The film daily year book of motion pictures (1932)

— Airplane Builders Two weeks before the feature attraction, launch an airplane contest, with the models submitted displayed in a store window. A toy model plane is awarded as first prize. Just before the run of picture, the models are transferred for display to the theater lobby. □ — Mileage Estimates This applies on a feature with an auto racing sequence or similar atmosphere. Use it in auto dealer's window, who supplies a medium priced car for an estimate on mileage contest. The car is jacked up, and contestants required to estimate the number of miles the car would run in three days. The store distributes the estimate cards. Merchants can be interested to donate prizes to those making the closest estimates. □ — Sealed Bids A novelty stunt to help the dealer dispose of two or three trade-in radios that he has on his hands. The dealer announces a "silent auction," with anyone interested requested to drop a sealed bid in a box provided for that purpose at the theater lobby. On Saturday evening the bids are opened, and the sets delivered to the highest bidders from the stage. This stunt can be worked on a variety of articles that any dealer is trying to move off his shelves. □ — Duplicate Gown As a plug for the department store or gown shop to show what an extensive and up-to-date line they carry. Have them duplicate from stock a go'vn similar to one worn by the star as illustrated in one of the regular stills. This is attractively displayed in window, and a card cleverly gets over the idea that the store is handling up-to-date models such as the stars wear, that can be had right from stock. □ — High School Beauts A strong feature for the newspaper to play up. The students of the high school are called on to nominate about two dozen of the prettiest girls. Their photos are placed on display in a window downtown. The card in window announces that the star of your feature will select the six prettiest. The newspaper publishes the photos of the winners, and can work up a nice series of interesting articles that will have all the high school students interested. □ — Camping Used on any feature with an outdoor atmosphere. Good for tie-in with a sporting goods store or department store, especially during the camping season. The window is dressed to show a camping site in the woods or alongside a stream. The display includes blankets, cook stove, wind breakers, guns, canoe, fishing tackle, etc. Use a painted background of a forest scene, with the tent and a fire in foreground. Stills from the feature hook it up to your theater. □ — Nameless Feature Here is a gag that can be used on a weak feature, or one that has not been heavily advertised. The dealer makes a window display of stills with poster cutouts as background. All the billing on the picture is omitted. A card announces prizes to those who submit the best picture title to the display, or correctly identify the coming attraction. □ — Expert Make-Up Adapted either for a furniture store or beauty shop. The window setting is that of a boudoir, with a beauty specialist during noon hours giving demonstrations on expert makeup. This one ties in with some cosmetic being advertised heavily, with the window card stating this cosmetic is used by the star in your feature. □ — Pearl Guessers A jewelry store features a display of necklaces named after a big star whose feature is coming to your theater. In center of window is placed a glass jar, filled with loose pearls. A card announces prizes to be awarded to those guessing nearest to the actual number. The announcement of the contest and awards made from your stage. □ — Mystery House A good novelty to play on a mystery feature. A window is secured in an empty store. Have a model made of the mystery house similar to the one in the feature attraction. Ribbons of various colors run from the different windows of the house, with cards pasted at the other ends explaining the various mysterious elements leading up to the mystery. This is a great stunt to arouse the curiosity of the windowlookers, and create an urge to see your feature. □ — Sign-Builder Stick an attractive girl in a window and you are sure to cause attention. Especially with this simple device. The girl is placed in dealer's window, operating an easel with a beaver board three by four feet. The girl has cutout letters, 12 inches high, made of colored cardboard, which she pins on the board till the title of your feature is spelled out. There is a sign alongside tieing up with your theater. The girl varies her work by displaying a variety of signs on another easel plugging the store's products. While the onlookers are reading these, the girl picks the cardboard letters from the first sign, and repeats the performance. 696