The Moving Picture Weekly (1919-1922)

Vol. 15, No. 14 The Moving Picture Weekly 23 Bit} MONEY PRIZES the contestants submitted essays telling what ten articles carried by stores advertising on the page they would want if they were to be shipwrecked, where they would purchase it (of the stores tying-up with the ad) and why they would get the article at that particular store. Prizes amounting to $25 were given; the theatre's ad space cost $20. Mr. Meyer's best bet, however, was the running of a news story among the news columns every day in the Hamilton Journal, calling attention to the fact that the Journal is publishing a coupon, which when accompanied by 10 cents, will admit a child to see the current chapter of "Robinson Crusoe." The Journal has obligated itself to use no less than three columns of local news space devoted to this item each day and will publish coupons every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the engagement. Besides the above-mentioned stunts, 2,000 rulers and other especially-designed souvenirs were distributed. ME. MEINERT, manager of the Arcade and Scottdale Thea* tres, Scottdale, Pa., won one of the week's $50 on what is probably the most economical and effective exploitation employed during the current week. Despite general depression, this exhibitor knew that if he could put over the first chapter, the general excellence of "The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" would carry the remaining episodes through. Here is how Mr. Meinert put it over with a minimum of expense: He tied up ten Scottdale merchants for 250 tickets each, which he sold them for 3 cents apiece, each good for one admission to the Arcade Theatre on Monday and Tuesday until 7:30 p. m. The ten merchants gave these tickets free with each purchase of 50 cents. Mr. Meinert played along with the merchants by running slides on the screens of his two theatres advising his patrons that they could obtain PARENTS Please read this carefully i to announce the big chapterplay made from that Btirring romance of adventure and spirit that you loved to read In your youth— ROBINSON CRUSOE. WE have the extreme pleasi first epL&ode of a great N bringing thi* splendid pirtnriwtlon to this the-•xe, w8 feel certain that we are offering this mmuTAty the clean, healthy type of chapterthat parents and teacher* want for the younger play that parents and teach* generation. FATHERS especially will appreciate 'tbia djjracter-baild:!te picture of ROBINSON CRUSOE, who by his determination and Inventiveness, overcame tremendous obstacles — thrilling adventures of a boy who made himself into a real man. UNIVERSAL has made this great rtory bto a chapter-ploy full of historical event* sure to educate as wall as entertain. To you ROBINSON CRUSOE wfll bring back happy memories of your youth — u>7our children the tingle of healthy excitement Com* and bring the children. Yon have our word for it — in all of the eighWen episodes, one of which will be shown at thia theatre each week, there Is not a single situation or scene which your children should not see. Don'fc miss a Single episode. Presented as an Extra" Added Attraction EVERY SATURDAY AFTERNOON From 1 to 6 p. m., starting APRIL 22nd house was filled to "S. R. O." continuously. Mr. Taylor used a loud-speaking attachment, making it possible for the entire audience to hear his program. Connected to the apparatus was a concealed wire running back to a dressing-room behind the stage where a man spoke into a detectagraph. During the "Radio Program" the forthcoming chapter-play was described and praised, giving the impression that the information on "The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" came "over the air." He followed up this stunt with a cleverly-worded letter to the children of his town, describing a novel contest. Each child's ticket for a special children's matinee cost 5 cents. Ten votes were given with each ticket. The child with the greatest number of votes at the expiration of the eighteen chapters will receive a live parrot. In addition, the winner will receive a fivedollar gold piece as soon as he or she teaches the parrot to say "Universal." The entire (Continued on Page 26) This Letter to Parents Worked Like a Charm for the Hamilton, free' tickets for the Universal chapterplay by trading at such-and-such stores. The news spread like wild-fire, soon every child in town was asking about the chapter-play, and, in many instances, merchants came back for more tickets. Three days before he opened his box-office, Mr. Meinert had $72 in cash. He played to 1,350 children in two matinees (500 the first and 850 the second) and had to close his doors at 4 p. m. M $50 [JOURNAL t SB | COUPON J This coupon, when, accoppanied by 10c, wBl admit any child, np to ' 14 years of age, to the PALACE THEATRE, on Satnrday afternoon, I between 1 and 5 p. m., to see the entire show, including , "THE ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON CRUSOE" l CHAPTER ONE. APRIL 22. Fred S. Meyer Grabbed Off a Lot of Space With This Coupon R. TAYLOR, manager of the Amuzu Theatre, Big Stone Gap, Va., and another of the week's prize-winners, took advantage of the present radio craze to put over the first chapter of "The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe." He installed a wireless receiving set on the stage of his theatre and advertised that, on a certain night, in addition to .his regular program, he would give the people of Big Stone Gap a "Radio Program." At least 99% of his townspeople had never seen or heard a wireless set in operation; consequently his WIN! A TRIP TO CATALINA ISLAND ALL EXPENSES PAID O B I N ROBINSON CRUSOE Kept track of time by building a big wooden cross in which be cut a notch for each day of the week. Cut out this cross, write your name in the upper blank arm and get the manager to punch enough holes in it to give you a free trip to the only available Island in the Pacific. u HOW? A Cross will be given every boy oi girl the first time he or she buys e ticket to the Rob insoh Crusoe Saturday Matinee. Everytime a cross holder bringsa new patron to the mat inee the Cashiei will punch a bole in his cross. The boy or gir] having the most oi these punch holes June 24th, will be given free a Excursion to Catalina Island. Mr. Woodhouse's Stunt Can Be Adapted to Any Locality