Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1958)

)th Backs 'Sing Boy Sing' ituration with Big Promotion roninn Sand's tirsi starrinj: lilm, "Sing Boy Lg," will debut in 13 Southern states starting luan 31, and it will be supported by a strong ijinotion campaign. >X'ith more than lOOO situJons booked in the area, Alex Harrison, 20th ntury-Fox general sales manager, announced lit 475 prints will be made available to theatres. Keyed to the large teenage market, "Sing Boy ig" is being backed by a big pre-selling drive platter spinners. Backbone of the drive is the pitol record album from the sound track of 1; Henry Ephron production. I According to Harrison, exhibitor demand for ; hot Sands \ehicle turned the tables for the ' ss lOOO-theatre break. It is expected that this n will develop Sands into a red-hot boxoffice rsonality. Im-ln-Theatres Boomed \ Wometco Television Station The Florida-based VC'ometco circuit is utiliz; its television station WTVJ to plug its thea•s during showings of feature films by the stain. Explaining that the station "must meet mpetition" by showing motion pictures, exJtive Sidney Meyer advises that it makes e\er\ ort to sell motion pictures in theatres. And, poin:s out, WTVJ shows its films at hours It are not competitive with theatres. The TV campaign follows this theme: "Get ore Out of Life — Go Out to a Movie! VC'h\ •n't you visit one of South Florida's great ,)dern movie or drive-in theatres, and see one the current fine new mo\ies now showing, ;e (name one of the current attractions at a ometco theatre). Get More Out of Life — ) Out to a Movie!" During the announcesnt a 20-second film of the 'Wometco Theatre med in the commercial is flashed on the screen. loom-Mongers Blasted 1 1sley Up-Beat Campaign Phil Isle\'s Texas theatres ha\e unleashed a )werful campaign "to offset the downbeat at:ude of theatre management which is being fleeted to the public." Keystone of the specially designed campaign a "Business is Good at the Movie Theatre" ogan. Among the drive's selling tools: a speal trailer, bumper strips, a composite mat, )x60 lobby display and an eye-catching banner. The campaign, which has been in effect at the rcuit's operations in Texas and California, for le past few week has stirred up a good amount f interest. Isley is actively urging other exhibi)rs to conduct similar drives to counter the essimistic views of many TV and press per)nalities as regards motion picture theatres, he only way to influence public opinion, he lys, is to talk and act upbeat at all times. STREET BALLYS, SONC BOOST U.A.'s LEGEND' "Legend " ballyhoo. From top: In St. Louis, a local beauty In appropriate costume was utilized by manoger Frank Harmon, Loew's Theatre manager. Out San Francisco way fieldman Tiger Thompson rounded up a trio of misses and mules who grabbed mucho aftention for the film's LJnifed Artists Theatre opening. For the Woods Theatre in Chicago, ballyman Wally Helm staged this eye-catching Foreign Legion street stunt. UA disc personalities Wes Brian (left) and Joe Valino beat the promotional drum with Chicago's Miss UA Records. Valino recorded title tune from "Legend of the Lost ". Trailers To Combat Ads For TV Films Urged by Texan Sponsorship of a campaign to lorreci the public's misinformation that new motion pictures w ill soon be tele\ ised, was placed on the agenda of the Texas Drive-In Theatre Owners Association Convention in Dallas this week by Edwin Tobolowsky, general counsel. Two trailers have been prepared to inform the public that features will not be seen on TV for a period of at least seven years. "The Texas Drive-In Theatre Owners Association", declared Tt)bolovvsky, "is intensely interested in any legitimate project that will further the progress of the motion picture industry and it is my frank conviction that e\ery theatre operating in the L'nited States should acti\ely participate in the campaign by ordering these two trailers immediately." Copy on the No. 1 trailer is this: "The new 1958 motion pictures are especially produced for exclusive exhibition in motion picture theatres and will not be seen on Free-TV, Toll-TV, Cable-TV or any other form of TV for seven years . . . only in motion picture theatres will y i)u see 1958's superb pictures in all their splendor! Get More Out of Life . . . Go Out to a Movie!" The second trailer carries this message: "Not one of the 1958 feature pictures, despite any rumor to the contrary will be seen on Free-TV, Toll-TV, Cable-TV or any other form of TV for seven years . . . only in motion picture theatres will you see 1958"s superb pictures in all their splendor! Get More Out of Life . . . Go Out to a Movie!" Both trailers v\ill be made sold to exhibitors for actual production costs. Price of the first is S4.50, the second S4.0(). Trailers can be ordered from David Shapiro, executive director of the group, at 1"I() Jackson Street, Dallas, Texas. Playboy and United Artists Set Beauty Search for 'Run Silent' To ballyhoo "Run Silent, Run Deep", L nited Artists and Playboy magazine have joined hands to find the well-rounded girl of 1958 who (figure-ati\ ely) represents "the girl they left behind". As outlined by Roger H. Lewis, I'A national director of advertising, publicity and exploitation, the w inning contestant w ill garner a screen test, a Hecht-Hill-Lancaster contract and the opportunity to become Playmate of the Month, a photo feature of the magazine. Among the judges: producer Harold Hecht, Rita Hayworth, columnist Earl Wilson, artist Fritz Willis and Hugh Hefner, editor of Playboy. Listed for April release, "Run Silent, Run Deep", a story of VCW II submarine combat action, stars Burt Lancaster and Clark Gable. Film BULLETIN January 20, 1958 Page 21