Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1943)

February 27, 1943 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 37 Real Management -Projectionist Cooperation Pays Closer Relations Between M en-in-Booth and Theatre Staff Worth Cultivating Faulty or imperfect projection and sound distribution is a serious matter in any theatre since it exerts telling influence for good or bad on the weekly bank deposits. The importance of constant attention to the picture on the screen and the volume and audibility of sound and dialogue cannot be over-estimated. The courtesy and appearance of your house staff ; the cleanliness and atmosphere of your auditorium; the refinements and comforts of your entire establishment; are, after all, only packaging and delivering services for the merchandise you sell — talking pictures. And, just as the most elaborate and beautiful of book covers will fail to make a best seller of an uninteresting and unsatisfactory literary work, so will your most strenuous effort in other departments fail to make a consistent success of your theatre if the picture is not clear and the sound distinct at all times. It is unreasonable for an owner or manager to place the entire burden for flawless projection and sound reproduction on the shoulders of the men in the booth. So many factors are beyond control of the men in the booth and dependent on circumstances with which they can only be partially familiar that complete and consistent cooperation between house and booth personnel at all times is essential to best results. Develop Thaf Family Spirit Closer relationship between management and projectionists and house staff and projectionists is vital to continued operation during the present crisis. Too many houses have viewed the men in the booth as being divorced from other departments of the theatre. In every situation where the projectionists have been invited to take part in theatre meetings and general discussions it has been found that their interest is in no way self-centered but that they possess a genuine "feel" for show business ; a lively enthusiasm for their work and the general welfare of the theatre that is not surpassed by any member of the organization. In addition to manifesting a sincere desire to cooperate in any way that will make the show better they have shown a keen understanding of what it takes to improve other departments and have been responsible for profitable showselling ideas of the kind that build consistent patronage. It is to be hoped that present conditions will serve to create, in all theatres, a closer fellowship among all personnel that will bring about continuing improvement in the presentation of pictures. Suggestions Will Improve Show Consultatioa with the projectionist staff will bring to light many ways in which the management and house staff can be of assistance to them in presenting the desired perfect show. The proficient projectionist is more than willing to perform his duties as flawlessly as possible and will readily cooperate if the owner and manager will encourage him to feel he is an intimate part of the theatre. Stop confining your visits to the booth merely to those instances when something has gone wrong, or when you have a complaint to register. When the booth men have contributed some extra bit of atmosphere that enhanced the show or performed a good job of handling imperfect film, make them aware that their good work has been noticed and is appreciated, and see how they jump at every chance to outstrip their previous best. Following are a few ways in which the house and management can assist the projectionist in bringing the show to the desired standard of customer perfection: The average booth has no means of determining the fill and spill of patrons affecting the needed volume of sound. Assign monitor duties to some member of the house staff and set up buzzer signals to govern raising and lowering of volume controls. Invite the projectionists to consultation about coming programs. They will be able to offer many suggestions for novelty accompaniment of the kind that enhances the value of a subject to the man in the seat and will be of major assistance in preparing a schedule free from overtime. Be present when the service representative meets with the men in the booth to suggest manners and methods of improving the attention to be given equipment, etc. Seek their combined advice about sound distribution. Establish buzzer signals (don't phone) to call the projectionist's attention to mis-framing, bad change-overs, improper volume or failure of sound, blank screen, etc. At irregular intervals — not too infrequent — arrange for a two or three day log to be kept of all errors, interruptions, distortions, etc. Have the log show the time of each instance of error or inattention and then talk it over with the projectionist at fault. Let them know that you are on the job to check their work but, again, don't be afraid to give a little praise for proficiency along with the fault you find for irregularities. STRONG ELECTRIC C-yun.^ <rrV PARK AT STKRI.INC TOLEDO, OHIO To Anerloa'8 ThMtreoen Ever7*har«t We would havo llkod to oontlnuo filling the trenendous danand for Strong Utility High Intensity Projection Are Lamps, but for the present «e will be ohlefly engaged In the serious business of producing war materials. We hope your lamps are new. If not, an Independent Theatre Supply Dealer will help maintain continuous operation of your equipment. We are maintaining a service and parts department to help solve your problems and fill your requirements. Do not hesitate to call on us for service. THE STROHO ELECTHIC CORPORATION S T R O K G PROJECTION LIGHTING EQUIPMENT