Ballyhoo (Nov 4, 1955)

Page scan 0005 from Ballyhoo

Record Details:

Title:
Ballyhoo
Date:
Nov 4, 1955
Volume:
Ballyhoo (Nov 4, 1955) Profit Blitz for 'Fitz'
Leaf #:
0005
Language:
English
Collection:
Canada, Global Cinema, and Hollywood Studio System
Format:
Periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Greig Dymond in memory of David Dymond, Paul Moore and Jessica Whitehead
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:

Ballyhoo

  • Ontario 'B' District Ballyhoo, editor: Dan Krendel (1952-55)
  • Profit Blitz for ‘Fitz’, editor: Dan Krendel (1955)
  • National Ballyhoo, editor: Dan Krendel (1956-57)
  • Time Out for Ticket Talk, editor: Norman Barker (1960-61)

Ballyhoo (1952-61) was published by Famous Players Canadian Corporation as a mimeographed internal sales and theatre managers’ newsletter. Editor, Dan Krendel, had been division manager of the Ontario ‘B’ District since 1942, and initially created Ballyhoo in 1952 to circulate weekly updates for a regional sales contest. Ontario ‘B’ District Ballyhoo continued until 1955 as a tool for sharing and incentivizing new sales techniques and publicity methods as the movie business declined in the face of television and the baby boom.

In Fall 1955, Profit Blitz for ‘Fitz’ was a nationwide sales contest, named for Famous Players’ president J. J. Fitzgibbons, honouring his 25th year as head of the business. Dan Krendel was made National Drive Captain and edited a weekly newsletter for the campaign.

From 1956 until at least 1957, National Ballyhoo was published weekly with Krendel as editor. He continued the style and content developed earlier for his Ontario ‘B’ District, but now extended vastly for a chain-wide coast to coast scale. Ballyhoo’s sharing promotional tools came at a time of contracting box office as television and automobile ownership became prevalent in the mid-1950s.

By 1960 until at least 1961, Time Out for Ticket Talk continued as a mimeographed newsletter, edited by Norman Barker of the head office publicity department. Time Out was compiled on a less ambitious scale than Ballyhoo. Compared to the earlier national compilation of local publicity gimmicks, Time Out often contained only a single memo or reproduced local story, and was often undated and only informally edited.

– Paul Moore, March 2024

Date Added:
April 11, 2024
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$10,000 IN CASH PRIZES hi OFIT with showmeans P PR SERVE with showmanship SAVE with SEPT. 5th TO DEC. 3rd 1955 showmanship with showmanship HONOURING 25 YEARS OF INSPIRED LEADERSHIP IN FAMOUS PLAYERS OVER BEN'S SHOULDER (cont'd. National Drive Captain DAN KRENDEL of the change in release date of THE DESPERATE HOURS, and should understand the reason for this change ... We screened the picture a few days ago and found it to be one of the most thrilling and exciting pictures we have seen in some time ,.. more thrilling and exciting even than the book which we gave you at our meetings. The performances of Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March were oute standing, as were also those of all the other members of an excellent cast." "After thinking about the picture we felt that it would be a mistake to release such an excellent Humphrey Bogart attraction right on top of two other pictures featuring the same star, WE'RE NO ANGELS and LEFT HAND OF GOD. You know, three Bogarts back to back would not be good booking, We called Gordon Lightstone and had him get in touch with New York. The result is that we were able to have the release date moved into January." "That's about all for now ... see you again next week, Good luck, and Happy Blitzing. Ben Geldsaler oXeXeXeXe This is not intended as a recap of Ben's article ... he has most certainly laid it on the line, and I hope that every one of you will read the items he refers to ..,. but more important ... it is YOUR job to follow through, and not just read his words, and then consign this bulletin to your 'file!t .., Your booker is indeed a pretty nice guy ... and believe me, he spends hours upon hours foraging about, and putting together the best program he possibly can for you. Sometimes, however, you may have your own ideas as to the shorts you would like to play ... which you feel may sell extra tickets for you ... Don't keep it a secret .., tell him about it, and make your recommendations, He'll do his darndest to revamp your line-up, And fellows ... I've said this before, but apparently some of you had missed that issue ... You receive your bookings from three to five weeks ahead of playdates. DON'T wait until the day before you open to suggest deletions, additions, changes etc, Take a day or two to check your sheets, and then send your booker a note. He'll appreciate it.