Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

Dei e m her 20, I 930 M o I i o n P i c I u r e N e 45 MANACtKJ" flCUND TABLE CLUB Here's the Way a Cleveland Showman Used Potato Stunt One of the first showmen to swing into action on our recent box on the value of running potato matinees at Thanksgiving and Christmas times is Paul Apple, of the ^^^=^^^^^^^^^^^=^^= Ambassador Amusement Company in Cleveland, Ohio, who gives us a little dope on the way he used the suggestion in his neighborhood houses. Mr. Apple tells us that lie ran two slides on his screen. One slide was directed to the patrons. The copy read: Potato Nites Every Mon-Tues-Friday We Want Potatoes! We will accept one potato as FIVE CENTS toward the purchase price of an admission ticket. These Potatoes Are to Be Given to the Poor and Needy of This Naborhood DON'T BE BASHFUL, FOLKS— BRING 'EM IN In many instances it was found that persons would bring in bags of potatoes. They liked the five cent discount idea. The other slide carried an appeal direct to the merchants. It speaks for itself. We Want Potatoes for the Poor and Needy in This Naborhood Merchants: Bring one bushel of potatoes and we will run your ad on our screen for ONE WEEK You need the Advertising We want the Potatoes HOW ABOUT IT? A great many merchants took advantage of this generous offer. Apple tells us that it has been his custom to turn over the potatoes received to two or three churches in the neighborhood. He cautions us on one angle, namely, a cosmopolitan neighborhood. "If you are located in a cosmopolitan neighborhood," he says, "take care in your distribution to see that all of the local institutions are given a break." We want to thank Mr. Apple for passing along this account of his fine activity. We are sure that many of our members will follow suit. We hope to hear from you again, Mr. Apple, regarding your showselling in Cleveland. Let's make it soon. (( All For One And One For All" Do Little Things Count? Those of us who still believe that the little touches and the little details when piled together create a mighty mountain, might give a thought to the question of a welcome trailer, as well as a good night trailer for the opening and closing of the house. Recently we sat in a theatre watching the performance, and when the show broke, about eleven o'clock, it ended with a very interesting and entertaining "good night" trailer which finished by wishing all of the patrons "good night and happy dreams." These little touches have often sent patrons home in just the right frame of mind, which means that they were tickled with the evening's entertainment and would, no doubt, look forward to the next time they could visit the theatre. While we have only singled out the opening and closing trailers, there are so many other little intimate touches which find a welcome reception from the patrons that we are still wondering whether these little details are not worth watching very carefully. What are you slants on this situation, and what suggestions have you to offer that might benefit your brother members and showmen the world over? Miss Clara Schmitt Had Party That Boosted Receipts Representing the showmen, Miss Clara Schmitt, who handles the managerial reins at the Yazoo Theatre in Yazoo City, Miss., tells us that she featured a Hallowe'en party ^^=^^^=;=^ii^^^^^^ that went over very well in her town. Publicity stories were run in the local paper to the effect that the theatre was going to have a party. Residents of the town were invited to take part. Prizes were given .for the most novel costumes, for the tallest and smallest persons entered, for the thinnest and fatest, and many other, unique ideas. The prizes were promoted by Miss Schmitt from the local merchants. The party was a riot from start to finish. Laughs galore were heard all over the house. The theatre was jammed with spectators, and every one voted that it was the best party held in a long time. We understand that Miss Schmitt is doing some good work out in her town. We'd like to hear from her again very soon, and we hope she will favor us with a photograph and an account of her career in the show game. What do you say, Miss Schmitt? Murray Lafayette Is Clicking At Princess In Hartford, Conn. Now that he has his feet on the ground at the Princess Theatre in Hartford, Conn., we look forward to seeing what Murray Lafayette is going to do to keep them lining up at ^— the box-office of the house. One nf his recent stunts was that of distributing novel heralds about the town as a plug for "A Lady Surrenders." The heralds were handed out at .various office buildings. They were imprinted with a message in shorthand. Stenographers were invited to send translations to the theatre, the first fifty being given tickets to see the show. The stunt went over very well in Hartford, especially as that sort of gag had never been used before. We understand that Lafayette is turning out work of this sort on everv new show. He always adds a little more to each campaign. We hope that we will hear from him soon regarding the rest of the work. And, oh yes ! before signing off this little story, we'd like to announce that Lafayette has joined the ranks of the benedicts, having become hitched just recently.