Year book of motion pictures (1935)

The car must run, at least for a while. Breakdowns will help, be careful of towing expense. Fill the car with all sorts of camping material, matresses, stove, boxes, utensils, etc., also load the running boards. Letter, in white paint, the sides of the car with such sayings as "Slow goin' but we'll be at the Theater in time to see " or "We're on our way to the Theater to see , sorry we ain't got no more room." This stunt can be used for any picture but is a natural for rural features. JUVENILE FLOATS Build up an express wagon float parade toward the end of the summer for the kids to participate. Your lobby carries a sample float, as a suggestion as to how it can be done. Emphasis is placed on the fact that the display can be built on a platform, which will not deprive the youngster of the use of his wagon or pushmobile in the intervening weeks. The local stationer and department store should kick in with prizes, feeling that the purchase of decorative material will return a profit. Stipulate that the floats must be the personal work of the child. MULE BALLYHOO ■. Use a small Negro boy to ride a pony, leading a mule. The latter is blanketed with a sign reading: "If I were not a donkey, I would go to see (picture) at (theater) today." The combination of the small darkey and the big mule makes this a real novelty that is bound to attract the necessary attention. SUIT CASE GAG One of your ushers is dressed up in comedy attire, or else with tuxedo and cane. He carries a trick suitcase, and at busy intersections downtown presses a spring, which opens the suitcase, disclosing some snappy copy on your feature. If the youth has good comedy sense, he can put this simple stunt over impressively. BILLBOARD GIRLS On an outstanding attraction, this one gets over strong. A group of pretty girls, dressed in bright shorts and berets, are assigned to paste a 24-sheet at some prominent location. Naturally the girls are awkward, and as bill posting requires an expert, they make some funny mistakes that keeps the crowd laughing and kidding them. The girls can purposely play this up for the comedy. It's a cinch that the stunt will easily hold the spectators, and meanwhile you are getting over your message strong on your feature. CAR MILEAGE A natural for a tie-up with an auto dealer, especially when the new models come out. But this one is made a two-car proposition. with the estimate contests ballyhooed through the main thoroughfares. An "official" car chases the other every so often to supervise the refueling. The mileage car covers a prescribed route, stopping now and then for gas and oil instead of making the number of miles on one charge of gas the subject of estimate. In this way the people along the route are reminded of your attraction frequently. Every once in awhile the official car dashes through the streets with horn blowing, and its banner carrying the message of the show, and the progress of the contest. FOR MEN ONLY A teaser gag that never fails to click. It can be used on any strong attraction with a big appeal for the women. A girl is appropriately dressed in a costume that fits in with the atmosphere of the picture. She travels the main thoroughfares, with a small box attached to a wide ribbon strung over her shoulder. She passes out envelopes to the men, on which is printed: "For Men Only." Inserted slip reads: "Be sure and take HER to see (picture, theater, play date). It's the kind of motion picture all women adore." This stunt arouses the curiosity of the women, as the girl ballyhooer can be very mysterious about just selecting the men to hand them the envelopes. MYSTERY SHOPPER Use on a big feature where the girl in question is supposed to impersonate the star. A department store loans one of its fashionable costumes, which is worn by a girl who rides around in a town car loaned by the local dealer. Use one of your ushers as footman, dressed in livery. The tie-up is made with several stores, and one in particular, which loans the girl's costume. The footman hops off at each store, and unrolls a carpet from the car to the entrance. The girl is heavily veiled. This can be enhanced by an arrangement with the newspaper, which publishes the fact that the girl buys a certain article from each store to make up the necessary articles used by the star in the various scenes of the picture. COMEDY RACER For use on a feature with an auto racing atmosphere. Secure a broken down Ford, which is driven by a man dressed in the most modern racing driver's outfit. The strong contrast between the snappy driver and the old bus gets the attention and the laughs. Signs on back and sides tie in with your feature. Also a car from the dealer who loaned you the racing togs. At such times as the car is not cruising around the town, the driver parks in front of the theater, and goes through the motions of trying to get the old car started.