Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

N ov ember 2 2 . 1930 Motion Picture News 67 MANACF Itf' KCLND TABLE CLUB Lourie Elected To Presidency Of His Local Organization YOU'LL ELECT HER AS YOUR FAVORITE 'ANYBODY'S WOMAN' p.bii, MORTON TWrnt SUN.-WED., NOV. 2-5 RUTH CHATTERTON Now that he has been elected president of the recently organized Betterment Association in Dorchester, Mass., Albert Lourie, alert manager of the Morton Theatre, isn't going to sit still and rest on his laurels. No, sir! His work put him at the head of the new organization, and his work is going to keep him there. Incidentally, the story of his election crashed the front page of the local paper. Maybe you, too, can organize a club of this sort. If you want any dope on it, drop Lourie a line and we are sure he'll answer. As a contribution to this year's election stunts, Lourie passes alone a card that he used to plug "Anybody's Woman," when it played the theatre. The card, a sample of which we are reproducing here, was made up in black and white. It measured five by three and a quarter inches. You can note the efifective copy by studying the cut. The angle proved a very timely one, all of the heralds being distributed and the house rating extra business as a result of it. Lourie states that credit on this angle should go to his capable assistant, Nick Feenon. Oke, Nick? We are also showing a photo of a resolution signed by automobile owners of Dorchester, When "Manslaughter" was booked into his house — and desiring to get an advance plug in on it — Lourie placed a resolution board in the lobby of the theatre. The copy read: "Resolution to Registrar of Motor Vehicles — George A. Parker (address). Whereas . . . 'Manslaughter,' Paramount's All Tilking Sensation Coming to the Publix Morton Theatre Four Days, Starting (play date), Teaches a Great Moral Against Reckless Automobile Driving. We, the Undersigned, Resolve That as Automobile Drivers We Will Exercise Due Care and Caution at All Times — and As Pedestrians to Stop and Look Before Crossing Streets. We Are Also Resolved to Do Our Share to Bring to a Minimum Mishaps, Accidents, Deaths (signed)." Over fifteen hundred signatures were obtained. The board was mailed to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The story crashed the local papers and helped boost the gross on the picture. Another stunt on the same picture that went over very well — and again credit must be given to Feenon, who supplied the idea — was the car and UE&miUR Of MOTOR VEHICLES GSORGt A PARKER. COMMONWEALTH PIER BOSTON. MASS whucas manslaughter; )f/pr/ctZ. rjuKW^rttl Wfr 7JH 1 »*'- B B __Jfll »—x-^ j^B IT WON'T BE LONG NOW! Before you realize it the holiday season will be right around the corner. So if you intend to sponsor one of those free performances for the poor kiddies in your community you had better whip your plans into shape by definite actions and not dreams. Have you consulted with your local Chamber of Commerce? Have you talked it over with the Welfare Organizations? Has the Salvation Army promised their aid? Have you started talking about it? Come, come. Too much to be done in the way of preparations if yours is to be the outstanding happiness event in the town. Give the poor kiddies a "break" this year. Arrange a show that will keep 'em talking for months. Get the local dancing school to furnish the stage entertainment. How about the free candy from the merchants? And maybe a toy for each kid? Have you selected your screen program as yet? It won't be long now so don't be caught napping. Spread a Little Sunshine! truck that Lourie promoted, which we are showing in the photo. After being towed about the streets, the car was deposited in front of the theatre. This wrecked car gag also helped put the picture over to successful business. The work Lourie is turning out up in his district is certainly a wonderful representation of the live-wire showmanship that the New England showmen are so capable of displaying. We are sure that he is going to keep us posted on the rest of his work, so that we can pass it along to his fellow Club members. Are we right, Al.? Evans Has A Good Variety Of Stunts In Show Repertoire Giving his town an eyeful of showmanship, Howard Evans, manager of the Richmond Theatre in Richmond, Va., pulled some stunts that sold the town on the pictures ^^=^=^^^=^^^=^. the house was playing. For his selling of "What a Widow," he tied up a local department store and they consented to furnish him with models to run a fashion show every evening at the theatre. The show was held on the mezzanine, giving plenty of diversion to those who were forced to wait for seats, and also furnishing more entertainment for those who had already witnessed the screen performance. A round-trip plane flight to New York was also promoted for the winners o£ an essay contest, the subject of which was "What Makes a Widow So Fascinating," and was run in co-operation with the local newspaper. A novel herald was turned out for him on "Animal Crackers." The herald was made up to resemble a fence, showing the heads of the Four Marx Brothers behind it. Copy on the front read: "The Four Funniest Men on Earth Are Waiting for You Behind This Fence." The inner and last pages were devoted to copy on the picture. The herald's novelty attracted attention, with the result that the message intended was conveyed. A few other stunts on this picture were those of running a guessing contest, in conjunction with 20 grocers. The grocers placed bowls, filled with animal crackers, in their windows, and persons were invited to guess the amount. This stunt, too, clicked. A local baking company supplied the theatre with 20,000 envelopes, containing one or two crackers in each, which were distributed at the theatre. This is Mr. Evans' first contribution to the Club pages, as he has just hooked up with house. However, Harold, we look to hear from you real often now, because we know that a lot of showmanship goes on around your neck of the woods.