Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

Motion Picture News Posed scene from " Oliver Twist," arranged as a tie-up on the picture, in a windozv of Sclfridge's department store, London, Eng., for the run at the Pavilion theatre, Marble Arch Brilliant Prologue Is Staged To 'Under Two Flags" Baltimore, Md. — Thomas D. Soriero, general manager of the Whitehurst Theatrical Enterprises, operating the Century theatre, staged a lavish and brilliant prologue for the showing of " Under Two Flags," recently, in which twenty-two people took part. A special set was built to represent the interior of a harem. The color scheme was made up of old ivory, buff, purples, blues and garnet. As the curtain rose the scene faded in with a color wheel effect and as the stage gradually brightened the girls of the harem, arranged on either, side, the Sultan seated on his dais, the Sheik by his side, the favorite wife beside the Sultan and the slave fanning him, were dis covered, forming a tableau. When the lighting became brilliant Cigarette came on and danced before them. After that a duet was sung by the Sultan and the Sheik. This was followed by a dance by the favorite dancer. As this last dance ended a tableau was again formed by the company and the lights faded into a deep purple, and as it became dim a moving flower effect was thrown across the stage from the projection room. This moving flower effect across the stage kept up until the stage was dark, the players in the prologue had departed unseen by the audience, the orchestra had begun the introduction to the feature picture and ended as the title of the feature picture, " Under Two Flags," was drawn on the screen. Puzzle Angle Given Chinese "East Is West" Ads WATERTOWN. N. Y. — Manager Charles Sesonske, of the Avon theatre gave added interest to his advertising in advance of " East Is West " through giving a puzzle angle to the advance teasers. He offered a prize of $25 for the first correct translation of the Chinese characters advertising " East Is West." The reward was still unclaimed when the picture ended its run, but the stunt had served its purpose of stirring up interest and curiosity in the advertising. Prominent Citizens Quoted on "Dangerous Age" CLEVELAND, Ohio.— The exploitation campaign on " The Dangerous Age " at the Allen theatre included a stunt in which prominent Clevelanders were asked to give their opinions as to what they regarded as " The Dangerous Age " of life. They were also asked to state the dangerous age in their particular line of business. The interviews brought out many differences of opinion and the prominence of the individuals who allowed themselves to be quoted, was sufficient to insure stories in two of the Cleveland papers. Pretty Neck Contest Boosts Showing of "Ebb Tide" McKEESPORT, Pa.— A new angle in contests was used to exploit " Ebb Tide " by Manager Charles Eggers of Frank Panopolos* Lyric theatre. He tied up with a local dealer in La Tosca Pearls for a big window display. Mr. Eggers also found a resident of McKeesport who had travelled in the South Seas and had some original diving pictures showing natives fishing for pearls. These were put in the display and attracted a lot of attention. The theatre also tied up with the newspaper for a pretty neck contest in which local beauties had a chance to wear the necklaces, and prizes were offered by the management for the prettiest. "Strangers' Banquet" Ad Made Subject of Contest Wilmington, Del.— The management of the Arcadia theatre used the page advertisement from the press book for " The Strangers' Banquet " as a newspaper contest for the showing of the film. Pictures of 24 of the players in the film were printed as a border around the page ad. No names were given, but in one corner was printed a list of prominent motion picture players; in the list were the names of the 24 whose pictures appeared, interspersed with names of other players not in the cast, in order not to make the contest too easy. In connection with the tie-up, the Evening Journal offered eight cash prizes — $15, $10, $5 and five of $1 each — for the first correct list of the players pictures. The response was so much greater than had been expected that the contest editor had to call upon the management of the Arcadia theatre to help check them up. William Raynor, manager of Reade's Hippodrome, Cleveland', dressed the lobby in this attractive fashion in advance of " The Village Blacksmith "