Motion Picture Herald (1954)

Sk owmen in ^Ictl on Charlie Jones invited the town fire depart ment to see “Fireman, Save My Child” at the Northwood theatre, North wood, Iowa — all they had to do was to display their badges to get in free, and it made bold-face news in his “Aisle Say” column in the Northwood Anchor. V Dave S. Klein, manager of the Astra theatre, Kitwe/Nana, Northern Rhodesia, Africa — who is one of the best contributors to “What the Picture Did For Me” — reports that he displays a special board in the lobby for the cartoons and shorts on his program. ▼ Schine’s Fall and Winter schedule of cooperative and other tie-ins in local situations is filling up rapidly, to include many Christmas and New Year’s shows, in addition to Hollowe’en and Thanksgiving shows already on the books. Schine managers learn how to sell these holiday events for local sponsorship — and profits. ▼ Stanley Warner in Philadelphia used thenart department to create unusual signs for all theatres to sell the boys’ and girls’ Big Hollowe’en party, with special prizes and special parties, for the funniest, best-dressed and most original contenders. T J. P. Harrison, who always hits the target with his special promotions at the Campus theatre, Denton, Texas, used a tribute to “Business and Professional Women’s Week” as a selling approach for "Women’s World” for a full week’s run. V John DiBenedetto, manager of Loew’s Poli theatre, Worcester, Mass., used a “Wanted” poster and had parking lot attendants placing a summons under windshield wipers, for “Rogue Cop.” The upcoming "Duel in the Sun” opening in RKO metropolitan theatres has been booked for a 6-successive day playdate instead of the customary 5-day preferred time block, according to Budd Rogers, sales chief for Selznick Releasing Organization. V Schine’s Theatres getting a special handout from Seymour Morris to call attention to the Nat Cole recording of “Haj ji Baba” which is platter promotion for the new CinemaScope picture, with lots and lots of Elaine Stewart. S. A. Karatz, manager of the Cinema Park theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, uses a traveling 24-sheet board and street ballyhoo for current pictures, both capable of attention-getting on Main Streets. The downtown stroll is a good eye-catcher, he says. ▼ Harry Wilson, manager of the Capitol theatre, Chatham, Ontario, has a full-page “Scramble Contest” in full-paid cooperative space, to advertise his Fall Festival of coming attractions. Entry blank to unscramble ten titles must be filed at the theatre, for free passes. Everybody can be happy with a good co-op. T Chas. Winchell, of Minneapolis Amusement Co., compliments Tom Martin, manager of the State theatre, Minneapolis, for a front page break on "Rear Window” that resulted from quick thinking on the part of a publicity-minded manager. It happened to fit the occasion, and the editor’s idea of newsworthy material. T Raymond A. Holly, Jr., manager of the Capitol theatre, Union City, who has Confederate soldiers walking the streets to confuse the mail men, made full use of the traveling exhibit for “The Egyptian” which was officially welcomed as street ballyhoo by the Board of Commissioners. Extraordinary sponsorship for “Magnificent Obsession” was obtained in Raleigh, N. C., when a local electric goods wholesaler supplied free tickets for all his customers and ran a cooperative ad, saying this picture was a “must” for their enjoyment. Jim Seago, manager of the Colony theatre, had a proposition to be proud of — with a fourcolumn reproduction of the official invitation in paid space, all at the expense of the enthusiastic advertiser. ▼ Lou Hart, manager of the Avon, Watertown, N. Y., sending a letter to the principal of every school within a 30-mile radius about “The Vanishing Prairie” and following the letter with a telephone call. He is also tying up with the regional State Library which services 63 stations out of Watertown for the placing of window cards and bulletin board notices. T Jack Mitchell, manager of the Auburn theatre in Auburn, N. Y., has a free show' lined up for an October Saturday. Sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club for 4-H Club members, full admission is paid for the children, and last year there were 600 at this show, which is run right along with the regular Saturday matinee. Joe also has one Christmas rental set and others coming up. T Olga Sharabura had her own “Gypsy Colt” with young rider complete in western garb, and well bannered, riding up and down the main streets during the three-day run of the picture at her Paramount theatre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. H. B. "Hank" Toilette, district manager for Marcus Theatres Management Co., sends fJiis photograph of their annual fall showmanship meeting held at Pewaukee Lake, Wisconsin. The two-day affair included managers of La Crosse Amusement Corp., as well, and heard a talk by Ben Marcus, general manager, who is also president of National Allied. This is the 11th annual drive for Marcus Theatres, and over $2,000 in prize money was set up for the current 12-week campaign. Reading from left to right above are, Bill Friese, La Crosse . . . Bob Klein, Neenah; Tom Daily, Appleton; Jim Cannon, Menasha . . . Clarence Holtze, Tomah; Ron Jorgenson, Ripon; Glen Davis, office; Jerry Roggentin, office; Gloria Mahler, offiee; Chas. Lowe, Oshkosh; Hank Toilette, District manager; Ben D. Marcus, general manager and National Allied President; Joe Strother, buyer; Harold Cfioinson, Menomonie; Truman Schroeder, booker; Velva Carroll, La Crosse; Ansel Holley, La Crosse; Bud Owen, La Crosse; Miles Lonergan, Wauwatosa; Wm. Klug, La Crosse; K. La Vake, Wausau; Doug Co nine, Menomonie; and Bert Coyle, Clintonville. Edwin Schwalbe, general manager of La Crosse Amusement Co. was not available for picture. MANAGERS’ ROUND TABLE SECTION, OCTOBER 23, 1954 57