Film year book (1932)

bring out mostly dogs and cats, but here and there some youngster will unearth other curious pets, which adds a lot of zest to the affair when properly played up in the paper with photos of the kids and their animals. Start the contest with announcements in the paper one or two weeks ahead of the event, the parade going from the newspaper office to the theater. Then all participants inside for a free show. □ — Local Beauties The idea in this is to ferret out the local beauties who most closely resemble the star in some big feature. The bigger the star, the more interest this will arouse, so the stunt should only be used on an outstanding name. The newspaper prints the star's picture daily. Girls who think their features approximate those of the star, are requested to send their photos to the paper for reproduction. Local photographer will be glad to cooperate in arranging to take pictures, and you can offer him free publicity and advertising. □ — Literary Talent Bringing out local literary talent can be worked through an essay on some specified subject that might fit in with the subject matter of your coming attraction, whether it be mystery, romance or whatnot. This can be specifically tied up to high school students if advisable. The paper publishes the best of those submitted, and a month's pass is the prize to those that make the grade. □ — Stage Recollections A good stunt to arouse the interest of the old-timers. It is used on a film adapted from some old stage play. The editor calls on the old-timers to submit their recollections of the original stage play, reminiscences of the original cast, etc. It is surprising how many letters will disclose that there are a lot of folks in your community who are well informed on the old stage classics. □ — Careful Drivers A natural for Safety Week. It is an old stunt, but can be used effectively in the classified advertising columns. Each day an observer notes down instances of careful driving, and takes the license plate number. Several of these appear the following day in the classified ads. This can be extended as long as the newspaper finds it a drawing proposition. Rewards of tickets to these careful drivers makes it a cheap stunt for you, and it gives the newspaper a good play on interest in its classified columns. — Local Ad Writers One way of getting people to visit your theater front. The newspaper offers prizes for the best newspaper ad on the current feature. This requires contestants to visit your theater to get ideas from the posters and stills. Others will buy at the b. o. to see the feature so they can write about it properly. □ — Sidewalk Comments The local paper announces that one of your ushers will pass along the main street downtown at a certain time, distributing passes to those whom he overhears talking about your feature. The remarks of the people selected are jotted down with their names, and printed in the paper. This can be built up with a few planted comments, that will serve to direct interest in the most forceful way to the entertainment qualities of the attraction. □ — Love Lore An attention-getter when used with a little ingenuity. It applies to any feature with a love theme. It calls for use of the advertising columns of the newspaper. A Lesson in Love, brief and snappy, appears daily before the opening of the feature. At the bottom of each Lesson, in large letters, is a line: "Watch This Space." On the final day the space is used to hook up the love lessons with your feature. □ — Classified Ad For building reader interest in the Classified Ad section, this one will appeal to the newspaper editor. Select an ad from the classified section, and have it broken up by transposing the words. Those who successfully reconstruct the ads are entitled to free tickets to the theater. — Measurement Contest Arrange with newspaper to run stories about the star of your forthcoming attraction, in connection with a contest to guess the star's measurements. The stories give general hints about the size hat he wears, shoes, etc. Contestants are required to guess the physical proportions of the star. The latter is supposed to wire from Hollywood his correct measurements when contest closes. □ — New Dance This one ties up with a dancing school and the newspaper. Through the paper you offer free instruction in a new dance named for a dance scene in your feature. Those who have seen the feature and desire to learn the dance, are given a special ticket entitling them to instruction. The dancing school of course provides the instructor. 684