Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1930)

July 5, 19 3 0 Motion Picture N e zv s 57 MANAGE!?!' KCLND TABLE CLUB Patrons Caught Fish And Then Bert Caught Them Here's a couple of ideas that will pay you a profit to look into. They have all that is needed to pep up interest in a picture and when you figure the added interest that ^^— — ^=^^=^^=^=^^= their novelty attracts, is it any wonder that they click? These two stunts were used by Bert Bickert, manager of the Palace Theatre in Marion, Ohio and formed part of his campaign on "The Big Pond" and Paramount on Parade." He obtained a watering tank that was 4 feet wide and 8 feet long. This was surrounded with artificial grass, filled with water and then placed twenty artificial fish in the tank. Each patron was permitted to fish once. And since one of the 20 fish was marked, any person getting this particular fish on his or her hook was permitted to see the picture without cost. A card on an easel alongside the tank read: "Free Tickets to see and hear Maurice Chevalier in THE BIG POND — Tues., Wed., Thurs. — if you catch the lucky fish you get a free ticket. — Try Your Luck! No Charge!" The tank was on exhibition for five days in advance of picture and not only afforded much amusement among the patrons but was an excellent plug for the picture. \ "*^ > hj?.t*fllWS***^ Plugging Songs Is A Cinch If Done Fulton's Way The other photo shows the stunt he arranged with a group of boys whereby they would stage a parade about the city streets. 22 signs — each carrying the name of one of the stars appearing in the picture were carried by the boys in the parade. Two other signs were also carried in the parade; one reading, "Paramount on Parade" and the other, "Palace — Now Showing." The signs supported by a two-foot piece of wood made an unusual sight as the boys marched through the principal business section as well as visiting other places where there were crowds of people. And when the residents saw the strange cavalcade they all halted until they spelled out the name that the boys were carrying thus proving what Bickert has always maintained "get them looking, then they'll talk; after that selling is easy." In all of the accounts we have presented of the work being turned out by R. K. Fulton, manager of the Broadway Theatre in Council Bluffs, la., we guess you have noticed the completness of his campaigns, and this campaign that he turned out on "Honey" is just as sweet as the rest of them. He tied up with a local merchant, who donated a $50 Nancy Carroll hope chest that we are showing in the photo, in addition to having a full co-operative window display, running special newspaper ads and paying a half share of the cost of the special heralds and the exchange heralds. The main idea of the contest was to find the girl who could sing the song, "In My Little Hope Chest," the best. Judging was to be entirely by audience applause. The contestants were given specific nights to sing during the week in advance of the opening night of picture. One girl was adjudged winner of each night's contest and she was to appear in the final contest on Sunday night — the opening day of picture. The preliminary contests during the week not only plugged the Sunday opening, but also built up the week days' business inasmuch as each contestant was urged to get all of her friends to come and cheer for her. Each contestant made a canvass of the city to get all her friends present on the night she took part in the preliminaries. "A CALENDAR SUGGESTION" Our "Showman's Calendar," an idea which originated with the Club, has been received in many and sundry ways throughout the world. One of the best gags called to our attention in connection with this manager's aid, was the filing of the "calendar" box each week. This is then used as ready reference guide for both the present and the future and in the next year or two will act as a sort of advance reminder even ahead of our own regular announcement. Do not underrate the value of the "Showman's Calendar." On the contrary you should be taking advantage of it each and every week. In order to give you this service the Club had to prepare months in advance for its publication. Libraries were combed for information, almanacs were referred to and the Club corresponded with over forty-five organizations and others so as to insure the accuracy of the information we convey. We felt that the innovation was worth while and the fact that this has been copied in so many different quarters makes us more than certain that our efforts have not been in vain. M. R. T. C. The local newspaper gave 100% co-operation; the theatre receiving advance stories on the contest besides stories announcing each day's winner and the final winner. The contest was also plugged over the local radio station for a week in advance as well as mentioning that the girl winner would sing over the radio. To help make a thorough job of the publicity angle of the picture, Fulton tied up with seven music stores, each of them devoting a full window on the song hits, "In My Little Hope Chest," "Sing, You Sinners," and "Let's Be Domestic." A tie-up with Liberty Magazine distributor resulted in each boy salesman carrying a card on his bag inscribed "Honey." Each one of these boys also distributed a herald to their customers as well as seeing that every newsdealer was provided with a window card on the attraction. In return for their efforts, the boys were admitted to the theatre free to see the picture. So completely was the campaign covered that the residents of the city were talking about the various stunts a couple of days after the picture was finished and by this time Fulton had already gotten his new campaign under way, and recorded the various stunts down to send to the Club. Right, "R. K."?