Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

SHOWMEN REPORT ACTIVITIES FOR SIXTH WAR LOAN DRIVE ^^_}<oars the J. D. Hillhouse, manager of the State theatre, Galveston, Texas, used this ballyhoo to boost War Bond sales. Hillho2Lse reports that he got the idea from a photo published some time ago in the Kound Table section to pro-mote "Hi Diddle Diddle"; had intended tising the device for another picture. Carrier's Advance Denotes Progress of Local Bond Quota in Rochester In quest of the Diplotna of Honour offered by Motion Picture Herald for outstandi?tg showmanship during the Sixth War Loan Drive, additional entries from theatremen have been received during the past week. Les Pollock at Loew's theatre, Rochester, reporting on the various theatres' Bond activities in Rochester, informs us that the) are using a thermometer idea with a new twist. In the middle of Main Street the industry has built five miniature islands, each named after the ones in the Pacific which are on our route to Tokyo. These islands are stretched over about ten blocks starting with Saipan and ending with Tokyo. Each island represents part of the cit>-'s 564,000,000 quota and is so marked. The carrier "Toky-obound," which is 80 feet long and 20 feet wide and can accommodate 85 persons, moves up Main Street from Saipan towards Tokyo as each sum is reached. When the goal is reached, the carrier will be at Tokyo and as a final stunt that island will be blown up. Each day's activities take place on the flight deck of "Tokj-obound." The Army, Navy and utilities supply the programs which will be a band, speech, official news, etc. Horns are hooked up to the electric light poles for the ten blocks, so that all people on Main Street can hear what is going on rather than those just next to the carrier. Credited with arranging this stunt are Pollock and Jay Golden of the Palace theatre. Something new has been lined up for the kids' participation in the Sixth War Bond ¥ox theatre in St. Louis exhibits equipment belonging to Army Air Corps Aeronautical Chart Service in conjunction with Sixth War Loan Drive. M. L. Plessner, director of advertising and publicity, made the arrangements. Drive in Milwaukee. Louis Orlove, MGM exploiteer, and chairman of the Kiddie War Bond Premiere in the drive, has the kids working as Junior B-29'ers. As an incentive, the 12 boys and girls selling the greatest number of Series E Bonds in the children's Bond drive get prizes of free trips to Washington, D. C, with all expenses paid. When the drive closes on December 29, all 12 winners will be announced. In addition, each boy or girl selling a Bond during the drive will receive a free ticket to a special War Bond premiere on December 27. The cost of these trips, amounting to $3,500, will be met by a special show some time in January at $1 per seat. The WAC is sponsoring these trips as prizes. Children's Premieres On Saturday, December 2, fourteen Milwaukee and suburban theatres started things off with free movies. Children's premiere follows on Dec. 27. No War Bond or Stamp purchase was required for admission to the free shows on Dec. 2. Rules of the contest were explained to the kids at the show. Credit points have been drawn up in triplicate. One copy signed is retained by the young person, another is filed at the Metro office of Lou Orlove ; the third is filed at the theatre where signed by the youngster. The child gets one credit for each Bond sold. Cards bearing the youngster's name, and signed by the theatre manager where the youngster signed up to participate in the Bond drive, the issued; pledges are also issued to the contestants, and must bear the signature of the contestant and his parent or guardian. Junior Contest Huge posters giving all details of the Junior B-29'er Contest were placed in the lobbies of all theatres in a prominent spot. Contest rules: \. Any child under 16 is eligible. 2. Participants must be Milwaukee County residents. 3. Children with a brother, sister or parent employed in the motion picture industry are eligible. 4. Both the participant and his or her legal guardian must sign the pledge to participate. 5. The 12 winners in Milwaukee County are to be selected as follows: 1. Each participant buying or bringing a Bond buyer to any theatre in Milwaukee Cotmty, qualified as an issuing agent, will receive one Bond credit for each series E Bond sold. 2. Bond credits will be issued in the name of the participant, and are not transferable. 3. Credits must be presented to the Contest Judges of the WAC on or before Dec. 29, 1944, at 5 p.m. 4. At the conclusion of the contest the l2 boys and girls who have presented the greatest number of Bond credits will be declared winners. 5. Winners will be announced on or before January 15, 1945. Lionel Delacroix, owner of the Osage and Wilbert theatres, Plaquemine, La., promoted a three-column reprint in the local daily of a letter received from one of the boys overseas in which the lad compliments the theatres and city on the fine work they have done toward increasing Bond Sales. In bold type across the the top of the ad was the following copy: "Somewhere in Germany, direct from the battlefront to the Home Front, a home boy's appeal from your firing line for you to Buy More Bonds so as to 'end this thing like it should be ended.' " Sons In Service Club i Joseph Boyle at the Poli Broadway, Norwich, Cbnn., has inaugurated a "Sons in Service Club" in connection with the drive. In order to become a member of the club, a patron must buy or sell $150 in War Bonds. Each member receives a membership card. In addition, the theatre mails a special postcard to the son, relative or friend in service in whose name the Bond has been purchased. The local papers came through with fine publicity on the stunt. Michael Stranger, manager of Loew's College theatre. New Haven, Conn., has a "Rolling. Bond Wagon" which is equipped with typewriter and manned by part of his theatre staff. The mobile booth is planted at busy intersections at peak hours to bring in the extra "E" bonds. The booth is also moved into prearranged Bond meetings of local organizations who want to be serviced at the meetings by issuing agents with Bonds on the spot. John M. Levitt at the Court theatre, Newark, N. J., has sent form letters to all organizations in his area with 50 to 100 employees, who were too small to become official agents, urging them to purchase Bonds from the theatre's usherettes who personally presented the letter. Tickets to the Bond premiere were given to each purchaser. Levitt also advertised and ran three separate rallies with the American Legion. MANAGERS' ROUND TABLE, DECEMBER 23, 1944 39