Motion Picture Herald (1954)

British Bound Table John Longbottom fortunate in promoting two local men bearing a resemblance to Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis to give impersonations on stage for “Living It Up” in advance of playdate at the Odieon theatre, Middlesbrough. The act was also put on in a local factory before 7 SO workers at lunch time. . . . C. G. Manhire, manager of the Savoy cinema, Edinburgh, hoping for a third quarterly Quigley Award and sending additional entries for the judges’ attention. . . . For “Forbidden Cargo,” S. V. Murdoch, manager of the Gaumont theatre, Liverpool, had a window display of twelve model ships and a guessing contest as to which boat carried the forbidden cargo. . . . R. W. Parker building good will for the Regal cinema which he manages in Torquay by offering his cinema for a special church service to the Ancient Order of Foresters, with resulting newspaper pictures. His “Rose Marie” campaign just received is another good entry for the judging this month. . . . Manager E. H. Reed displayed an 11 foot high “thermometer” registering 90 degrees, in the lobby of the Regal cinema, Oxon, to exploit “The Big Heat” and tied up with the local electricity board in their advertising. . . . Sydney L. Sale, manager of the Granada cinema, Dover, asked his minors to submit coat of arms emblems, with an archery set promoted for first prize, in exploitation of “Knights of the Round Table.” . . . Assistant manager A. L. Sargeant of the Prince of Wales cinema, Lewisham, used a man in cowboy suit carrying a guitar and vivid placard as street ballyhoo for “Johnny Guitar” and distributed 1000 bookmarks to libraries. . . . N. Scott Buccleuch, manager of the Regent cinema, Norwich, had the local newspaper publicize the coming of “Phantom of the Rue Morgue” by offering to run the picture in advance at 10 :30 P.M. to a lone patron — a young woman volunteered and her picture and story also gained newspaper space. ▼ ▼ ■ I For “Kiss Me Kate,” manager J. A. Gal•J lacher of the Regal cinema, Kilmarnock, Scotland, used running footprints on the pavement all over town with the line, “I’m running to see ‘Kiss Me Kate’.” . . . J. Gillies, while on relief duty at the Roxy cinema in Glasgow, ran a beautiful legs contest to exploit “Red Garters” and had an usherette costumed as a “Red Garter” girl tour the streets and give out occasional passes. His enclosed photos prove good showmanship. . . . H. Hall’s Saturday morning Children’s Fancy Dress contest at the Cavendish theatre, Derby, rated a large picture in the local newspaper. ... A. Heaton, manager of the Regal cinema, Beverley, offered a money prize to the most suitable caption of a scene from “Genevieve” sent in by a minor. . . . L. F. Holman, manager of the Ritz cinema, Hereford, secured about 3,000 bookings as a result of his contacting educational authorities for student morning matinees for “Julius Caesar.” . . . Congratulations to D. Hughes, manager of the Cabot cinema, Bristol, f or receiving his company Gold Star Certificate for consistent showmanship and good public relations. With this information also came entries for the judging to be held this month. . . . Igor Klein’s 11 foot display for “Phantom of the Rue Morgue” in the lobby of the Tower theatre, Peckham, so good that seven local stores showed large photographs of it and we are saving the one sent us for a British picture page. . . . H. Laybourne, manager of the Odeon, Southsea, kept to the theme of “Caine Mutiny” with his guessing contest of ball bearings placed in a glass container. V Y L. Battison, assistant manager of the Ritz in Edinburgh, Scotland, sent a personal letter to the commanding officer of a nearby U.S. Air Force base about “Take the High Ground,” with resulting good attendance of the fliers. . . . J. W. BonniCk, manager of the Regal, Halifax, tied in with the local Road Safety Committee to display poster warnings to cross safely and live “Happy Ever After” in exploitation of the picture at his theatre. . . . R. Brighton, manager of the Prince of Wales cinema in Lewisham, utilized jig-saw puzzles to exploit “His Majesty O'Keefe.” The puzzles were given out at minors’ matinees and distributed by newsboys. . . . C. F. Brodie, manager of the Regal Cinema, Barrow-in-Furness, had an unusual pet shop display for “Killers from Space,” with a magnifying glass placed in front of a case containing reptiles, lizards and tortoises. . . . D. M. Campbell, manager of the Regal in Stirling, Scotland, received good newspaper publicity when lie played “Knock on Wood.” A contest for boys to make wooden boxes with fitted lids also helped the box office. . . . R. J. Crabb, manager of the Lyric, Wellingborough, promoted a half-page ad on the front of the football program of the local club for his current program during the entire football season. . . . B. Ian Craig, manager of the Odeon theatre, Cardiff, sends photos showing the unusually large number of store and window displays he promoted for “Living It Up” and “The Seekers.” . . . G. J. Derek, manager of the Grand Cinema, Exmouth, promoted a display for “The Glenn Miller Story” in the window of the largest music store in town, centrally located, and we hope to be using the photo he sends which shows an Anglo-American theme. . . . R. N. Douglas, assistant manager at the Waverley cinema, Shawlands, Scotland, promoted a caravan to exploit “The Long. Long Trailer,” on display and open for inspection in his car park three days prior to playdate. — W. T. . . . Timely news supplementing the special monthly department covering all phases of refreshment service. Vender Group Elects Officers All incumbent officers of the National Automatic Merchandising Association were reelected for 1954-55 at its 1954 convention in Washington, D. C. They are: /. Hayne Houston, Rowe Spacarb, Inc., Stamford, Conn., president ; John T. Pierson, The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo., first vice-president; William S. Fishman, Automatic Merchandising Company, Chicago, 111., second vice-president ; and Thomas B. Donahue, National Vendors, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., treasurer. New directors are Sidney Kronenberg, The Alamat Company, Birmingham, Ala. ; Harold Gallarneait, Gallarneau Brothers, Amarillo, Tex.; and Bert Mills, Bert Mills Corporation, St. Charles, 111. Directors who will continue to serve are Davre Davidson, Davidson Brothers,, Los Angeles, Calif.; R. L. Strain, American Locker Company, Chicago, 111. ; Frank J. Bradley, Automatic Equipment Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y. ; Herb A. Geiger, Geiger Automatic Sales Company, Milwaukee, Wis. ; Mawrice L. Heffer, Johnson Tobacco Company, Chicago, 111.; D. C. Letts, Chicasaw Canteen Company and Tennessee Service Company, Knoxville, Tenn. ; Richard IV. Wood, Coca-Cola Bottling Works, Gary, Ind. ; and Louis Risman, Mystic Automatic Sales Company, Medford, Mass. Aaron Goldman, president of the G. B. Macke Corporation, Washington, D. C., twoterm former president of the N.A.M.A. and a director last year, becomes an ex-officio director. The association’s documentary film, “At the Drop of a Coin,” was screened at the convention. Recently completed, it has been produced with motion picture and television personalities for use on TV and by clubs and civic groups. • MILLS PLANS PLANT MOVE Mills Industries, Inc., Chicago, will move from the Fullerton Avenue plant within the next six months, according to A. E. Tregenza, president, due to termination of defense contracts which required the present large quarters. All Mills equipment and machinery for production of bottle and fruit juice dispensers, ice cream making freezers and coffee vendors will be installed in the new plant, exact location of which will be announced in about a month. Harold Shampan. manager of the Odeon cinema, Woolwich, is unsurpassed in the Round Table for the ingenuity with which he creates pictureable promotions. Here you see a poster cut-out of Joan Crawford, as the audience viewed it, going into the theatre — and coming out. Just revealing enough to be intriguing display. MANAGERS' ROUND TABLE SECTION, OCTOBER 23, 1954 59