Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1924)

February 9 , 1924 Human interest Angle Aids " Circus Days Publicity llie fact that this story appeared with a phototrraph on the front page of the Tole(h) Blade slioukl be ample proof of its veracity ; but file fact remains that Manager H. C. lloi-iiter of the Temple theatre was credited uitli an ingenious and original angie of putting over the children's matinee on "Circus l)ays." 'i he matinee was ollicially sponsored by ,Mrs. E. H. Belden, socially prominent. Airs. Belden was assisted by members of tii? We.fare chd) in holding the showing. The story, as carried by the Blade, was lo the el't'ect that the lady's worthy spouse, in learning to play Mah Jong, made so many misplays and was penalized so heavily for iheni, that his losses, at the end of the afternoon, created ((uite a sum. Sooner than frivol this unearned increment away Mrs. l^eiden decided to {)ut the money to a praiseworthy purpose. Accordingly a morning performance Avas arranged at the Temple for the children of the Miami Home. When it came to figures however. Manager Horater, according to the Blade's story, stood adamant. He refused to accei)t a cent. Also Charles Carroll arranged transportation without charge. This left a lot of money for candy and refreshment and also enabled Mrs. Belden to buy some toys for children at the home who were unable to attend. Tlie names of members of the We'fare c'ub who "assisted" as published in the Blade, sonnded like a social registry. It was sp'eiu did publicity for the picture and places Manager Horater in a c'ass by himself. Keaton Hat Made Basis of " Three Ages " Campaign One of the latest "Three Ages" exploitation campaigns on "Three Ages" comes in a report from the management of the Crf)wn theatie. Mobile, Ala. A young man, sporting a Buster Keaton hat and walking inside a barrel, on Avhich an appropriate sign had been painted, walked the streets of the citv and attended a foo.'ba i HIGH CLASS •■l-kT.XCU DOLI. WIXDOll' ('. D. llauij of the Croii n thcatic. Miihilc. wan i i'siionaihJc lor thin tciiiiloir lie kji on "The French Doll" (Metro). game where several thousMiid wei'e ])resent where he paraded the field between luilves. Buster Keaton pancake hat:; Ini'mecT ilie basis of window displays througli.)ut tlu^ city. In one drug store two windows were nsid and in each was placed a sign informing the pui)lic that one of Buster's hats Avoii'd be given away with each purchase of a certain brand of face powder. Stills, photographs of the star and signs announcing the showin :)t .li Crown lluatre were a'so used in the \\ .]n\ >w>. All the newsboys in town wore Kealon hats. Teu cut-outs of Buster and a Iidii were l)laced in windows a week in advance of 'he showiny. Five thousand heralds were d'>tribnted and ten 14 x 'M\ lian ;ers iu ":o <\ fi-ames. were p'aced in in-ominent store windows. .1. H. and C. B. King, owners of the Crown theatie co-o])erated with C. D. Hau", -Metro's e.xp'oitation man in the Southern .erriloi-. in Duttiu' the cain')ai'>n over. Elaborate Presentation on Little Old New York " An elaborate prologue with special settings was u.sed for the showing of "Little Old New York'' at the p]mpire theatre, London, lecently. Tlie settings used in the presentation aroused a great deal of comment in London. One showed a gigantic fan spread aci'oss the lowei' inner curtain of the stage. The fan was made of lace and al either end on opposite sides of the stage, was a vase ot flowers. Between the curtain and the footlights were four little houses of Colonial -tyle which helped in giving the atmi)s})hei'e of Ihe pi'oduction. Another special setting used in the i)re-entatioii was a painted drop showing a pergola in the Ibreground with just a .;;lim])se of sea and promontory in the Inick"^round. The atmospheric condition created by the settings was further enhanced by the costumes of the girl ushers. They were dressed in oldfashioned costumes, such as were worn in (he New York of 1810 — the period of the action of the picture. On the theatre front was a large mounted cut-out of Marion Davies, masquerading as a young boy as she does in the film itself. This large cut-out attracted much attention at the staid and sober Empire theatre and caused much comment. Eleven Theatres Combine on " The Hottentot " The prize for consolidated co-operation goes to the theatres of Mexico City, eleven of which boosted "The Hottentot" during the Yuletide holidays. P.aying against the strong competition of holiday festivities they combined to put over what they believed would be the strongest campaign they could obtain. Then they exploited it co-operatively in a common newspaper and billboard campaign over the signature of the following theatres: Olympia, Rialto, San Rafael, Buen Tono, Maria Guerrero, Diaz de Leon, Busarelli, Garibaldi, Tlaxpana, Mina and Flores. 1 k HOli PHIL GLEICHMAN REPRODUCED AX ARTISTS STUDIO FOR ■' THE COMMOX LAW" PROLOGUE IVhfH ■ The Common Law " {Selznicl:) xhowcd nt the Broad ira ii > triind theatre. Detroit, Manager Phil Oleichman arranged an elaborate prolnqiie. lining the nettinu shoun here.