Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 24 SHOWMEN'S TRADE R E \' I E W June 17, 1939 Big Fun Festival Jamboree Is An Attendance Booster Binstock Describes An Activity In Which the Audience Participates EVERY Friday night at the Lyric Theatre, Hartford, Conn., Manager Paul Binstock puts on what he calls "Stage Jamboree, Fun Festival and Gift Night." Having received inquiries from various exhibitors concerning activity of this kind, we decided to investigate Binstock's idea. So here's how it's done, according to Paul. First, he tied up with a local jeweler to supply him with 15 gifts, such as wrist watches, vanity dresser sets, military sets, etc., to be given away each week for a period of ten weeks. The gifts were displayed in the lobby, along with the merchant's ad. On the evening of "Stage Jamboree," lucky number coupons are distributed to the patrons. Acting as master of ceremonies, Binstock calls the lucky numbers which are drawn by some child from the audience. The gifts are presented to IS lucky persons. The Auction is then ready to begin. Paul instructs his audience to listen carefully as to what article he intends to buy, and the person who has the desired article must call out "Okay, Lyric!" and present the article on the stage. Gags for Sale Some of the articles used for the Auction, paying prices ranging from 50 cents to $2 for each article, include a toothpick, safety pin, aspirin tablet, pair of dice, Indian Head penny, box of Ex-Lax, a new pencil without a point, half a man's shirt (cut the shirt in half with a pair of scissors), full package of chewing gum, deck of cards, lady's garter, buttons cut from a vest, tooth brush, lemon drop, pair of shoe laces, package of cigarettes, traffic violation, old-style dollar bill, pair of suspenders, collar button, gas bill, whisk broom, rabbit's foot, shoe horn, needle, paper clip, poppy, half a man's tie, lady's stocking, clothes pin, etc. Following the Auction, Binstock stages his Fun Festival, using, one week, all the Sport Shop Window A sport shop was a natural place for Lester Pollock of Loew's Rochester Theatre to seek a tieup on United Artists' "King of the Turf". Hoiv successful he zvas can be proved by the photograph shown above. Binstock and Needles When this photo zvas snapped by a candid camera pest, Paul Binstock, manager of the Lyric Theatre, Hartford, Conn., had his back to the audience getting everything in shape for the "Needle-Threading Contest." At the signal "Go!'' the stage lights were extinguished and the contest' began. It kept the audience in stitches, needles to say. (Oooh! What a pun!) men from the audience, next week, all the women. He ofifers a $5 prize to the winner. For example, on April 21, the theatre ran a Baby's Milk Bottle Drinking Contest, calling six men to the stage. Incidentally, Paul never informs his audience in advance the nature of the contest. When the men were on the stage, the ushers wheeled out a wagon conveying a beer keg, and the men smacked their lips in anticipation of a drink of good old beer. They were asked to put bibs around their neck, after which the baby bottles filled with milk were brought out. The contest began. The man finishing first was the winner. Blow for Fun On April 28, Binstock had six girls competing in a Balloon Blowing contest. Using extra large balloons, the girls were instructed to hold their hands behind their backs. (If the contest drags, permit them to hold the balloons). A Husband and Wife contest was held Ma.y 5. Three couples were called who seated themselves at three tables, husbands opposite their wives. The wives were instructed to put baby bibs around their husbands' necks. Each woman had to feed her husband a full bowl of milk and corn flakes with a spoon. Using ten men on the stage, Binstock held a Shoe Finding contest on May 12. The men were placed in a corner of the stage with their backs to the center of the stage. Binstock then piled the shoes on top of one another and tied the laces of about two or three different shoes. He gave the signal. The man who found his own shoes and laced them first was declared the winner. Pie Eating Pays On May 19 a Blueberry Pie-Eating contest was held for six men, who had to keep their hands behind their back while partaking of the delicious pastry. The one finishing first was the winner. These are only a few of the contests that can be used, Binstock declares. Others which are practical are: Passing the Hot Potato contest, with 6 men and 6 ladies; Crackereating contest, for men only; Fattest Man contest; Stoutest Woman contest; Needlethreading contest, for men only; Amateur contest from the audience; Jitterbug contest; Harmonica contest; Impersonation contest; Girls' Beauty contest; Bathing Beauty contest. Lyric audiences have a grand time each week participating in the fun, according to Binstock, and they come prepared for it. If you want to boost attendance and pep up one of your dull evenings, you might try a Fun Festival, too. However, consider your situation first, for this kind of entertainment is more for the masses than the classes. Good luck to you. Caldwell Distributes "Kisses" to Mothers From the Hardy Family Here's a stunt to use next year on Mother's Day, so clip this out right now and file it away : Manager Wally Caldwell, of Loew's Valentine, Toledo, O., was playing "The Hardys Ride High" on Mother's Day, so he had 2,500 glassine envelopes imprinted and a candy kiss inserted in each one. These were distributed in the downtown shopping center on Friday and Saturday preceding the holiday. The copy read, "Sweets to the Sweet — Here is a Kiss for Mother from the Happy Hardy Family, etc." Substituting a star or featured player for the Hardy Family, you can use this next year on whatever attraction you happen to be playing on Mother's Day. "Honolulu" Lobby Display Hawaiian instruments and beach chairs were borrowed by Irving Lipnick, manager of the Symphony Theatre, Chicago, for placement in his lobby in advance of the opening of "Honolulu." Have You the Time? A display of alarm clocks, with their hands all pointing to 12, was promoted from a neighborhood drug store by Manager William F. O'Connell of the Highland Theatre. Chicago, Illinois, as a plug for "Midnight." Saunders' Telephone Tie-Up Ad So vuell did the Southern New England Bell Telephone Company like this ad zvhich Matt Saunders, manager of Loew's Poli Theatre, New Haven, Conn., prepared as a tieup thai the company ordered it to appear in towns in Connecticut where the picture is booked. Matt made the tieup complete by featuring a twocolumn scene mat front the picture on the same page. The company is also sending the layout through as a national ad.