Showmen's trade review (Apr-Jun 1946)

22 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, June 29, 1946 $1,000 Prize Offer Sparks Republic's ^Name' Contest Republic Pictures has announced an unique, nation-wide contest in connection with the forthcoming release of "My Pal Trigger," Roy Rogers outdoor film, in which $1000 in cash prizes will be donated to the authors of best names for twin colts sired by Trigger, star movie horse. Birth of the twin colts is an integral part of the film's plot. The contest has been especially designed to enable participating exhibitors to stage local contests, coincident with their showing of the film. While Republic has announced that $1000 in cash will be divided among 18 national winners, selected from the best five entries from each theatre participating, there is nothing in the contest rules to prevent exhibitors from promoting additional prizes locally for the best five local entries, these to be selected by the exhibitors or by a board of judges of their own choosing. Contest aids have been prepared by Republic, including two-color window cards suitable for lobby display ; contest blanks telling the contest story; special publicity stories planned for local planting with newspapers, etc. Contest blanks are intended for distribution through schools, stores, clubs, milk companies, etc. All contests aids are to be made available to exhibitors without charge. The press book for "My Pal Trigger" suggests that exhibitors contact local branches of the Roy Rogers Fan Club for assistance in exploitation plans for the picture. Entries in the colt-naming contest close December 31, 1946. Stars, Press to Attend Premiere of 'Passage' Under plans formulated last week, the first big press-player premiere junket since the war will be staged by Universal and Walter Wanger when "Canyon Passage" has its world premiere in Portland, Ore., on July 13. Wanger, his wife Joan Bennett, and a large contingent of screen celebrities will be flown to Portland with the Hollywood press corps on July 12 for two crowded days of civic celebration climaxed by the premiere of the picture. The event will be tied-in with the centennial anniversary of the signing of the Oregon Treaty between this country and Great Britain, with dignitaries from Canada, Washington and Idaho attending as special guests. Oregon's Governor Snell will act as official host. Martin Leaves FWC to Join MGM Ad Dept. Dave Martin, who has been with Fox West Coast Theatres for the past 12 years, is leaving that organization at the end of this month to join the advertising department of the MetroGoldwyn-Mayer studios, where he will work under the direction of Frank Whitbeck. Martin, who entered show business in 1926, has been assistant to Seymour Peiser, head of the company's advertising and publicity department, for the past two years. PLAN CAMPAIGN. Mrs. J. J. Parker (seated), president of the J. J. Parker Theatres, Portland, Ore., works out extensive plans for the Portland engagement of United Artists' "Caesar and Cleopatra." Shown here in conference with her are (standing) W. E. Calloway, UA west coast district manager; M. B. Orr, UA western sales manager; A. J. Sullivan, UA Washington-Oregon branch manager, and Harold Lake, comptroller of J. J. Parker Theatres. City-Wide Celebrations Mark ^Smoky' Premieres Gala city-wide celebrations marked the world premieres of 20th Century-Fox's "Smoky" in Denver and Salt Lake City last week. Peggy Ann Garner, Kurt Kreuger, Annabel Shaw and David Street, from the company's studio in Hollywood, attended the premieres and Smoky, the four-year-old black stallion who played the title role, was transported by airplane from Hollywood to Denver and Salt Lake City for the occasion. The governors of Colorado and Utah took part in the premiere activities which included rodeo parades, personal appearances of the stars and skywriting in color. "Smoky" also opened in more than 100 cities in Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, simultaneously with the Denver and Salt Lake City premieres. Bathing Beauty Contest Set By Loew's Theatres Applications at all Loew's theatres were awaiting prospective beauty queens this week as plans got under way for Loew's Theatres annual bathing beauty contest to select "Miss New York of 1946." Preliminary contests will be held in 30 neighborhood Loew theatres, with semi-finals in Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Manhattan and Westchester. A final contest at which "Miss New York" will be chosen, will take place at one of the large Loew New York theatres. United States Savings Bonds and other valuable prizes will be awarded the winners. Develop Premiere Plans For 'Centenial Summer' Plans for 20th Century-Fox's publicity and exploitation campaign on its world premiere of "Centennial Summer" in Philadelphia, July 10th, continue to develop apace with the latest announcements from Philadelphia giving the information that: The executive committee of the Mayor's Citizen's Committee held its first luncheon to consider plans for the world's premiere. At the luncheon Arthur W. Binnds, president of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors' Bureau, pledged the "facilities and resources" of the organization. Judge Vincent A. Carroll announced that he would confer with Chestnut and Market Street merchants to arrange a route for a parade on the morning of the premiere. Roger W. Clipp, general manager of radio station WFIL, and head of a sub-committee arranging a luncheon at the Bellevue Stratford, said that 3000 invitations had been issued. Rodney Bush and Sidney Blumenstock, director and assistant exploitation heads of the film company, promised that "all available" stars of the company not working on the lot would be brought to Philadelphia for "possibly two or three days." Irving Kahn, 20th-Fox radio director, disclosed that at least five major radio shows would originate in this city during the five-day period of the celebration. — PH. Record Musical Campaign Set for 'Night and Day' Utilizing 160 recordings of Cole Porter music released or about to be released, Warner Bros, have arranged one of the heaviest musical promotions ever accorded a film as part of the national campaign on "Night and Day," Technicolor musical based on Porter's life, chosen to keynote the company's Twentieth Anniversary of Talking Pictures. Every radio network, top name orchestra, recording artist and music shop in the country will be tied in with the campaign. RCA Victor, Decca and other recording companies are readying special "Night and Day" and Cole' Porter albums dedicated to the sound anniversary for release in August. Among leading artists who already have waxed Porter song hits are Fred Waring, Dave Rose, Mary Martin, Rise Stevens, .A.llan Jones, Ginny Simms, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and others. Ten new recordings of the song Night and Day and 22 disks of Begin the Beguine will be on the market during the anniversary celebration, and Warners have arranged for top radio shows to feature special Cole Porter melodies. 'Night and Day' Preview A screening of "Night and Day," Cole Porter musical chosen to keynote Warners' 20th Anniversary of Talking Pictures, is being held in San Francisco for local musicians, publishers an3 critics preparatory to extensive promotional activities for the film's opening there.