Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1945)

12 EXPLOITS Suggestions for Selling the Picture ; Adlines for Newspaper and Programs SELLING ANGLES: “Out of This World Stage a contest for girl orchestras with winner getting a week's booking with the picture. Or, if that's too ambitious, apply the competition to amateur swoon crooners. In the foyer put up life-size cutouts of Eddie Bracken and Bing Crosby, with your P. A. system playing Crosby recordings which apparently come from the mouths of both. Window displays can be set at music stores, Western Union offices and ladies' apparel shops. CATCHLINES: The Songs Are Brighter . . . The Laughs Are Lighter . . . In This Tuneful, Love-in-Bloomful lamboree . . . They'll Put a Song in Your Heart . . Hot Rhythm . . . Sweet Romance . . . A Hep Capade of Fun ... In a Serenade of Joy. Men's Hearts Skip a Beat . . . When They Hear Diana's Glamour Girl Band . . . Girl's Swoon When Eddie Warbles . . . Western Union Messenger Saves the Day . . . With Headaches . . . Heartaches . . . And Laughter. SELLING ANGLES: "Don Juan Quilligan" There is only one selling angle to this — it's the mere idea of William Bendix as a Don Juan. Just get the outdoor paper — three-sheets, six-sheets or 24-sheets and make plenty of cutouts and plaster them all over the front and lobby. The girls will furnish the sex appeal. Also get the series of special ads and make blowups. They're in a kidding vein, broadly humorous; the ads are a laugh themselves and invite the public in on the fun. CATCHLINES: Bendix as the Screen's Great Lover Will Leave You in Stitchesl . . . The Whole Nation Will Talk About This Picture — In a Nice Way, of Coursel . . . Together Again for the First Time — Bendix and His Mirror! . . . You'll Yell, Cheer, Whistle, Scream; in Fact, We May Have to Throw You Out of the Theatre! SELLING ANGLES: “One Exciting Night" Have an essay contest advertised in your local newspaper offering passes to writers who best describe an exciting one night adventure. Winning entries can be published and displayed in the lobby. A street bally can be handled by an usher dressed as a "corpse" — dripping in blood — with a card on his back reading: “If You've Had a Dull Day, Cheer Up — Spend 'One Exciting Night' at the Theatre." CATCHLINES: SELLING ANGLES: “Incendiary Blonde” Promote “Texas Guinan" nights at local night spots with performers made up and costumed in the fashion of her time and featuring songs from the film. Stage miniature rodeo and have street ballyhoo take on same atmosphere. Tieups are limitless — beauty parlors, music stores, ladies' shops, eateries, etc. Use the “Hi, Sucker" motive in ad copy. CATCHLINES: The Most Colorful Gal of Her Day in All Her Glittering Glory . . . Texas as the Female William S. Hart . . And Texas as Queen of the Night Clubs in Their Lush “Hi, Sucker" Days. Mighty in Its Entertainment . . . It's the West With a Zest . . . It's New York at Its Best . . . Cheerful Earfuls! Sightful Eyefulsl Flashy, Gay and Glamorous . . . Big Time, Laugh Time, Fun Time! SELLING ANGLES: “The Great John L." A careful choice of stills and lobby paper and emphasis on both the masculine and feminine appeal ought to make this a strong “A" attraction. Greg McClure, as John L., has a figure like Lionel Strongheart. The youngsters eat up this stuff. For those who like a good laugh there is a Paris fight with one of those violet-scented acrobats who fight with their feet. It's a complete howl. For the romantic interest Barbara Britton, who loses John in his youth, and Linda Darnell, who wins him, there is a nice balance of emotional and eyeappeal. CATCHLINES: Boston's Legendary Strong Boy — Lovable, Brawling, Romancing Giant — Lives Again on Screen. You'll Be Punch-Drunk, Laugh-Dizzy and Slap-Happy After You See It the First Time; More So After the Second. SELLING ANGLES: “The Way Ahead" Stress the theme of Allied cooperation in the war by lobby displays of blowups of action scenes from the film, emphasizing that here is an authentic account of the battling British “Tommy," a counterpart of our GI Joe. Arrange additional displays of pictures of service men in your community, listing decorations or citations they have received. Invite veterans, men on furlough, and, if possible, a group of men from nearby camps and bases to be your guests at the premiere of the picture. Gangster's Body Found in Wax Museum . . . Corpse Suddenly Disappears . . . Police Seek Missing Body . . . Rival Reporters Involved in Murder Mystery Are Stabbed by Cupid ... A Spine-Tingling Comedy. It's a Merry Murder Mixup . There's a Shudder in Every Shadow of This Puzzling Crime . . . Shocking Carnival of Chills . . . Terrorific . . Ruthless Crime Exposed . . . Ever See a Corpse Walking? . . Well, They Did! SELLING ANGLES: “Tierra de Pasiones" The literal translation of the title, “Land of Passions," might be more freely translated as "Tragic Ground," for the story revolves around the spot on which the father was ambushed and killed and where his son avenges his death. The exhibitor will know whether his own situation calls for his stressing of the crime element in the picture or the romantic and musical parts of it. Spanish speaking population segments should have handbills distributed to them in that language, and local high school and college classes notified of the showing. CATCHLINES: The Old, Old Story of Lovers Separated by Their Positions in Life and Unsympathetic Elders . . . How a Tyrant Oppressed All the People and One Man Rebelled and Was Killed as an Outlaw . . . But His Own Son Revenged the Father as His Mother Prophesied He Would. The Bride Who Must Face the Bridal Guests in a Cart Decked With Scarlet Flowers . . . Theirs Was a Tragic Love That Ended a Tyrant's Oppression of the People. CATCHLINES: Clerk, Mechanic, Doctor — Raw Recruits . . They Learned to Deal Death and Cherish Ideals . . . The Story of Your Service Man, Any Service Man . . . They Risked Their Lives They Defeated an Enemy . . . They Accepted Danger and Asked No Thanks. Lives Uprooted as Men Are Called to Fight . . . Sacrificing Lrfe to Defeat the Foe . . Women Wait, Wonder and Pray . . . Men Complain, and Then Destroy an Enemy With Determination Born of Respect for Brothers-In-Arms. SELLING ANGLES: "Blonde Ransom” Arrange a tieup with prominent beauty shops for advance window displays exclusively for blondes. Use blonde wigs, shampoo and rinse bottles and a selection of production stills. A street bally can be handled by a striking blonde and an usher dressed as a gangster. Have the arms of the “blonde" tied to her side with the “gangster" holding the end of the rope. On his back place a card reading: “Held for Blonde Ransom at the Theatre." CATCHLINES: She Launched a Million Dollar Crime Wave . . . Just for Love . . . She Hid Out for Fun and Held Out for Love . . . It's the Devil-May-Care Affair of a Honey With Money Who Kidnaped Herself. A Merry Musical Melee . . . Racket Smashed Amidst Glamour, Mirth and Music . . . The Cards Were Stacked Against Him . . . Until a Blonde Popped in with an Ace up Her Sleeve . . . Heiress Hooks Gambler . . . But They Both Land in Jail. Am tar r t i