Ex Lady (Warner Bros.) (1933)

= STUNT OF THE WEE Bette Davis Double Contest | CASH IN ON BETTE A Proved Attention Getter This plan is conceived to focus direct attention on Bette Davis, the new Warner Bros. star who has had a terrific buildup through the ‘‘Forty Second’’ Street Special train. It is an idea which earns for your theatre advance newspaper publicity before the opening of ‘‘EX-LADY.’’ It is known as the BETTE DAVIS DOUBLE CONTEST. successfully worked this stunt idea is to find a young lady in Davis. The preliminary search is made thru the medium of photographs sent to the cooperating newspaper. After you have planted the contest with your local newspaper and the first advance story has been printed; canvas the dance halls, beauty parlors, women shops, department stores, in fact every locale where women may be reached. Distribute a neat herald announcing the Bette Davis Double Contest with a photograph of Bette Davis printed thereon and a brief description of Bette Davis as to height, color of hair, color of eyes, weight and ete. (this description is given in a box ineluded in this plan.) Arrange to hold the final of the Bette Davis Double Contest on the stage of your theatre. Time it so that it will be held on the opening night of Bette Davis in “EX-LADY.” Enlist the cooperation of a group of judges representing a photographer, a famous artist and a newspaper representative to choose the winner. } In order to _ facilitate the holding of the finals, it is a good idea to hold a preliminary elimination at the cooperating dance school, or in the auditorium of the department store. In this way, you give the cooperating merchants an opportunity of focusing added attention to their place of business and secure for yourself a good promotional build-up for your finals at the ___vestants in the .»© eld at your theatre depends upon the total number of entrants. However, it will be wise to hold this number down to about 12. In this way, you will quickly hold your final eliminations and make it easier for the. judges in, deciding the winner. In Chicago the Avalon Theatre with one of the papers. The your city who resembles Bette RULES 1. Any young lady, 16 years of age, or over who is a reader of the cooperating newspaper is eligible to enter the contest, except employees of the cooperating newspaper and of the theatre. 2. In order to enter the contest, send a photograph of yourself, which you believe best resembles Bette Davis. On the back of this photograph, state the name and address, age, height, color of hair. 3. Photographs are to be sent to the BETTE DAVIS DOUBLE CONTEST EDITOR of the cooperating newspaper on the date preceding the first preliminary eliminations. 4. The newspaper will not be responsible for photographs sent. 5. In every case the decision of the judges will be final. Enlist the Cooperation of Merchants. To make this contest more attractive, solicit. your local merchants for a list of prizes to be awarded the winning contestant. For instance, have the gown shop supply a gown to the winner, from the millinery shop, a hat; shoes and hose from your leading shoe store. Try to arrange with some nearby resort to entertain the winning contestant for a short vacation. If possible, also arrange to secure a number of prizes such as loving cups or inexpensive jewelry to be awarded as honorable mention to runners-up in the final elimination. In breakine the announcement of ah emo, = this contest, have tne COvperautg” newspaper use a large display advertisement with a photo of Bette Davis and listing the prizes and merchants’ names. Be sure that Bette Davis in “EX-LADY” is given ample space with the name of your theatre and playdates. (Advance Publicity Story) Bette Davis Gives a Few Tips in Doubles Contest ‘*When I heard that’ Kansas City was looking for a double for Bette Davis I thought that it would be a good idea for Bette Davis to give some advanee information about Bette Davis herself. So here it is: = Cut No.4 Cutrsce Mat se Tam 5 feet 31% inches and weigh 106 pounds. I have what is considered golden blond hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. If some young lady in Kansas City has a close resemblance to me, there is a great prize in store for her. I suppose the reason they have picked on me is because my first starring picture “EX-LADY” will soon be shown in your city at the Strand Theatre and furthermore, I consider I am an easy person to resemble. Page Ten “In my recent cross country tour with the Warner Bros.’ “42nd Street Special” I found many young ladies in the crowds that greeted us who carried a close resemblance to me, and this encouraged me to give a helping hand in starting off this contest by relating first-hand information regarding myself.” Now, there it is girls! Bette Davis herself gives you the lowdown concerning herself and if you resemble Miss Davis or know someone who does, be sure to send in the photograph to the Doubles Contest Editor on or before (closing date of contest). To the winner goes the grand list of prizes, including a vacation to (name of resort). The only requirements to enter this contest are, that you are over 16 years of age and that you send your photograph to the Contest Editor on or “before closing date. Bette Davis, Warner Bros. glorious new star of “EX-LADY” opens at the Strand Theatre (date). “EXLADY” is as saucy, as piquant and as provoking as its blond star. The cast surrounding Miss Davis is brilliantly fitted to its duties. They inelude Frank McHugh, Gene Raymond, Monroe Owsley, Claire Dodd and others. NOTE: Follow up this story with daily stories including a layout of some of the photos sent in by contestants. Be sure to carry a photo of Bette Davis every day and mention the playing dates of “EX-LADY” at your theatre. DAVIS BUILD-UP In the recent cross country tour of the “42nd Street Special,’ Bette Davis was one of the outstanding personalities. Every city that was visited by this spectacular caravan showed marked favoritism for Bette Davis. It’s a good idea to dig up the publicity stories dealing with Bette Davis which showed the welcoming of Bette Davis to your city and mount these in a frame in your lobby with the headline reading: BETTE DAVIS! WELCOME HER BACK TO KANSAS CITY IN HER FIRST STARRING PICTURE “EX-LADY” STILLS FOR GENERAL ELECTRIC DEALERS Photos of the ‘42nd Street Special” which carried General Electric equipment shows Bette Davis posed with General Electric appliances. Tie-up with your local General Electric dealer in displaying photographs of Bette Davis using stills Nos. 8, 11 and 12 from “BX-LADY.” 6 TEASER GARD An inexpensive teaser novelty which can be printed by your local printer to be handed out in beauty parlors, barber shops, department stores and other public places. It will arouse great interest and will be passed on by many as a gag. Persons telephoning to your theatre at ihe renly thar ete aie “BHX-LADY” will be shown at your theatre starting (date). EX LADY NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY TELEPHONE MADISON 7928 PLANT THE MAGIC SQUARE The Magic Square is solved by beginning with the circled square, moving one square up or down, right or left, (not diagonally) and ending at the square which has a period in it. The Magic Square below, conceals the sentence “SHE WANTED LOVE WITHOUT MARRIAGE AND NEARLY LOST BOTH.” Plant the Magic Square with your newspaper. Interest can be stimulated by offering guest tickets to the first (number) persons to send in correct answers to the “Ex-Lady” Magic Square Editor, care of the cooperating newspaper. The Magic Square has been used with great success by many showmen in all parts of the country. Cut No.7 Cut rs¢ Mat 5c viousl; e EXPLOITATION ° ATTRACTIVE ADVANGE LOBBY DISPLAY The NEW YORK STRAND used this attractive lobby set-piece to sell Bette Davis in her first starring picture “EX-LADY.” It stands 12 feet high and 15 feet wide. The cutout of Bette Davis is a photo enlargement 10 feet high, beautifully colored. The same ef fect may be secured by making cutouts from the poster paper. The background is very plain in design and attractive in color, lending dignity and smartness to the entire display. The selling copy is used on a separate halfround piece standing close to the big display. ASK FANS TO INTERPRET “EX-LADY” TITLE Here is a contest idea that can either be tied in with a newspaper or used as a straight theatre stunt. Both angles are covered here. The contest is based on the inference that the title “Ex-Ladwv” ~% average Person SSNS the motion picture title ‘Ex-Lady’ suggest to you?” If a newspaper igs not tied in, here is the most effective way to arouse widespread interest in the stunt. First: Use trailer copy. Second: Get out special contest blanks. Third: Repeat contest offer and mount the most alluring of the production stills on a large lobby card. Fourth: Place contest box in proximity to the contest l. ~ + and deposit on way out. Fifth: Prepare throwaways on the picture “Ex-Lady” with same copy as used for contest blanks. Distribute these through your. most efficient channels and instruct contestants to fill in blank and bring to theatre and deposit in “Hx-Lady” Contest Box. DESIGNING BETTE DAVIS GOWNS OFFERS GOOD NEWSPAPER TIE-UP Reproduced here is a cut or mat \ available at your nearest exchange for use in connection with this contest which will be doubly effective if tied in with your newspaper, but on the other hand can be used as a straight theatre stunt. The .idea of the stunt is to announce through whatever channels you employ (newspaper or special throwaways) a Bette Davis Gown Design Contest. State in all contest copy that Bette’s wardrobe has always been a step ahead of the rest of Hollywood from the standpoint of originality of design and effect. Publish the accompanying cut and invite contestants to design a garment of ultra-modern type which to their mind is suited to Bette Davis’ needs. These designs should be colored with crayon or water-colors and a description given of the materials to be used. Offer prizes in keeping with the feasibility of your individual situation (in most cases guest tickets to witness “Ex-Lady”’ will suffice) and keep your public acquainted with the progress of contest. If tied in with newspaper, have the best designs submitted published daily. If used as straight theatre stunt, place a large display '|board in lobby and mount the de signs received on same. Be sure you get in plenty of plug for “Ex-Lady” in all your copy. Cut No. 29 Cut r5c Mat sc