Boxoffice-April.07.1958

—
NAC Members See Bright Future for Automatic Vending
As Supplement to 'Over-the-Counter Sales
A big industry future for automatic
mei-chandising was predicted at the National
Ass'n of Concessionaires recent western
regional conference at Las Vegas, Nev.
The bright outlook for increased use of
vendors developed as drive-in and indoor
theatre owners, managers and concessionaires
recounted their many profitable experiences
in using the mechanical salesmen
to supplement personalized concessions
operations.
Such use of vendors in no way cuts down
the "over-the-counter" business at a theatre
concessions, clinical discus.sion brought
out. In addition to picking up sales that
the concessions staff would have missed
dui-ing rush periods, the vendors were
praised for reducing labor cost, for providing
additional service after the regular concessions
staff goes off duty and for plus
sales of candy, ice cream, soft drinks and
cigarets.
ACCENT ON BIG SIZE
The 114 NAC members attending the conference
also joined in discussions centering
around the merchandising of big soft
drinks. 25-cent milk shakes, soft ice cream.
25-cent butter pKDpcorn and a family-size
gallon wax bucket of popcorn for 75 cents.
Better packaging of ice cream items and
the advisability of changing the variety and
price range of candies between the matinee
and evening shows also came up for
close clinical examination.
Drive-in operators, in their special session,
were introduced to advantages and
disadvantages of car-hopping service, automobile
dealer nights, new ideas in screen
trailers, ways butter oil may be used on
pwpcorn. the submarine sandwich, versatile
peg boards for concessions backbar displays
and snack cart operations.
Lee Koken. RKO Industries. New York
City,
who presided as NAC president, sent
the conferees home with assurance that
confidence and enthusia.sm in the recuperative
powers of the industry will be the
very keys that unlock the door to greater
prosperity at every theatre concessions
counter. He also urged a revival of showmanship,
intelligent advertising promotions
and tie-ups by concessionaires.
Harold F. Chesler. Theatre Candy Distributing
Co.. Salt Lake City. NAC second
vice-president, was conference chairman.
Alfred J. Olander. Montebello Theatres.
Montebello, Calif., served as program coordinator.
NAMA Schedules Five
Sectional
Conferences
More
Five more sectional conferences sponsored
by the National Automatic Merchandising
Ass'n will be held in key. centrally
located cities on the theme, "A Look
at Both Sides of the Coin." which points
up ways of increasing sales while cutting
costs in order to maximize profits.
Two such regional meetings—in Atlanta
and Chicago—were held last month. Still
on the NAMA schedule is this quintet, along
with the sponsor in each city: April 12,
Pittsburgh, Continental Coffee Co.; April
26. Boston. APCO. Inc.; May 10. Atlantic
City, N. J.. Austin Packing Co., Inc.; May
24. Los Angeles, The Vendo Co., and June
7. Dallas. Tenco. Inc.
The same program is presented at each
HIGHER PROFITS-THE BUTTERCUP PLAN
Put BUTTER-Mat to work, 75
times a minute, to boost buttered
popcorn profits by as much as 300%.
Thermostatic control with a booster
switch for rush periods. Trigger Bar
operation makes this automatic dispenser
a profit stimulator.
Saturday conference, getting under way
with 8:30 registration. Procedure against
tax laws unfair to vending, public health
regulations applying to mechanical vendors,
opportunities in new markets and
efficient control records are among topics
treated by NAMA specialists in such fields.
Highlight of the .session is the president's
luncheon, featured by an address, "Does
Vending Pay?" by William S. Fishman,
NAMA president.
At the concession stand do not say, "May
I help you?" Instead, say pleasantly,
"Would you like .some freshly popped popcorn?"
•"ssr
Give ice cream quality . . . make li on
lOf^ sales. Cash in on the demand for
delicious soft-served cones, shakes.
Serve a 10*' cone in 2 seconds . . .
your food cost less than l>i. Serve a
2 5ff shake in 5 seconds . . . your food
cost only 6i. Win new fans, make big
profits with a compact Sweden freezer.
Easily run by untrained help.
Model 208 Sweden SoltServer-oul'
produces olhet midlines costing
hundreds ol dollars more. It's perlect
lor your "break " business.Compactmeasores
only 14^4" wUe and 30"
liont to back. Other models are available
lor every need.
SW6DCIM
SWEDEN FREEZER MFG. CO.
Seattle 99. Wash. Dept. T-3
MORE MEAT ... BY ACTUAL TEST . . .
and rfiaf Only from Smifhfield Flavor!
I
BUTTER SERVER RAISES BUTTER SALES
^- . Simple, manual -•
fj» operation meters butter
B^w^ accurately to increase butter
^
sales. Made of shining stainless
steel and enamel, the
Butter Server is thermostatically
conlrolled and melts butter quickly.
OTHER "BEST SELLERS": BUTTERCUPS— HOTRAT— BUTTERMATIC WARMER— COLDISPLAY
JUNIOR COLDISPUY— FRONT & REAR SERVICE CANDT CASES— BUHER CONSOLE— DISPLAY STAGE
SUPURDISPLAY, INC* 1324 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee 3, Wrs.
JAMES RIVER
BRAND
BARBECUES
PORK
and
BEEF
38 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION