The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

688 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 19, 192: 'Xaugh Month" Big Success Reports to Fox Indicate EAKLY reports received by the short subjects sales department of Fox fihiis from all parts of the United States indicate that National Laugh Month will be the biggest and most successful project of the kind in the history of motion pictures. Most exhibitors were quick to appreciate the tremendous possibilities of the national )ublicity campaign on Laugh Month and they were not slow in taking advantage of their opportunity. Many of them have planned to supplement the countrywide campaign with special advertising tieups of their own, and it seems safe to predict that ninety per cent, of the theatres in the country will ofifer all-comedy programs throughout the uonlh of January. While the national campaign has created I broad and general interest in short films, particularly comedies, it is pointed out that the individual exhibitor, to reap the greatest possible benefit from Laugh Month, must link up his theatre with the national movement by judicious advertising and exploitation of such pictures. The unusually attractive array of short comedies scheduled by Fox for January release would in itself warrant extra advertising and big profits await Stanley Books Red Seal "Ko-Ko Packs Up" is the Featurette whicn Red Seal announces as having been recently booked by the Stanley Theatre of Philadelphia. The Ko-Ko out of the Inkwell series have been booked by most of the exhibitors in this territory, according to President Edwin Miles Fadman. Title Hiers Comedy The Walter Hiers Comedy scheduled by Educational for releasing on their Laugh Month program, and which was previously untitled, has been called "Weak But Willing." This two-reeler shows Walter, garbed as a little boy, going through a series of thrilling adventures while running the gauntlet of a secret society's new member third degree team. The release date is January 3. National Laugh Month Bookings (Continued from page 681) ing stafTs to work immediately and line up the merchants. Adding to the long list of theatres and circuits which have previously been reported as having joined the National Laugh Month movement for January, 1926, reports received by the National Laugh Month Committee indicate that by January 1, 1926, every large and small house in the country will be in line. Frank W. Buehler, managing director of the Stanley Company of America, writes from Philadelphia : "We are getting back of Laugh Month, and will do all that we can to put it across. We are with you one hundred per cent." The exchange managers of Dallas, Texas, are meeting and formulating plans to line up the houses in their territory. In Kansas City, the following theatres tile exliibitor who is willing to meet his opportunity halfway. The real purpose of National Laugh Month, however, according to those in charge of the movement, is not merely to book a tremendous volume of short films, particularly comedies, for January showing, but to impress both the public and exhibitors with the real importance of short subject films. It is believed that Laugh Month will accomplish this, and, once such recognition is gained, tabloid comedies will be able to hold their own with feature productions ever afterward. have already promised to join the movement : Main Street, Liberty, Isis and NewmanRoyal Theatres. From Atlanta, Ga., come reports that the local district managers of Famous, Loew's, Universal (Florida) and other circuits promise complete co-operation and are laying their plans accordingly. Universal's home office reports that the following theatres have wired in that they are going to "whoop 'er up" for Laugh Month and promise complete co-operation : Capital Theatre, Dallas. Texas ; Alhambra, Milwaukee, Wis.; America, Denver, Colo.; Broadway Strand, Detroit, Mich.; Cameo, Pittsburgh, Pa. ; Cameo, Los .Angeles, Cal. ; Cameo, San Francisco, Cal. ; Clemmer, Spokane, Wash.; Columbia, Portland, Ore.; Columbia, Seattle, Wash. ; Liberty, Kansas City, Mo.; Apollo, Kansas City, Mo.; Olympia, Buflfalo, N. Y. ; Randolph, Chicago, III.; Rialto, Washington, D. C. ; Rivoli, St. Louis, Mo. ; Tudor. Atlanta, Ga. In St. Louis, the managers of the companies associated with the committee's ac giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiuiiiiiimniiniiL<iniiHiiiiiiiiniiijiiii{iiiiii;iHi!ii;{iiiiij,;{iiiiii uimuncinn ^ 1 International News Gets | I Locarno Treaty | 1 Officials of the International New* 1 i reel Corporation announced that exclus 1 1 ive rights in the United States to the i g world-famous motion pictures of the 1 1 signing of the Locarno Treaty had been 1 S obtained by International and that be S 1 ginning December 12 the pictures will 1 g be shown on the screens of all Inter I g national Newsreel customers in the 1 1 United S'.ates. The films of the mo = g menfous event are now on their way 1 g to America. H liiiiiiiiniiiiii'i":iiiiiiiwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiniHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiM tivities arc formulating plans which will be announced on completion. From Omaha come promises of a tie up from the following theatres : Rialto, StranW North Star and Hamilton Theatres. Louisvile, Ky., is right in line with Keith's Rialto, Keith's Majestic, Kentucky, Louisville, Kentucky Theatre, Lexington, taking up the movement. Atlantic City, home of beauty pageants, is thoroughly organized. As we go to press, word is received that Eddie O'Keefe, managing director of the City Square Theatre, has been appointed General manager of the Laugh Month Committee in that city. This means that every theatre in the famous seashore resort will put in a drive to entertain visitors with flocks of laughs during Laugh Month. A complete list is not available but it means one hundred percent in that territory. Letters and telegrams from other centers are arriving hourly showing that Laugh Month is taking the country by storm inside and outside the industry. |iiiinuginniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiHiii:wiiiii:!iiiii!<uuniiiiM^ ninmiiii iniiiiniiiuMiiiiiiiminiiiitminwmiiiiMiiniiH 1 Sydney S. Cohen Suggests | 5 Slogan for "Laugh Month" | I December 7, 19ZS. | f Mr. Nat Rothstein, 1 g Film Booking Offices of America, = 1 723 Seventh Avenue, g I New York, N. Y. I I Dear Nat: — It is with distinct pleasure that I attempt to accede to your request 1 f anent LAUGH MONTH and what it holds for exhibitors throughout the Nation. 1 g (The capitals are yours.) I hasten to emphasize what has long been my constant 3 H claim, namely, that all too frequently short subjects have been considered solely g M in the light of so much additional footage needful to round out a two-hour show. g g This is not as it should be, for the many splendid sparkling miniature features 1 Q which abound today, and which we have been wont to term comedies or novelty i i reels, are in many instances worthy of the place of honor on any one's film program. = M LAUGH MONTH, if its fundamental idea is carried out faithfully, will serve to 1 y present to the public as well as to those theatre owners who as yet are unenlightened 1 p to their worth, these miniature features in such a manner as to establish their real g i value and dignity. The fact that most of these subjects seek to induce mirth in g i the degree of giggles, chuckles or roars need in no wise detract from the place of g i real dignity they hold, for a laugh is the universal moulder of fellowship. "Laugh 1 i and the world laughs with you" might well be the Industry's slogan for LAUGH 1 I MONTH. I g Sincerely yours, § I (Signed) SYDNEY S. COHEN. | Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiw uiiiniii! iiiiiiinii.i!iiiiiiiiiMiiiiiinii:iiHiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiniiii;ii;i.i