Exhibitors Herald (1926)

December 11, 1926 EXHIBITORS HERALD 39 Laugh Month Contest Announced LAUGH MONTH CONTEST RULES Contest open to all exhibitors or theatre employees responsible for exploitation campaigns. Campaign can include advertising, posters, publicity, ballyhoos, contests or any other form of exploitation. Description of campaign not over 200 words must be sent with each entry. Proofs or clippings of ads and publicity stories and photographs of ballyhoos, displays, etc., must be submitted. All campaigns to be eligible for prizes must tie up with Laugh Month. If campaign is based on a particular comedy, the comedy must be in the Short Feature class (not over three reels). Any contestant can enter as many separate campaigns as he desires. All entries must be received at the office of the Laugh Month Committee not later than noon, Feb. 15, 1927. } In case of tie, equal award will be made to all tying contestants. mm \ Archer at Denver For Educational; First Was Booker AP. ARCHER, manager of Education• al’s Denver branch, entered the business world in a very humble capacity and admits it. After trying his hand in several lines of business, he entered the motion picture trade in 1919 on his return with the A. E. F. from France. Archer held positions as booker, salesman and assistant manager until he joined Educational. With Educational he has been branch booker, part-time salesman and manager, having filled the position of manager of the New Haven branch before being assigned to the Denver office. Archer attended the Barnes Business College and Denver University School of Commerce after receiving his primary education in the Denver public schools. His hobby is selling and an ambition to “get on.” Swimming, horseback riding, hunting and golf are his favorite sports. A. P. Archer International Newsreel Settled in New Offices (Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Dec. 7.— The motion picture department of International Newsreel is now in new quarters at 251 West Nineteenth street. The laboratory and vaults are also at the new address. The still photograph department will remain at 226 William street for the present. Good radio programs can be sent on short wave lengths as well as long. * * * Sometimes there is better reception on the short aerial than on the long. * * * Many a short joke is as good as a long. Many a short comedy takes as well as a long. Cash Prizes On Exploiting To Total $430 ( Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Dec. 7.— The National Laugh Month Committee announces that it will award $430 in cash prizes to exhibitors or theatre employees conducting the best exploitation campaigns tying up with Laugh Month during January, 1927. The prizes will be awarded after the 15th of February, 1927, and are divided as follows: First Prize, $250; Second Prize, $100; Third Prize, $50; Fourth Prize, $25; three prizes of $10 each; five prizes of $5 each. The awarding of the prizes will be in the hands of a committee of judges consisting of the editors-in-chief of six national trade publications: William A. Johnston, Motion Picture News; Frank Ortega, Moving Picture World ; Martin J. Quigley, Exhibitor’s Herald; Arthur James, Motion Pictures Today; Fred J. McConnell, Exhibitors Daily Review and Maurice Kann, Film Daily. Contest Open to All The contest is open to all exhibitors, house managers, publicity representatives or others responsible for the originating and executing of theatre publicity and exploitation campaigns. There are no restrictions as to the size of the theatre, and the amount of money spent will not enter into the decision of the judges, the awards being made to those who in the opinion of the jury have conducted the best campaigns for their particular theatres and under their own peculiar circumstances. In the event of a tie in any of the classes, equal prizes will be awarded the tying contestants. What Campaign May Include For this contest an exploitation campaign may include newspaper advertising, newspaper exploitation tie-ups, straight newspaper publicity, tie-ups with merchants, Ten Companies Now On Laugh Bandwagon NEW YORK, Dec. 7. — Three companies have joined the Laugh Month band wagon since announcement of the original contributors was made at the recent luncheon to inaugurate the second Laugh Month campaign. In all, ten companies producing or distributing Short Features are notv participating financially in the drive. The three firms whose definite commitments have been received since the first announcement are Film Booking Offices, Rayart Pictures Corporation and Hal E. Roach Studios. The others participating in the campaign include Pathe, Educational, Universal, Christie, Weiss Bros., Jacques Kopstein and Life Publishing Co. Several other independent producers of short comedy product are expected to join in the campaign within the next few days. straight street ballyhoos, straight theatre ballyhoos or any other form of exploitation stunt. In submitting an entry in this contest, the exhibitor should describe each factor in his campaign in detail, as the judges will consider the campaign as a whole and take into consideration the coordination of the various factors of the campaign. Entries can be sent in any time during January, but no entry will be eligible if received at the offices of the Committee later than noon, February 15, 1927. Exhibitors may use either the blank herewith in sending in their entries, or they may give the required information without using blanks. Mail to National Committee All entries must be mailed to the National Laugh Month Committee, 469 Fifth Avenue, New York, so that they will be received by the Committee before the closing date mentioned above. in announcing this year’s Laugh Month exploitation contest for exhibitors, the Committee stresses the fact that the exhibitor cannot get busy too soon in thinking of his campaign. The press book, it is announced, is rapidly nearing completion, and should be in exhibitors’ hands this week. Laugh Month Exploitation Contest Entry Blank (Use this coupon to file your entry in the prize contest for the best Laugh Month exploitation. Send entry to National Laugh Month Committee, 469 Fifth avenue. New York City.) Name of Theatre City or Town State Name of Person Responsible for Campaign (This is the person to whom money will be paid if this entry wins.) Is theatre first run, second run, or subsequent run Population of town Seating Capaity Was campaign for one day, two days, three days, a week, a month Was a particular comedy exploited? If so, give title and name of dU tributing company (It is not necessary that a particular comedy should be exploited, it being sufficient if the campaign boosts LAUGH MONTH. But if a particular comedy is exploited it must be a short comedy ( not over three reels ) .)