The Cowboy Quarterback (Warner Bros.) (1939)

SIGNALS te ee FOR EXPLOITATION GRIDDERS USE LARIATS Interest athletic field authorities in staging as between-halves feature short game between subs where player lassoes ball carrier instead of tackling him. Only the “cowboy quarterbacks” can carry the pigskin. TEAM CHARACTERS Each team has one member that is the clown of the squad. Contact local school and club teams to elect and dub a representative the “Cowboy Bench Warmer,” “Cowboy Grandstand Quarterback,” etc. and then have all the “cowboys” down to your theatre one night during run of picture. Man rides streets wearing football helmet and shirt, chaps and cowboy shoes. He carries lariat, football and sign identifying him as “Cowboy Quarterback.” LASSO COWBOY DUMMY Set up dummy “Cowboy Quarterback” in lobby outfitted with racoon coat, football helmet and shirt, chaps and cowboy shoes loaned by local merchants. Ask passers-by to try their skill lassoing model from fifteen feet. JOCKEY FOOTBALL Men on horseback in cowboy clothes attempt to tackle the “Cowboy Quarterback” with lariats as he carries pigskin down field. Arrange with local stadium officials to do this as between-halves feature at game played during your run of picture. Bill it as “football played with jockeys.” COSTUME DISPLAY The “Cowboy Quarterback” is at his running and dodging best when he is wearing his racoon coat. Arrange a display in your lobby of “what the well-dressed ‘Cowboy Quarterback’ will wear this season”: racoon coat, wool muffler, flit gun to shoo opposing players away, ear plugs so he won't hear referee's whistle, skid chains so he won't slip, track shorts so his legs aren't hampered by padding and other similar gag stuff. You can obtain necessary articles for your display from members of house staff or promote them from local COWBOY RUNS BALL Arrange with local stadium officials to announce over P. A. system during halves that a “broken-field runner of great fame, the Cowboy Quarterback” can carry the pigskin through an entire team without being tackled. Announcer asks for volunteers to run ball through number of subs. Among volunteers you plant the “Cowboy Quarterback,” dressed in racoon coat, helmet, chaps and cowboy shoes with spurs. He does the trick because you've fixed it with players to let him through. Award him ten-gallon hat for “succeeding” merchants in return for mention. FREAK EXPERIENCES Local newspaper might go for a contest based on scene where the “Cowboy Quarterback” carried the ball in the wrong direction. People submit their reminiscences of freak experiences in football games — the man who ran the wrong way for a touchdown, odd incidents that won or lost the game, etc. SCRIBE COMMENTS Get a local sports writer to make an advance report on the University of Southern California’s 1939 football squad which appears in the picture. Scribe might compare calibre of amateur college eleven with that of professional team, composed of former All-American stars, which plays opposite the U. S. C. team. and others tickets to theatre. Using vacant lot or street in _ front of theatre, stage football kicking and passing contest. Variation in line with comedy vein of picture might be similar contest with women participants. BERT WHEELER CLUB Bert Wheeler makes his return to the screen in this picture after an absence of almost two years. He has a tremendous following of fans who will be delighted to see him back. Get the Bert Wheeler Fan Club functioning (if there isn’t one, organize such a group) to make your opening a tribute to the star. HAT TO FIRST SCORER Get authorization from school officials to award a ten-gallon cowboy hat to home team player who scores first touchdown of game played nearest to opening date of picture. Or give award to local squad's high scorer in same game. Dub scorer “Cowboy Quarterback,” “Cowboy Half-back,” etc. REMINDERS FOR FOOTBALL SEASON STUNTS Chalk quarter-by-quarter scores of local and national gridiron games on a large blackboard in your lobby for football enthusiasts. Scores can be obtained via the radio or from local newspaper office. Print throwaway cards on which are listed football games to be played in your locality or nationally during week your theatre will show picture. People are asked to guess results of games with prizes going to persons who select most winners with closest scores. Possibly, local newspaper will go for stunt. Get amateur camera fans out to snap candid shots of crowds watching some local football game, facial reactions to plays, action shots of gridders, etc. Lobby display winning shots. Page Six Arrange this three way tie-up! Local paper carries full page of merchant ads and coupon which shopper takes from store to store and is punched each time purchase is made. Certain amount of punches and shopper has made touchdown which entitles person to guest tickets for showing of picture. Announce tieup in your lobby, programs and on screen if possible. Tie up with newspaper photographer to take pictures of spectators at local football game. Ballyhoo that photos with certain people circled will be placed on display in your lobby and free tickets to showing of picture will be awarded to persons whose pictures are encircled. People come into lobby and identify themselves in the pictures.