Steamboat Bill, Jr. (United Artists) (1928)

Joseph M. Schenck Presents BUSTER KEATON and ERNEST TORRENCE in “STEAMBOAT BILL, Jr." United Artists Picture Tie To These Exploitation Ideas: Prize Ads. —In co-operation with liter¬ ature, journalism and art classes of your local schools conduct a competition for the best advertising layout or poster heralding Buster Keaton and Ernest Torrence in "Steamboat Bill, Jr.” at your theatre. Pro¬ vide them with still pictures, portraits, bill¬ ing, heralds and other material to work from. Be sure to inaugurate this contest at least two weeks in advance of your open¬ ing date. Plan to use the best specimens as reproductions in the newspapers and as an exhibition in your lobby or in a depart¬ ment store window. Drawing Contest. —The idea of making Buster Keaton laugh is always a good one. Print BL-1, BL-2 or BLX-5 with Keaton’s mouth tooled out, and offer awards to those persons who can draw in the best laughing mouth to complete the illustration. Love Problem. —Conduct a letter writ¬ ing contest on the topic: "Would You Save A Girl From Drowning Who Had Jilted You?” Laugh Lines. —Attach a short piece of slender hemp cord to a shipping tag. On the tag print: A Laugh Line For You! This is a piece of rope with which we will tie up with our boatload of laughs at the Rialto next Monday. We know you’ll like our line. BUSTER KEATON and ERNEST TORRENCE in Bill, Jr.” Send quantities of these tags in envelopes to a restricted mailing list in advance of your showing. Page Four Radio Stunt. —Sponsor a "Steamboat Bill, Jr.” radio program, featuring steamboat songs, river songs, and so forth. Offer awards of tickets to listeners who can iden¬ tify the largest list of the songs played. Parodies. —Offer prizes in co-operation with a newspaper for the best parodied verse of the old song, "Steamboat Bill,” tying up, of course, with your show. Sailor Kids. —Proud parents have a fad of dressing five-year-old tots in naval cos¬ tume. Set a date on which you will admit free all children under a certain age who come wearing sailor or yachting suits. Take a picture of them in a group and offer it to your newspaper. It won’t be long nowl The funniest BILL in the world is coming! Jest wait! "Steamboat Bill , Jr.” will take you floatin’ down the river of Mirth in the laffinest picture made! The (name of Theatre) presents its funniest comedy BILL. Hear dat whistle round dat bend? "Steamboat Bill, Jr.’s” "corn¬ in’ !” (For illustrations see full page draw¬ ing on page 5 opposite. No cuts nor mats ). $ MARQUEE—A painted beaver board cut-out of sunken steamer. Use a practical lantern, bell and flag, and have smoke drifting from the stacks at intervals, also sound bell and whistle at intervals .... Another marquee would have the upright pilot house and stacks. A man with megaphone atop the structure could cry out "All aboard for the mirth boat, 'Steamboat Bill, Jr.’ ” LOBBY—Beaver board cut-outs to represent life preservers trimmed with real ropes and used as frames to display scene stills or 11 x 14 lobby cards. BOX OFFICE—Booth enclosed in painted beaver board represent¬ ing the pilot house. Green and red ship lanterns, lighted, at the sides; a spot as searchlight above. Where it is feasible, have a gang¬ plank leading to the auditorium en- j ’j trance. STREET WORK—A man in natty captain’s attire using a mega¬ phone to announce the attraction. AUTO SHIP — Painted beaver board enclosure or cut-out mounted on a chassis or a truck. Title of the attraction carried on a banner. A smoke pot to provide smoke for the stacks. Flags and lights may also be used. Also the paddle wheel may be made to operate.