Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

Motion P i c t u r e X . w s X o v ember S , 1930 MANACEW KCUND TABLt CLUE "ACTIVE MEMBERS" Being an Active Member in the Club merely consists of taking the little time necessary to write and explain how you put over the various pictures; what new slant you have on theatre operation; what local angles you have found profitable in creating good-will, etc. Items of this nature, together with any photographs you can send us, are what the Club members and readers of our pages like to follow. E. Bair Used Frank Hill's Ad; He Gives Him Credit for It The "All for One and One for AH" spirit is in evidence again. This time the palm must be extended to E. E. Bair, manager of the State Theatre in East Liverpool, Ohio, for the instant acknowledgement— and we might say proud acknowledgement — of the use he made of a lay-out that Frank Hill of Walla Walla designed and which we used in our pages, not so very long ago. "E. E." picked up Frank's ad and used it in one of his local papers. The ad was on "The Dawn Patrol," and we are reproducing it here in order that you may see the lay-out scheme. Bair, himself, is very proficient in the art of newspaper lay-out and we believe that it is certainly fine of him to use an ad run by his brother-member and see that he is given the proper credit. Since he has been at the State and the American Theatre in East Liverpool, Mr. Bair has not been a bit backward in displaying showmanship that will click any place, and the success he is enjoying is the result of it. One of his latest features was the distribution of a quantity of handbills— the layout for which had previously been used in a newspaper ad — through the mailing list and house-to-house distribution. The handbill was headed : Painting The Show World Red (the red in red color). The rest of the handbill contained a list of the pictures as well as a little note from the management. With two houses in the town run by the same company, you may be sure that Bair had an imposing array of films to offer. This, coupled with the flash make-up of the handbill, sold the town. We want to thank you again "E. E." for the way you are carrying out our Club spirit, and we are sure that the rest of our members — who would do the same — are right with us. Consolidated Houses Are Using New Programs On Circuit The group of showmen comprising the Consolidated Amusement Enterprises Circuit in New York City, have been stepping out again. This time they have inaugurated a circuit house organ, the first issue of which has just reached our desk. It is made up in the style that is used by the bigger circuits such as Loew, Arkayo, and others. Four pages, containing newsy bits and picture on current and coming attractions, it Atmospheric Front Conveyed the Circus Theme of Picture The'C-IBCUl /* . COM/.NC. is sure to be met with favor by the patrons of the circuit houses. One of the inner pages carries the program of the houses wherein the paper is distributed. The back page carries the circuit programs. There are two separate distribution points, downtown and uptown. The downtown program is carried in its entirety on those programs intended for the house; with the same procedure being followed for the uptown theatres. As the issues run along, we are sure that there are going to be lots of new angles added to them, particularly so since Rudy Kuehn is supervising the work. We hope to see some more so that we can report on them from time to time. Plugging a circus picture in Fort Plain, New York, Harold L. Richardson, manager of the Fort Plain Theatre proved himself to be a pretty good aerialist by swinging high and selling "Swing High." Located in a town that does not permit him to use as many exploitation angles as a larger place would do, Richardson, nevertheless, turns out some mighty fine work. The special herald that we are showing is but one of the angles that he used to bring the show home a winner. The herald was a real circus throwaway, measuring about the size of a newspaper page. It contained many catchlines, copy, mats and other information relating to the feature film. It was printed in black on pink stock. When they first made an appearance on the streets of Fort Plain they caused plenty of comment, and you may be sure that they were read from top to bottom. Another angle that helped sell the picture was the circus front, created by Richardson, which we are showing. The front materials were for the most part comprised of sign cloth, the banners, valance, etc., being of that material. The trapeze above the marquee (which unfortunately, the photo does not show) was a home-made affair. A cut-out of the star in the film was placed on the rung. Electric lights of various colors were placed about the trapeze. The cut-outs in the foreground of the front display were resurrected from the store room, re-lettered and re-vamped for the occasion and put into use. Smaller FORT PLAIN THEATRE Friday and Saturday, SEPT. 26-27 A 6-Ring Circus or Fun, Thrill and Daring S. SWING HIGH' tX-S See! A . .11 ■-., I Collection m . Seel *£* of Gtoriout Creaturu* REMLMOCR t mi. taB§ft^ 1U«. 7 .5 O.ZO Richardson's campaign went over very well, as he took great care in seeing that it should do so. We are glad to note that he is continuing his live-wire work at the Smaller house and we hope to hear from him again very soon.