Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

December 2 0 . 1 930 M o t i o n Picture News 47 MANAGE!?!' ROUND TABLE CLUB Showmen Of Washington Did Plenty To Aid Unemployed Remember the account of the Washington, D. C. showman who recently handed the town's race horse enthusiasts a big laugh by the introduction of a novel herald? He's at it again. Only this time, instead of pulling a laugh gag. he set out to do his bit towards relieving the unemployment situation in the Capital City. ■ The group of showmen at Universal's Rialto Theatre in Washington got together and formulated a plan that was a knockout. They got in touch with executive headquarters and a short time later, Carl Laemmle sent a message to President Hoover informing him that everything would be i 'laced at the disposal of Mr. Hoover's newly appointed committee for unemployment relief. The Washington "'runes" was next tied in. And the sheet did plenty. Three columns an edition, five editions a day — 150 columns of space was garnered by the theatre on this one. Plenty oi ads were also used. Every available bit of space in the town was put to some use to plug the monster show that the showmen intended holding. And then came a hitch. It was found that the crowd of people making application to the midnight benefit would necessitate the holding of the performance at another and larger house — the F<>x. to be exact. Displaying showmanship way above the average, the group announced that in view of the fact that the affair was one of the public's, Laemmle would not mind transferring the show to a competitive house. The Universal president's wire to this effect landed on the front page of the newspaper, with a seven-column headline on top of it. From then on. photos were the order of the day. The evening of the benefit found the theatre mobbed, it being necessary to call out cops to hold back the press. Over $3,200 was given into the hands of Mr. Hoover's committee for distribution among the needy. After the benefit, the newspaper printed a vote of thanks to the theatre, expressing its gratitude — and the peoples' — for the splendid way in which the thing was handled. So much for that. Two or three days after the benefit, our showman friend hit up another slant. He would give some men employment. To see how he accomplished this you need only to look at the cut we are showing. It's not bad, is it? And when you stop to consider that street ballyhoos are taboo in Washington, you can readily appreciate the value of the stunt. We'd like to see some more of this work, and we hope to have some to pass along in the near future. What do you say? NOVELTY SOUVENIRS Make friends with your patrons Sew Droflts In your boi offloo receipt* Give kiddles "Brszel Novelties" and win them as Boosters for your show house . . Inexpensive attractive novelties serve as res) business setters always. BRAZEL NOVELTY MFG. CO. 4°c°,L». lL Another Club Booster! And still they pour into the office! It seems that we started something when Roger Drissel of Washington, D. C, sent us in that ace photo of himself showing that he thinks so much of his membership certificate that he places it in full view of everyone entering the office. The latest showman to give us the low-down on his certificate and the spot that it occupies in his office is Jay H. Guthrie, manager of the State Theatre in Uhrichsville, Ohio. The certificate occupies a prominent spot at the top of Guthrie's desk. Persons entering the office are certain to see it. We'd also like to point out to you the copy of Empee News right beside Guthrie. The certificate and the News (even if we say it ourself) should symbolize a business getting combination for any live-wire showman. Right, Jay? And, oh yes, we'd like the Club to know that atop of the desk may be found a file of Empee News, which contain a number of wellthumbed copies, thereby offering proof that Guthrie is always on the lookout for ideas and stunts for his picture and special events. Matt Press Handed Out Whoopee Quills At Hattiesburg Fair A stunt timed as perfectly as one of Bobby Jones' putts was successfully engineered by Matt Press, manager of the Saenger Theatre in Hattiesburg, Miss., recently as part of his campaign for the selling of "Whoopee." The local council was running an Industrial Fair. On the last night of the fair, Press brought over 500 feathers of various hues which were to be distributed to the persons attending. The feathers carried witticisms, and the title of the picture, name of theatre and plavdates. Just before the prizes were awarded at the Fair, the man in charge made the announcement that "Whoopee" feathers would be given to those shouting "Whoopee." A din arose almost instantly among the 1,500 persons present — all shouting "Whoopee" and with outstretched arms trying to lay their fingers on one of the feathers. In addition to providing a lot of excitement at the moment, the feather stunt also caused a lot of comment which undoubtedly helped in publicizing the picture. Seven life cut-outs of follies girls, eight feet tall and hand-painted to look natural; were placed on top of marquee. One letter of the title "Whoopee" was painted on each of the seven girls. These cut-out girls were illuminated at night with 1.000-watt bunch lights. The marquee display, together with decorations, in the lobby and underneath marquee arrested the attention of practically every person passing within a block of the theatre — and caused much favorable comment. Maybe you'd like to work this gag, too. It offers a novel departure from the regular run of theatre plugs, and, as may be seen, it is adaptable to almost any sort of picture. We want to thank Matt for letting us see this one and we hope that he will keep us posted on the rest of his work. What do you say, Matt?