Year book of motion pictures (1929)

following day, and that the persons whose published pictures appear within the circle, will receive free tickets to see the picture at the local theater. Certain titles sometimes make excellent tieups for this stunt. LOBBIES COMEDY PROPS For use on big comedy feature. Secure a laugh mirror that caricatures the observer. Hidden wind blowers will have them laughing before they see the show. Dress a dummy like the comedy star. Hang "Laugh" cards on walls and from ceiling. FIRST AID STRETCHER Use on leature comedy. Place a stretcher at front of lobby, bearing a sign: "This stretcher at service of our patrons who laugh themselves sick." This can be varied with a dummy figure on stretcher bearing sign : "This man split his sides laughing at (name of picture)." SPECIAL BOBS FOR GIRLS Arrange with beauty parlor for loan of a barber's chair and services of an attendant. She is present for an hour in afternoon and evening, giving a free bob to patrons, the bob being specially named for the star of picture. Card in lobby and announcement from stage gives the beauty parlor proper publicity for cooperation. LOBBY SHADOW BOX Use a shadow box illuminated from within. In the box place a small figure or attractive illustration of a beautiful girl. A still from the picture can also be used, showing the star in some interesting pose. The public views this through a circular plate glass peephole. THEATER FRONTS PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTIONS Goodwill of newspaper and the reviewer can be gained by featuring any favorable comment on a picture or concerning the conduct of your theater which the paper has published. Have the comments photographically reproduced on the largest sign possible, to extend across front of house. "LAUGH-O-METER" For use on comedy feature. In place of a regular clock face, the round cardboard disk has written on it the words "Laughs," "Guffaws," "Screams." "Howls," etc., taking the place of the hours. This "Laugh-O-Meter" is supposed to indicate the volume of laughs in the feature. A hand revolves continually. This is accomplished by means of a small electric motor placed in the "clock." Special gears are necessary to reduce the speed of the motor so that the clock hand will not revolve too fast. BROADCAST LAUGHS On big comedy feature, use radio amplifying apparatus for broadcasting the laughter from the house into the street in front of the theater. Use a special loud speaker for this purpose. The laughter can be picked up by means of a regular radio microphone. WINKING CUTOUT Use a cutout head of the star from, a 24-sheet. Place a twinkle light in back of one eye, which gives the effect of winking. Placed on top of marquee, this can be seen a long distance. It makes a good night flash, and is inexpensive. COMPOBOARD SIGN FOR MARQUEE An effective compo board sign is size 43" x 65" above door or marquee, with faces and figures cut from one-sheets. These are raised with compo from the background of the sign. Lettering should also be raised and scrolled. Use strong contrasting colors, such as blue background, with red and white lettering. BALLY HOOS DEAF MAN-STREET CAR STUNT A little girl seated in crowded street car talking to supposed grandfather, who holds ear-trumpet in order to hear while little girl says loudly ; "Grandpa, have we reached the Strand Theater yet, where such-and-such a picture is showing?" She does this at intervals — while people listen. At certain points, they leave the car and board another car, doing the same stunt over again. BALKY DONKEY A good street stunt is the employment of a balky donkey led by a man in comedy rig. When the donkey balks, he remonstrates with it loudly for the benefit of onlookers, telling the animal he will be late for the picture at the theater. Signs on the donkey's back tell of the attraction. ANTIQUATED AUTO PARADE Arrange with all auto dealers to aid in lining up antiquated cars, the idea being to make this a freak parade emphasizing the comedy angle In contrast to the "before-the-war" specimens, dealers show their new models with suitable advertising. One car can be used as a ballyhoo for the picture at theater. PAINTED BARRELS Advertising comedy feature. Place barrels, painted white with red lettering : "A Barrel of Fun," on prominent street corners. Inside barrels place comedy cutouts from the picture. 'CROSS-COUNTRY AUTO Use old, battered flivver covered with painted signs of a humorous nature, playing up any interesting local news. Have one sign read: "Direct from Alaska to see (name of picture and theater)." Use whitewash to print the names of cities and states through which It is supposed to have traveled to see the show. AMBULANCE STUNT This never fails when used on a big comedy feature. On opening night, an ambulance with clanging bell dashes up to thetheater. Two men come out of the theater carrying a stretcher. Upon it is a laughing, raving maniac, waving his arms wildly and emitting yells, just as the stretcher is raised to be placed in the ambulance, banners roll down from each side with the announcement : "He's gone crazy from laughing at (name of picture, or star)." BANK CHECKS Pass out imitation checks, payable to the order of "Anybody" in the amount of $1,000 worth of Laughs and Heart-Throbs. " These are signed with the name of the star in the theater. Checks bear the name of theater and play dates. "BLIND" MAN Rig a man up with smoked glasses, using a cane like a blind man as he picks his way down the street. A sign on his back reads: "I'd give $5 if I could see (name of film) at theater, now showing." TIE-UPS STAR IDENTIFICATION CONTEST Work up cooperative page with a dozen merchants' ads, each containing a small cut of a star. The latter are obtained from the producer whose picture you are showing. Across the top of the page is announcement that tickets to see the picture will be awarded correct identification of the twelve stars. Each advertiser ties up his copy with the contest and picture. TIRE TUBES Arrange with auto supply dealer for a special sale of tire tubes. Dealer places large ad in the paper, stating that a ticket to the theater will be given with each sale. Dealer's ad carries announcement of showing. BOOKMARKS Furnish public library with souvenir bookmarks on novel from which picture is adapted. The bookmarks should list all the works of the author, or interesting facts about the library, along with announcement of attraction. DANCE CONTEST Advance publicity gained through a special night set aside by a dance hall. The affair is given a special name that ties up with the picture, star, or dance featured in the attraction. A dancing contest is featured. Distribute heralds at the dance. Have a team of professional dancers impersonate the principal actors in picture. Wind up with a parachute shower of 50 single passes to the attraction. DISCOUNT CARDS Arrange with a large local industrial corporation to issue a card to all employees offerfng a special discount to the show, upon presentation of the card at the box-office. These can be distributed by enclosing in the pay envelopes. 775