Elmer the Great (Warner Bros.) (1933)

EXPLOITATION SECTION Grand Stunt for Radio or Stage Here is a dandy idea with which to sell “Elmer the Great,” right from your stage, over the radio or via planting in a local newspaper. Note the last few words, which in the original read “Casey has struck out,” have been left off purposely. This has been done to enable you to advise your audience or readers to see “Elmer the Great,” starring Joe E. Brown, when it comes to your theatre, in order to see for them PRODUCTION STILL, GOOD FOR FINE NEWSPAPER CONTEST This picture of Joe E. Brown, sliding into home plate, offers you an opportunity to grab off a lot of space for “Elmer the Great,” by planting it with a newspaper in conjunction with an “Identity Contest,” with prizes of selves exactly what Elmer does in the picture. vada 1 a Page Twelve “ELMER AT THE BAT” With Apologies to Ernest Lawrence Thayer Author of “Casey at the Bat’’ The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Chicago nine that day; The score stood four to two with but one inning more to play; And so, when Elmer died at first, and Burrows did the same, A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game. A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest Clung to the hope which springs eternal in the human breast; They thought if only Elmer could but get a whack at that They’d put up even money now with Elmer at the bat. But Flynn preceded Elmer, as did also Jimmie Blake, And the former was a pudding and the latter was a fake; So upon the stricken multitude grim melancholy sat, For there seemed but little chance of Elmer’s getting to the bat. But Flynn let drive a single to the wonderment of all, And Blake, the much-despised, tore the cover off a ball; And when the dust had lifted and they saw what had occurred There was Jimmie safe on second and Flynn a-hugging third. Then from the gladdened multitude went up a joyous yell, It bounded from the mountain-top and rattled in the dell; It struck upon the hilltop and recoiled upon the flat, For Elmer, mighty Elmer, was advancing to the bat. There was ease in Elmer’s manner as he stepped into his place, There was pride in Elmer’s bearing and a smile on Elmer’s face; And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat, Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt, Five thousandtongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt; Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip, Defiance gleamed in Elmer’s eye, a sneer curled Elmer’s lip. And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air And Elmer stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there; Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped, “That ain’t my style,” said Elmer. “Strike one,’ the umpire said. From the benches black with people there went up a muffled roar, Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore. “Kill him! Kill the umpire!’ shouted someone on the stand, And it’s likely they’d have killed him had not Elmer raised his hand. With a smile of Christian charity great Elmer’s visage shone, He stilled the rising tumult. He bade the game go on. He signaled to the pitcher and once more the sphereoid flew, _ But Elmer still ignored it and the umpire said, “Strike two!” “Fraud!” cried the maddened thousands and the echo answered “Fraud!” But a scornful look from Elmer and the audience was awed; They saw his face. grow grim and cold, they saw his muscles strain, And they knew that Elmer wouldn’t let that ball go by again. The sneer is gone from Elmer’s lips, his teeth are clenched in hate, He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate. And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go. And now the air is shattered by the force of Elmer’s blow. Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright, The band is playing somewhere and somewhere hearts are light; And somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children shout, But there’s no joy in Chicago, mighty Elmer... VOICE OF RADIO OR STAGE ANNOUNCER: “In order that you may see fer yourself just what Elmer, the mightiest batter in the ~ league, did in this crisis, be sure to visit the .. . . Theatre next week, when Joe E. Brown in “Elmer the Great” comes to the theatre. He’s a great comedian, you must admit, but folks, compared to Joe E. Brown as Elmer, Babe Ruth is just a bush leaguer. Not only can Elmer knock down the fences in the bali parks, but he’s a great pitcher who shoots his fine comedy right at your funny bone and never misses. You’ll simply love him in ‘Elmer the Great.” tickets to the show to the first 25 who guess who he is. Of course, this photo should be planted for publication before you start your publicity and advertising campaign. Mud Spattered But Happy, Batting Champion Slides Home Safely Cut No. 11 Cut 30c Mat 10c Can You Name This Star _for Puzzled Spo rts Editor? Free Tickets to the Strand for First 25 Fans Who Can Furnish Name of Daring Base-runner — Our Sports Editor is in a quandary. He received this picture from one of our correspondents without any information as to the identity of the man sliding into the bag other than that the name of the umpire is “Beans” Reardon, famous National League ump. Our correspondent, feeling in a facetious mood, simply wrote us that mud-splattered runner is a former big league baseball player who has become a great movie star. That the picture shows him sliding home through a sea of mud in the thrilling climax of his latest movie. Not being as up to snuff in his knowledge of movie stars as he is of sports events, Our Sports Editor thought it would be a good idea to let our reader movie fans identify the runner for him. The manager of the... . Theatre thinks he knows who the runner is. In fact, he states that the star’s next picture, from which the scene is taken, will play the .... Theatre starting next week. But he won’t tell his name. Instead he is offering 25 pairs of tickets to “Elmer the Great” to the first 25 News readers who correctly state the name of the mud-spattered star. Send in your answer at once, addressed to the “Elmer the Great Editor,” care of the News. Tomorrow we will publish the name of the baseball player together with a list of those who won the tickets to “Elmer the Great.” GET KIDS TO BOOST YOUR SHOW AND BOX OFFICE Reorganize your Kiddies’ Club or form a new club for the new Spring and Summer season with the definite purpose of exploiting Joe E. Brown in “Elmer the Great.” Set this plan up far enough in advance of the opening of “Elmer the Great.” Launch a drive for new members who are to canvass their friends to purchase tickets for “Elmer the Great.” A percentage on each ticket sold by the club to be used as a special fund for the purchase of baseball uniforms and other sports paraphernalia. This ticket-selling drive should not run more than two weeks. If necessary, it can be repeated at a later date. Organization Hints 1. Enlist the cooperation of a popular man in your town, who is an athletic instructor, scout master or social worker. With this man set yourself up as the co-sponsor of the club. Meetings to be held regularly at your theatre every Saturday or on special after-school matinees during the week. This in itself will start the habit of the kiddies coming to your theatre—eventually making regular patrons of them during vacation months. 2. Send a message to the parents and distribute circulars at the public schools, outlining your plans and calling for a general meeting of all the kiddies in your vicinity welcoming the parents to attend. Make it clear that there will be no dues to pay; that the regular admission price and regular attendance entitles the boys and girls to membership. 3. In organizing a club for boys and girls, be sure to include some feature of general interest to the girls such as sewing, painting, amateur picture taking, etc. 4. In every case be sure to center all interest in your theatre and the attractions you play. All baseball games and other outdoor events must not conflict with your regular show time. However, be sure to have banners advertising your theatre attractions at all these events. : 4. Set up a complete program of Vitaphone shorts and cartoons to be shown as extra attractions on days that the club meets—devoting 20 to 80 minutes to the meeting before the show starts. REMEMBER YOUR KIDDIE BOOSTERS OF TODAY ARE YOUR REGULAR ADULT PATRONS OF TOMORROW!