Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

48 .1/ 6 t i o n Picture News November 2 9 , 193 0 MANACEIU POUND TABLE CLUE Note the Certificate And Also Note This Butterfield Stunt Though he is pretty busy trying to boost business still higher at the Union Theatre in Attleboro, Mass., Ray M. Butterfield, manager of the house, finds time to shoot us — in this ace photo of himself, sitting in his office and looking over his membership certificate in the Managers' Round Table Club. He seems to be all set for a successful season (at least that's what the indications in the form of the Motion Picture News and the certificate on the desk shout out), and if he continues the work he displayed while at the Metropolitan in Leominster, Mass., he'll certainly hang up a couple of new records. Just to give you a little advance dope on what he is planning to do, we are going to divulge a stunt that is all set for Thanksgiving Day, when the rival gridiron schoolboy factions meet. 3,000 megaphones are being made up. The megaphones will carry the theatre plug on one side, and school cheers on the other And boy, this stunt is going to be worth plenty to the theatre, what we mean ! Just a short time ago, Butterfield had an excellent street ballyhoo plugging "Numbered Men." Four convicts' suits were worn by as many men. The men paraded about the town plugging the picture. The town had never before seen a ballyhoo of this especial type, so they paid a lot of attention to it. The result was that the theatre profited handsomely, the picture going over to good receipts for playdates. We understand that Butterfield is going to make a play for his kiddie business in the town, and we are sure that with his knowledge of showmanship he is capable of bringing it back to normalcy, and still higher if possible. We want to wish him luck on his new assignment and express the hope that he will keep us posted so that we can report his business progress to the rest of the show world. A showman, whose house is located in the home town of a movie star, is certain to take advantage of an opportunity to plug that star if it so happens that he is playing a pic ^=^^=; ture ;n wnich the star is featured. The star in this case happened to be Jane Keith, who plays the feminine role in "The Sea Wolf." The city, her home town, is Michigan City, Indiana. When H. J. Thatcher, manager of the Tivoli Theatre, was informed that he would play Jack London's story, he immediately set out to publicize the fact that a home town product would be on screen view at the theatre. A trip to the local paper rewarded him with a story on the actress. A wire to the studio netted him a reply from Miss Keith, who followed it up with telegrams to a number of city officials. The wires were reprinted in the paper. A great deal of advance interest was built up as a result of the stunt, so it wasn't surprising to Thatcher to find that on playdates he did excellent business. As this is Mr. Thatcher's first contribution to the Club we think that if he continues this sort of alert showmanship he will be a very active member. Let's hear some more from you, "H. J.," and include your photo with the contribution. Star Of Film Sent A Personal Message To Home Town Fans Managers' Round Table Club Section A publication within a publication devoted exclusively to the interests of the ♦ ♦ HOUSE MANAGER ♦ ♦ and all others participating in theatre management, exploitation, publicity and advertising. The Industry's Clearing House For Ideas! A GOLD MINE OF VALUABLE "DOPE" EVERY WEEK FOR THE LIVEWIRE SHOWMAN WHO SEEKS TO GET AHEAD IN A BUSINESS WHERE "YOU HAVE TO GO LIKE HELL TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE" And our slogan is typical of our organization: "AH For One And One For All"