Here Comes Carter (Warner Bros.) (1936)

) penne HERE ARE 21 INEXPENSIVE r HERE COMES CARTERS EXPLOITATION Building Up Ross Alexander We don’t mind tipping you off that Warner Bros. have big things in mind for Ross Alexander. “Here Comes Carter!” is his first big chance and if you get behind it you'll find just what Grade A star material he is. Why not go to town on an Alexander build-up? Here are several ways you can go about it: FIND HIS DOUBLE Find the local double of Ross Alexander. You can do this through a contest in local newspaper or in theatre program. Young men send in their photographs to be compared with Ross. Contest can run for week before film opens with photos published every day. The winner can be presented with suitable prize, presentation taking place on your stage. It’s not a new gag but it always creates interest. DISPLAY STILLS FROM PAST HITS Scene stills from former Alexander pictures will make an interesting lobby display. These stills also make a good newspaper contest. Editor asks readers to identify films stills represent. It can always be worked as a lobby contest. Just award ducats to ten first writers who get the best scores. GAG POLITICAL THROWAWAY With political news and presidential elections in the air, you can make up locally an inexpensive gag throwaway modelled along political lines. Copy could read: “Attention, Voters! You Have Your Favorite Presidential Candidate—but Ross Alexander Will Surely Get Your Vote in ‘Here Comes Carter’ now at the Strand Theatre.” SKY-WRITE HIS NAME If local airport has a plane with sky-writing apparatus, and you can make a proper tie-up, spread the sky with star’s name and also film’s title and theatre. You'll be sure to plug his name as well as picture this way. LET THE LADIES DRESS HIM Announce a “Dress Ross Alexander Contest” to the ladies through lobby signs and on your program. Idea is for the women to use their imaginations in dressing Ross from head to foot, including accessories, in clothes for morning, afternoon, evening and sports occasions. You can award ducats to the ten girls who submit the best sets of outfits. And for your judges—prominent clothier and women stylists can fill the bill. PLUG THE “HUH-HO” In his role as a radio columnist, Ross has a characteristic trade-mark after spilling a choice bit of gossip. With proper nursing, you can make the yell mean as much as Joe E. Brown’s. Best bet is through the kids. By way of publicity stories, throwaways and lobby signs, you can announce this yell as the basis for a contest on a Saturday matinee or after school. Contest is held in front of theatre with your own microphone attached to P. A. system, or if you can, over the air if broadcasters go for it. Loudest and funniest ‘““Huh-Ho’ers” get the nod and are rewarded with Annie Oakleys. age Four HAVE GAG RECEPTION On opening day, signs announce that Kent Carter will arrive at theatre at certain time. At appointed hour, limousine decked with streamers, siren, motorcycle escort, etc., drives up to theatre. Reception committee composed of yourself and others prepare to receive Carter. When usher opens door, car is empty except for driver. After you’ve put the proper worried look on your faces, voice on P. A. system is heard: “This 1s Kent Carter, himself, speaking. You gotta get around fast in my bustness. I’m never seen but I’m always there where things are the hottest, etc.’ Think it'll get a news break? PICKETS PARADE Aristocratic-looking picketers parading with signs, reading: “We protest! ‘Here Comes Carter!’ is unfair to people with pasts. He must be silenced. Go to the Strand Theatre and see for yourselves.” Or would it be better to have them picket at theatre? RAGS RUN TEASE Each day before opening, newspaper runs gossip item in voice of people column, signed ‘Here Comes Carter!” With interest aroused, query “Who is Carter?” appears. On opening day mystery is cleared — he’s Ross Alexander, of course. Swell Free Radio Sketch A free radio sketch—twelve minutes in length with three minutes at beginning and end for picture plug — tells folks plenty about show. Enough copies — all free — can be ordered through Campaign Plan Editor, 321 West 44th St., New York City. CO-OPS AD COPY Local store can use this copy in window displays or in ads: “Ross Alexander in ‘Here Comes Carter!’ knows everybody's business and tells the world. We're satisfied with just knowing our own business and letting the world come to us.”’ Still of Ross helps plug. MINIATURE MIKE Tie-up with electrical and music shops selling miniature microphones. which really work when plugged into a socket. Get stores to feature these mikes in window sur rounded by stills and copy from pic. Flash! Film’s Stars Wed! As we go to press, we discover that at the completion of shooting of ‘““Here Comes Carter!’ Ross Alexander and his leading lady, Anne Nagel, hopped off to Yuma, Arizona, where they were secretly sealed to each other—yes, they’re man and wife now. Inasmuch as this flash arrived here just a bit too late to incorporate in the film’s publicity, exploitation and advertising campaigns, we think that you might find an angle on the marriage clause to adapt to your set-up.