Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

• ADLINES & EXPLOITIPS • ALPHABETICAL INDEX • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY • FEATURE RELEASE CHART • FEATURE REVIEW DIGEST • SHORTS RELEASE CHART • SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS • REVIEWS OF FEATURES • SHOWMANDISING IDEAS THE GUIDE TO BETTER BOOKING AND BUSINESS-BUILDING First Love or Money' Patron Wins Bond In Campaign Built Around Money Theme Polygon Table Tents For Any Type Theatre Table tents can be made in many shapes and sizes; in fact, they can be designed to fit any type of theatre, indoor or outdoor, independent or circuit operation. Don Mott, publicity director for Greater Indianapolis Amusement Co., points this out in a note describing a five-sided tent designed by E. J. Clumb, general manager of the Indiana capital city operator of four theatres and a convention facility. NEEDED FIVE SPOTS “There was a need for an unusual type of table tent on which proper advertising could be given to each of our enterprises,” Mott explains. Thus the pentagon, an attractive kiosk -like tent in multicolor which stands about six inches high. There is one side for each of the company’s operations — the Circle, Keith’s, Lyric and Indiana theatres and the Indiana roof convention facility. The tent was designed by Clumb, and they are made locally. As Mott points out, once an exhibitor gets the master die-cutting plates made, and paid for, the expense is not great — merely a matter of printing and paper cost for each change. Mott places the tents in leading Indianapolis hotel restaurants to remind the guests of the wonderful entertainment in downtown Indianapolis. LETTERS TO NEWCOMERS Clumb and Mott send a letter to every newcomer to the city. This also is a promotion that can be used in any type of theatre. The copy, prepared by Clumb, follows: We would like to welcome you to Indianapolis, the Crossroads of America. This is a city that has much to offer for family enjoyment, including the finest in motion picture theatres with the best in Cinerama entertainment. Two excellent examples of this fine entertainment can be found at our CIRCLE and KEITH'S Theatres. To help you become acquainted with these theatres and their large screen presentations (often in full color), just present this letter at the CIRCLE or KEITH'S Theatre boxoffice and you will receive two (2) admission tickets for the current attractions. The CIRCLE is located on the famed Soldiers and Sailors Monument Circle. The KEITH'S is located at 117 N. Pennsylvania Street. Both operate daily from noon until midnight. We would also like to call your attention to our INDIANA and LYRIC Theatres, both of which are reserved seat theatres — as close to you as your telephone. The LYRIC Theatre, at 121 N. Illinois Street, presents all the major roadshow motion picture attractions. The INDIANA, unique in the midwest for its architecture, presents the finest in Cinerama productions. It is the only theatre equipped for the Cinerama, wall-to-wall screen process, in the State of Indiana. The INDIANA is located at 134 W. Washington Street directly below the beautiful Indiana Roof. Yours very truly, E. J. Clumb, General Manager. P.S. If you have small children and there is a babysitting problem, please do not hesitate to call me at ME 4-2518, and we will make arrangements to extend the courtesy to the little ones. Would you stay up all night to be first in line at a theatre to see the opening of a new picture . . . for love or money? Well, one man did just that at the Keith in Cincinnati, and he received a $25 savings bond for his trouble — being the first in line to see “For Love or Money!” The idea was one of the promotions used by Keith Manager Odis R. Owens and Universal exploiter Carl Ferazza. A representative audience came at 7:30 a.m. opening day for an “early bird” show, which was followed by a quickie breakfast of doughnuts and coffee served in the lobby. During the afternoon on opening day WZIP’s popular Will Lenay show was broadcast from the Keith lobby. Two models with transistor radios tuned to the lobby broadcast, were on the downtown streets passing out “For Love or Money” bills, each stamped with a number. Pedestrians were invited to the Keith lobby to pick up prizes based on lucky numbers. Sixty “For Love or Money” albums — Capitol, Columbia, Decca and RCA — were given away during the day, as were 50 sixbottle cartons of Royal Crown Cola and a like number of Royal Crown Diet Cola. Added to this was another treat. The Fifth Street B&G Restaurant served free cookies and coffee in the lobby all day. Carrying out the money theme in all promotions, Owens and Ferazza well in advance set up numerous spot announce Ten of the “finest in foreign and domestic motion picture classics” are being presented by the Indiana (Pa.) Theatre in a special “Film Arts” series, which opened Monday, October 14, and will extend through December 17 at a package price of $3 for membership, plus 50 cents (half price) for each show attended. Each film is being shown twice nightly on Monday and Tuesday nights. On the program are Carry On, Teacher, The Balcony, Kill or Cure, The Counterfeiters of Paris, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Doctor in Love, Secrets of Women, Hamlet, Yojimbo, and Ivan the Terrible. Booklets emphasize that the Film Arts series is for “Discriminating Theatregoers Who Want . . . and Appreciate . . . Fine and Unusual Entertainment.” Will Lenay of Cincinnati radio station WZIP broadcast from the lobby of the Keith Theatre on the "For Love or Money" opening day. Two girls walked the streets carrying portable radios tuned to the Lenay program, giving away number "money" slips. Lucky numbers, posted in the lobby, were good for prizes. ments on all radio and TV stations, and in cooperation with several radio stations gave free passes using gimmicks, “Check your dollars” and “Dialing for dollars.” Newspaper ads and stories stressed the money theme. Performances are at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Individual tickets are 99 cents. '8V2' Deal With Restaurant At Buffalo Runs Month Three thousand cards stressing the Italian content of “8 V2" were passed out to all Italian-language teachers and Italian organizations in Buffalo. They also were distributed in the lobby and at Santora’s restaurant, which featured an 8 -course dinner. Joe Garvey, manager of the Granada, set up the deal with the restaurant to run throughout October with mention in radio, TV and newspaper ads. Radio station WEBR carried a “You Be the Critic” contest for record album prizes. Film Arts Twice Weekly for Ten Weeks BOXOFFICE Showmcmdiser :: Oct. 21,1963 — 165 — 1