The film daily year book of motion pictures (1938)

nee performances are given a small package of cancelled foreign stamps. These can be secured from dealers at the rate of Sl.OO a thousand, so it is not an expensive stunt. This is built into a permanent draw with the Stamp Club, allowing the youngsters to meet in the theater after the show so that they can swap stamps together. And there is nothing the average kid likes to do better, when he once gets the stamp fad. Diinciny Class Good for neighborhood houses. Hire a hoofer to teach hoofing from the stage in a ten-minute demonstration twice a week. He has two ostensible pupils — two good looking girls in rehearsal rompers. All of the lesson is addressed to them, but it is phrased to tell the audience what to do. The stunt costs little, as the girls are glad to appear for the lessons they get and a chance to get on a stage. The grown-ups will enjoy it as much as the juveniles. And it breaks the monotony of the all-film show. Club Night It is like the old amateur nights except that all performers are members of a certain club, or a group of clubs. The best plan is to have several clubs compete for a trophy or some prize. Try-outs for club members can be held once a week. Register the would-be performers the same as you do the amateur nights. On the night of the final award, have some prominent townsman act as master-ofceremonies. The winners should be selected by applause. The newspaper will go strong on the publicity for this one, and the customers will look forward to it. Story Period Making the Saturday matinee popular with the parents as well as the youngsters. A two-minute story period is staged, with someone taking the role of "Uncle Ed" and recounting a feat of some local child over the loudspeaker system. The stories aim to teach a worthwhile lesson. The kids flock in to see whose name will be mentioned. Parents also like the idea, and will send in enough stories to keep the announcer busy for months. School Trtide One of the best standbys for graduation is the congratulatory letter to each pupil, with or v/ithout a pass for an early show. The names and possibly the home addresses can be secured from the principal or the school clerk. In some instances, where the addresses are not given, the letters can by arrangement be sent to the school in bulk. The letters should congratulate the recipient, express good wishes for the future and mention the ticket, if one is sent. Apptirel Stunt Each night put a sealed envelope in the box-office window where it may be seen by everybody. Inside is a card stating that seats for any party up to six will be given the first woman to arrive with a blue dress and a red hat or the first man to arrive with a grey hat and black tie. If no one qualifies, the envelope is opened at 9:30 and posted where everyone may see. Change the dress combinations often. This will give the folks a laugh and cause many people to come in groups of six in hopes that they are dressed according to the secret in the envelope. Bilshet Bull Tourney The basket ball tourney is run off in five nights, and involves four men's teams and four girls' teams. Preliminaries are run off Monday through Thursday, with the finals — one men's game and one girls' game — on Friday. Patrons are urged to attend the last show, and stay over for the basket ball game. But a box-office for the basket ball games only, can be opened at the close of the regular picture program. Summer Guests Going after the summer vacationists is always profitable. Towns with nearby summer hotels can make quite a little patronage by appeal to the guests. The simplest is a card on the desk and a herald in each room box. One small town theater in a summer boarding section made a good appeal with the slogan: "City shows at country prices." In another spot a theater arranged with the bus lines to sell combination tickets for a dime less than the regular admission plus fares. Theater and bus line each knocked off a nickel. Outings Nature study clubs affording tramps through the country can be made a permanent feature. If a large club can be formed with a newspaper backing the scheme, it is often possible to obtain transportation into the country for merely a nominal fare. Some of the larger papers maintain their own nature study clubs as a circulation feature. Prime requisite is a man who knows his way about the country, and has a real knowledge of botany and local natural history. The idea is to devote the usual kid club session on Saturday to a chat, and have a trip to the country in mid-week with an alternative day in case of rain. The indoor session is preparation for the sights to be seen on the coming trip, when the children are taught the difference between various classes of trees and plants, the nature and habits of small animals, etc. Children bring their own lunches. 873