What's New? (Jan 1953)

Page 7 KRENDEL'S BALLYHOO CONTEST PROVES SHOWMANSHIP STILL ALIVE Showmanship is still very much alive. That the boys of Ontario District B have proven. Showmanship is more alive today than it has been since the days of the nickelodeon, according to Dan Krendel, supervisor of the district. He ought to know, from studying each of the campaigns submitted in his Ballyhoo Contest. 31,100 points, while Bill Burke, manager, Capitol theatre, Brantford, nosed in for third place and $25 for his 30,500 points. Bill Trudell, manager, Capitol theatre, London, was awarded a special prize for picking up the most points in any one week, when he scored a total of 6,100 points. We should mention too, here, that more about their operations, so as “to maintain our place in the industry.” He announced that after the first of the year, some managers would be brought into the head office to spend a few days there to discuss the problems of theatre operations, and to find out some of the managers’ ideas. Following Mr. Fitzgibbons, Morris Stein told the boys that the contest proved that there were good showmen in the Famous Family. ONTARIO B DISTRICT WINNERS. ship contest. Winners of the top awards are shown here with company executives. Managers of Dan Krendel’s B District have completed a 13-week showman In the usual order are Morris Stein, eastern division general manager; Harry Wilson, of Chatham, grand winner of the campaign, and other winners, Jim McDonough, of Hamilton; Bill Trudell, of London; J. J. Fitzgibbons, who presented the awards; Bill Burke, of Brantford, and Dan Krendel, B. District manager, who sponsored and sparked the 13-week campaign. For 13 weeks Dan conducted a contest among the theatres under his supervision. Each week the boys had to dream up new stunts—new campaigns. The grand winner was Harry Wilson, of the Capitol theatre, Chatham. For five of the 13 weeks of the contest Harry was winner, so no wonder he picked up a cheque for $100. for his score of 36,000 points. Harry was presented with his cheque by J. J. Fitzgibbons, president and managing director, Famous Players, at a luncheon at the Variety Club. Present were executives, including R. W. Bolstad, vice-president, Morris Stein, eastern general manager in whose division District B is, Larry Bearg, western general manager, Ben Geldsaler, head film buyer, supervisors Jack Arthur and Bob Eves, the bookers for the district, Harrison Patte and John Heggie, Jimmy Nairn, Bert Brown, and trade press editors Hye Bossin and Ray Lewis. In second place, picking up a cheque for $50, was James P. McDonough, manager, Tivoli theatre, Hamilton, who racked up a total of Bill placed fourth in the contest with a total of 27,700 points. Along with the money went a special diploma signed by Dan and officers of the company, citing the boys for their work in the contest. Also honored with citations were: Paul Turnbull, manager, Granada theatre, Hamilton; Buzzy Blondell, manager, Imperial theatre, Sarnia; Herb Chappel, manager, Palace theatre, Guelph, and Ted Doney, manager, Royal theatre, Guelph. each of these boys were winners during one week of the contest. Contest Spurs Idea Mr. Fitzgibbons described the contest as a wonderful demonstration for the whole circuit. He indicated that the contest had been watched very closely, and from the contest grew a lot of new ideas, ideas which indicated that each of the managers were trying to find something new. He said that other circuits have had campaigns, “but none were like yours.” He told the boys that the company was interested to find out It was important, he said, to keep to the fore those ideas and suggestions. Krendel Tribute Mr. Stein paid tribute to the leadership and organizing ability of Dan Krendel. Under him was seen, said Mr. Stein, a consistent will to do things. “We knew you could do it, have done it, and will continue to do it.” A short word of thanks was extended to Mr. Bolstad to the boys, “as the pride in accomplishment means as much as money or certificate In the contests, he felt, the boys develop an enthusiasm for showmanship. From Dan’s Ballyhoo sheer we learn that in the 13 weeks, a total of 274,300 points were marked up, that the top single score was 36,000 points, the lowest being 6,000. During the drive period, the equivalent of 915 individual stunts or 548 newspaper stories, or 274 combined newspaper stories and pictures, were sent in, Who dead? said showmanship — was ACKERY WINS TRIBUTES FROM ALL CITY PAPERS All on the same day, the three daily newspapers in Vancouver paid tribute to probably the best known theatre manager in the country, Ivan “Ack” Ackery, manager of the Orpheum theatre. Each of the papers carried a full page of co-op ads paying tribute to the theatre and “Ack” on the occasion of the theatre’s 25th Anniversary. Across the top of each of the paper’s co-op page of ads was the Orpheum’s ad for “Monkey Business.” The magazine section of one of the papers wrote a history of the theatre, while two of the papers ran by-lined features on “Ack” on the page of ads. Typical of the influence of “Ack” in Vancouver is the special two column box story run on the front page of the second section on Armistice Day which tells of Ivan’s announcement about a big cartoon show at his theatre. VISIT CANDY BAR Managers are always on the alert for new ideas on how to attract patrons to the candy bar. We think that Bob Nelson has a neat way at the Broadway theatre, Timmins. He placed a sign on a traffic indicator reading: ‘Stop. Don’t Forget to Visit Our Confections Bar.” Of course, on all sides of the traffic sign is the word “Stop.” Bob obtained some nice space for a review on one of his “Curtain at 8.30” presentations in the Timmins Daily Press. TWIN-BILL PUSHED BY SIDEWALK POSTERS Overnight, one Saturday, a group of gremlins left posters all over the sidewalks of Woodstock, Ont., plugging “Pat and Mike’ and “What Price Glory”. The gremlins were from the Royal theatre, Woodstock, under the direction of manager Earl Scandrett. A total of 9 one-sheets were placed on the hard pavements of the town. As the crew worked, they nearly landed up in the hoosegow for violating a local by-law prohibiting the defacement of sidewalks. However, Earl foresaw what might happen and arranged with the local head gendarme and the city Board of Works for special permission. Idea for the paste-up is credited by Earl to his projectionist, Earle Harrington, who saw the idea south of the border, If anyone else plans a similar gimmick, make sure you check your local by-laws, otherwise you will be up before the local magistrate. {