Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1942)

September 12, 1942 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW To Economize is Patriotic, Not ^Xhiseling 27 // The fear, believe it or not, of being called a "chiseler," particularly by the employes, is responsible for deterring some managers, against their better judgment, from putting in more rigid economies particularly in connection with the use of consumable supplies, and insisting upon the rigid practice of all possible savings in connection with janitorial and other work in the theatres. Fundamentally, the making of the deepest cuts in the consumption of material and use of extreme measures in the care of equipment, is now a patriotic duty in addition to being good business management. If the employes of the theatre evidence other than complete accord with the effort, it is the duty of the manager to arrange regular meetings and, if he feels incompetent to handle the matter personally, call on civic leaders to impress on the personnel the fact that the manager and the management are in no way responsible for the restricted use of supplies and the extra demands for time and effort. These conditions are brought about through the needs of the nation at war, and employes from booth to basement should experience actual pride in minute attention to every detail that promises to prolong the usefulness of furnishings, fixtures or equipment, or reduce in the smallest degree the amount of material required to operate the theatre. Some of the more obvious means of reducing the material consumption to the lowest minimum and extending the life of equipment, furnishings and fixtures to greatest maximum are listed here as a possible nucleus for the charting of workable maneuvers calculated to effect savings in your theatre. Where to Look for "Leaks" Analyze theatre lighting to determine the most intelligent layout of schedules to bring about the greatest economy in electrical consumption. Set the hours for turning front, marquee and sign lighting on and ofT. Change these hours to conform to receding periods of daylight and the closing of the box-office. Curtailment of lobby and rest room lighting at dead periods and during the running of the last show when attendance is low will effect further savings as will the use of work lights by the cleaners and careful attention to the turning off of closet and store room lights when not in use. At this time when heavy motors and fans are being used more hours per day, it is important that every electrical connection, switch, fuse, etc., be checked frequently to insure good contacts. If air conditioning equipment is used, consult your engineer on the possibility of shutting down the plant at intervals to effect savings in water, electricity, refrigerant, etc. Have the equipment inspected thoroughly and frequently to guard against leakage of refrigerant. Check the entire theatre with a view of reducing wattage wherever practicable. Cove lights, chandeliers, multiple outlet floor lamps, etc., offer possibilities for wattage reduction without detracting materially from the desired effect. Keep a careful inventory of all lamps on hand according to size and color. Departmentalize the handling of supplies and arrange for weekly inventories from persons in charge, such as Chief of Service, Head Cleaner, Alaintenance Man, Chief Projectionist, Stage Manager, etc., showing the amount of each commodity used as against the amount on hand plus the amount served to, or received by, his department since last inventory. Each department head will be made to feel the responsibility of his job, and the knowledge that accurate check is being kept will bring about more careful disbursement. Point out excess consumption, leakages, etc., and insist on written explanation from the head of the offending department. Ask the operators to check the burning time of carbons against the manufacturers' claims and the running time of pictures. If there is wide discrepancy which cannot be accounted for in the booth, a letter to the manufacturer will bring their representative to explain or correct the condition. Ask operators to save carbon ends for use on single reels, etc. Cooperation of the Staff Check closely on the cost of cleaning, pressing and repairs on ushers uniforms. Secure bids from competitive laundries and cleaners for possible economies in this department. Impress upon cashiers the necessity of extra care in the handling of money and making change to eliminate excessive shortages or overages. Instruct all employes as to the necessity of extreme care of the premises in which they work, .^n usher should not wait for the janitor to remove scraps of paper from the floor of the aisle he covers, the doorman should care for the picking up of discarded ticket stubs, cleaners should be more meticulous in getting into the difficult corners and caring for the ledges, etc., where dust accumulates most easily. Cashiers should see that the shelves of the box-office are kept clean and that report blanks, coin wrappers, etc., are neatly stacked, operators should pay special attention to the saving of film scrap, carbon end drippings, etc., and have a receptacle at hand for storing this salvage. Extra precautions should be taken in the care and proper storage of film, keeping supplies in cabinets, etc. Vm glad I bought Simplex High Projection Lamps, My lighting problem is solved, not just for the emergency but practically forever. We suggest that those who didn't buy them write us about their lamp problems. We will try to help keep present equipment in service until the BIG JOB is done and new lamps can be purchased. Meanwhile, we will continue to render the best possible parts and repair service. If newly imposed war conditions and limitations (such as the necessity of reducing amperage), or modified type of carbons cause you operating difficulties, do not hesitate to call us. NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY "THERE'S A B RAN CH NEAR YOU".