Convention City (Warner Bros.) (1933)

loitation ACTION q Described and illustrated here is a clever window display unit, inexpensive to construct, and which should find a ready acceptance from live-wire merchants. In quantity lots, the cost of cheap fibre and imitation leather suitcases is reasonable indeed. The illustration shows how these can be made into shadow-boxes of unique design which has a definite tieup value with the picture. A jagged opening is cut on one side of the suitcase through which a scene from “Convention City” is shown. This is accomplished by having a sign artist paint the inside background of enclosure to represent the skyline of Atlantic City’s ocean front. In front of same a row of cutout figures from stills Unique Display Makes Effective Window Tie-up (INSERT CUT-OUT \CONVENTION STILLS) aa CITY mounted in perspective and should be set within an inch or two of opening. A particularly ingenious sign artist can do much with this idea. A small electric light bulb concealed above opening or to one side of interior, and attached to cord and socket as indicated in drawing, completes the effectiveness of the display. Copy for lettering is suggested in illustration. Stickers carrying catchlines, theatre name and playdates resembling the typical tourist and hotel label should be pasted around the suitcase. This is an ideal display unit for any number of shop-keepers and is a natural for luggage shops, travel requisite dealers, railroads, tourists’ offices, ete. Strand Makes Realistic Display From Six Sheet MANY IDEAS FOR TEASER STUNTS No picture title to date has offered such genuine teaser campaign possibilities as “Convention City.” Interest can be aroused to a maximum degree by following the teaser ideas herewith suggested. FIRST comes the outdoor Teaser Billing Campaign, where no mention is made of theatre or date indicated in copy. Plaster your town with Snipes, Tack Cards, and Throwaways bearing the following copy: WAKE. UP! Make Akron “CONVENTION CITY” Conscious! BECOME A BOOSTER! * * * This same copy can be used for small spot ads scattered in newspapers. SECOND comes the Teaser Street Ballyhoo. Cover a truck with sign-boards (sides and back) on which are posters or tacked banners bearing the following copy: AT LAST! AKRON WILL BE KNOWN AS “CONVENTION CITY’”’ Give the Honeywell Rubber Co. Visiting Salesmen A GRAND WELCOME! * * * The THIRD idea will identify same as a theatre stunt, and incorporates name of theatre and playdates: WELCOME VISITORS! While in “CONVENTION CITY” Week of Jan. 22nd Make your Headquarters at STRAND THEATRE * * * The above copy is admirably suited for stands, 3 sheets, one sheets, tack cards, throwaways and highway arrows. And here is a Teaser Gag in the form of a distributive unit. This should be a neatly printed card (ealling card size) and distributed to all hotels, barber shops, men’s cafes, etc. A pass or two, to hotel clerk should result in the agreement to place one of these cards in each mail and key box, or better still, the same inducement to Captain of bell boys or housekeeper to have one of these cards placed on dresser of each guest room, on writing room tables, ete. Here is copy for ecard: Welcome Stranger to “CONVENTION CITY” Ask for NANCY Give me a ring sometime (Theatre ’phone number here) * * * In connection with this calling card gag the ’phone should merely say “Nancy is none other than Joan Blondell, one of the many stars in “Convention City” now playing the Strand Theatre.” USE INQUIRING REPORTER GAG Here’s an Inquiring Photographer stunt that’s worth space in any newspaper. It deals directly with the underlying plot of the picture and at the same time makes a good human interest contest. The contest can be used for two days with only a slight question variation, On the initial day, use the question: SHOULD A HUSBAND TAKE HIS WIFE TO A CONVENTION? This is bound to stir up a lot of comment and when on the second day you follow up with the question: SHOULD A WIFE TAKE HER HUSBAND ALONG TO A CONVENTION, there will be even more active interest evidenced. Below is a model story which shows how your newspaper should handle the stunt. (Newspaper Story) THE INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER Many situations in “Convention City” are due to the trouble incited by a hen-pecked husband’s jealous wife. This, together with the appearance of other suspicious wives, keeps the picture moving along at a fast and funny pace. These situations as seen in this new Grand Theatre feature, give the Evening Times “Inquiring Photographer” a corking question to put to the women _ folks; SHOULD A WIFE ACCOMPANY HER HUSBAND TO A CONVENTION? Our “Inquiring Reporter’ stationed himself at the corner of Broad and High Streets, and asked the above question of six women selected at random. Here are their opinions: . (FOLLOW WITH ANSWERS TO QUESTION) GIRLS IN BUS IS GOOD BALLY A bus-load of attractive, flashily dressed girls are bound to catch the attention of everyone on the streets of your town. Use the following copy on banners hung on the bus: Delegates to “CONVENTION CITY” must be entertained when away from their wives — Everybody gets A Break! Join us at the STRAND THEATRE * * * This stunt can be made additionally effective, if a giant ‘‘key to the city’’ is constructed on top of the bus in either a gilt or silver effect. A line imprinted across the key will tie-in perfectly with this particular idea. If you can get girls who can sing with reasonable ability, have them yodel the parody songs suggested elsewhere in this section, as the bus rolls along the streets. A lobby set-piece that attracted a great deal of attention was used by the New York Strand Theatre as part of its lobby display advertising the coming of “Convention City.” The idea was taken from the six sheet poster, illustrated on the back of this merchandising plan. It was, however, executed on an enlarged scale, approximately 14 feet in height. The illustration on the six-sheet in its actual size provides a goodsized display. The addition of an assortment of stills and 11 x 14 color cards will greatly enhance the entire display. Selling copy and smart catch-lines may be picked from the advertising section. This mounted art gives you the cue to many other lobby decorations which can be created from the poster art and stills available at the exchanges. The 24-sheet design, for example, can be made of immense value in slightly reduced size. Generous use of stills will aid in your display campaign. The Vitaphone Trailer on “CONVENTION CITY” combines novelty and selling power in one of the most entertaining pieces of advertising you have at your command. A new idea in trailers is ingeniously worked out, and will succeed where other efforts will fail. Here is a short which deserves feature billing. Add it to your program now—the longer it plays, the better it pays!