The Firebird (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Don Nichols Promotes As head man of Free Cooperative Ad Charlotte,N.C., Broadway Theatre, Don Nichols has figured out a smart classified ad tieup. Daily paper gives two passes to everyone bringing in a new classified ad. In return, Don gets three full columns of free ad daily, with most of it plugging the present attraction. Stunt only costs a few passes a day which leaves Don quite satisfied. The newspaper’s satisfied, too . . . so the tie-up is good for week after week. —Use the Warner Trailer on the Picture— Frank Larson Bets Reading in the Against Idaho Falls M. P. Herald, we come across a swell gag pulled by Frank Larson of the Paramount Theatre in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Frank bet the town on the World Series, picking a team and bet a Free Midnight Show that he had made the right choice. He figures the resultant newspaper “publicity makes it a worthwhile stunt no matter what happens. If he picks a winner, he gets all the publicity for nothing. If he loses, the free show won’t cost very much, and the town-talk will make up for the little it costs. You might try the same stunt, picking one in the football or basketball league in your district. —Vitaphone Shorts Are Always Good !— Manager Parker Lets Not heeding all Dealers Buy Heralds the talk about Mi ee. a, ee = to afford accessories, Manager Parker of Frankford, Pa.’s Forum Theatre decided he was going to use as many as ever before. He scooted out and talked twenty merchants into using the back of the heralds for their ads; merchants, of course, paying most of the cost. Each week, a different merchant gets the honor of using the herald. They like it so much that they really think it’s a privilege. As a matter of fact, judging by the amount of business the dealers got in return, it was a privilege. —Holidays Are Coming !— Ushers Plug Theatre’s_ It might be an Coming Attractions old stunt, but “aero ot) ae, SO Many exhibs have used it successfully, we deem it worthy of mention. Gag is to have house ushers hand a card to patrons exiting, copy reading, “I beg your pardon—this is a message from your usher.” (Copy plugging coming attraction.) Reason the stunt gets so much attention, is that patrons get to know the ushers and read the cards much more thoroughly than they would read ordinary heralds. é. —Let’s Hear About Your Stunt— Bob Wile Uses Novel Bob Wile, Herald Distribution owner manager oo ee ee et | of the® Granada Theatre in Pearl River, N. Y., makes the most of the exploitation possibilities his small town offers. Knowing that the greater percent of the population commutes to New York, he hires two boys to board the 5:15 two stations before Pearl River, and distribute heralds to all passengers. Not only a novel method of distribution, but since the passengers haven’t anything else to do, Bob figures they’ll read his message. Page Six Have a Lighter Department stores all carry large cigarette lighters for table use. These are in many shapes, including that of birds. If you can’t find one like a bird, paint the shape of the bird onit. Place lighter on a lobby stand in advance of the picture with a sign: “Have a light from the Firebird.” Cortez Haircut You’ve probably promoted beauty parlor ads on many of the femme stars. Have you ever tried tying up the barber shops on the males? It’s been done in a few spots, the ingenious showmen getting ad and window displays. Cortez, one of the screen’s sartorially perfect, is a swell bet for this stunt. Order still No. Cortez 50 (illustrated) from Merchandising Plan Editor, Warner Bros. Pictures, 821 West 44th Street, New York City. Priced at 10c. NOW STRAND Cup up a mass of red crepe paper in the shape of flames. Set this around a bird in a cage. Place a blower or fan behind display. lt will create animated illusion of a bird in a fire. For News Space If you're using a bird in your lobby this might get you some newspaper space. One of the valuable birds might escape. Since the bird belongs to the bird shop, you ask the papers to please aid you in it’s recovery. If it looks big enough, you might offer a reward and print circulars describing the bird, etc. Firebird Myth The Firebird myth is one of great interest and provides you with a neat lobby stunt. Write myth into hundred word yarn and blow it up for a forty by sixty lobby frame. Ought to stop plenty of picture shoppers. Information can be had by contacting head of local library. Bird clubbers will be interested, too. Tie-up Stills Verree Teasdale, one of the smartest-dressed women in Hollywood, Anita Louise and Helen Trenholme, two well-dressed younger stars, are all in the cast. Below are listed 8 fashion stills, available for dress shop tie-ups. Stills are 10c each, on order from Merchandising Plan Editor. Order numbers: VIo131; VT: AT sige 113;VT115; 48; AL 6; VT 119. AL 15. Musical Memories Most public schools conduct music appreciation classes, holding contests in music memory. Suggest that music teacher offer passes to the picture for the winner of the weekly contest. Ten pieces should be played, including Stravinsky’s “The Firebird,” students to guess the titles. Idea also adaptable for radio stunt. Music Angle Stravinsky wrote a_ ballet, “The Firebird,’ upon which this film is based. The piece is also played in the film. Let the music lovers know all about it. If there’s a concert being held in the near future, suggest that orchestra include the selection. Radio symphonies and organists might help with a rendition. Music shops can feature the record and you might have it played in the lobby. New York’s Cigar-Store Tie-Up You ought to be able to tie-up local cigar chain with a Ricardo Cortez pipe, just as the New York Strand did with Lyle Talbot. Strand’s stunt consisted of every United Cigar Store in New York displaying window streamers, as illustrated above ... all done at no cost to the theatre. There’s a swell still, sorry we couldn’t show it, of Cortez smoking a pipe. Order still No. Cortez 2—10c. Show the still to the advertising manager of local United Cigar distributor. If he doesn’t go for it, or if there aren’t any United Cigar stores in town, same tie-up may be made with independent dealers.