroit — Three hundred and seventy-three Michigan theatres have been enrolled as the first contingent by Allied Exhibitors of Michigan in the institutional plan to "sell motion pictures as the greatest form of entertainment in the world." Christened the "Michigan Allied Plan" by a committee headed by Ray Branch, president of that group ; E. C. Beatty, president of Butterfield Theatres ; Earl J. Hudson, president of United Detroit Theatres, and John MacPherson, local NSS manager, the idea would set in motion comments of a testimonial nature by persons of national prominence. A meeting of the committee was held here last week to discuss complete plans for launching throughout the state the institutional campaign, introduced by Hudson at the recent convention. Theatres enrolled thus far include Allied's 135 in Michigan, Co-operative's 105, Butterfield's 115 and UDT's 18 houses. The Plan, it was learned, has been approved and is being advocated extensively by Claude Lee, director of public relations for Paramount; Abe Montague, Columbia's general sales manager; E. K. (Ted) O'Shea, Loew's central division sales manager, and Arthur Kelly, vice-president of UA. Branch has received invitations from exhibitor organizations in other states to attend their meetings and explain in detail the campaign to enhance industry good will. MacPherson plans to route prints among Michigan exhibs on a plan that may become national as other organizations fall into line. It was pointed out that the plan can be resolved down to the limits of cities and even small communities, and may be made sufficiently elastic to include comments of persons of local or regional prominence, as well as those of national fame. As it now stands, the Plan contains testimonial comments from Army and Church dignitaries, local and national columnists. Each statement, highlighted with an appropriate but subdued background and with patriotic music, will be made up as a trailer, using text instead of voice. Each trailer will be run in each theatre for one entire change of program. Comments featured in the trailers for Michigan are from Monsignor Edward J. Hickey, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Detroit ; Major General C. H. Bonesteel, Commander of the Sixth Corps Area ; Frank Cody, Detroit Superintendent of Schools ; Mrs. S. S. Sutherland, Federation of Detroit Women's Clubs and Council of Churches ; Malcolm W. Bingay ("Iffy the Dopester") ; Edward J. Jeffries, Jr., Mayor of Detroit ; Damon Runyon, famous author and columnist ; Murray D. Van Wagoner, Governor of Michigan ; Rabbi Leon Fram, Temple Beth-El ; Harold Heffernan, Hedda Hopper, and Louella Parsons, columnists. Other statements in prospect will stress the general value of films, the fact that nowhere else is it possible to obtain so much for so little, the recreational merit of pictures, educational and classical attributes. The campaign scope will be enlarged to include statements emphasizing the health factor in theatres — comfort, convenience, safety, inspirational values, etc., according to Branch, whose organization is "all out" in support of the Plan. Tent No. 17— Texas {Continued from Page 16) the work of the Dallas Barkers in connection with the Dallas Golf Tournament: Frank Starz, Burt King, Duke Evans, B. C. Gibson, Fred Larned, Ted deBoer, Elmer Zrenner, Hugh Owen, Damon Bostick, "Speed" Hoover, Jack Chalman, Ben Bedford, Roy Thrash, Justin Mclnaney, R. J. O'Donnell, R. E. Griffith, Harold Robb, Louie Novy, Eph Charninsky, Herman Beiersdorf, Charlie Meeker, Lynn Stocker, Jake Elder, John Adams, Isadore Adelman, H. F. Pettigrew. The gang gave a tremendous and enthusiastic hand of appreciation to this announcement. Last Saturday night the weekly Bingo Party was held in the Club Rooms with Mr. and Mrs. Fred (Paramount) Larned sharing the honors. A fine crowd enjoyed immensely the splendid mceeing of Barker Larned, whose handling of the mike was something to behold. During the past week Barkers Ed Sullivan, L. J. Weber, Jack Corgan, Don Dickson, Frank Bruner, and Tony Philbin received birthday congratulations. Tent No. 24— Charlotte First Annual Charity Banquet Promises to Be Big Success; Tea Party Given by Mrs. Bert Adams at Club Rooms With all Barkers out hustling the ticket sales and ads for the souvenir program, the first annual Charity Banquet to be held by the local tent at the Hotel Charlotte, Saturday evening Nov. 8, promises to be a huge success from every point of view. The entertainment committee headed by T. D. Kemp, Jr., came through with some head line attractions who will appear, names to conjure with, which assures the finest show ever seen here. First Asst. Chief Barker Benn Rosenwald conducted the meeting last Saturday in the 1 absence of Chief Barker Heck Everett. It was in the form of a Pep meeting urging the J barkers to greater efforts in making this affair something long to be remembered. More than fifty barkers attended, who heard the reports from the various committees under the direction of General Chairman Scott Lett and Vice Chairman Phil Longdon. The big event of the week was the delightful tea party given by Mrs. Bert Adams in the Club rooms last Wednesday. More than a score of Charlotte's socialites attend and virtually took over the club for the afternoon. According to Steward George Reed, the ladies had a grand time and -were charmed with the club quarters. Among those in attendance were Mrs. Ed. Stewart, Mrs. E. W. Sachsenmain, Mrs. Baulch, Mrs. Earl J. Krammer, A Mrs. F. H. Hoffman, Miss Mae Hoffman, Mrs. Robt. H. Moeller, Mrs. Russell Engle, Mrs. R. F. Ryan, Mrs. C. M. Westbrook, Mrs. D. R. Ivey, Mrs. A. J. McEwen, Mrs. E. R. McHenery, Mrs J. M. Clay, Jr., Mrs. j W. P. Mitchell, Mrs. Fritz Hummert, Mrs. G. W. Black, all from Charlotte. H. B. Moog and Jack Goldsmith of the | Atlanta Tent No. 21 were visitors during the week. Sid Echman, formerly with MGM's Home Office, now in the U. S. Army on maneuvers near Rockingham, N. C, visited the club rooms Saturday night as a guest of Murray Starr. Barker Barney Ross, also en I tertained Mrs. Gene Dames, Mrs. Ray Littman, and Bud Smith, all old friends from St. Louis who were in the city en route to Cuba. Co-Kings for a Day, Joe Brecheen and Howard Marx, for the luncheon to be held next Monday, Oct. 27, were seen in a huddle in the club rooms and promise several surprises for the occasion. , INTERNATIONAL FORUM ROUND TABLE OF THE SCREEN DARING! EXCITING! UN CENSORED! AMERICA'S FOREMOST NOVELIST SENATOR IBM E PEPPER WILL DEMOCRACY SURVIVE? A William Rowland Production „. Burnet Hershey-Supervising Editor A COLUMBIA SHORT-SUBJECT PRESENTATION