Big Hearted Herbert (Warner Bros.) (1934)

LET'S GET FUNNY! Stunts described below involve little expense. They’re aimed to make your patrons laugh—and remember the picture. Try ’em. STREET CARS, BUSES—Print up car or bus transfer tickets using copy: “THIS TRANSFER TOGETHER WITH (regular fare) IS GOOD FOR THE XYZ LINE. COMPLIMENTS OF ‘BIG HEARTED HERBERT’.” CLOTHING STORES—Store devotes window or show case to display of vests using copy: THE SLEEVES TO THESE VESTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN AWAY FREE BY ‘BIG HEARTED HERBERT?’.” LARGE CAKE OF ICE—Place on streets with sign: “He GIVES AWAY ICE IN THE WINTER TIME—BIG HEARTED HERBERT?’.”’ Ms CANCELLED THEATRE TICKETS—Put them in big box and have man take them through town offering these to passers-by. Sign on man’s back to read — “BIG HEARTED HERBERT IS GIVING AWAY FREE cancelled TICKETS TO THE STRAND THEATRE.” fe WATER FOUNTAINS—Set up couple of water coolers around important sections of town. Place sign reading “THE DRINKS ARE ON ‘BIG HEARTED HERBERT’.” * * * BUTTONS—Fill couple of big bowls with every variety of sizes, shapes, colors of buttons. Card over bowl reads “THE GREATEST TIGHTWAD IN THE WORLD— HE USES BUTTONS FOR MONEY — ‘BIG HEARTED HERBERT.” MOLASSES JAR—Place exeggerated size molasses jar in lobby with sign — “BIG HEARTED HERBERT — MONEY FLOWS FROM HIS POCKETS LIKE MOLASSES IN JANUARY” ** ** * LARGE HAT—Try to get hold of an enormous hat. Give it a prominent spot with following copy: “ ‘BIG HEARTED HERBERT’—EVEN THIS HAT WOULD.NT FIT THAT SWELLED HEAD OF HIS.” we ab Ey oS Many more gag ideas can be developed along these lines—depending on local situation. A Front-Full Of Laughs Here’s a suggested set-up for your front. They'll start laughing before they get into the theatre. Use the catchlines from the ads and blow-ups of the stills in the exchange set. School Dramatics THE COVER Take a peek at the cover of this book. It’s a dandy sales talk for the Perhaps local high school dramatic society is looking picture when used for for a good play. Suggest display purposes. Make ‘“‘Big Hearted Herbert,’’ blowups of it for your front and lobby. Or you Lots of which ran on Broadway for a year. It’s funny and clean, and if they do it before your showing, it’s not going to do your picture any harm. can use it as is. exhibs do! College Town? If your house is frequented by college students, here’s a slant: tell *em that in the picture Big Hearted Herbert says all college men _ are ‘idlers, sissies, and ninIt ought to controversy compoops.” start a among the student body with resultant publicity in the college paper. But handle it in a kidding way. Funny Fixtures Big Hearted Herbert was determined to hang on to an enlarged picture of his old man and a brass cuspidor-— in spite of the fact that his wife wanted to modernize their home. Ask patrons to send in the ugliest features of old time furnishings. Display articles in the lobby or in prominent window. Prizes may be awarded for the most ludicrous examples of bad taste in furnishing the modern home. Stunt can be used seriously by donating all furnishines-to—a_charitable—institution to be sold at a rummage sale. Longest Wed Mr. and Mrs. Bie Hearted Herbert, married 20 years— and still fighting! Reminds us of the manager who held an evening performance in honor of the couple in town who had been married longest. They came, their friends came, and their friends’ friends came, too. Climax: when they were introduced, they started to argue about which should do the talking. Maybe you won’t have quite that much fun—but the idea is swell for this type of family picture! Sachet Giveaways Sell local perfume dealer the idea of distributing perfume sachets to women patrons for their handbags. Copy line to be used in connection with this: ‘‘Compliments of ‘Big Hearted Herbert,’ now at the Strand Theatre.’’ Want Cut-Outs? The poster art on this film can be made into some swell cut-outs. Take a look at the twenty-four, the six and the three-sheets. The artist had your cut-out needs in mind when he drew them. The cutout from the twenty-four sheet gives you the two big stars in figures six feet deep. Start working on them now! Gag Grab Bag Fill up large bag with everything you ¢an possibly promote. Everything from lolly pops to back number magazines. On each of these articles place a sticker reading: COMPLIMENTS OF BIG HEARTED HERBERT. Place bag on busy street under the guidance of couple of smart looking dames carrying sign: FREE GIFTS TO ALL—COME AND GET IT— Teaser Sniping You’ve got a good title here for teaser sniping the town. Copy can read, ‘‘DEPRESSTON IS OVER! BIG HEARTED HERBERT IS COMEN-G._-TO..TOWN..”” Tie-Up Angle In picture Kibbee 1s very neglectful of the furnishing of his house. Furniture stores ean tie up this idea by using copy slant: ‘‘Take a lesson from the Big Hearted Herberts.’’ Follow up copy can cite the shame and discomfort brought upon the family by usine outmoded furniture. FLASH! . FREE—RADIO SKETCH—FREE N.B.C. and C.B.S. have used the Warner radio sketches and this one is right up to the high standard of the others. Written for 15 minutes, with plenty of laughs and plenty of plugs for the picture. Try it with the studio’s or an ama teur cast. Write for it now, to Merchandising Plan Editor, Warner Bros., 321 W. 44th St., N.Y. 28x42 Blowups In full colors: $3.50 each. In black and white: $2.25 each. F. O. B. New York City. Order directly from: NATIONAL STUDIOS 226 West 56th Street N. Y. C. Last Minute Notice! Sophie Kerr, noted author of “Big Hearted Herbert”? and numerous other wide ly read stories, sends her enthusiastic com ment on the picture which you can quote in newspaper ads, display signs and in all pub licity. "After seeing a screening of 'Big Hearted Herbert', put me down as a highly content ed and delighted author. I believe that "Big Hearted Herbert' is funnier as a picture than it was as a Broadway play. It made me realize that the screen offers a much wider scope for story, comedy than the stage. action and I am delighted with the work of Guy Kibbee in the title role. cast are very fine. Aline MacMahon and the rest of the I hope audiences will enjoy it as much as I did." Page Fifteen