Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1940)

3 0, 1940 MANAGERS' ROUND TABLE r 38 FORTNICHTERS This marks the end of the first Quarter with many of the old faces and some new ones added to the competitions. The -winners represent 3 8 theatremen in 3 8 different spots. Who the boys are and from whence they come is set down in the columns below. JOHN ARNOLD MILT HARRIS PAT NOTARO Yale, Houston, Tex. Loew's State, Cleveland Columbia, Sharon, Pa. MEL BLIEDEN Forsyfhe, E. Chicago, In d. LOU HART Schine's Hipp, Gloversville 03 tO Rfa b ri U N 1 1 R LES POLLOCK Loew's, Rochester, N. Y. JUb iAMAKIANU EV CALLOW Midland, rirtsburg, Kan. ralace, Menden, Oonn. Warners, Philadelphia BILL JOHNSON CHUCK SHANNON LOUIE CHARNINSKY Opera House, Millinocket, Me. Boulevard, Pittsburgh, Pa. Rialto, Dallas, Tex. DON JOHNSON GENE STUTENROTH LOU COHEN Gayety, Chicago, III. Rialto, Woodbury, N. J. Poli Palace, Hartford, Conn. A. J. KALBERER GEORGE SUTERMASTER A. KENT CRAIG Indiana, Washington, Ind. Majestic, Springfield, Ohio Capitol, St. Catherine's, Ont. GEORGE LABY CHARLES TAYLOR Calvin, Northampton, Mass. Buffalo, Buffalo, N. Y. HARRY E. CREASEY Alma, Vancouver, B. C. ED LAMOUREUX HARRY UNTERFORT Empire, Windsor, Ont. Keith, Syracuse, N. Y. E. V. DINERM AN RKO, Cincinnati, Ohio GEORGE LIMERICK ART WARTHA Aztec, Enid, Okla. Roxy, Laporte, Ind. JOE DIPESA State. Boston, Mass. ED McBRIDE AL WEISS Loew's State, Providence, R. I. Olympia, Miami, Fla. ED FITZPATRICK Loew's-Poli, Wafertown, Conn. J. R. MacEACHRON RAY WHEELER Paramount, Jackson, Tenn. Lex, Chicago, III. RUSSELL GRANT Student Assistant ED MAY REX WILLIAMS Loew's-Poli, Hartford, C onn. Paris, Paris, Ky. Elco, Elkhart, Ind. AL HAMILTON HIRAM MEEKS BILL YEAKLE Empress, So. Norwalk, C onn. Fulton, Fulton, Ky. Kentucky, Danville, Ky. To be repeated: Entrants wJx) earn Fortnight Appointments most frequently in the two-week Fortnights will obviously be expected to receive further consideration from the Judges in the voting for Quarter-Master Plaques, Medals and Citations. It is of advantage, then, to enter material in as many of the Fortnights of each Quarter as possible. Beautiful Baby Contest Held by Neilson on "Child" Two of the largest milk distributors in IJohnstown, Pa., cooperated with Bob Neile(Hi by sponsoring a "beautiful baby" contest fin connection with his "'Child Is Born" date Et the State Theatre. Cash prizes plus a (month's milk supply were donated by the cairies, in addition to the distribution of 7.300 bottle hangers. Animated life-like cow tin lobby plugged the dairies and picture. Special advance readers concerning the congest were run in local papers and counter land window displays were also used. Y\ indup ief contest was a special luncheon for conItest winners and mothers which was covered by papers. Special setpiece in lobby stressed the evolution of the diaper and showed type worn iby Queen Elizabeth, Napoleon, George Wasr.ir.grcr.. ere. Lobby display also included tieup with department store using complete accessories for babies and publicity was garnered through planting photo ci local hospital nursery together with intterview of superintendent of the maternity7 (ward who gave statistics and human interest ^facts about babies' births, etc., all tied to the : picture. Opening day uniformed nurses paraded to the theatre. "LETS HEAR FROM YOU" Merchant Cooperation Landed By Brizendine on "Raffles" Entire cost and distribution of special "Raffles'* heralds was met by merchants' ads as part of Will Brizendine's campaign on that picture at the Rialto in Baltimore, Md. Title of the picture was used to tiein with the merchandise advertised and each store received a large quantity of the heralds which were used in all deliveries and mailing pieces. Reverse side carried theatre and picture plug. Since David Niven appearing in the picture has personally endorsed Calox toothpaste, Brizendine contacted chain drug store for window displays which included giant blowup of the star plus title and playdate mention. As an attractor. Will used imprinted tags, lone side of which read "Sold by the Shop Around the Corner" and the reverse carrying theatre, playdates and "Shop Around ithe Corner" plug. These were tied to door jhandles, radiator caps on all cars parked (within vicinity of his house. Each merchant lin bis district also cooperated by tying the tags on to all deliveries from their shops. "LET'S HEAR FROM YOU" Ukrainian Orchestra Promoted By Scott for "Balalaika" First step in Sid Scott's "Balalaika" exploitation at the Capitol in Sudbury, OnItario, was the promotion of a native-costumed 25-piece Ukrainian Cultural Society7 '(Orchestra which had never before appeared in_ a theatre in that district Renaming it "The Capitol Theatre Balalaika Orchestra," a variety half-hour of native music, folk songs and dances were given from theatre stage every evening during run of picture, orchestra was also featured over CKSO. To contact all district Ukranians, Scott had two Ukrainian girls canvass their "landsmen" by telephone, plugging the picture and stage show. For his lobby, a giant 12-foot high compo balalaika was displayed under vari-colored spots, entire face of the nstrument was covered with playdates, title. Unterfort Advertises For Old Sheet Music Hidden turntable and amplifier was planted in front of the Keith Theatre, in Syracuse, playing hit tunes from "Oh, Johnny," this was operated by cashier from the boxoffice. Stories were run in two leading papers offering guest tickets to anyone possessing an original copy of either the sheet music or recording. Car promoted from local dealer was appropriately bannered and driven about town ahead and during run. "Swanee River," through cooperation of head of English Department special letter calling attention to the opening was read to all students in the school system. Public libraries used cards plugging the date. "LET'S HEAR FROM YOU" Circularizes Doctors Personal letters were mailed to all doctors and nurses in the vicinity of the Stamford Theatre, in Stamford, Conn., to sell Henry Mangravite's date on "A Child Is Born." In addition, heralds were distributed through the cooperation of leading laundry, imprinted paper diapers handed out to women at ail industrial plants and cooperative ads secured from local diaper service. Boyd Ties Taxi Company To "Vigil in the Night" Local cab company was promoted by Clifford Bo}7d on his "Vigil in the Night" date at the Paramount, Brattleboro. Vt., whereby gratis transportation to the theatre openning night was arranged. Cab customers had to obtain special ticket from cashier which entitled them to the ride and had to be presented to the driver. "Institutional" tickets were distributed to all cab customers and fleet of cooperating cabs was properly bannered four days ahead of opening. Tying up with local library system on "Light That Failed," Cliff arranged for distribution of bookmarks and attractive display of Kipling books. Day ahead of opening a "walking book" street bally was arranged. "LET'S HEAR FROM YOU" Zinn's Handwriting Stunt Costless lobby stunt that worked effectively for Charles Zinn, at the Century, in Minneapolis was table and stationery setup in lobby week in advance of 'Eternally Yours" opening. Patrons were invited to write picture title on cards, 20 pairs of guest tickets going to those whose handwriting was considered most distinctive.