Bureau of Missing Persons (Warner Bros.) (1933)

EXPLOITATION: FRONT AND LOBBY DISPLAYS, CONTESTS BALLYHOO FRONT FEATURES TRAVELING SIGN ZA Dzaich | cartoons ‘i BUREAU OF FAISCING PERSONS leer Q “ay, AMEX XK) eos) LY AY AN = Phe & HOMING PIGEONS USEO BY KIDNAP GANG TO COLLECT RANSOM BETTE DAVIS PAT O'BRIEN LEWIS STONE GLENDA FARRELL Illustrated here is an attention arresting theatre front that presents both the dramatic highlights and star angle in a startling manner. Carry out a black and white color scheme—using a white background and all lettering in black.. Selling copy should be carried in bright red. In the top panel, flanked on either side by huge star heads, is a framed shadow-box. ‘This is for a traveling sign carrying a combination of snappy selling copy and facsimiles of “missing persons” teletype messages. The mechanism for traveling sign is a simple arrangement of a belt operated by vertical rollers behind each en4 of top panel. The construction of same and attaching of small motor is a job which any house electrician can easily handle. The messages lettered on belt should emulate the style of type used on teletype machines. The illustration also shows a cage of homing pigeons set on top of boxoffice. with paneled copy below, explaining its connection with photoplay story, The upright panels at right and left incorporate picture title and intriguing sketches of the thrilling, dramatic highlights of the picture. The latter can be drawn or blown up from the advertising copy shown in the advertising section of the Merchandising Plan. Cutouts of the stars from the unusually attractive posters can be used with these art units. Suggested copy for running sign is given here. INSURANCE FRAUD REVEALED AS MISSING CLUBMAN FOUND ... MISSING GIRL FOUND DAZED IN CHINATOWN ... WIFE FEARED DEAD FOUND IN LOVER’S HIDEOUT .. . 100,000 PERSONS DISAPPEAR EVERY YEAR ... YOU’LL LEARN WHY THEY DISAPPEAR AND HOW THEY ARE FOUND WHEN YOU SEE “BUREAU OF MISSING PERSONS,” WITH BETTE DAVIS, PAT O'BRIEN, GLENDA FARRELL, LEWIS STONE and ALLEN JENKINS. NEWSPAPER CONTEST SOLVES MISSING PERSONS MYSTERY Every town has had many unsolved “Missing Person” problems and right now your community may have such a case occupying the front pages of your local press. Through the cooperation of your newspaper, offer prizes of guest tickets to see “Bureau of Missing Persons” (or small cash awards as well) for the best and soundest theories regarding some specific unsolved local “disappearance.” Practically all persons have their own pet solution to offer in such cases, and you are bound to get a raft of responses. ; Here is a sample contest announcement story, using by way of illustration a fictitious “missing person” case. (Publicity Story) Unsolved Missing Person Mystery Basis of Contest Picture “Bureau of Missing Persons’’ Prompts Offer of Guest Tickets for Answers Public interest has apparently subsided in the strange disappearance of Jane Doe, which only recently was front page news for days. Nevertheless, our local “Bureau of Missing Persons” has not ceased for one minute its untiring efforts to solve this baffling mystery. Many theories have been advanced and hundreds of clues followed, any number of which were advanced by well-intentioned persons in no way connected with the case. In fact, so much prominence was given to the mystery, it was only natural that everyone felt that he or she held the proper solution. Some have insisted it was a clear case of kidnapping and a few went so far as to intimate who might have acted in the role of “snatcher.” Others attributed Jane’s disappearance merely to a desire to escape the humdrum existence of home life. Other theories have ranged from a clandestine love affair to the attempt to escape some impending scandal. And now comes along the First National screen production, “Bureau of Missing Persons,” starring Bette Davis at the Strand next week, which cannot help but bring back to mind the aforementioned case which is still occupying the undivided attention of our own Bureau of Missing Persons. As previously stated, the Jane Doe case remains unsolved. Perhaps you have the real solution. No doubt you would at least like to express an opinion. Your deductions may possibly lead to the very clue for which the Bureau of Missing Persons have been striving. The Strand Theatre in cooperation with the Daily News is giving you an opportunity to win guest tickets to see “Bureau of Missing Persons” for merely sitting down, and in one hundred words or less, write your theory of the circumstances connected with the Jane Doe case. Each day during period of this contest two Strand guest tickets each will be awarded the ten best letters received on this subject. Address your letters to Bureau of Missing Persons Contest Editor, Daily News. Contest closes Saturday at midnight. Get busy, you amateur Sherlock Holmeses, and see if you have as logical a solution to our own “Missing Person” case as the one presented in the photoplay. BE SURE TO USE THE CORKING RADIO DRAMATIZATION ON PAGE 9 True Stories Told by Police Police headquarters in every community have their records