Boxoffice-August.02.1976

Manager/Operator-
Continued from pai^e 25
and the first hundred feet of the incoming
reel to make sure they match.
If you get a bad print, complain ... If
you never have read a film contract, it
would be wise to do so. Most contracts state
that if a defective print is received at your
theatre, the exchange must be advised on
opening day, or you may be held responsible
for print damage that you did not do.
If the print is bad, complain to the exchange.
This does not mean that three splices
per reel constitute a bad print; but, heavy
scratches, paint spilled on sound tracks,
prints run out-of-sprocket and scorched
prints should be reported. You even may
be lucky enough to get a
better print.
If you damage a print . . . Report it to
your home office. Every operator has at
one time or another inadvertently damaged
film, so go on and report it. It is then up to
the home office.
Remember the other guy Today, a vast
number of prints are not inspected completely
prior to shipment. If you worked
a print into good shape, be proud of it.
return it in good condition, and perhaps
your next print will be in good shape too.
(This no doubt is wishful thinking.)
The patron comes first . . . With saturation
bookings today, a record number of theatres
and vast differences in admission prices,
there must be reasons why patrons attend
your theatre, rather than the one down the
street.
One of these reasons is screen quality.
Remember, you may have a million-dollar
lobby, carpet that is twelve inches deep,
concession girls who look like Claudia
Cardinale, and lO-cent popcorn, but if you
don't have screen quality, they won't he
back. Keep on schedule, on the screen, infocus,
in-frame, and the sound at a comfortable
level. If the patrons become aware
that there is someone running the sho\^
then you are a failure. The movies ha\c
magic. Patrons couldn't care less about prini
problems, bad splices, late-arriving prinis
and equipment problems. They came lo
your theatre to be entertained; and, brother,
you had better entertain them. If you give
them a sloppy show, they will reward you
by staying away in droves.
Sounds like it isn't a bed-of- roses? If it
were easy, you wouldn't have the job as a
m.anager/ operator. The home office of
your circuit feels that you must be above
average, or you shouldn't have been given
the opportunity.
Who knows, you might get bitten by the
"movie bug" so badly that you'll stay in the
business long enough to join the Motion
Picture Pioneers.
acousti-virall
Acoustical Fabric Wall Covering
Economy—Service—Satisfaction
Send for free brochure
2010 Somado Av., Columbus, Ohio 43085
BOXOFFICE ::
August 2, 1976