Bullets or Ballots (Warner Bros.) (1936)

CLASSIFIED GAG SECTION A DIGEST of “G MEN’ and “SPECIAL AGENT’ CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS Away-From-Theatre Bays BLOODY CAR should be set up in prominent place with dummies strewn around. Gracias Ernesto P. Smith, Campoamor Theatre, Havana, Cuba. WRECKED, GANGSTERS’ CAR. Interested party should buy junked car and treat it with ‘gunfire’. Should then be set up in front of theatre with lights on it. Ad copy tells story. Credit to Art Barry, Macon, Ga. G-MAN CONTEST offers prizes to first persons identifying ‘G-Man’, who visits co-operating stores at times told in stores’ advertising. Variation of raffles gag thought up by Harry Creasy, Capitol Theatre, Kamloops, B. G. HANDCUFFED ‘ CRIMINALS’. Ushers walk streets, labelled as noted gangsters. Wire thanks to C. G. Gilkeson, lola Theatre, Tola, Kan. INSURANCE TIE-UP, consists of co-op herald to be distributed via both mailing lists. Copy should carry “you’re on the spot” copy, advising purchase of liability insurance. All rights controlled by Louie Lamm, Palace Theatre, Lorain, Ohio RADIO PATROL CAR, similar to those used by police, with P. A. system. Siren and plugging tells town about film. Thank you’s for tip should go to L. O. Robertson, Park Theatre, Tampa, Fla. STAFF PHONES BARS. Ushers should telephone town’s drinkeries. Person answering phone is told to tell “what’s-his-name” to watch out, because “Little Caesar” is coming back to town. We've adapted it but original gag was executed by Jack Mulhall, Stanley Theatre, Chester, Penna. Screen Slants we SPECIAL SLIDE can be made, dedicating film to Government agents. Result, in the past, has been endorsement from local police. Caused lot of word-of-mouth according to Bob Wile, Granada Theatre, Pearl River, N. Y. TRAILER STUNT. Theatre should be darkened, and shots and sirens sounded. Then trailer flashes on. Exciting interest aplenty, says Willard Patterson, Michigan Theatre, Detroit, Mich. cK Cm |i alii Lobby Stunts DETECTIVE MAG GIVEAWAYS. Get local dealer to supply you with back numbers. Stickers contain plug and playdate. To be given out to patrons. Polite praise will be appreciated by Irv Windisch, Strand Theatre, New York City. HEADLINE DISPLAY, to cover most of box office. Can be clipped from recent papers. Past trials indicate unusual patron in terest. Wire congrats to Jules Fields, Central Theatre, Jersey City, N. J. IDENTIFICATION CONTEST. Stills of famous gangsters to be pasted on lobby board. Patrons who identify them win ducats. Personally endorsed by Al Plough, Commodore Theatre, Philadelphia. Penna. PICTORIAL HISTORY of desper ado can be rigged up into lobby display. Tie-in copy should read “Torn from screaming headlines”. Contact newspaper morgue for photos and wire thanks to Ben Katz, Milwaukee, Wis. SPECIAL DISPLAY. Surprint pic’s ad copy over feature stories from dailies telling of G-Men’s work. Past performance warrants trial. Credit Sid Dannenberg, Hippodrome Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio. STILL DISPLAY showing action stills from picture. Of great interest to prospective patrons, according to Zeb Epstein, Strand Theatre, New York City. BE SURE TO. READ THESE CLASSIFIED COLUMNS ; “AND ALL “TESTED AND OKAYED BY 30 OF THE INDUSTRY'S LEADING SHOWMEN aE inc for 79 away -from-theatre ballys for inexpensive lobby stunts for simple newspaper & radio gags ‘2 easy-to work police items for y J unusual screen slants acc eal Lobby Stunts (Continued) STILLS OF SLAIN GANGSTERS. Pix of torsos of famous G-Men victims to be placed in lobby display. Considered intensely interesting by sponsor, Bob Talbert, Carolina Theatre, Spartansburg, See TELETYPE MACHINE, with op erator, to be promoted from local telegraph office and set up in lobby. Girl at other end sends messages plugging picture. Has aroused much patron interest in past. Credit Stewart Tucker, Byrd Theatre, Richmond, Va. Newspaper & Radio Se: CLASSIFIED ADS, to tease reader. Should be written to resemble message from one gangster to another. Success reported by Charles K. Eagle, Trenton Theatre, Lynchburg, Va. EXTRAS PRINTED. Screaming headlines to be printed on old newspapers and distributed by newsies with usual yelling. Vote of thanks to Joe Cooper, Stuart T heatre, Lincoln, Nebr. FEATURE STORY PLANT. Try to get editor to run big feature on crime and crime detection. Then you make up special herald with story, surprinted in red ink, for patron distribution. A bottle of thank you’s to George Irwin, Lyceum Theatre, Duluth, Minn. Newspaper & Radio (Continued) TEASER SPOT ANNOUNCEMENT, to be used as sort of news flash. Spiel should read “A war against crime will be waged here next Friday.” Regular announcement explains gag. For further information, drop a line to Ben Blumberg, Stanton Theatre, Philadelphia, Penna. WANTED: Teaser ads in classified columns. Should describe crime in picture. Past user highly satisfied. George Irwin, Lyceum Theatre, Duluth, Minn. Police Items BLOW UP POLICE RAVES. Hold special screening for police and blow up their raves for lobby display. Credit will be appreciated by Leon D. Miller, Strand Theatre, York, Penna. CRIMINAL-CATCHING APPARATUS, to be borrowed from police and lobby displayed. Should include scientific as well as strongarm detection instruments. Successfully used by “Doc” Lee, Paramount Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y. DRIVE CAREFULLY CAM PAIGN. Will need police cooperation. Tell folks that bad drivers are public enemies. Guest tickets for most careful drivers. Neatly done by Nick Warren, Cri terion Theatre, Anderson, S. C. FINGERPRINTING APPARA TUS in lobby. Always big hit when used for first time. Police generally willing to co-operate. Recently pulled by Charlie Carroll, Victoria Theatre, Ossining, N. Y. PATRONS’ INFORMATION will be appreciated by police. Place large box in lobby with sign asking folks to deposit any available dope on criminals. Bouquets to Bill Hendricks, Memphis Theatre, Memphis, Tenn. POLICE AWARDS for distin guished service can be made in theatre. Should notify plenty of cops. Nice work by Al Plough, Commodore Theatre, Philadelphia, Penna. POLICE SCHOOL INVITED to special screening. They should march to theatre, possibly with band and banners. Orchids to Charlie Smakowitz, Albany, N. Y. WEAPON DISPLAY of confiscated burglar implements to be loaned by police for lobby display. A doff of the toupee to Francis Deering, Loew’s State Theatre, Houston, Texas. Page Nine