Strange Bedfellows (Universal Pictures) (1965)

* THE SHOWMAN’S CORNER x FOR A BIGGER, BRIGHTER BOXOFFICE— Exploitation Suggestions For Your “STRANGE BEDFELLOWS" CAMPAIGN DOUBLE'S CONTEST: Every city has numerous young people who definitely believe they are the ''spitting image" of handsome Rock Hudson and beautiful Gina Lollobrigida. Use this interesting angle as part of your pre-sell campaign — particularly that part pointing toward the important high school and college group. You could arrange a contest through the school papers, with a metropolitan newspaper, or a local television station. The win ners to receive gifts and appear in the lobby of your theatre on the opening day of "STRANGE BEDFELLOWS." Also, consider using one or several of the "doubles" to distribute heralds or small photos of Hudson and Miss Lollobrigida. Your newspaper editor might be interested, too, because of the local angle. CAB DRIVERS: Some especially amusing sequences in "STRANGE BEDFELLOWS" involve cab drivers — and their use of short-wave radios to contact their company dispatchers. Your local cabbies are excellent public relations emissaries—and an invitation to them to see "STRANGE BEDFELLOWS" at a preview or on opening day should be most beneficiary word-ofmouth promotion. RADIO D. J. or NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST STUNT: You might develop a letter-writing contest — with guest tickets or prizes — on the subject of "HOW | MET MY GIRL (OR WIFE)". . . to fit in with the smacking introduction of Rock to Gina and their ultimate film marriage in "STRANGE BEDFELLOWS." PAJAMA NIGHT: Create a night at your theatre in this vein — with everyone who arrives in pajamas admitted free. This might be in cooperation with the sleep tog department of one of your merchants. A sorority party affair of this type at your theatre could land you some excellent newspaper space. STREET BALLY;: Tour a couple, clad in nightclothes, through the city streets on a flat truck, with appropriate signs, for a stunt that certainly would attract plenty of attention for your showing of "STRANGE BEDFELLOWS." AD TEASER: Placing classified ads in your newspapers with this kind of copy: ''If you have trouble sleeping, call this number ", And use a tape-recording message with intriguing conversation plus your date and theatre plug on "Strange Bedfellows." PHOTOS: Camera stores in your area could be interested in a cooperative deal with photos of girls who resemble Gina Lollobrigida — to be displayed in their windows and in your lobby. TEASER SIGNS: Prepare some signs or have a small sticker printed — to be circulated around town — with this kind of copy: Make a Date with “STRANGE BEDFELLOWS" and in small letters: . . . Starting Date at Your Theatre Page 17 ue gance BEDFELLOWS’ For a REAL LIVE Attention-Grabber in your lobby—and for current showing in front of your theatre: MAKE UP A LIFE-SIZE CUTOUT STANDEE like the photo reproduction shown here. You can make a blowup from the still (No. 1941-EX 9—order it free from Exploitation Dept., Universal pictures, 445 Park Ave., New York 22) and you'll have an unusually attractive GIANT STANDEE to impressively call attention to your "STRANGE BEDFELLOWS"' booking! A Memo: An opportunity for something extra in newspaper publicity space for “STRANGE BEDFELLOWS" and your theatre dating could be found in your local television columns via the co-starring presence of GIG YOUNG in the romantic comedy film. Young, who co-stars with Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida in "Strange Bedfellows," is a regular weekly star in the NBC-TV series, ''The Rogues," seen Sunday nights on that television network. There are two opportunities for you to capitalize on this: with TV page publicity and a co-op deal with the television station carrying the program, whereby they would plug Gig Young's starring role in ‘Strange Bedfellows" at your theatre and you'd reciprocate on your theatre screen with a pitch for the station and "The Rogues." BANNER ACCESSORIES DELUXE FLUORESCENT SECTIONAL VALANCE—Made of glowing fluorescent satin with shimmering letters and flowing fringes. ORDER ANY LENGTH NEEDED AT $1.65 PER FOOT. (Minimum size, 10 ft.) 3-PIECE STREAMER—An attractive 17’ long banner, priced at $16.50 each. ¥ x 12’ FLAG OR WALL BANNER-—Single-Faced, $60.00. Double-Faced, $110.00. FLUORESCENT USHER'S BADGE—40¢ each. In U.S.A., order from your nearest NATIONAL SCREEN OFFICE Manufactured by NATIONAL FLAG & DISPLAY COMPANY, 43 W. 21st St. New York 10, N. Y. (Tel. OR 5-5230) In Canada, National Flag Company represented by THEATRE POSTER SERVICE, LTD. 227 Victoria St., Toronto, Ontario, Can.