Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, December 3, 1949 Marines to Help Promote Iwo Jima' Authorization for 700 units of the United States Marine Corps throughout the country to give full cooperation to Republic and exhibitors on the promotion of "Sands of Iwo Jima" followed a meeting in Washington this week at which Republic President Herbert J. Yates and Director of Advertising and Publicity Steve Edwards discussed promotion plans with General Clifton B. Gates, Commandant of the U. S. Marine Corps. Yates tendered a luncheon in honor of General Gates and his staff at the Willard Hotel, where he outlined plans for premieres of the film at San Francisco and San Diego. The San Francisco opening is set for the Fox on Dec. 14, while the San Diego premiere the following day will embrace the Fox, State and Loma theatres. Following the luncheon, plans were outlined for the picture's premiere in Washington on Jan. 25 at the Warner and Ambassador theatres. George Crouch, Warner Theatres zone manager, and Frank La Fake, local director of advertising and publicity for Warner Theatres, were also in attendance. Shane Promotes 'dolV Contest in Omaha Promoting Christmas dolls for doll-less Omaha girls was the goodwill-building stunt that Manager Donald Shane of the Paramount, Omalia, envisioned as a good exploitation plug for "Oh, You Beautiful Doll." He went to the executives of the Omaha WorldHerald with his idea, and received immediate cooperation when it was explained that the dolls contributed in the contest would be turned over to the World-Herald Good Fellows for Christmastime distribution to needy girls in the city. The newspaper at once got busy with publicity, announcing that boys and girls under 16 could submit dolls in one of three divisions, with major prizes going to the winners, and that every one of the first 1,500 entrants to contribute dolls would receive a guest ticket to see "Oil, You Beautiful Doll." Manager Shane next arranged with the toy department of the Brandeis department store to be a collection agent for the dolls, which might be left either at the store or at the Paramount Theatre. The stunt immediately aroused widespread interest among the girls and boys of the city. 'Foolish Heart' to Get 2-House Xmas Premiere Samuel Goldwyn's "My Foolish Heart" will get a two-theatre Christmas day premiere at the United Artists and Four Star in Los Angeles, the producer announced this week. The premiere marks a change in policy for the Four Star which up till now has not run day-and-date with any other house. Goldwyn is said to be putting in an early run to meet the Academy Award rule that a picture must play at least one week before the end of the year to qualify for entry. 'Required Seeing' A special screening of "Lost Boundaries" at the Aladison, Richmond, Ky., for churches, civic clubs and Eastern College resulted in one of the college's instructors making the film "required seeing" for his students. Ken Carter is manager. 19 DANDREA KEEPS XMAS BUSINESS IN TOWN. With the support of the local Merchants Association, which he heads, Manager Dan Dandrea of the Stanley Theatre, Bridgeton, N. J., will keep holiday business in town by permitting those who purchase their Christmas gifts from local merchants to participate in the opportunity to receive articles of merchandise donated by the dealers. Display of the merchandise — and there seems to be plenty of it — is shown above in the lobby of the Stanley. Dandrea is doing his Christmas showmanship early. Dandrea Keeps Christmas Business In Town Through Merchant Promotion household articles. The big first prize is a twodoor sedan of a popular make which stands in front of the theatre. Only mention the theatre gets is a line in the lobby and store posters that the prizes are on display at the Stanley. But that is overlooking the recognition Manager Dandrea and his theatre are accorded for the goodwill they have won from merchants and citizens alike through participating in civic, religious and welfare undertakings in the community, in a column-long editorial in the Bridgeton Evening Nezvs. "Merchants Association Has a Real Leader" is the heading of the editorial, which goes on to say, in part : "The Bridgeton Merchants Association under the aggressive leadership of Dan Dandrea has met the challenge once again of '-out of tow'n shopping' during the holiday season. . . . The individual efforts of Mr. Dandrea . . . have been greatly responsible for the unification and enthusiasm displayed by the Association since its formation. "Mr. Dandrea has demonstrated his faith in Greater Bridgeton. And to that end he has given unselfishly of his time and has made the Stanley Theatre available to all worthy enterprises as a part of our community life. While asking for no personal accolades, Mr. Dandrea has endeavored to secure the cooperation of the people in spreading goodwill and a progressive spirit into every project. . . . The Merchants Association can take pride in its aggressive leadership." Manager Dandrea recently increased his popularity with the high school students and citizens of Bridgeton by holding a football rally in the Stanley before the local game with Collingwood (STR, Nov. 5). Take Drive-in's P.A. Plugs for Police Call When Manager Charlie Poorman of Rowland and Schumacher's new Pottsville, (Pa.) drive-in plugged "Belle Starr" over the underskyer's public address system, using the police call to touring autos. a number of patrons thought they had accidentally picked up a police call through their in-car speakers. This gave them something to talk about wnth their friends. Again the merchants of Bridgeton, N. J., are indebted to a theatreman for promoting their year-end holiday business, as they were last Christmas, through a bonus coupon arrangement whereby those purchasing their Christmas gifts from local merchants, instead of spending their money in out-of-town department stores, will have an opportunity to win prizes from the $5,000 worth of articles donated by Bridgeton merchants. That theatreman is Dan Dandrea, manager of the Stanley Theatre. With the active support of the Merchants Association, which he heads, he has again put across his free Christmas bonus gifts and donated the use of the Stanley lobby to display the hundreds of prizes, redeemable through bonus coupons received for purchases from local merchants. One whole side of the lobby is devoted to displaying the articles, among which are deep freezers, gas ranges, refrigerators, bicycles, chests of silverware, electric heaters, electric mixers, radios, television sets and many other NOT SO HAPPY. The sign says "I Was Framed by 'Johnny Stool Pigeon'," and the doorman seems none too happy about it. Anyway, this lobby stunt on the UniversalInternational film was used at Springer's Triangle Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y., by Manager Murray Spector. The frame drew much attention and laughs galore.