of interesting cases involving missing persons or kidnappings. This fact suggests a crackerjack stunt for publicizing “The Bureau of Missing Persons” either in your own theatre, in the newspapers or over the radio. Your local police captain or chief of the Missing Persons Bureau will surely cooperate with you in selecting a half dozen or so of the most recent and most famous such cases that have occurred in your territory. In approaching your police official,|. don’t fail to mention that, the film is based on the book, “Missing Men,” authored by Captain John H. Ayres, who for fifteen years has been head of the New York Police Department’s Bureau of Missing Persons. It will make your job a great deal easier. As an advance story on this: stunt, good use can be made of the story printed in the publicity section of this press book in which Captain Ayres tells of his experiences. ; With material on interesting cases on hand you can do several things. By far the best stunt would be to have the police officers who actually participated in each case to relate the tales through the newspapers, over the radio or in person, in return for the personal publicity derived or for passes to see the show. Any one of the above suggestions are undoubtedly swell box-office bets. They’re legitimate and will get you the kind of publicity that will tie in with your showing of “The Bureau ‘of Missing Persons.” Star Masks Great Kiddies’ Favorite Included in the list of Warner-First National star masks catalogued by the manufacturers, is a splendid likeness of BETTE DAVIS, star of “Bureau of Missing Persons.” These beautifully lithographed souvenir masks are ideal for building kiddie patronage and fan interest. The Bette Davis masks are full face size with eye slits and adjustable nose piece, and equipped with attached rubber bands for affixing over face. Reverse side of mask is reserved for theatre imprint. These Bette Davis masks can be ordered in quantities to suit per prices and terms quoted below. 500 Masks....$11.00 1,000 to 5,000 Masks.... 20.00 per M 5,000 to 10,000 Masks..... 18.75 per M Check should accompany order, otherwise shipment will be sent C.O.D. Order Direct from EINSON-FREEMAN CO., Inc. Starr and Borden Avenues LONG ISLAND CITY, N. Y. GET GOOD PUBLICITY BREAK IN MISSING STAR GUESSING STUNT Here is a simple newspaper stunt that should appeal to the average dramatic and motion picture editor. In most instances you will find that they are keen to get the reaction of readers of their columns and to determine the amount of interest fans really take in newsy items. Jean Muir, recently drafted from the stage, has been given a tremendous amount of publicity announcing the fact that she is being groomed for stardom by Warner Bros.-First National Pictures. To date she has not been seen in any prominent screen role. In fact, Miss Muir plays a mere (but nevertheless exacting) bit in “Bureau of Missing Persons,” which is in reality her first appearance in pictures. The following story for planting in your newspaper is self-explanatory and should gain a gratifying number of responses. Incidentally, it practically requires those interested in the query to see the picture, in order to send in an intelligent reply. ‘ (Publicity Story) Guest Tickets for Locating New Star in Screen Hit Included in the cast of “Bureau of | attraction. Watch the early reels of Missing Persons,” which starts next Sunday at the Strand Theatre for a full week, is a future star, recently drafted from the stage. This feminine player is not given screen billing. She is but one of twenty outstanding players with important bits. It is her first appearance on the screen, and she appears conspicuously in one of the earlier reels of “Bureau of Missing Persons.” In a few months this young lady’s face~may be as familiar to you as any star you might mention.. Can you spot and name this person? She has received myriad columns of publicity nationally, due to her forsaking the stage and signing a long-term contract with WarnerFirst National Pictures. For the ten best letters received in this contest, two guest tickets each will be awarded for the Strand’s next “Bureau of Missing Persons” intently. See if you can spot the feminine player in question and identify her. It’s a test which all movie fans should find intriguing. Address your letters to Future Star Contest Editor, care Daily News, on or before midnight previous to closing day of “Bureau of Missing Persons,” Strand engage ment. * * * On closing day of run, publish the following correct answer to the question asked and the names of the ten persons who came closest to giving a similar answer. Here is the correct reply. “The answer is Jean Muir, who portrayed the role of the girl who committed suicide at the beginning of the picture, after reading of her mother’s death in a newspaper.” | COLORED LOBBY BLOW-UPS These attractive colored 38 by 42 enlargements aid your advance or current lobby dispiays. Priced individually at $3.50 each. Set of three—$10.00 per set. Order direct from PHOTOCOLOR STUDIOS 220 West 42nd Street N.Y All prices quoted f.o. b. New York. Page Five