The Moving picture world (November 1926-December 1926)

December 11. 1926 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 427 Chicago Girl Wins Chance In Comedies Ruth Perrine, a 17-year-old girl of Chicago, won the Film Fun-ny Girl Contest which was recently brought to a close by Film Fun. The winner, according to the rules of the contest, will be given an opportunity to make good in Educational-Billy Dooley Comedies at the Christie Studios for a salary of $100 per week, the trial period lastin^i; four weeks. Wins Over 2,000 Contestants were judged solely on the photographs they submitted, and Miss Perrine was selected winner from nearly 2,000 photographs received by Film Fun. Miss Perrine is a high school student and a talented girl, for she has been aiding her mother in teaching dancing at the studio in Chicago. She has studied both music and dancing and does stage and ball room dances. "Bud" Is In Again! Bud Duncan, who made his debut in comedies with Lloyd Hamilton, is featured in "Dear Season," a one-reel Cameo Comedy, which is nearing completion at the Education Studios. "Close Shaves" Helen Foster and Anita Garvin, two beauties who are favorites with comedy fans, hav.principal feminine roles ni "Close Shaves," the latest Educational-Tuxedo Comedy featui • ing Johnny .Arthur. A Talented Star Kathryn McGuire, leading in Educational Lupino Lane Comedies. Cash Prizes Announced for ^Laugh Month' Exploitation Total of $430 Will Be Split Up Among the Showmen Who Play Up Their Shorts; Trade Paper Editors to Decide THE NATIONAL LAUGH MONTH COMMITTEE announces that it will award $430 in cash prizes to exhibitors or theatre e.mp\ujee.> conducting the best exploitation campaigns tying up with Laugh Month during January, 1927. The prizes will be awarded after the 15th of February, 1927, and are divided as follows: First prize, $200; second prize, $100; third prize, $50; fourth prize $25; three prizes of $10 each; five prizes of $5 each. Charming Ruth Taylor with Mack Sennett's "Hesitating Horses,'' for Pathe. "Mister Chump" Aileen Lopez, vvl;o recently appeared as Lloyd Hamilton's leadiiiR lady, is seen in "M'sU-r Chump," the Educational Cameo Comedy featuring Phil Dunham, The awarding of the prizes will be in the hands of a committee of judges consisting of the editors-in-chief of six national trade publications : William A. Johnston, Motion Picture News ; Frank Ortega, Moving Picture World; Martin J. Quigley, Exhibitors Herald; Arthur James, Motion Pictures Today; Fred J. McConnell, Exhibitors Daily Review, and Maurice Kann, Film Daily. The contest is open to all exhibitors, house managers, publicity representatives or others responsible for the originating and executing of theatre pub Witwer Week" Will Be "Laugh Month" Feature JANUARY 2ND TO 8TH will vJ be known throughout the country as National Witwer Week. It has been designated so by the Film Booking Offices in recognition of the splendid humorous contributions made by the well-known writer, H. C. Witwer, for the pleasure and uplift of humanity, and incidentally to usher in National Laugh Month. Stars in all branches of the amusement world who have devoted their lives to the profession of keeping humanity in good humor have taken kindly to the thought of Witwer Week. Expressions of appreciation are coming in to the F.B.O. offices daily from many famous comedians indicating their delight at the movement started by F.B.O. Sir Harry Lauder, famous purveyor of Scotch comics, says of the value of comedy to the human race : "Comedy is an attraction. Men pay to laugh. It is worth while to laugh. It gives one an appetite for more laughter. A good laughable joke, a comedy laugh song, a good laughable comedy or character will travel further and last longer than a weird tale or tragedy. Let us laugh! He who creates comedy characters or laughable episodes, whether for the screen or the spoken stage, is worth his weight in gold." Joe Termini, the somnolent melodist, Benny Rubin, Cy Landry and many others, all wellknown vaudeville headliners, specializing in keeping humanity in tears of laughter, have indicated their desire to support Witwer Week and Laugh Month. For many years the stories written by H. C. Witwer have been published in various weekly publications and also in book form, by G. P. Putnam's Sons. In recent years he has taken to writing for the films, his best known stories having been the series of "Bill Grimm's Progress" and "Wisecrackers," both series of twelve pictures each, produced by F.B.O. At this time F.B.O. has also in production Mr. Witwer's first full length feature story called "Her Father Said No," featuring Mary Ecian, Kit Guard and Al Cooke. licity and exploitation campaigns. There are no restrictions as to the size of the theatre, and the amount of money spent will not enter into the decision of the judges, the awards being made to those who in the opinion of the jury have conducted the best campaigns for their particular theatres and under their own peculiar circumstances. In the event of a tie in any of the classes, equal prizes will be awarded the tying contestants. For this contest an exploitation campaign may include newspaper advertising, newspaper exploitation tie-ups, straight newspaper publicity, tie-ups witf merchants, straight street ballyhoos, straight theatre ballyhoos or any other form of exploitation stunt. In submitting an entry in this contest, the exhibitor should describe each factor in his campaign in detail, as the judges will consider the campaign as a whole and take into consideration the co-ordination of the various factors of the campaign. Feb. 15 Is Limit Entries can be sent in any time during January, but no entry will be eligible if received at the offices of the Committee later than noon, February 15, 1927. Exhibitors may use either the blank herewith in sending in their entries, or they may give the required information without using blanks. All entries must be mailed to the National Laugh Month Committee, 469 Fifth avenue, New York, so that they will be received by the committee before the closing date mentioned above. In announcing this year's Laugh Month exploitation contest for exhibitors, the Committee stresses the fact that the exhibitor cannot get busy too soon in thinking of his campaign. The press book, it is annc unced, is rapidly nearing completivin.