Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

June 17. SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Page 25 Two Win N.Y. World's Fair Trips in ''Streets" Contest Two persons who crcKod liright-Saj'ings for "Streets of New York," which recently ended a successful engagement at the Garrick Theatre, Chicago, rode to the New York World's Fair recently on the wings of their wise-cracks, having won what is regarded as one of the most successful contests ever held in the W indy City in connection with the exploitation of a motion picture. The two lucky winners were Edward Bilek, Jr., of Chicago, and Mrs. E. C. Armbruster, of Oak Park, 111. Accompanying them were •'Bill'" Kennedy and Ray Serafin, Chicago newsboys, who won another contest, both sponsored by Monogram and the Chicago Evening American. While in Manhattan, the four winners were the guests for four days of Monogram, and the Hearst newspapers here and were taken on a round of entertainment at the World's Fair, Radio City Music Hall, the International Casino and other gay hot spots. The first contest, which made the front page of the Evening American, started six days before the opening of "Streets of New York." Each day a two-column picture was printed in the American in which either Jackie Cooper or Martin Spellman, figured. The illustration contained a blank "balloon", or open space, for a caption and readers were invited to fill in the space with their own idea of what they considered a wise-crack. The two best received during the contest were declared the winners and the next fifty received passes to see "Streets of New York." The second contest, which ran simultaneously, w^as promoted through Walter Parker, circulation manager of the American, and was confined to newsboys. Each carrier had to turn in a new six-months subscriber in order to compete in the drawing held for the two trips to New York. The American put on 900 new subscribers and the picture at the Garrick was boosted when the American, well in advance, spread large banners on both sides of its 200 delivery trucks flashing about Chicago, calling attention to the picture and the main contest, which clicked in a big way from the opening day until it closed on May 20. "Lovers May Park Here—" A bench in the lobby with palm trees behind the bench was the display devised by Manager John P. Field, of the Grove Theatre, Chicago, to exploit "Love Affair." "Lovers may park' here, but we urge them to see 'Love Affair' at the Grove, etc." was the substance of the copy on a card placed nearby. Highlights of Pollock's "Only Angels — " Campaign Here are some campaign highlights executed by Ma)iager Lester Pollock, of Loeiv's Rochester, Rochester, N. Y., for his exploitation of Columbia's "Only Angels Have Wings." That's an angel used for street ballyhoo (upper left); men's suits are featured by a local department store (upper right); Pollock promoted a ivindow (lower left) on gas ranges; and at the bottom, right, the Knot Hole Band is seen parading on their ivay to viezv the film. Gloversville Kiddies Offered Free Bikes in Tieup with Local Store Through a tiein with the local branch of Montgomery-\^'ard Co., Manager Frank Boucher, of the Glove Theatre, Gloversville, N. Y. is offering a free Hawthorne Bike to local boys and girls who attend the theatre. First, the kiddies are to visit the store and inspect the bikes, at which time they receive a chance if they leave their names and addresses. Then, every time they attend the Glove they get additional chances. Those who participated in a Bike Parade staged recently received 6 additional chances to help them toward winning the liandsome prize. Boys and girls met with their bikes at Darling Field, and paraded from there to the theatre. Frank is passing out special handbills informing the kiddies of the chance to win a bike. Also, Montgomery-Ward is offering free trips to either of the Fairs, for the lucky boy or girl who enters a special contest put on by the store. Here is outstanding summer prcmotign. Surely you can make the same kind of a tieup with your local Montgomery-Ward outlet or some other store. Try it, and keep the kiddies coming to your theatre throughout the summer. P. S. We have two chances on the bike ourselves. Wait till Frank sees us biking up Broadway on our Hawthorne Special! Handbills, Posters Preferred for Publicity, Says Visiting Exhibitor Handbills and posters are the chief means of theatre exploitation in the small town of Allen, Nebraska, where Rubel Hutchings operates the Allen Theatre. Hutchings, a visitor at RKO Radio's exhibitors' lounge, plays single features exclusively and mostly those of the so-called action type. Hutchings disagrees with R. R. Winship of Phillipsburg, Kansas, so far as Saturday night business is concerned. Winship said Saturday night was now just another night, while Hutchings says Saturday night is by far his best evening for gross. Receive Second Prize Managers of the GB Albany Ward Theatres, Ltd., London, won second prize of £12. 10s in the exploitation contest conducted here by the circuits operating head, Gaumont-British Pictures Corporation, according to R. H. Etchells, publicity man Medd's Striking Front, Bally on "Nazi Spy" A striking front on Warners' "Confessions of a Nasi Spy" tvas effected by Manager E. R. Medd of the Roxy Theatre, Gallatin, Tenn., as you can see by the photograph at the left. Shown at the right is a man dressed in Nasi uniform who Medd detailed to ballyhoo the film. "That's 'yours truly' next to the pop-corn machine," Medd informs its. "Butch, Change Dem Plates!" Owners driving cars with Missouri licenses were invited by Manager Marlowe Conner of Warners' Rhodes Theatre, Chicago, :o be his guests at performances of "I'm Frorn Missouri."