Famous News (May-Jun 1981)

Usher Matt McNeil as a ‘‘Going Ape”’ gorilla relaxes atop canopy of the Centre Theatre in Chatham. Bucking Bronco Nets Bucks for Urban Cowboy Through a bit of luck in timing, Manager Dale Ripplinger of the Broadway, Regina was able to tie in the opening of Urban Cowboy with the opening of the Canadian Western Agribition, one of the largest agricultural shows in North America. This event attracts ranchers, cattlemen and cowboys from a wide surrounding area and Dale took full advantage of this fact by setting up a display on Urban Cowboy at the Bucking Bull competition, which was part of the rodeo portion of the fair, and awarding passes to successful riders. The capacity crowds heard plenty of PA announcements and saw the displays promoting Urban Cowboy. Dale also made an effective tie-up with a local western wear firm, The Trading Post, who put up a $150 gift certificate toward the purchase of a complete western outfit as the grand prize in a radio promotion on CKCK Radio. Listeners were asked to identify western tunes from the Urban Cowboy track to win free passes and a chance at the grand prize gift certificate. This three-way 24 May/June, 1981 tie-in netted some good on-air plugs for the movie and participating stores. Urban Cowboy western wear displays were also featured in both local outlets of The Trading Post. A second tie-in was made with Regina’s newest and _ extremely popular nightclub, Sheila Ann’s Country Palace. In addition to displaying a poster on the film, the club featured an audience participation western song contest with passes as prizes to the winning participants. Kelly’s Stereo Mart also displayed the Urban Cowboy poster to promote sales of the soundtrack album. The bucks that were netted resulted in the best box office week from November through February, with the exception of Christmas week. Urban Cowboy Week Set in Sudbury Having successfully tied in with the Coulson Hotel’s mechanical bull, “EE Toro’. to: sell “his Christmas attraction Any Which Way You Can, Bob Davidson of the Capitol, Sudbury, and the Coulson’s manager decided to col laborate on an all-out promotion for a playback of Urban Cowboy, the movie that had started the mechanical bull craze. Since there was no advertising support from the distributor, the hotel management agreed to back the campaign to the hilt by promoting ‘‘Urban Cowboy Week’’ in Sudbury to coincide with the playdate. To get the ball (or was it ‘“bull’’?) rolling, the hotel made up 2,000 sheriff badge lapel pins reading, ‘“‘<Coulson/Urban Cowboy’’ for advance distribution to hotel and theatre patrons and the staff members of both. The hotel also ran 600-line newspaper ads in both the daily and weekly newspapers and a $600 radio campaign, all with prominent movie mention, to launch the Urban Cowboy Week. The hotel also supplied the Capitol with complimentary coupons for free rides on ‘El Toro”’ for distribution to movie patrons. Gift certificates were purchased from the theatre to be awarded as prizes for successful riders of the mechanical bull. A local western wear store, “‘Cowboys’’, got into the act by providing stetsons to the theatre staff and discount coupons to Capitol patrons. Needless to say, the radio station kicked in with a goodly number of promo spots with movie pass giveaways, to add additional weight to the promotion. Since submitting this campaign, Bob has been appointed manager of the new Supermall triple Cinema in Sudbury and I know we can expect more SUPER campaigns from Bob in his new position! Caveman Capers Create Customer Chuckles in Chatham Audrey McKenzie and her assistant, Phyllis Bechard of the Capitol, Chatham, Ontario decided to have a little fun with the opening of their Easter attraction, Caveman and the whole staff joined in to entertain the holiday crowds. Candy girls, (Susan Herman, Gail Everingham, Marianne Randle), and cashier, (Joann Everingham) were transformed into sexy-looking cavegals sporting leopard skin sarongs and plastic bones in their hair, while the doorman was rigged out in an off-the-shoulder bearskin, sandals, and toting a heavy club in