Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1944)

War Showmanship Contenders The showmen listed below war effort. Their material War Showmanship Award. ANTONIO BALDUCCI Regent, Syracuse, N. Y. ROBERT BOWMAN Warner, Erie, Pa. LEWIS BREYER Strand, Holyoke, Mass. SAM DAVIDSON Surf, Brooklyn, N.Y. MAURICE DOYLE Runnymede, Toronto, Ont, ROSCOE DRISSELL State, Norfolk, Va. ARTHUR EGBERTS Loew's, White Plains, N. Y. MILDRED FITZGIBBONS Roosevelt, Flushing, L. I. have contributed and reported on their campaigns to aid the is eligible for consideration by the Judges for the Quigley LOU B. FORDAN Memorial, McKeesport, Pa. SAM GILMAN Regent, Harrisburg, Pa. S. W. GOULD Manos, Greensburg, Pa. GEORGE KEMP Paramount, Stapleton, S. I. JOHN M. LEVITT Court, Newark, N. J. CLIFF LOTH Uptown, New York City JACK MATLACK Broadway, Portland, Ore. LOUIS E. MAYER RKO Palace, Cleveland, O. BEN MINDLIN Valley Stream, Valley Stream, L. GEORGE PETERS Loew's, Richmond, Va. BILL PHILLIPS State, Newark, N.J. JAMES R. NAIRN Famous Players, Toronto, Ont. ROBERT ROSEN Sheridan, New York City MATT SAUNDERS Poli, Bridgeport, Conn. GERARD A. SAVOIE Paramount, Brattleboro, Vt. VAUGHN TAYLOR Rialto, Phoenix, Ariz. Kraska Covers Boston Opera with "Song of Russia" Heralds George Kraska at Loew's State, in Boston, for his date on "Song of Russia" had heralds made up for exclusive distribution in those circles where the people are most interested in Russia. Since there was a capacity house at the Boston Opera house to hear Leland Stowe speak, Kraska distributed 4,000 heralds there, which was made possible through a special screening which he had arranged. The executive members of the club, who were running the Stowe meeting, were highly enthusiastic after the screening and promised to do all in their power to put the pictures across. This they proceeded to do, according to Kraska, who says the picture did top business. stage and the commander of the local Legion Post, together with the Finance Officer of this post, awarded the citations. Receives School Cooperation Sydney j. Poppay, manager of Warners' Majestic theatre at Gettysburg, Pa., received permission from school authorities to place notices on all school bulletin boards, to highlight his campaign for "Where Are Your Children ?" In addition he plugged the picture at a juvenile delinquency forum sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce. He distributed also 3,000 special tabloids and placed teaser ads on the picture in the local newspapers. Kenosha Joins Hunt for "Cinderella Cover Girl" Fame and fortune as a Cover Girl was offered to girls of Kenosha, Wis., by F. B. Schlax of the Kenosha theatre via the "Cinderella Cover Girl" contest which he is sponsoring in cooperation with the Lepp Department Store. Tied in with the showing Schlax landed publicity in the Kenosha News and ads devoted to the contest, paid by the cooperating department stores. The store turned over one of its prominent windows to a display of the contestants and art work. Various departments in the store urged the customers to enter the search. In addition to the prizes offered by Columbia Pictures to the national winner, the store offered a number of further inducements to the local winner. Palmeri Plants Radio Forum A half-hour radio forum to discuss the possible punishment of Axis war criminals was staged by Manager Vincent Palmeri of the Warner and Merritt theatres, Bridgeport, Conn., in advance of the opening of "None Shall Escape." The broadcast went on the air over Station WICC. Eshelman Gives "Cover Girl" Big Campaign in St. Paul The W. T. Grant Department Store tie-up arranged by Columbia's exploitation department for 282 cities was put to showmanly application by manager James Eshelman of the Paramount theatre, in St. Paul, who didn't mis^ an opportunity to sell his showing of "Cover Girl" in and about the cooperating store. In addition to three 75-inch newspaper ads giving full credit to the picture and theatre Eshelman furnished additional material to embellish the window displays called for in the national tie-up. Counter cards and other inside accessories were generously used to keep telling the many thousands of customers about the picture. The Golden Rule Department Store came: through with an extra large "Cover Girl Fashion" ad and devoted a full window on the tieup. The Jerome Kern-Ira Gershwin music was plugged on the air and in night spots with theatre mention. Il b HI !! . il Radio Coverage Increased For "Lady in the Dark" One of the heaviest radio campaigns ever accorded a picture locally was that arranged by a George E. Planck for "Lady in the Dark" at the Palace theatre, in Marion, Ohio. Ten days" in advance there were four one-half minute spots for five days ; five days ahead there were four one-minute spots for five days ; three days ahead a Hollywood commentator's 15-minute review on the picture plus theatre tiein copy was had and two days before opening a second Hollywood commentator review was landed. Heralds were distributed house-to-house, the best department store window in town was secured on the circus jewelry type and in addition to the ads in the local paper, Planck took small advance ads 10 days ahead in seven rural weeklies. "Who Is King of Crooners?" Inquires Berkley When Wayne Berkley at the Majestic theatre in Madison, Wis., recently booked Bing Crosby in "Dixie" and Frank Sinatra in "Ship Ahoy," he planted a contest in one of the local? ^ dailies. Directing a letter to the bobby-sock 5 brigade, readers were asked "Who is the King of the Crooners?" Much resultant publicity was_ accorded the date. Scouts Sell War Bonds for "Henry Aldrich, Boy Scout" On the feature, "Henry Aldrich, Boy Scout," Gerard A. Savoie at the Paramount, in Brattleboro, Vt., tied up with the local Boy Scouts and had them act as a cleanup squad on the recent Fourth War Loan drive. Every scout that sold one or more Bonds was given a citation from the American Legion, and Savoie reports they did a swell job and sold over $15,500 worth of series E Bonds. On the closing night of the picture, the Boy Scouts were awarded their citations from the For the Lt. his Air date on "Ladies Courageous" Wacs for a P-40 Warhawk at the Senate in Harrisburg, Pa., Bill Gerst promoted plane which was placed in front of the theatre. Brent, whp had 50 bombing missions to his credit, answered questions of people who tvere reviewing the plane. Credit card was prominently displayed on the plane. 62 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MAY 6, 1944 i