Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1942)

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Decern ber 19, I 942 MANAGERS' ROUND TABLE 59 Contests Feature Skelton Film In Cleveland For the world premiere of "Whistling in Dixie" at Loew's State, in Cleveland, Ed Fisher planted a chuckle contest with the Cleveland News with a War Bond going as first prize and tickets to runners up. Planted on the classified ad page, readers were invited to select four lines from as many ads, which when put together would, in their opinion, form the funniest sentence. In announcing the contest, the paper ran several three-quarter page promotion ads plugging the premiere. An excellent promotion was also effected with manufacturers of Raleigh Cigarettes, who also sponsors the Skelton program, to give away cigarettes to every Cleveland boy joining the U. S. Navy on the opening day of the picture. The Navy Recruiting office cooperated with a parade of recruits led by officers in uniform marching down the main streets to the theatre. The American Legion band and high school band joined forces for the occasion. After the first evening showing, a mass induction of over 200 Navy recruits was held on the stage, the boys then being presented with the cigarettes. Both local papers came through with art and stories on the ceremonies. A local news company bannered its twelve trucks with copy tying up the world premiere and New Movie Magazine ; over 3,000 tack cards were also distributed to newsstands throughout the county. For six days in advance daily plugs were received over Stations WHK and Loew's Theatres Radio Club. Other plugs were obtained over WGAR and on spot announcements which were purchased before and after the Skelton radio program over WTZM. Giant Pass Toted Around Town Another stunt which proved effective was making up a giant pass and with the aid of an attractive girl, the pass was offered to any woman shopper who would carry the pass to Loew's State from the shopping district. The pass made about five trips a day. Another tieup was with the Coca Cola distributing company, which bannered 16 of their trucks with three sheets with copy reading : "Whet your whistle ; drink Coca Cola and then enjoy 'Whistling in Dixie' starring Red Skelton." One of the leading baking companies distributed 30,000 menus plugging the world premiere to the largest restaurants in the city as well as to luncheon counters of chain drug stores. A local ballroom which caters to a great majority of the younger folks was the setting for a whistling contest that was held in the bandstand with over 60 boys and girls participating. The winner received five dollars in War Stamps with guest tickets going to the runnersup. Helm Hosts Servicemen For his opening of "Desperate Journey" at the Avon theatre, in Stratford, Ont., Walter Helm invited the entire personnel of the Army training center and veteran's guard to his opening. The Round Tabler reports about 600 servicemen attending the show. THE LEADING 37 SHOWMEN The 37 showmen listed below -from 35 theatres (sometimes there are collaborators on ideas) may be regarded as the leading showmen of the country for the past fortnight. They are the ones who have notified the Round Table of what they have done in the way of showmanship. ART ABLESON Lake, Devils Lake, N. D. ANTONIO BALDUCCI Norbury, Ellenville, N. Y. JOSEPH BOYLE Broadway, Norwich, Conn. CHRIS CHAMALES Roxy, Delphi, Ind. LESLIE V. CAMPBELL Strand, Trail, B. C. JAMES A. CAREY Hiway, York, Pa. LOU COHEN Poli, Hartford, Conn. MARLOWE CONNER Capitol, Madison, Wis. CLAYTON CORNELL Pontiac, Saranac Lake, N. Y. D. W. DILLENBECK Rialto, Bushnell, III. ALLAN EASSON DICK FELDMAN Paramount, Syracuse, N. Y. J. N. FENDLEY Martin, Roanoke, Va. ED FISHER Loew's State, Cleveland, O. ED FITZPATRICK Poli, Waterbury, Conn. GEORGE FRENCH RITA MORTON RKO Albee, Providence STEWART GILLESPIE Elgin, Ottawa, Ont., Canada JACK HAMILTON Apex, Washington, D. C. W. D. HARWELL Laroy, Portsmouth, O. BILL JOHNSON Diana, Medina, N. Y. JAMES KING RKO, Boston, Mass. TED KIRKMEYER Oakwood, Toronto, Ont., Canada Paramount, Idaho Falls, Ida. BILL ELDER Loew's, Indianapolis, Ind. JOE LONGO Loew's State, Boston ED MAY Russell, Maysville, Ky. FRANK MURPHY Loew's State, Syracuse, N. Y. JONAS PERLBERG Grand Movies, Chicago, III. LESTER POLLOCK Loew's, Rochester, N. Y. JACK MATLACK Hunt Theatres Medford, Ore. FRANCIS B. SCHLAX JUNE JENSEN Kenosha, Kenosha, Wis. BOYD SCOTT Grand, Holdenville, Okla. ARNOLD STOLTZ Avon, Utica, N. Y. PAUL WEST Grove, Cocoanut Grove, Fla. JACK STODEL Schlessinger Theatres Cape Town, South Africa TED TESCHNER Esquire, Toledo, O. Boardwalk Rolling Chair Exploits "Me and My Gal" Importing the boardwalk of Atlantic City to the streets of Harrisburg, Pa., was recently accomplished by Sam Oilman of Loew's, theatre, for his date on "For Me and My Gal." Sam promoted the use of a boardwalk rolling chair which he appropriately bannered and seated an attractive looking couple in it. The boy and girl were rolled leisurely around town through the downtown streets by a member of the house staff. Gilman reports that since it was the first time a rolling chair had been seen on the streets of Harrisburg, it attracted considerable attention. The Round Tabler further promoted a half page of cooperative spread with picture mention in each ad. The top of the ad featured small cuts of Santa with copy "The Christmas Bells Are Ringing for Me anH My Gal." Seeing-Eye Dog Personal Arranged by Ruth Bolton During the absence of Frank Murphy, manager of Loew's State, in Syracuse, his assistant, Ruth Bolton for the date on "Eyes in the Night," arranged for the trainer and his seeing-eye dog to make a personal appearance at the Mayor's office in City Hall. In addition, appearances were also made at public schools and the Syracuse Boys' Club, in addition to being on the stage opening night of the picture. A tieup with "Dogs for Defense" brought radio breaks, newspaper publicity and a booth in the lobby of the theatre. Callow Hosts Navy Men Everett Callow, publicity director of the Warner theatres in Philadelphia, arranged a special screening for 14 officers of the cruiser "Boise," stationed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, in advance of the opening' of "The Navy Comes Through" at the Stanton Theatre. The screening was held at the RKO exchange's projection room and the naval officers were hosts of the Philadelphia Variety Club's American Legion Post. K. J. O'Donnell, general manager of the Interstate Circuit of Texas, pins the Quigley Awards Medal on Louis Charninsky, who won it for his outstanding exploitation at the Capitol theatre, Dallas, Texas.