The Washington times., 1928-06-23

yHfS ~ No. = Or SER
direct the destinies Of
fourth uDiu appear in
Pages Of The Washington ri
"A man who has studied g
other availability points in er
pictures over a period of nj
good Judge Of what HOllywo
John j. Payette, supervis
theaters in the Washington al
this distinction. For months
paratipe solitude OF his privat
selected the pictures shown
numerous theaters he guides.
Sometimes he guesses wrong.
But most Of the time his judg.
ment is vindicated by the profit
able business which flows through
the box office windows. Picking
4 picture without the assistance
of audible audience reactions to
the screen happenings requires
an accurate knowledge of human
nature a finger on the pulse OF
the amusement public. a definite
and comprehensive. appreciation
OF local conditions. It is task
of responsibility for a simple EN-.
try in red ink on the financial
ledgerR will mark the error in
judgment.
The rise OF Mr.. Payette to
eminence in the entertainment
world In washington parallels
the steady advance in profits and
prominence Of the Harry Gram
dali enterprises. Everybody in
the Crandall organizetion will tell
YOU there has never been
harder and more conscientious
worker than Johnny Payette. He
1isreaards time clocks and also
schedules. The lights in his Of
flee are frequently burning after
midnight. He is at his desk
promptly in the morning. Lunch
hours are unknown In his rou-
tine. A tireless and enthusiastic
executive who loves the chores
that occupy his waking moments.
Mr.. Payette is IS years old. He
began his career In the theater
as a boy Of II in the venerable
Academy OF Music on Ninth
street. His progress with the
Staniey.Crandall amusement forces
began in 1919 and has been
marked by a steady series Of adj
yancements which have taken
him to the imposing suite OF
offices where he now presides.
The attachment and respect which
Mr.. CrandaIl holds for the ekecu-
tive genius and all-round ability
OF Mr.. Payette began shortly
after John j. allied with the
Metropolitan Theater in the ca.
pacity of assistant manager. In
two weeks he was made manager.
In 10 months he became assistant
!. general manager and fell under
the watcllful and kindly eye OF
Joseph p. Morgan. generalissimo
of the fast-growing CrandaH bus
mess.
The gradual expansion of the
CrandalI theaters to all sections
OF Washington, to Frederick, Md;
Martinsburg, w. Va. and Balti-
more. Nd. was undertaken by
Mr.. Crandau with the advice and
assistance of General Manager
Morgan and his busy and ever
IL. GFscV n
extended his theaters the task OF
keeping the screens occupied with
suitable entertainment cellulOid be-
came an ever present problem
and gradually the responsibility
was entirely shifted to the willing
shoulders of Mr.. Payette.
his latter duty had its pleas
ant features. Mr.. CrandalIs
lovely daughter. Dorothy. early
became a screen fan. 1t was her
delight to get a preliminary peep
at the pictures which were to be
shown in her fathers theaters
and she became regular atten-
dant at the previews. An ad'
miration for the always busy as
sistant general manager evolved
a stronger attachment and, the
regard being mutual, the newt
able happened. And SO they were
married. some two months ago.
Which accounts for the pictures
of a strikinglv pretty girl adorn-
ing his desk. They have a pre-
tentious home at 1910 Sixteenth
st. y. W., and HE in the sum-
mer to an estate on South River
for weekend vacations. Golf is
his leisure hobby.
A native Washingtonian. he
loves the city. Just a month be-
fore he purchased his home. the
Payette services were sought by
the Fabian motion picture inter
ests in a highly responsible ca
pacity. 1t meant leaving his home
town and reluctantly the propose
was declined. With retirement or
Mr.. Morgan from the theater
world to the post OF director of
the Crandall. Morgan outside en-
terprises, the duties of Mr.. Pay
cite were increased and the title
OF supervisor created.
His pre-Crandall- experience IN
cluded the management of the
Rhode Island Theater tiny five