Boxoffice-March.04.1950

V
I
item has been adequately tested. Theatres
within corporate limits of a city can probably
rely on city inspectors who set definite
safety standards, those preceded by
sandbag tests. A buyer is also anxious to
have some assurance that the firm from
whom he buys will be in business a few
years hence when he may want to buy replacement
parts.
Again many ride manufacturers bring
out means of modernizing an existing ride
after it has been on the market a few seasons
so that the original device can be
brought up to date without the expense oT
complete replacement. The exhibitor does
not want to risk finding, in either case,
that he has "orphan" equipment on his
hands because the manufacturer has
dropped out of the field.
In planning ride installations, the exhibitor
should see that any device likely to
be noisy—either in operation or because of
screaming, excited youngsters—is so placed
or controlled that it will not interfere with
the patrons' enjoyment of the screenfare.
Daily inspection of all equipment is
urged, for under heavy daily use the devices
undergo stresses caused by vibration and
motion. Even the nuts and bolts in a car
should be tightened at certain intervals
since they tend to work loose in operation.
It certainly does not pay to take any
chances with these devices when the lives
and happiness of children are involved.
Regular, periodic inspection by public
authorities and insurance companies is to
y^
YOU
Ue expected and invited since these inspectors
are expert in detecting unexpected
sources of danger.
Ample insurance coverage is definitely
advisable through policies specially written
to cover the hazards presented by these
rides. Since this is a specialized form of
operation, a company which concentrates
on amusement ride insurance is best qualitied
to write such policies and to most ably
represent the policy holder in tiie event oi
an accident claim.
Experience in handling such claims across
the country, places such a firm in a good
position to present the best possible case
where the exhibitor might face substantial
damage claims resulting from a very incidental
part of his own operation.
Ride operation must necessarily be supervised.
The presence of many youngsters
demands someone to watch over them and
experience indicates that each ride or each
pair of two small rides will require an attendant
to see that eveiything is functioning
smoothly. The exhibitor must not just
offer something free to his customers and
let it go at that. He is inviting them to
place their youngsters upon a moving object
which offers the possibility of injury if
not properly operated. Even the most
thorough safeguards that engineers can devise
are no match for the ingenuity of some
children.
Someone who not only understands the
rides but understands and likes children
should be chosen to supervise these lides.
GOOD NEWS FOR DRIVE-IN EXHIBITORS
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•
It has been found that women can be em
ployed vei-y satisiactorily in this capacity,
providing they are carefully selected, bivea
proper authority and n^t assigned duties
oeyond their strength.
There are advantages and disadvantages
to ride operation, either free or i.aid, which
merit serious consideration in planning an
installation. Local conditions and habits
may be controlling factors in making a
choice. The costs of rides will of course
run substantially more than that of recreation
equipment alone, often from about
$800 to $3,000 per unit for the smaller rides.
The price of more elaborate rides runs to
several thousand dollars apiece. The costs
of operation, insurance, maintenance, and
supervision are naturally higher with rides
than with ordinary playground equipment.
Some operators feel the average child is
not satisfied with just one ride; that ha
will want variety. Experience indicates the
truth of this position. At the same time
there is business logic in the view that
parents may be unwilling to spend money
on several paid rides for children and still
pay the cost of the show. A combinationprice
ticket offering six or ten rides for a
quarter might be the answer, for if "junior"
knows he can have a limited number of
rides and no more, he may be satisfied when
the tickets are gone.
Occasionally parents are unwilling to let
small children ride alone on the power de-
I Continued on following page)
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BOXOFTICE March 4. 1950 57