Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

October 18, 1941 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Page 17 Stage 'Keep 'Em Flying Week' When You Play 'Parachute Battalion' Dedicating the week of the engagement of "Parachute Battalion" as "Keep 'Em Flying Week," Assistant Manager Myron Feltheimer of the RKO Chester, New York, and Publicity Representative Ray Malone put over one of the most unique exploitation stunts in the history of local showmanship. They tied in with the Delehanty Institution in arranging for two crews of eight men to assemble a plane in the lobby during the run of "Parachute Battalion." The entire lobby was dressed with aeroplane pictures, including a large parachute. The mechanics explained the work they were doing to prospective patrons. The week was "set aside to glorify the men behind the scenes who work in factories and makes our first line of defense the greatest in the world." The week's ceremonies ended with a patriotic rally in the theatre, with the assembled plane on the stage. At this rally two scholarships were awarded by the Delehanty Institute. They were valued at $600. The Institute distributed 50,000 cards announcing the awards, with space for signatures for all those desiring to participate, and they were based on . the lucky drawing of two of them. WEAF carried announcements of the lobby stunt. The entire lobby display and stage setup was paid for by the Delehanty Institute. Bridgeport Man Hunt Gleans Lots of Publicity for 'Man Hunt' An avalanche of publicity was accorded "Man Hunt" in Bridgeport, Conn., as the result of a stunt staged by Manager Morris Rosenthal of the Loew Poli Majestic Theatre. In cooperation with the Times-Star, Rosenthal staged a local man hunt. Initial details of the hunt appeared on the front page, advising the public just where the man would be located at various hours of the day, what to do after spotting him, etc. Ten dollars was offered to the lucky searcher. On the first day of the hunt the man was not found, so the reward was raised to $15. On the second day he still successfully eluded his pursuers, so again the reward was raised $5. On the third day, a local woman succeeded in catching the man, thus winning an award of $20. During the hunt, Rosenthal gleaned 58 inches of free publicity, not to mention that which was naturally accorded the showing of the picture. Bumper strips were placed on automobiles advising the public to "Read About Man Hunt in the Times-Star." Reward signs, featuring a picture of the hunted man, were placed at newsstands and at other conspicuous locations. The aftermath of all this advertising and publicity was crowded houses during the engagement of "Man Hunt." Pictorial Exhibits on 'Heaven' Over 50,000 Folding Pictorial Exhibits are being distributed by Warner Bros, to schools, churches and libraries throughout the country as part of a special promotional campaign for "One Foot in Heaven." The exhibit consists of 12 scene stills from the picture with accompanying captions, made up in picture post card form, conveniently folded for mailing. Additional copies of the Pictorial Exhibits are also available to exhibitors, it was said. Western Union Tieup Western Union miniatures, with messages printed upside-down, proved effective ballyhoo for "Love Crazy" during the campaign for the film put over by L. Houghton, Orpheum, Franklin, Pa. RECORDS— ALONE PROVE GREATNESS HERE'S THE "CH AMP" It's the one and only SCAR FA C E PAUL MUNI 3lS th& title chdPdd&p in SCARFACE" HOWARD HUGHES PRESENTATION RAFT — KARLOFF — ARM ETTA — DVORAK HERE'S THE RECORD — NO FEATURE HAS PLAYED AS OFTEN IN THE SAME THEATRES. REPORTER: PLENTY PLAYED IT. . . . 6 TIMES PLENTY PLAYED IT ... 14 TIMES MANY PLAYED IT. .. 26 TIMES A FEW REPEATED IT. . . . 50 TIMES SOME REPEATED IT. ... 68 TIMES 'Scarface' In 60th Run on Broadway New York — The Apollo on 42nd Street is running "Scarface," the Howard Hughes-Astor picture. The only news in this is the fact that it's making its 60th appearance in a Broadway theatre, probably playing more time in and around 42nd Street than any ten pictures ever made. AND STILL GOING — BREAKING RECORDS ASTOR NEW PRINTS NEW ADV. ACCESSORIES PICTURES CORP. NEW YORK N. Y. EXCHANGES IN ALL KEY CITIES