Colonel Blimp (United Artists) (1945)

David Low, the internationally famous cartoonist whose character "Colonel Blimp" has been brought so thrillinqly to life in the Technicolor production, is a source of inspiration and artistic achievement to artists and cartoonists throughout the world. His "Colonel Blimp" character offers a challenge to cartoonists and artists in every town in the country. Yes, Mr. Exhibitor, in your town, too! ■ ■ Steam Up Art Classes On “Blimp” Head Contact your local high school art classes and sponsor a competition among art students around the drawing of a "Blimp". Art teachers will really go for this because it puts students in competition around a worth-while project; students will go for it because they win tickets and may see their names in the papers. Be sure that prize winning work gets prominent display in your lobby the week of the run! ^ Or Plant These Cartoon Gags With Your Local Paper Or Radio Quiz! (1) A hundred word essay around the question: WHAT CARTOON STRIP WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE MOVIES? is sure to bring in a lot of lively responses. Your local newspaper will go for this one-shot contest because every editor has a cartoon he thinks would be great for the movies . . . and every reader is dying to cast Gravel Gertie for a red-hot epic. Start the contest at least a week before the run either through your news¬ paper, radio quiz show or throwaways. If the answers are funny enough maybe you can arrange to have some published. Be sure "Colonel Blimp" comes in for its share of plugging in the contest. Offer prize of tickets for best ( ) letters. (2) A good question for the town's favorite radio quiz: CAN YOU NAME TWO CARTOONS THAT WERE MADE INTO MOVIES? Answers: "Blondie," "Colonel Blimp," "Jiggs," "Dick Tracy," etc. Be sure that "Colonel Blimp" is plugged if contestants fail to men¬ tion it. Offer tickets to winners of contest. You can capitalize on this interest in Low and his creation in many ways. Here are a few ideas. Perhaps they suggest others as well. OFFER AWARD TO TOWN’S BEST CARTOONISTS! Sponsor "The David Low — Colonel Blimp Art Contest" among professional cartoonists in your town. Cartoonists will submit drawings of their own characters or that of Colonel Blimp on forty by sixty boards for display in your lobby. Have the display set up the week before the run of "Colonel Blimp" and have your patrons cast their ballots for the best work. The prizewinning cartoon gets prominent display the week of your run and the cartoonist wins a small war bond. A contest like this is certain to stir up a lot of interest in town; people will come from far and near to see your attractive lobby and your local newspaper will certainly want to cover the event with art and stories. Be sure to give the stunt plenty of publicity by throwaways, ads, etc. In this connection, nothing could be more effectively used for mass publicity material than this roguish head of that romantic rascal, Colonel Blimp. Available either as a mat or still the head can be used as an attractive and popular come-on for the cartoon contest. Use the head as an illustration for window cards or throwaways or order the still, blow it up and mount it in your lobby along with appropriate copy. Don't fail to give everything in the way of ballyhoo to the contest! It's a sure fire gag that only awaits some clever showmanship to make it click! WATCH FOR THE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT One of the most extensive nation-wide exploitations ever undertaken on any film will shortly be instituted by United Artists around the universal popularity of Low's cartoon character and cartoon characters generally. In connection with this campaign, which is certain to have sure appeal for YOUR community, the United Artists Publicity and Advertising Department is preparing a special supplement for the pressbook which will outline the whole project. Watch for this supplement! It contains material that will really put "Colonel Blimp" on the map! Plant This Great Color-In Feature! Page Four