King Rat (Columbia Pictures) (1965)

Sound Track Album Mainstream Records is distributing nationally a dramatic sound track album of the music from "King Rat,"' which was composed and directed for the picture by John Barry. Through their distributors across the nation, Mainstream Records is backing the release of the album via disc jockey promotion, mounted album covers and window streamers for dealers and full cooperation with theatres playing the picture. A limited quantity of streamers for "King Rat'' is available on request to: Exploitation Department, Columbia Pictures, 711 Fifth Ave., New York 22, N. Y. Contact the Mainstream Record distributor in your market as soon as possible and work out a mutually beneficial promotion campaign on "King Rat" for your situation. WAR’S-END QUIZ An interesting stunt that may be worked with the cooperation of your local paper, or radio station, can be based on residents answering the query: ''What Were You Doing When You Heard About V-J Day?" It can be worked as a contest, with either readers or listeners sending in postcards with their answers. Guest tickets can be awarded as prizes for the most interesting or winners may be picked via a sweepstakes drawing from your stage. James Clavell's best-selling novel, ‘King Rat,"’ on which the picture is based, is now available as a soft cover edition and is being distributed nationally as a Crest Edition of the Fawcett World Library. Limited quantities of Crest's special two-color rack card (above) are available on request to the Exploitation Dept., Columbia Pictures, 711 Fifth Ave., New York 22, N. Y. Contact the Fawcett representative in your area and work with him on a "Read the book, See the Picture’ promotion campaign. Note the lan Fleming quote! Here are some promotion suggestions: ¢ Provide stills and posters for window and in-store displays with added credits. e Make up a book mark, using a one-column ad from the pressbook with theatre and playdate copy on the reverse. e Present copies of the soft cover edition to the first people on line opening day. ¢ Be sure local editors, radio/TV personalities receive copies of the book. Also obtain copies for contest prizes. e Rubber stamp credits on separated pages of the book for unique handout. P.0.W. BALLY Send a young man dressed in faded dungarees, wearing a sweat shirt with the letters P.O.W. stencilled in large size across the front, in contrasting colors, around town wearing a poster on his back bearing full credits. VETERANS’ ORGS Go after the veterans in your town for cooperation in your promotion of "King Rat,"' especially those who were prisoners of war at one time or another. ¢ Work with your local Legions and military posts to obtain the names and addresses of former prisoners of war. Go after these men for personal appearances on radio/TV programs, interviews with the press, talks from your stage opening night, etc. ¢ Get statements from these former prisoners of war endorsing the picture for newspaper publicity, advertising and a lobby board. ° Ask local military and veteran's organizations to cooperate with a parade to the theatre, or a color guard and band. Borrow flags and military material for lobby decor. ¢ Check ex-prisoners for pictures taken during the war or on their release, with any memorabilia from their incarceration or their service in the Armed Forces. e For references, an organization called American Ex-Prisoners of War has its headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. KINGMAN ART Dong Kingman, celebrated Chinese-American water-colorist, sketched the production activities during the filming of "King Rat," the first picture he has covered as an artistreporter. A set of 10 stills of these dramatic drawings is available for your use in publicity and promotion use. Obtain Still Nos. Art | through Art 10 from National Screen Service. e Enlarge the drawings for lobby spots or use in displays with actual stills from the picture. e Offer to the art director of your local paper. Kingman is internationally famous and his art commands very high prices. e Arrange window displays with local art supply stores and plant with libraries. e Stills may also be used by entertainment editors as unique additions to their own picture spreads of current and forthcoming screen entertainment. Page 3