Film year book (1932)

THEATER FRONTS — Morning Shows Here is a good stunt for the morning opening. When the house closes, a sign is put on the box-office, reading: "Good morning. Box office opens 11 a.m. 25 cents to 1 p.m." (Change time to meet actual opening time, of course.) The sign attracts early birds before the house opens, particularly shoppers, and they may come back at the proper time. — Auto Flash One of the most effective marquee stunts is the animated auto. Get it as large as possible, with the figure of the star at the wheel of the auto cutout. The wheels are built to revolve, operated with a small electric motor hooked up at back. Decorate the wheels with colored bulbs. This makes a great flash at night, and can be negotiated at nominal cost. □ — Sidewalk Posters An old idea, but always good after being in non-use for a time. Anything from a one to a 24-sheet is pasted to the sidewalk or the lobby floor, coated with silicate of soda, and allowed to dry. The chemical waterproofs the paper which will last for two or three days before necessary to scrape it up. Silicate of soda is generally known as water glass, and can be secured from your druggist. □ — Carnival Night An old standby, that can't fail on a feature with a carnival or Parisian setting. Front of house is deqorated in the carnival spirit. Japanese lanterns are strung under marquee, with 75-watt colored globes. String serpentine paper from the roof to marquee, and from there to the lobby cards. The display is illuminated at night with two flood lights attached to a flasher. If possible, arrange a carnival parade with the cooperation of the high school students, and make it worth while for them to costume by admitting them free. This gives the merchants a chance to kick in with prizes for the best costume. They get their publicity with the awarding of the prizes from the stage, and this feature brings the carnival spirit right into your theater during the performance. □ — Shadow Dancer From a window at the second story of the theater building, have a girl dancer go through her routine at stated periods in the evening. She Is dressed in a costume resembling that of the star. A white muslin sheet is stretched across the window with a spotlight in back of the dancer. When the girl appears between the sheet and the spot, the observers in the street get the effect of a shadow or silhouette dancer. □ — Giant Dice On any feature with a gambling atmosphere, this one will click. Have two immense red dice made out of compo board, with white spots made out of paper. These are mounted on front of marquee. Place 100-watt globes inside each dice, which operate at night with a flasher, creating an effect that will attract people up and down the street. □ — Masks On gangster or any picture with a crime angle, have masks made from heavy stock, and painted black. Festoons of these are strung from the marquee, above and below. A striking effect easily arranged. □ — Marquee Figures Using one-sheet figures on your feature, have them mounted on compo and placed on top of marquee. The lettering accompanying display should also be raised and scrolled. The coloring should be in strong contrast, such as blue background, with red and white lettering. The figures and letters in relief will stand out strongly, and at night a small spot can be used to make them stand out. □ — Winking Star The Winking Star, used with an attractive head of a popular femme star, makes one of the best marquee flashes possible to obtain. Use a twinkle light in' back of one eye of a cutout head of the star from the 24-sheet. One of the best night stunts, that costs little and goes far. □ — Broadcast Laughs One of the old standbys included as a reminder, for It Is simple and easy to manipulate, and never fails to score. Use only on a surefire