What's New? (Jan 1953)

Page 4 FAMOUS PLAYERS MANAGERS HOLD CONFERENCES IN WEST By plane, train and automobile a group of executives from Head Office hit some of the high spots in Western Canada to help conduct regional mectings. On the more than two-week jaunt were R. W. Bolstad, vice-president of Famous Players; J. J. Fitzgibbons Jr., president of Theatre Confections Ltd., and James R. Nairn, director of public relations and advertising. The trio started from Malton airport and flew directly to Vancouver, where a two-day meeting was held. From Vancouver, where they were joined by L. I. Bearg, western division general manager, they made the trip through the Rockies by train to Calgary for another two-day meeting. There they were joined by the supervisor of the Prairies, Edward A. Zorn, and by John Ferguson, supervisor of maintenance and construction for that region. Next stop was Moose Jaw, where they were met by Otus Bowes, manager of the Capitol theatre, and, following an inspection of theatre properties, the party moved on by automobile across the prairies to Regina where our partner, Jack Watson, was host at a cocktail party and dinner. The party caught the night train to Winnipeg, where a final two-day session was held in the Fort Garry hotel. A flight home from Winnipeg completed the journey across Canada. CONFECTIONS At the western mectings, J. J. Fitzgibbons, Jr., president of The atre Confections Ltd., was assisted , in his demonstrations and talk in Winipeg and Calgary by Arthur Fitzgibbons and in Vancouver by Frank Troy. Jack Fitzgibbons illustrated his talk with a series of colored film slides showing various types of candy counters, The theatre confection business, he said, was based on the work done by a team—the manJACK FITZGIBBONS agers, assistant managers and the candy counter attendants, He outlined several ideas for stimulating the sale of popcorn in theatres. He further suggested that all stock be dated when received in order that slow-moving or dead items be kept cleared. New Candy Tried Many suggestions were offered by Mr. Fitzgibbons for the proper merchandising of confections, and the managers were given samples of new lines of candy. He reminded his listeners that their first duty was to sell their pictures and their theatres and their second job was to sell confections. Public tastes were discussed. For instance, in Vancouver, popcorn is colored yellow by the introduction of a vegetable color. In eastern Canada the public would not accept any popcorn that was not white. Jack Fitzgibbons outlined what had been accomplished by several contests sponsored by his company —the “Hoist the Sales” Contest and the “Trip to Hawaii’? Contest. The speaker was warmly thanked for his presentation by Frank Gow in Vancouver and by Ed Zorn in Winnipeg and Calgary. VANCOUVER SESSION Three new members were inducted into the 25-Year Club at Vancouver. They were Phil Tucker, manager of the Capitol theatre, Kamploops; Martin Cave, manager of the Dominion theatre, Victoria, and George Gerrard, projectionist at the Strand theatre, Vancouver. Present at the meeting was the film star, Gary Cooper, who was making his first visit to Canada on a hunting trip. Gary Cooper presented a bouquet to Mrs. L. I. Bearg, who was celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary, and to Mrs. Phil Tucker, who was celebrating her 22nd wedding anniversary. Frank Gow presented a bouquet to Mrs. Cliff Denham, of Victoria. She was unable to be present last year when her husband, Cliff, became a member of the 25-Year Club. One of the guests of honor at Vancouver was Senator Farris, a member of Famous Players’ board of directors. ‘I’ve been a director of this company for 10 years,” said Senator Farris. ‘Before that, my brother was a director. A 25-Year Club celebration for us is indicated, I think.” “It is a wonderful privilege,” Senator Farris said, “‘to belong to a growing country like Canada. Famous Players has grown with Canada, and it is providing entertainment and inspiration to our country.” Roots in B.C. Assisted by Frank Gow in presenting the awards to the 25-Year Club members, Mr. Bolstad said in part: “We have a very special regard for our British Columbia members, for the roots of Famous Players are deep in this province. 32 years ago, when Famous Players was granted its charter, the first theatres acquired by the company were the Dominion theatres in Vancouver and Victoria. We also became interested in the Broadway in Vancouver, which was owned by Frank Gow, and through the years he has been our partner, district manager and wise counsellor. “Good leadership and sound financing have, of course, played a big part in the development of our company, but we have one asset that is greater than either of these —an asset we do not show on our annual balance sheet. That asset is Manpower. The greatest contribution to our success has been made by those 232 men and women from coast to coast in Canada who wear the insignia of our 25-Year Club. They, and our other associates and employees, are our ambassadors, for it is by them that this company is judged by the public. The respected position our company holds in Canada is proof that they have been fine representatives of Famous Players and of the 4,000 Canadians who are shareholders in our company.” Thirty -one British Columbia managers heard talks on confections by J. J. Fitzgibbons Jr.; theatre maintenance by John McCausJand; advertising and exploitation by James R. Nairn, and joined for two days in discussions on various phases of theatre operation. Frank Gow and Maynard Joiner gave leadership in the discussions. In Calgary the party from Toronto was joined by E. A. Zorn, supervisor of theatres for the Prairie provinces. The meeting room for the two-day session in Calgary was decorated with silver oil derricks flanked by wheat sheaves tied in with a banner reading: “We Prosper With Alberta.” Twenty-two managers and partners attended the sessions. “The purpose of these meetings is to enable us to get together and exchange ideas,” said Larry Bearg. “These meetings enable us to find where we are today and to help us take stock of ourselves. These meetings help us lay plans for the future and set our course for the coming year. L. I, BEARG Mr. Bearg told of his recent visit to various cities in the United States, and spoke of the showmanship demonstrated by a number of unusual restaurants he had visited. “These places are popular because they are unique,” he said. “What can we do to make our theatres ‘different’?” “It can be done by specialized advertising,” he said. “And it can be accomplished through properly trained personnel. Maybe you can make your theatre a focal point in your town’s activities. You have to have courage and imagination to be different, and that’s the key to showmanship.” At the closing dinner in Calgary the guest of honor was Leroy Chown, manager of the Strand theatre, Calgary. His employer, Ken Leach, assisted Mr. Bolstad in presenting Roy with his awards. Other guests included E. R. Hughes, deputy provincial secretary of Alberta, and H. W. Burkell, chief theatre inspector of the province. Moose Jaw was the next stop, where the party was met by Otus Bowes, manager of the Capitol theatre, and, following an inspection of properties with John Ferguson, of Winnipeg, supervisor of construction and maintenance for the Prairie provinces, they motored to Regina. After several business conferences they attended a dinner given by Famous Players’ partner, Jack Watson. The dinner was attended by the Lieutenant Governor of the province, the mayor of Regina, and members of the Legislature and press. In Winnipeg, where the meetings were held in the Fort Garry hotel, Harold Bishop, Winnipeg, supervisor, and Jimmy Cameron, supervisor of the Lakehead theatres, joined the head table group for the two-day conference. AD DISCUSSIONS At the Vancouver meeting Jas. R. Nairn complimented all on the manner in which the B.C, theatres are being run. He touched on courtesy, tidiness and service as being as much a part of Public Relations as advertising and exploitation. Nairn’s remarks were as follows: “Ts been four years since I’ve had the pleasure of seeing you in Vancouver, and it’s great to meet once again all my old friends and E. A. ZORN