Colleen (Warner Bros.) (1936)

gine t a —_— oe) This is the first big Warner musical in over a year — and it’s full of the kind of music your patrons go for. Ideas suggested here tell music-comedy lovers all about it. These do not depend upon radio cooperation. However, if local sta tion is licensed—you can use all the usual air promotions in addition to this set-up. RECORDS IN LOBBY C : A PRESS THE MIDDLE VALVE DOWN AND HEAR i WV THE HIT SONGS FROM 4 r) Illustration shows how to set up a cute arrangement that plays records from film. Victrola is attached to middle valve of French Horn, so. that when it is pressed, machine starts playing. Your electrician can fix it up in a jiffy. If you can’t get a French Horn around, a trombone or cornet will do the trick. RECORD-GUESSING GAME If you’d like a contest idea to be worked in theatre or lobby, why not try this? You play Powell’s records from his past film successes, fans to guess title of song and film it came from. Of course you know that you should start with the easy ones, with Powell singing the vocals to give contestants the name of the sing right off. But then you end with a chorus or two of a couple of tough ones .. . and you'll have ’em wrinkling their foreheads plenty. SPECIAL RADIO PROGRAMS If local station is licensed to play the hit music from ‘Colleen,’ get after them to capitalize on this by playing tunes on every conceivable spot. Station band could devote a 15-minute program to a medley of the film’s songs, vocalist might devote his program to the tunes, and station could play programs of film’s records. Station should release publicity stories to the papers telling that they’re playing these famous tunes by Warren and Dubin, famous tunesmiths. CHAIN STORE PLUGGING Get at the chain and department stores that handle records and sheet music. If they’ll plug and play film’s songs, you’re getting a good break for your showing. HIT SONG CONTEST If local station is licensed to play the film’s melodies, here’s how you can plan a contest to pick the hit song from the picture. Via newspaper, radio and theatre program, invite the popular music lovers to send in the name of ‘Colleen’ song they like best. You could even have a ballot box in lobby and invite outgoing patrons to join in this contest. Song that receives most votes is played over air as hit song of the season, with all the bally and hullabaloo that goes with it. BLOW-UP WARBLES TUNES Behind a standee in lobby of Dick Powell, place a victrola to play Powell’s recordings of film’s tunes. Get it set so that it gives the appearance of Powell singing. LOBBY RECORD PROGRAM Invite passers to step into your lobby, free of charge, and enjoy a half-hour of recordings of the tunes of the show. All you do is set chairs around, put a good victrola in the lobby, and let your usher keep changing the songs, announcing the titles in advance. Just to make it a little more impressive, usher could mention name of orchestra and vocalist. MUSIC DEALER ADS If your dealer is featuring the songs from this film ... and what dealer isn’t — see if you can get him to take an ad telling the folks that they can secure the latest recordings from the film — as well as the sheet music. MUSIC IN THEATRE You can help get patrons humming and whistling tunes by plugging them in theatre in advance of showing. Your organist can play along with lyrics flashed on screen... and if you’re using records as exit music, be sure to play the ‘Colleen’ songs. MUSIC PUBLICITY PLANT Famous Song Composers Write Hits In ‘‘Colleen’’ The words and music of the three song hits that feature ‘‘Colleen,’’ the Warner Bros. musical coming to the THEAtrO (ON. A: a-:2.cs.casptrtseons » with Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Jack Oakie and Joan Blondell heading the all star cast, were written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin who have turned out more e-ng hits than any composers of the day. Together or separately, this famous team of composers have written the words and music of ‘‘ Footlight Parade,’’ ‘¢Wonder Bar,’’ ‘‘20 Million Sweethearts,’’ ‘‘Dames,’’ “(Sweet Music,’’? ‘‘Go Into Your Danee,’’ ‘‘Tip Toe Through the Tulips,’’ ‘‘42nd Street’’ and many others. Soe cerccccccsccccccocces BAND LEADER STUNT One of the hotel grills in New York pulled this stunt with ‘Music Goes "Round and ’Round,’ and nabbed plenty of resultant publicity and word-of-mouth. Adapted, here’s how you can do it — but only if hotel is licensed to play this music. Large sign is placed beside bandstand, reading: “‘This is to advise all those who are about to request the song hits from ‘Colleen’ that we will play them once every hour.’’ LOBBY ENTERTAINER A pretty gal at a midget piano, playing and warbling the tunes in your lobby a week or two in advance of ‘Colleen’ opening, would get your songs whistled and hummed by plenty of people. PATRONS REQUEST SONGS You could equip an usher with a victrola and records of the film’s melo dies for inexpensive lobby stunt. Place sign nearby inviting people to request melody they’d like to hear. MUSICAL BALLY TRUCK You might get up a lively looking bally truck to tour the streets, telling the town about your new musical film. Record blares away with the hit numbers to get the ears of those who aren’t looking. A couple of pretty femmes atop the truck wouldn’t hurt the display any. In fact, they’d help. Not new, we'll allow, but it’s still a good way to get your music going ’round and ’round. P.A. RECORD BROADCAST You can use P. A. system at front of house for your own little program. Records play and announcer spiels between each number as if he were on the ether, announcing numbers and names of orchestras who play ’em. SONGS IN YOUR ADS When advertising this film, don’t forget to play up the hit tunes. Warren and Dubin wrote them ye know and that’ll mean a lot to your patrons. Page Eleven