Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

Motion Picture News November 2 9, IPSO WHANAGtRT ' ROUND TADLE CLUB You Can Help! An excellent move that did much to dispel those black clouds of business depression which Old Man Gloom threw around the town of Council Bluffs, la., was the placing of 14 x 22 inch cards in various store windows by a showman. The cards carried copy: "Cheer Up, Folks! Spread the GOOD NEWS. Good Times Are Coming! Council Bluffs Can And Will Prosper. See Stanley Smith in 'Good News' At The Broadway Theatre." As may easily be seen, these cards, though used primarily to plug the feature picture, were also of great value to the merchants. It is said that the local Chamber of Commerce greeted their appearance with enthusiasm. If that is so — and there is no reason why it shouldn't be — we think that the members of the Managers' Round Table Club can do their bit to bring back prosperity in their respective towns by making up institutional cards, carrying copy similar to that set forth above, and placing them in various locations. The Chamber of Commerce and the newspapers will get solidly behind your move. You are offered, by this stunt, an opportunity to gather plenty of good-will for your house. Why not do it? Kenimer's Campaign On Amos 'n' Andy Cleverly Executed Another one of his well known campaigns was turned out by Guy Kenimer at the Palace Theatre in Jacksonville, Fla., when the house played Amos 'n' Andy. The night that the booking date was set, a one-frame announcement was run at the theatre and in the four other houses of the circuit. The following week, this was replaced by a full announcement, followed the next week by the regular sound trailer. All announcement trailers were accompanied by the theme song of the picture. On the theatre's regular Saturday broadcast, nothing but the coming film was plugged. Permission was secured from the Pepsodent Company for the use of a trailer on the Pepsodent program through the local station, WJAX, announcing the engagement of the picture at the Palace. Three band leaders, who regularly play over the station, were contacted, and they inserted an announcement, whenever possible, of the picture. As a street ballyhoo a week in advance, a duplicate of the "fresh air" taxi was run on the streets. It was painted in loud colors. We are showing a photo of the ballyhoo. Two characters, dressed to resemble the famous colored comedians, drove the car during busy hours. They also stopped at the local schools during recess and dismissal time. The taxi also carried a man who announced, through a large megaphone, the playdates and special shows. The taxi visited factories and others plants. A tie-up was made with the Victor representative who has a machine called the "Victor Caravan." We are showing a photo of this caravan. It consists of a large trailer, somewhat on the order of a Pullman. Inside the trailer, is a public speaking system which can be hooked onto an Electrola for the playing of records, a radio, or a microphone. Large signs plugging the Coloring Of Scene From Picture Aided Orlove's Showselling film, were mounted atop of this car. The car was driven about the business and residential districts, the records being played and announcements made whenever crowds gathered. A Victor Radio Combination set was placed in front of the theatre, alternately playing records and picking up radio broadcasts. The set was banked with cut-outs and appropriate selling copy on the picture. All of the drug stores in town were tied-up on the dentifrice, special art cards being designed and placed in the windows. Displays were also secured in the windows of fifteen dealers, which included among them the largest department store, and the largest book and office supply store, in the town. When the picture opened, the front was designed atmospherically, the lobby resembling the street in front of the Fresh Air Taxi Company; the box office, the entrance to the lodge hall of the Mystic Knights of the Sea. To the right was placed the Amos 'n' Andy Taxicab Office; the left. Madam Queen's Beauty Parlor. It attracted everyones' attention. The newspapers gave the picture plenty of publicity. The full page ad that was run by Kenimer created a lot of talk in the town. With showman activity still on display at the Uptown Theatre in Milwaukee, Wis., it is small wonder that Louis Orlove, manager of the house, continues to enjoy good busi' ness at his local playhouse. A stunt that Orlove has found to be excellent for boosting business is that of inserting a scene mat of a picture in the local paper and inviting children to color it, with either water colors or crayons. The kids thought a lot of this stunt, the numerous replies attesting to its pulling power. Perhaps you, too, can use a stunt of this sort. Mats are usually to be found in the press books. Another stunt that went over well — and one that has appeared on our pages before — was that of announcing free tickets to the theatre for all persons sending in the title of the picture — in this case "Follow Thru"— written as many times as possible on the back of a Government post card. The winning card carried 665. Orlove is always active on some kind of gag, so we are sure that from time to time we will hear some more from him. Keep us posted, Louis. There's a new manager over at the Windsor Theatre in Brooklyn, N. Y., who is taking the place of Lou Smith. His name is David "Dave" Samuels, and here's the low-down. •=^^^^^^=^===^^^^^ Samuels has been in the show game for a number of years and it is interesting to note that he broke in with Lou Smith. For the past five years he has been connected with the Manhattan Playhouses, having been located at the Hollywood. Palestine, Bijou and Palace Theatres. With a background like this, since we know that the showmen on the Manhattan circuit are a bunch of live-wires, we look to hearing some good things about his work at the Windsor. Most of our members are aware of what Lou Smith did at the house and we are sure that since Samuels worked with him that the work will be continued to the greatest advantage. Brooklyn showmen have been rallying to join the Club and in the past we have shown many examples of what they can do, so it is almost unnecessary for us to go into any descriptions of their ability. We want to congratulate Dave on his new position, and we hope to hear from him soon. Samuels Is Handling Windsor in Brooklyn And Doing Great Job LIVE-WIRE NOVELTIES Get the GOOD -WUJ, nf all your patrons from fi to fill with our latest attractive "NOISE MAKING" Christmas colored souvenir, NOW nvatlahle. Write for sample Immediately. Also Theatrical Advertlsine Novelties Tor all year round purposes. DARWIN D. SILBERER & CO. 609-11 ST. LAWRENCE AVE. Telephone No. — Ti NEW YORK CITY oli 1030