Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

• ADLINES & EXPLOITI PS • 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 B U S I N E S S B U I L D I N G 'Love or Money' Trip Sponsored by Store Harlow Hickenlooper, host of the Three Stooges show on WFBM-TV, Indianapolis, looks over the line of fans going into the downtown Circle Theatre, part of 2,500 who showed up for his Three Stooges Movie Party Saturday morning showing of "The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze." TV-Promoted Movie Party Attracts 2,500 To Downtown Theatre for Three Stooges' “For Love or Money” is an ideal exploitation title, and Edward Miller, manager of the Paramount in Buffalo, and Bob Ungerfeld, Universal publicist, created a toplevel campaign around it. The big gimmick was an expense-paid weekend for two couples in New York, taking in the sights, night clubs, theatre and stage shows, etc., which was awarded in a gigantic drawing sponsored by Sattler’s department store, one of the city’s biggest. The store proclaimed the big prize through 12 days via ads, radio-TV, and store and window cards, and distributed 150,000 “For Love or Money” coupons for the big drawing, held in the store. Some 25,000 lucky bucks were purchased by the theatre and given out long in advance, and guest tickets awarded via the lucky number routine with a lobby poster. Sixteen Empire State News Co. trucks plugged both the picture and the Gold Medal book. Twenty-five book cards with full credits, were displayed in store book racks, at a total cost to theatre of $1.25 (distribution) . Twenty 11x14 easeled posters using special tieup stills — hairdo, dresses, spots, stocking makeup, etc. — were placed in selected locations. The Sunday Courier-Express carried a two -page pictorial preview in its roto section. An Inquiring Photographer question, “Would you marry for love or money?” was submitted. Radio stations WEBR, WUFO, WKBW and WGR helped with special contest. WEBR gave 25 pairs of guest tickets for the longest lists of Kirk Douglas starring vehicles. WUFO went for the limerick contest suggested in the special bulletins received from New York, for another 25 pairs of guest tickets. WKBW tied in with its “Magic Key” station promo, and gave theatre plugs in return for guest ticket prizes. WGR gave ten announcements, with full credits, each day for a full week, or a total of 70 announcements, tieing in with S&H Green Stamp promo. This latter contest resulted in more than $500 in gratis announcements. Expresso Coffee With '8 Vz' Sperie P. Perakos, Perakos Theatre Associates, served free Expresso coffee at the opening of “8 Yz” at the de luxe Elm in Hartford, Conn. A local merchant cooperated. How’s this for getting a crowd downtown? And in the theatre? The lineup pictured above shows part of the 2,500 persons who came to the Circle Theatre in Indianapolis to see “Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze.” No, they didn’t pay admission to the Saturday morning affair. That would have been perfect if they had, but the big party did result in many cash customers at the Circle boxoffice. It was a Three Stooges Movie Party sponsored by WFBM television station, arranged by B. J. Blankenship, Circle manager, assisted by E. J. Clumb, Greater Indianapolis Amusement Co. general manager, and Don Mott, publicist, who worked with Hal Fryar, who conducts a Saturday morning Three Stooges telecast. WFBM started the buildup for its Three Stooges Movie Party four weeks ahead of opening when the station made spot invitations to Three Stooges fans to write in for their complimentary tickets to a special showing of “The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze” at the Circle Theatre. The response was overwhelming, according to WFBM officials. They placed a limit of four tickets to a family, but the supply was exhausted by the second Saturday. But the hoopla for the big free Three Stooges Movie Party was continued with plug promos used throughout the day. The free time thus devoted to the film figured at over $2,000. WFBM-TV cameras were on hand to take motion pictures of activities at the Three Stooges Movie Party. This film was shown on weekend newscasts and later on the Three Stooges program. The WFBM Sound of the City radio mikes were also on the scene to record exciting moments of the Three Stooges Movie Party. Before the showing, there was a stage presentation by WFBM personalities Harlow Hickenlooper, the Three Stooges program host; Captain Star and Curley. And showman Mott got into the act, when he wound up the stage affair by throwing a pie in the face of Happy Harlow. This is the way the Saturday morning telecast always ends. Mott comments his stage life was short but happy! College Entry Crowds Given #Irma' Heralds On the Sunday and Monday before the opening of “Irma La Douce” at the Fine Arts Theatre in Denton, Tex., approximately 14,000 college students crowded into town for fall registration. Along with their class cards, most of them received news of the coming of “Irma.” Geneva Wood, manager, had two boys at the college on the registration days passing out heralds. A pretty girl who was dressed like Irma visited the local radio dee jay and was interviewed on the air ten minutes. The next minute she similarly visited the newspaper offices, and received photo-interviews. BOXOFFICE Showmandiser ;; Nov. 11, 1963 — 177 — 1