Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1942)

10 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW July 11, 1942 Set Code to Call Wardens Via Screen J. T. Wright, manager of the Strand Theatre, Ocean Beach, Calif., furnishes a plan for calling volunteer Air Raid Wardens and other war emergency workers from theatre audiences in a manner that precludes all possibility of alarming the patrons. Mr. Wright's plan makes use of the old practice of using a slide to call doctors from the audience in case of emergency. A code name is selected and agreed upon by all members of the groups affected and the appearance of an apparently ordinary message such as "Dr. Martin Blackmore is wanted immediately" is a signal for the Air Raid Wardens to quietly leave their seats and go to their stations. In this way the audience knows nothing of the impending peril and all possibility of panic, or confusion that might result in injury, is eliminated. "Send Offs" for Service Men Via Theatre Parties The New York State American Legion recently registered a complaint about the indifference being displayed by American communities to men leaving for service in the nation's armed forces. Theatre managers can do a lot toward overcoming vvliat the Legion contends to be "a disgrace to the American people," and at the same time build an activity that will result in favorable publicity and perhaps a few extra tickets in the chopper. Why not get the names of men in your vicinity who are enlisting, or being drafted and arrange for a gratis party for them and their lady friends? You might arrange for their introduction from Ihe stage and in other ways give them a big send-of¥. Your newspaper will carry publicity on the activity and their is a chance that, should enough men be called, the .American Legion might be persuaded to help along their own movement by having their band escort tlie men to the theatre. Display Impresses on Public Importance of Buying Stamps An eye-catching lobby display (sec cut) is now on view at Warners' Strand Theatre, Staunton, Virginia. Designed to impress the public with the importance of buying War Bonds and Stamps, the display features the front page of a recent issue of the Washington Post. The headlines were : "Japs Invade Two Aleutian Islets ; 4 Nip Carriers Sunk at Midway." The copy on the display can be seen in the cut. According to Manager Ed Purcell, who i)lanned the layout, the sign is used in conjunction with the War Bond and Stamp booth in the lobby. The art work was done by a local sign artist. Other theatremen who want to add that certain "something" to their Stamp and Bond booths, something that will convey the necessity of buying stamps and bonds now, would do well to consider duplication of Purcell's one-sheet display. Your newspaper should be able to furnish you with issues carrying appropriate headlines. Sailors Collect for Navy Relief Thousands of sailors on leave gather in Milwaukee on week-ends. The manager of the Princess Theatre decided to put them to work. Through local USO headquarters he obtained the sailors, used them in the theatre to take collections for Navy Relief. Needless to say, the "boys in blue" gathered a surprising sum "7 ■ . >yf f-Hi H\. wiioHimumm Kornblite's War Stamp Bar. In just two weeks $2,300 worth of War Stamps and Bonds were sold. War Stamp Bar Has Large Sales Record Successful accomplishments by big-city exhibitors are more or less to be expected. Especially is this true in the current Industry War Stamp and Bond drive, for the metropolitan boys have many advantages at their disposal to help them lioost sales. But small-town showmen must work hard to produce results, and when those results are outstanding, high credit is deserved. Typical of the small-town exhibitor who is putting across the Bond and Stamp drive in his community with gratifying success is Manager Ned Kornblite, Jr., of the Capitol Theatre, Waverly, N. Y. Although Waverly has a population of only 5,000, $2,300 worth of Bonds and Stamps have been purchased in two weeks at Kornblite's "War Stamp Bar" (see cut). Kornblite contacted the Boy Scouts of Waverly, who agreed to work in shifts of two at all times during the operation of the theatre. (The Capitol has matinees only on Saturday and Sunday. ) Cost of the "Bar" was almost negligible. The frame was from an old packing case that had reposed in the cellar. It was covered with about 50 cents' worth of cardboard and a 10-cent roll of red, white and blue crepe paper. Thus the cost was only 60 cents, which may be considered a profitable investment in view of the large amount of Bonds and Stamps sold. Kornblite claims credit for the "Bar" and the slogan thereon. He was assisted by stafifmen Philip Garfield and Walter Van Wormer. 'Call Card' System for Defense Workers in Los Angeles Theatres A "call card" system by which doctors, air raid wardens, auxiliary police and other authorized persons may be called from theatres without disturbing audiences, has been installed in all Los Angeles theatres. Working with the police and fire departments and with the various civilian defense boards, a committee from the Theatre Defense Bureau devised the plan, enabling certain individuals to be called from their seats on the yellow, blue or red signals. The Bureau announces, however, that only certain classes of defense workers are affected and these will be notified by the authorities. Ableson Offers a ^Victory Program^ A "Victory Program" was announced recently by Manager Art Ableson of the Lake Theatre, Devil's Lake, N. D. As part of a novel herald announcing a forthcoming attraction, he utilized part of the space to impress on patrons the real meaning of the word "Victory." Here's how he did it : Stands for Victory, Volunteer, Valiant, Valor. ■Stands for Independence, Insistence, Intensity. C Stands for Constitution, Cooperation, Capital. T Stands for Triumph, Training, Thrift, Tolerance. O Stands for Organization, Obligation, Oath. Stands for Responsibility, Reinforcement, Religion. Stands for Youth, Yes and Yes — We'll win this war. "Books for Soldiers" Drive a Showmen's Job A war emergency activity that lends itself admirably to theatre co-operation is the gathering of books to be sent to the men in our armed forces. The \'ictory Book Campaign is soliciting support of their effort and have enlisted all book dealers and Public Library Branches as collection centers. The fact that books should be in good order precludes the possibility of getting the youngsters behind the movement through a special kiddie matinee, but it is possible for the management to make some concession on matinee prices, through the mid-week period, to apply to those patrons who donate a book to the cause. Placing a receptacle in the lobby with ap(jropriate sign copy would serve to keep the matter in the minds of your patrons and possibly result in the collection of several volumes. Here's how the Victory Book drive can be aided. Bob Rosen arranged to collect books from the public in his lobby when the theatreman, who is now manager of Loew's Sheridan Theatre, New York, directed the affairs of the Kingsbridge Theatre in the Bronx. Books may be turned over to local library or other agencies cooperating in the campaign to place libraries in USO and other recreation centers for the armed forces.