Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

Octo be 1 9 3 9 1271 MANACeRf KOUND TABLE CLUB H. L. Laurence Suggests A Novel Gag For Mystery Angle If you have any sort of a stage at all, then we certainly suggest that you pay a little attention to a stock presentation for any mystery picture that you may have booked in your theatre, and when you stop to consider the number of pictures based on the mystery angle, then you shouldn't have to wait very long to try this one out. The sketch, while rather rough, is nevertheless plain, and if you study it a few moments, you will find that it is an easy matter to follow. Any theatre with a fair size stage and a lot of old scenery, (plus a manager's ingenuity) can step out and put this one across in great shape. Open at rise of curtain with vivid lightning and thunder storm. Chair rocking, skull on table, eyes blinking. Use small red globes in eyes. For photo on uall use wierd-looking one sheet in handsome frame. Cut out eye balls and use small while globes, having them blink all through presentation. The same with elk's head, owl's head, bear head and tiger head on rugs. Use a little powder in cuspidor on a fuse, so when a switch is turned on it will throw out a puff of smoke. Use a green spotlight from booth or balcony. Spot each separate piece of furniture and prop on stage. As one spots the door it opens and shuts; spot on rocking chair, it rocks; spot on French ivindoiu, a head appears. {Use a wax head. You can get one from any department store.) LOUD SCREAM as spot leaves head. Spot photo on wall, eyes in head blink; spot other door, it opens and mysterious looking deformed hand and arm appears. Run hand up and doivn door casing; hand disappears, door closes. Spot cuspidor, turn switch and powder goes off; spot swivel choir; it turns round. Throw three black cats on stage — one through window and each door. For finish of act or presentation, use skeleton walking across the stage. A skeleton can be secured from any doctor; strings attached to each foot will make it walk. Have skidl hanging from wire. One man pulls skeleton, other man pulls strings at feet. Use red lights in skull's eyes, green spot on skeleton. We are grateful to Mr. H. L. Laurence, the manager of the Capitol Theatre in Paris, Tenn., for this suggestion and we certainly hope that many of our members and readers find it worth while to try it. This, by the way, will give you some idea of how neatly Mr. Laurence keeps the front of the Capitol. You will note that the display frames, signs, under marquee sign., etc., are all attractive and do not leave an impression of "t oo m u c h" when you see the theatre. Just another proof that you don't need fifty thousand dollar "All For A Laugh" Dick Kirschbaum, cartoonist for the Club Series of Lobby Laughs, comes forward with the suggestion that any member or reader submitting an idea that he can convert into a cartoon, will receive the original cartoon for sending in the idea. And if you don't know how good Dick's originals are. just wait until you "lamp" a few of 'em. Come on, boys. Where's your funny bone? C. E. L. u LOBBY LAUGHS' theatre fronts to make a nice looking theatre. Take what you have and work out the best layout feasible. That's the best advice we can offer, and here is visible proof that it can be done. Let's hear from you again, H. L., and tell us how things are going down your way. Richard Dorman Uses Theatre Front For Good Displays Manager Richmond Dorman used a teaser stunt to drum up the mystery angle of "Dr. Fu Manchu" playing at the Florida Theatre, St. Petersburg, Fla. Five days in advance of ere placed in the lights of the (another house) directly play date flasher buttons windows of the Plaza Theatr. across the street from the Florida. As the Plaza Theatre has been closed since early Spring, these lights blinking at different intervals caused much speculation even to the extent of queries being received at the newspaper offices as to what was wrong at the Plaza. f"' £ T '• '' ii.fi.. i 'J_ :: Da. ^SLJlBB: Dorman also projected a shadow of a huge hand on the side of the Plaza at nights and this coupled with the lights made a distinct impression on everyone passing the theatre. During the showing of "Dr. Fu Manchu" a card announcing the picture was placed up with this display. The front of the theatre was modeled to represent a Chinese house which helped add the proper atmosphere to the picture as well as cause favorable comment. Dorman's activities have always commanded a lot of attention from our many members and readers because of the fine thorough way that he seems to have in the engineering of whatever he sets out to do. If for no other reason we would be glad to give Dick all the space he wants to tell about his different stunts and campaigns. It's up to you Dorman, and if you have something else to pass along, remember we are here waiting for it.