Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 22 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW June 24, 1939 FOR BETTER SHOW SELLING Showmanalyses Have Appeared In STR on Following Pictures Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Feb. 18 Bridal Suite June 3 Broadway Serenade April 1 Captain Fury May 20 JJark Victory April 22 Flying Irishman March 11 Hardys Ride High April 22 Honolulu Feb. 4 Hound of the Baskervilles March 25 Juarez June 10 King of the Turf Feb. 25 Little Princess Mar. 4 Lucky Night May 13 Made For Each Other Feb. 18 Man of Conquest April 29 Only Angels Have Wings May 27 Prison Without Bars April 8 Pygmalion March 11 Spirit of Culver March 18 Story of Alexander Graham Bell April IS Streets of New York April 15 Tail Spin Feb. 4 Tarzan Finds A Son! This Issue Three Musketeers Feb. 11 Three Smart Girls Grow Up March 25 Union Pacific May 6 Wife, Husband and Friend Feb. 25 Wings of the Navy Feb. 11 You Can't Cheat An Honest Man Feb. 18 Young Mr. Lincoln June 10 Zenobia Mar. 18 Home-Made Movie Has Crowds Storming Theatre Are you weak and run-down at the exploitation heels? Do you see spots before your eyes every time you try to think of a new idea? Well, don't fret. We're going to tell you about a stunt which, according to actual proof, had a whole town talking and had them hanging on the theatre's chandeliers. Ever been down in Teague, Texas? Well, there's a theatre there — The Star — and it's managed by a showman known as Floyd Faubion. Now Floyd had the same problem. He had used almost every other businessbuilding stunt imaginable; he wanted to do something a little different. And he did. And here's how: He hired the Jamison-Handy Film Company to bring a camera and sound-recording equipment to Teague. Then five of the loveliest girls from the theatre's trade territory were selected for a screen test. For the one who screened the best, a cash prize of $25 was awarded. Following this, sound pictures were made of the local football team and band in action. As soon as the print was ready for exhibition, Floyd advertised the "Show of a Lifetime! See yourself in a real movie! This picture was made right here in Teague, starring Teague people, etc." How the crowds swarmed in the theatre to "see themselves." Not enough patrons could get inside during the two-day exhibition of the picture, so to satisfy them Floyd brought the picture back the following week for a return engagement. What he made in extra profits more than covered the expense of having the movies made. If we were an exhibitor, we'd grab this idea so fast our head would swim. Thanks to Floyd Faubion for a grand and profitable suggestion — one that, incidentally, also promotes goodwill. They'll be coming back again and again to see themselves on the screen. We remember once when we were in the mob scene of a home town movie, we always tried to find ourselves, but never could. Yet, we can prove we were right there, although we have no witnesses now to prove it. Des Moines to be Site Of Premiere of '^Career Hollywood Luminaries, Talent Search Winners, Will Attend Celebration Des Moines will go completely Hollywood on July 2, when Iowa's capital city will play host to the world premiere of the RKORadio production, "Career," in which the two new discoveries of Jesse L. Lasky's first "Gateway to Hollywood" talent quest make their debuts. Thousands of visitors are expected to pour into the city to participate in the gala two-day festival which will launch this downto-earth screenplay written by Phil Stong. Des Moines was selected for the "Career" premiere because of the film's Iowa setting. Stong, the author, is a former Des Moines newspaperman and is the writer of such successes as "State Fair," "Village Tale" and "Stranger's Return," novels about the midwest that were transferred to the dramatic medium of the screen. Talent Search Winners on Hand Not only will Des Moines see the initial presentation of Alice Eden and John Archer, raised to the Hollywood firmament by the first Lasky talent search, but the "birth" of two new potential stars — Virginia Vale and Robert Stanton — Cinderella selections of the second "Gateway to Hollywood" talent quest which will reach its culmination coincident with the premiere of "Career." For two days lowans will rub elbows with a galaxy of Hollywood's luminaries including Anne Shirley, Edward Ellis, Leon Errol, Janet Beecher, Raj^ond Hatton and the new starlets, Alice Eden and John Archer. From the movie capital, too, will come screen star Jean Hersholt who is equally noted for his portrayal of "Doctor Christian" in the popular radio series of the same name. More than a score of film executives, writers and radio players led by Jesse L. Lasky, Leigh Jason, director of "Career" and Phil Stong, will come from the West Coast, New York and Chicago. To Arrive on Special Streamliner Festivities will actually get under way o.) the morning of July 1, when the Hollywood party will arrive in Des Moines aboard their special streamliner to be greeted by a reception committee of distinguished citizens headed by G. Ralph Branton, general manager of the Tri-State Theatres and Gardiner Cowles, Jr., energetic publisher of the Des Moines Register Tribune, who has thrown the full strength of his organization behind the premiere of "Career." On Sunday afternoon, July 2, within an hour of the time when John Archer and Alice Eden will first appear on the screens of the Paramount and Orpheum theatres in Des Moines, Jesse L. Lasky will reveal to millions of listeners on the CBS coast-tocoast Doublemint program, the identities of the boy and girl selected for potential stardom in the second "Gateway to Hollywood" talent search. The wind-up broadcast will emanate from the huge Des Moines Shrine Auditorium, which seats 4,500 persons. The two young aspirants whose names may shine as brightly as those of Ginger Rogers, Irene Dunne and Bing Crosby, will get their first roles in the forthcoming RKORadio production, "Three Sons." A social whirl rivalling New York and Hollywood activities at the peak of the season will introduce the filmland celebrities to their Iowa hosts. Starting with a luncheon at the Younkers Store on Saturday afternoon, July 1, they will be whisked through a series of personal appearances in Des Moines and the National Collegiate Championship golf tournament at the picturesque Wakonda Country Club. Climaxing Saturday's festivities leading up to the premiere of "Career" will be a gala Movie Ball which will be held in two of the largest outdoor dance pavilions in Iowa — the Val-Air and Riverview Park ballrooms. And Iowa's prodigious hospitality will not end there. On Sunday, after a morning and afternoon crammed with more personal appearances, attendance at church services — Hollywood's triumphant contingent will proceed en-masse to the Shrine Auditorium to attend the final "Gateway to Hollywood" broadcast. Des Moines movie fans will get a close-up of their cinema favorites on Sunday evening when they will make their appearance on the stages of the Paramount and Orpheum theatres in conjunction with the world premiere of "Career." Boucher Gives Roses to Ladies Attending "Love Affair" Matinees To the first hundred ladies who attended the matinee performances of "Love Affair" at the Schine Glove Theatre in Gloversville recently, Manager Frank Boucher distributed beautiful roses. Frank's opening ad was a smashing 4 column by 15-inch display which nobody could have missed. On "Dodge City," he distributed a large tabloid herald, the cost of which was borne by three merchants who took ads on the back page. "Want a Ride, Pardner?" At a local blacksmith shop E. R. Mead, manager of the Roxy Theatre, Gallatin, Term., found this old stagecoach zvhich he used as street ballyhoo to plug his shozving of Warners' "Dodge City."