Broadway Gondolier (Warner Bros.) (1935)

EXPLOITATION e “Try On A Mustache” Display DICK POWELL WEARS A MUSTACHE IN “BROADWAY GONDOLIER" See how you would look in one Dick wears a mustache in this one, y’know. We figured that most unmustached fellers would like to know how they’d look with one, but don’t want to go to all the trouble of raising it. Illustration shows how to make a display in lobby, adding a couple of mustaches for the lads to step up, try one on, and peek at themselves in mirror. Stills of Powell in various mustaches are available to augment display. Order Nos. B. G. Pub. A10, Pub. A28, Pub. A29, Pub. A30, Pub. A31. POSTER CUT-OUTS? LOOK! Paper on this one cuts out into these convenient sizes. And as you can see at a glance they’ll look right smart on your front, in the lobby or in store windows. 24-Sheet 24-Sheet 3-Sheet ‘Gondola Wanted’— Classified Teaser Tease ’em via personal column with ‘‘WANTED— a gondola! Strand Theatre, Manager.’’ For all you know, item might arouse enough curiosity to warrant a feature story in the papers. If you prefer, use same teaser, but add that you want gondola to use as a. street ballyhoo for the film. PROLOGUING THE TRAILER Carpenter or house artist could rig up the front of a gondola, and plant it protruding on stage, to be used as prologue to trailer. Vocalist sits in gondola, spot light shines on Fans Guess Powells Leading Ladies in Lobby Still Contest There ought to be a couple of stills around from Powell’s former pictures .. . and if so, they can be used in a lobby memory contest this way: Display the stills in which Dick appears with his leading ladies . . . offering ducats to fans guessing name of leading lady and name of film. Of course, be sure to use stills in which the gal isn’t easily distinguishable. In the event that you’ve forgotten, he played with Gloria Stuart in ‘‘Golddiggers of 1935,’’ Ruby Keeler in ‘‘Flirtation Walk,’’ Josephine Hutchinson in ‘‘ Happiness Ahead,’’ and Joan Blondell in this one. Your paper may be ripe for another memory contest . . . and this idea would go just as well via paper as in lobby. * Stars’ Life Stories For Use In Dealer and Radio Tie-ups Biographies of film’s stars appearing in publicity section ought to be good for a couple of extra breaks ’round town. Here’s a brace of suggestions. You’ll probably think of some more. AS THROWAWAYS Print star’s biography and photo on one side of a hunk of good stock with plug for latest film and merchant’s ad on back. Dealer, of course, fifty fifties cost. * Miniature Boat Race for Kids Have a ‘Gondola Race’ for the youngsters. Miniature sailboats enter and winners get passes to matinee. Local paper or toy store may tie in with additional prizes. The publicity should be worth a couple of ducats. * Patrons Guess How Many Will Attend Opening of Picture During week preceding picture, patrons fill in blanks telling how many people they think will see “Broadway Gondolier” on the opening day. Ducats go to those who guess closest to the right number. * phrase going on marquee. (Contest Story) Write Marquee Ad And Win Awards In Strand Contest Looking for a little fun and a chance to win some vacation Write-a-Line for Marquee: Ohio's Novel Newspaper Plant Frank Harjpster, of the Ohio Theatre in Mansfield, used this contest on “G-Men” and says it set a new high for replies. Paper asks fans to write descriptive word or two to fit in the fifteen unit space in marquee. Passes go to best ten selected, winning Story follows. For illustration, order mat No. 207—20c. Snapping The Folks In The Same Boat As Powell Here’s one to work in lobby or empty lot near theatre, with cooperation of photographer. Artist and carpenter build portion of a gondola and insert blown-up still of Powell in it, as illustrated. Then passers-by are invited to step up and have their photo snapped in the same boat as Dick. The still you’ll need is B. G. 300, and it’s a dime. Or you can order the six foot enlargement National Studios are making available. It’s illustrated on another page of this section. Song Ties in With Flower Shop SS SSS SSUES “THE ROSE IN HER HAIR came from the Dennis Flower Shop.” Would your local florist like this caption in his window, along with stills from picture? FOR CAB DRIVERS ONLY Did you know that Dick plays a cabbie in this film? Bet that you’re way ahead of us already with stunts that this brings to mind. With local newspaper cooperation, contests for most popular cabbie in town, for the _. best-looking, and for Zjthe wittiest. Via ro, amateur contest ” from stage or radio, find best vocalist among the hack‘men. If he’s good enough, might be worthwhile to give him a week’s engagement at theatre. And of course the parade of cags, as illustrated. money? The Strand Theatre in coopera him, and he sings one or two of the film’s melodies. As he finishes, light pops out, trailer crashes on. The lad in the illustration fooled us by ee ee hopping out of the gondola and standing front and center. tion with the contest editor of this paper have lined up a contest that offers this opportunity to all of its readers. Here’s all you have to do. The Strand Theatre’s_ enter prising manager is planning an advertising campaign to let all Columbus know that he’s playing “Broadway Gondolier,” the new Warner Bros. musical laugh hit starting this Friday. Everything is set with the exception of his marquee display. That’s where you come in. He wants a good descriptive line to go with his title. Illustrated above is a rough sketch of the Strand’s marquee. See where the title “Broadway Gondolier” has been placed? Notice the fifteen spaces under that? Well its your job to write a slogan, catchline or phrase describing the film in fifteen characters or less. Offhand we can think of LAFF MUSIC HIT. But you can probably do better. Why not try? Send your answers to the Broadway Gondolier Contest Editor in care of this paper. (List prizes, judges and other mechanics of contest)