Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

-V o v c m b 8 . 1 'J 3 0 M n i i o n P i c t u r e N e w s 71 MANACEKJ' ROUND TABLE CLUC Le Kander Used A Locomotive As A Plug For Picture Playing a second run of "Thunder," C. G. Le Kander, manager of the Fargo Theatre in Geneva, Illinois, put the picture over to great results, for a second time, by one of the best street ballyhoos the town had ever seen, for a motion picture. The train, in the photo we are showing, was the means through which Le Kander turned in a knockout week. The train, rubber-tired, was a replica of the old "Pioneer" the first train on the Chicago and North Western Railroad. The original pioneer stands on exhibition in the Chicago terminal of the Northwestern, and many thousands of people have seen it, a great many from Geneva and surrounding towns being numbered among them. The locomotive was run by a regular train crew in uniform and work clothes. It visited all of the surrounding towns and also stopped for a time in front of the theatre, with a special card giving the dope on the stunt. Though the cut is a bit small, you may be able to pick out the officials who were present when the train entered the town. The gentleman in the derby hat is the vice-president of the Chicago-Northwestern railroad. The film, due to a great extent to Le Kander's stunt, broke and now holds the record for business getting at the sixyear-old house. A funny incident came to light, when it was learned that so much comment was rife on the film, that the other theatres around the town played it and did exceedingly well on account of the publicity it had been given at the Fargo. We want to thank Le Kander for the interest he is showing in the Club and we know that when he has some more ace showmanship of this sort to pass along, he will send it in to us. Are we right "G. E."? Football Schedule Card Was Excellent Institutional Plug Selling his entire month's attractions to thousands of football fans was accomplished at small cost with a printed pocket size schedule gotten up by Sidney Smith, manager of the American Theatre, Pittston. Penn. The front side of the program was given over to listing the season's games while the back side carried the American's coming attractions schedule for the next four weeks. Smith reports that the schedule cards went like hot cakes, apparently every one in town wanting one. On the front side of the schedule card, he printed this copy: "Keep this as a reminder of two important schedules, Pittston High School and coming attractions at the American Theatre. Thanks, Sidney, for letting us see your latest. Incidentally, how about a proto of yourself when you send in your next contribution? Which we hope will be soon. A L W A YS WE A R YO U R CLUB PIN PAGING MORE "LOBBY LAFFS" Dick Kirschbaum is again in need of suggestions for the "Lobby Lafifs" series, and knowing how popular these cartoons are with our readers, we are broadcasting this request right off the Club pages. If you stop to think for a moment or two, undoubtedly you will recall some funny incident that occurred around your theatre and could be converted into one of Dick's "Laffs." "Keep Your Sunnyside Up" and let's all get some fun out of this series as long as Dick is good enough to do the cartooning for us. Beckerich Is Using New Type Of Sign To Plug His Shorts Al, who may be seen at the le right being Billy Darrow, publi think a lot of the gag to put it in can be used either in this fash made up of felt in solid color them is impressed in silver, and in gold letters, the copy and the star's name, with a picture of the player being placed in the center. They are very attractive and can probably be procured from the nearest exchange featuring the stars whose names and pictures appear on the banner. A spot, trained on the onesheet frame, or on the banner itself when it is in the lobby, is also very effective. The metal leaf letters catch the light and throw it back, causing the eye to fall upon the gleam. Study out the idea and if you think you'd like one for your house, use it. Listen Al, we'd like to hear from you more often. How about keeping us posted The photo we are showing will give you an idea of the new type of sign that Al Beckerich, manager of the Hippodrome Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio, is using as a special appeal to the kiddie trade. ft of the sign — the man on the city man for the house — must a one-sheet frame. These signs ion or as a banner. They are such as red, blue, etc. Upon Special Supplement Was Landed By H. McCallon In Houston on your future work. Oke? A credit to his showmanship is the special section that Homer McCallon, manager of the State Theatre in Houston, Texas, turned out to plug his shows. The section was run with the co-operation of the newspaper and a nationally-known radio manufacturing company. The special section, comprising eight pages, contained ads, stories and pictures, in which all of the dealers participating figured prominently, with the theatre coming in for a front page play. The section was one of the best that has been turned out in Houston in some years and it more than apprised the natives of the city that the State Theatre was right there with the shows. Listen, Homer! We are hearing quite a bit about what you are doing down there. Suppose you keep us posted on your activities so that we can pass them along to the rest of the members of the Club. And at the same time, include your photograph and an account of your career in the show game.