Associated First National Franchise (1921)

May I I Q 2 I First National Franchise 7 lit High Lights of Exploitation Breaks Seven-Year Record with Chaplin fs Laugh Maker George Sargent, who has the First National franchise for the Lyric Theatre, San Rafael, California, states that he broke all records and played to more people with Charles Chaplin in "The Kid" than he did with any other three-day feature he had played in seven years. He attributes part of his success with Chaplin to the fact that he arranged with a local orphanage, located some distance from San Rafael, for over 400 children, and with the assistance of the San Rafael newspapers, influenced families to furnish machines to take the children from the orphanage to the theatre for a morning matinee on the first day showing of "The Kid." It took 63 machines, headed by a motor truck with the orphanage band playing, and with two large banners on either side which read as follows : "We are on our way to the Lyric Theatre to see Charles Chaplin in 'The Kid.' " This parade of 63 machines paraded slowly through every street of San Rafael, taking about half an hour for the complete parade and caused quite a bit of free publicity. Carnival Lobby Helps "Devil's Garden" on Coast Manager Ralph Grunauer, of the Rosebud Theatre, a link in the Gore Bros., Ramish & Sol Lesser circuit, of Los Angeles, had a big carnival to buck a few doors from him for one solid week. That old proverb, "Everything comes to him who waits," ran through his mind. He waited patiently and like a flash this thought struck him. "Why not join in the merry carnival." Join he did ! The first thing he did was to get some sheeting and make himself a main entrance tent to a big show. Next he went down to a pennant manufacturer and had pennants made up in every color of the rainbow. He assembled this concoction in his lobby. A knockout week was made out of what appeared to be one in red. Mr. Grunauer was a bit sad when the carnival pulled stakes, as they brought them out, got them and so did he. Stage setting and prologue at the Capitol Theatre, St. Paul, Minnesota, for "Bob Hampton of Placer, the Blackfeet Indians in the prologue Bob Hampton" Prologue a Hit Capitol in St. Paul Among First to Have Indians As Special Added Attraction The "carnival " front of the Rosebud, Los Angeles, to fight the opposition of a carnival week PROBABLY one of the most elaborate and beautiful prologues given any picture in the Twin Cities for some time was presented at the Capitol Theatre, in St .Paul, in conjunction with Marshall Neilan's "Bob Hampton of Placer." Through the enterprise of First National and Neilan, troups of genuine Blackfeet Indians, of Glacier National Park, are now on tour of the country, appearing in the principal centers simultaneously with the presentation of this picture. One troup of the red men were in St. Paul and assisted in the prologue's presentation. To Lowell V. Calvert, director-general of the Capitol, belongs the credit for the scenic and lighting effects. To Oscar F. Baum, director of the Capitol Symphony Orchestra, belongs the credit for the splendid musical arrangement on this prologue. Before the rise of the curtain the orchestra prepared the audience for what was coming with a very appropriate dagger dance from Victor Herbert's "Natomah." As the curtain rose, there was disclosed the Indian chiefs in a clump of birches, seated around their campfire. In the background, with magnificent lighting effects playing about them, appeared the snow-clad peaks of the distant mountain ranges. In pantomime, one of the Indian chiefs tells the story of the Legend of the Last Battle. Immediately at the close of this a female singer in Indian costume rendered "By the Waters of Minnetonka," a very beautiful Indian love song. That was followed by a baritone rendition of "From the Land of the Sky Blue Water." At the close of these two selections, the assembled chieftains gave a native tribal dance. As soon as this was finished, the screen descended and the feature production started. The most was made in the exploitation possibilities of the Indians during their visit in St. Paul. The Indian chiefs and squaws who were in the party were as follows : Little Chief, Chief Big Springs, Chief Curley Bear, Chief Lazy Boy, Chief Bill Shoots, Mrs. Little Chief, Mrs. Big Springs, Miss Little Chief. The band of Indians was taken to different points of interest throughout the city, and it goes without saying that their appearance created great excitement everywhere. They were formally presented to Governor Preus, also to Mayor Hodgson, of St. Paul, and other notables and dignitaries. For the "Mammas" When it came to putting over "Mamma's Affair," starring Constance Talmadge, E. Metzger, manager of the Strand Theatre. Creston. Iowa, got an idea for a special showing for the "Mammas" of the town. The day before the showing of this feature, the local paper announced that every woman in town who had a young lady daughter would be admitted free on Monday afternoon. The afternoon of this special offer was a rush day at the Strand, as was the rest of the engagement of this feature. First National Play Dates First Means Bcttc* Pictures at Less Cost