The Film Daily (1938)

Tuesday, September 6, 1938 DAILY k k moTion pictures are VOUR REST ERTERTRIRRIERT » » I Daily in THE FILM DAILY Campaign News Frown Everywhere READING, PA., PUTS OVER BIG CAMPAIGN Combined efforts of the Reading, Pa., campaign committee has resulted in one of the most thorough pieces of coverage promoted by a regional group. Past and future stunts include: Two special new movie season ten-page sections in both Reading newspapers — Eagle, Thursday, Sept. 1; Times, Friday, Sept. 2. Civic rally and band concert at City Park evening of Sept. 2, followed by parade down Penn Street. Short address at City Park by Mayor Stump and invited speaker prominent in movie industry. Community singing at City Park celebration led by Penn Wheelmen chorus. Thousand gas balloons containing Kuest tickets to Reading Theaters to be released during ceremonies at City Park. Chamber of Commerce mailing out 2,500 two-page letters requesting members to co-operate in theater celebration. Merchants Bureau of Reading to loan and put up street decorations and posters on lamp posts, etc. Movie Sales Day on Friday Sept. 2, by Penn Street Merchants with all display windows used for coming new season pictures, still identification contest — first fifty correct answers mailed in to receive guest tickets to Reading theaters. Sidewalks and traffice crosswalks stenciled with "Let's Go To The Movies." Information booth with pretty girl to be put in Penn Square, corner Fifth and Penn to answer questions on $250,000.00 Movie Quiz Contest and give information on New Season Pictures. Bannered street car promoted gratis from local transportation company. Movie Day Minneapolis — Monday, Sept. 12, has been designated by Governor Elmer A. Benson as "Motion Picture Day" in observance of motion picture's greatest year. He issued a proclamation urging that citizens participate in the Fall celebration. The designation was achieved through the efforts of Al Steffes, Northwest chairman of the drive, and committee members, who have started active work on the celebration. Schaefer Uryes Cooperation The Motion Pictures Greatest Year campaign was created not to benefit any one particular branch of this industry but to stimulate the business of all branches. Although here in New York we have the most competent staff to perform the intricate details of the campaign, its success depends largely on the enthusiasm, tireless efforts and co-ordinated performances of exhibitors and distributors in the field. In the name of the greatest industry in the world, I ask that every member of it give his everything so that the public will never forget that Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment. George J. Schaefer Chairman, General Committee Baltimore Committee Gets Good Breaks in Newspapers Baltimore — Practically 100 per cent participation in the industry drive is indicated here by Baltimore exhibs. who are doing a whale of a job in putting over the campaign. The News-Post and the Sunday American have come through with great stories and have assigned staff men to follow through for the duration of the drive. In charge of the activities here is a committee composed of Rodney Collier, chairman; William K. Saxton, I. M. Rappaport, J. L. Schanberger, Morris Mechanic and Frank Hornig. Full co-operation of the Chamber of Commerce has been obtained and the Retail Merchants Assn. has agreed to decorate their store fronts and streets during the week of Sept. 16. Theaters Boost Drive on Air Beginning with the broadcasts last Sunday of the Major Bowes Capitol Family over WABC, and the Music Hall of the Air, over WJZ, both of which gave generous time to the Motion Pictures' Greatest Year drive, these programs will regulai'ly and prominently feature the industry campaign through spot announcements spaced in their entertainment. The Major Bowes program is carried over the Columbia network of 93 stations. The Music Hall program reaches 100 stations through the NBC network. Westside Plans Parade Manhattan's Upper Westside committee plans a big parade for the night of Sept. 20 with floats, bands and decorated cars. A prize is to go to the merchant whose window decoration best demonstrates the slogan, "Trade Follows the Movies." Eric Van Dyck, manager of Loew's 83d Street Theater, is chairman of the Westside committee with Monte Salmon, secretary. Richmond Papers Sponsor Their Own Drive Contests Richmond, Va. — The local campaign for the "Movie Quiz Contest" is under way with a committee composed of A. Frank O'Brien, representing Wilmer & Vincent; David Kamsky, Neighborhood Theaters, and Allen Sparrow, Loew's, who is chairman. Al Nowitsky is chairman of the "Special Stunts" committee, Stewart Tucker is looking after co-operative ads and Garrett Leahey, accessories. The chairman announced that both papers had given their full co-operation by offering plenty of free "readers" and a full page ad, in addition to running contests. The News Leader is running a contest with cash prizes for best stories incorporating titles of contest pictures and the Times Dispatch is running the star mask guessing contest. Street cars and busses are placing cards inside calling attention to contest. Merchants are giving a number of window displays, one store using a still from one picture with the answer to one question as a "sample." The still is from "Lucky Star" and shows the answer as listed in the book. Twenty-four sheets and threes will be posted all over town. Paper napkins are also being used in all leading restaurants, soda fountains with appropriate copy. Boston's Movie Week Boston — This is Motion Picture Week in Boston. Mayor Tobin in issuing the proclamation, said that he wished "to commend the theaters of Boston and the entire motion picture industry for their contribution to the social and educational welfare of the community," adding that "in the best sense these theaters are community centers which are the common meeting ground of all our citizens." INDUSTRY CAMPAIGN REPORTED A SUCCESS (Continued from Page 1) Sunday issue, and covers a large territory around Salt Lake City. Free advertisements, matching the regular ads issued through the campaign organization, have appeared in nearly a score of newspapers, following the lead of the Milwaukee Sentinel full page contributed ad. Editorial comment has been carried by most of the leading newspapers in the country, with numerous rotogravure breaks, and plenty of news on the campaign and contest. Proclamations have been issued by the governors of Connecticut, Arizona, Oregon and Ohio to date, with these mayors, among others, issuing proclamations: Mayor William B. Hartsfield, of Atlanta; Acting Mayor Clifford Davis, of Memphis; Mayor Myron B. Gessaman, of Columbus, Ohio; Mayor Rossi, of San Francisco; Mayor Frank D. Shaw, of Los Angeles; Mayor John Hall, of Harrisburg, and the mayors of Hartford, Conn.; Lawrence, Mass.; Portland, Oregon; Reading, Pa. Other proclamations will be shortly forthcoming. Labor Day parades in more than a score of cities carried floats, and decorations supplied by IATSE affiliated unions, connected with the movie industry and boosting the industry drive. Following upon the endorsement of George Browne, IATSE head, many unions, including the Screen Actors' Guild, have announced their support of the drive. Typical of the wires received from exhibitors all over the country are these, from Coast to Coast: Los Angeles "Reaction to Movie Quiz booklets and Motion Pictures' Greatest Year campaign on first day in Los Angeles tops even our most enthusiastic anticipation. Booklets are going (Continued on Page 4, Col. 1) Movie Weeh Baltimore— It's going to be Motion Picture Week here during the week of Sept. 16. Mayor Jackson has issued a proclamation to that effect as part of the big industry advertising campaign.