Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 26, 1942)

Page 6 RED THOMPSON, Rex, Lon-¢ don, held an anniversary night celebration. He distributed heralds in real good spots, advertising a “Big Surprise Party—Fun for All" and as an extra added attraction gave a snappy stage and screen show, with music, thrills, comedy and prizes. As each adult entered the theatre, he was given a number of which a duplicate was held. The number was called from the stage and the person holding the lucky number was asked to guess the name of a song that was being played from the stage. If the answer was correct, the winner was given a prize. A good time was had by all. u * * ACK ALEXANDER, Brock, Toronto, by way of a novelty, flashes “Household Hints’ on the screen each week—the women folk love it. For the men Jack flashes a current joke or two. Last week Jack invited the Dundas-Brockton softball team who won the Championship in this league, to be guests at the Brock for one night. The invitation was accepted and Jack and his theatre were accorded a hearty vote of thanks. As all the players live in this district, it got a nice hunk of publicity. USA Raw Film Freeze Doesn't Affect Us The order of the War Production Board of the United States freezing raw film stock will have no affect on the Canadian situation. The order commended that no more 35 mm. film be made available for commercial advertising via screen. About ninety per cent of positive film, which is used for prints, is made in Canada, with all but the slightest amount of negative film, used in the camera, being imported. There is no evidence yet that the United States officials will check the use of the negative stock in Canada. Canadian companies, such as Filmart and Associated Screen News, have turned out commercial trailers of various kinds, such as premium ads and short reels boosting motor and electrical company products. This has fallen off of late and the time has been devoted to making instructional reels. Thompson Narrates Corey Thompson handled narration for two special news clips prepared by Associated Screen Studios last week. One, entitled “Taxes to beat the Axis,” was for the National Film Board, explaining the new income tax schedules, and the second for Consolidated Theatres, Montreal, ‘Columnist Leaves for the War Zone,” was an interview with L. S. B. Shapiro prior to his departure for England as a war correspondent. Canadian FILM WEEKLY 1 5 dl” p 'w/ CONTRIBUTED.BY CANADIAN SHOWMEN @ FOR CANADIAN SHOWMEN Contributions to this column will be greatly appreciated from any member of the motion picture industry, from coast to coast, whether he has chain affiliations or is strictly independent. Address all letters to “What Did You Do?” o /o Film Weekly 21 Dundas Sq., Toronto, Ont. TUART SMART, of the Capitol, Port Hope, is just what his name implies — Smart! Stuart keeps his eye peeled for opportunity and when it knocks—he’s ready, willing and able. At the ceremonies in connection with the launching of the minesweeper, “Port Hope,” the chairman announced over the P.A. that officers and crew of the ‘Port Hope” were invited by the management of the Capitol theatre to attend the show that evening. Many favorable comments were forthcoming. Stuart also arranged with the National Film Board to send a cameraman to take pictures of the ceremonies in connection with the launching of the minesweeper and he covered it very thoroughly. Mr. Smart expects to do a lot of business on this one. Along with ‘Roxie Hart,’’ the Capitol is playing a Metropolitan Life Insurance reel on food and health. Metropolitan agents are distributing heralds to all their policy holders in the district. % * “ RRAY ATKINS, Kenwood, Toronto, invited 100 soldiers to see “Sergeant York.” The soldiers marched from Shaw street up to the theatre on Bloor street, a military band leading the parade. This created a lot of good will and the Kenwood got a very nice writeup in the daily papers. * * * OUIS SIMMONS, assistant manager at the Regent, Sudbury, arranged a large lobby display with two Jitterbugs “Going to Town.” Copy read “Here are your Jive words translated into English.” On a large card were printed 30 Jive words with the English translation. This setup attracts a great deal of attention particularly among the young folk. On “The Spoilers” a stunt is being worked out with an exclusive jeweler’s establishment, advertising based on raw gold and the finished product. Gold nuggets made by painting chunks of coal with gold paint will be displayed in the window. A large front is being built for the theatre, plugging the Klondike.angle. RNEST REID, Assistant Manager of the Vanity, Windsor, had a street bally on “Pittsburgh Kid.”” Two very small boys with boxing gloves big enough for their grandfather, paraded with copy “We just saw Billy Conn, etc.” The town folks liked it. The gloves were promoted from a_ sporting goods store. On “Moonlight Masquerade’’ Ernie arranged a special Moonlight Masquerade number to be played by the orchestra at two central dance halls—playing only songs that contained the word “Moonlight” and after each song special mention of the theatre and, playdates were given over the P.A. system. For “They All Kissed the Bride” a display of stills was arranged in the lobby one week in advance and moved out front currently. Radio mention over a women’s | morning club, in advance and dur ing the run. Jitterbug lessons were offered (from the picture) in the personal column of the newspaper. Heralds widely distributed completed the campaign. = = * N “The Fleet’s In” Chuck Smith, Royal, North Bay, had a tieup with a music store which displayed sheet music and Jimmy Dorsey’s recording from the picture. Radio spots, window and lobby display, and an offer of a free pass to the first sailor in uniform to enter the theatre during this showing brought satisfying publicity. For ‘‘The Westerner,’’ Chuch arranged a window and lobby display and a radio quiz on the story, accompanied throughout by Western music. x * ” ILL CUPPLES, Grand, Sudbury, planted displays well in advance for “Suez.” Heralds and window cards went to the outlying districts. On “Shores of Tripoli” a P.A. system was rigged up with a horn on the marquee. The Marine Hymn was played intermittently for the three-day run This drew much attention and ° ANNIE SWADRON, August 26th, 1942 Tivoli, Kingston, on his campaign for an “All laugh’”’ program, placed one-sheets with appropriate copy in and around Barriefield Military Camp, carried through with 11 x 14’s in key spots around town and finished up with a onesheet board in front of the theatre that attracted considerable attention and held the passerby until contents were fully digested. The copy was titled “RATION NOTICE” and read as follows— “In accordance with the wartime regulations, all patrons attending the showing of “At the Circus” with the Marx Bros. and “Miss Swiss” with Laurel and Hardy, will be restricted to 1001 laughs. Any patron violating the above ruling, is liable to pains in the sides or tearing of the eyes, or both. Furthermore, the manager will assume no _ responsibility whatsoever to patrons rolling out of their seats during the showing of these features.” Mannie says it was surprising to note how the above copy stopped the passersby and held their interest, until they had read it through, at which point they continued on their way with a grin from ear to ear. Nice going Mannie, it’s tops. Cast English Star Anna Lee, English stage and screen actress featured in “How Green Was My Valley,” has joined the notable list of players in the Paul Muni starrer, ‘Commandos Come at Dawn.” > CONTRACT SALES OFFICE PHONE TR.1257 G™* FLOOR