Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1945)

August 11, 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 19 Money Dates For September You can start planning now for improved business during the months ahead. With the advent of Labor Day, vacations will be coming to an end. Any increase in business may not be too noticeable during September, but during the month you can lay the groundwork for the months ahead. Inaugurate your Fall Festival of Hits and carry advertising to that effect. It would be profitable to run a special ad and have a special trailer made listing the outstanding attractions that are in store for your patrons. Get your heating equipment in shape for the first cold day, and dress up your lobby as much as conditions will permit. There aren't too many showmanship dates, on the whole, during September; but there may well be many that will fit your particular situation. Look them over, then get to work to get your share of all the business that's available. National Observances Sept. 3: LABOR DAY. What this day, with its long week-end holiday, can do to show business nearly every exhibitor knows. If the weather is inclement — well, there's little need to worry. But m3re I'kely there will be sunshine, and since the weekend more or less represents "that last grand vacation fl ng," a lot of people will be making their way to vacation resorts. Therefore, don't let down your best-entertainment manner. It's a cinch that with a mediocre attraction you stand less chance of good bus'ness than you will if you choose your program with care. Book an all-around good show and advertife it heavily. Ur9;e your patrons to spend part of their Labor Day holiday weekend in the cool comfort and pleasant atmosphere of your theatre enjoying a splendid show. Remember, the weather may be good, it may be bad. In any case, don't take chances. Do your best to attract all the available business. If there's a Labor Day parade, offer your marquee or the sidewalk in front of your theatre (with a platform constructed on the sidewalk) as the reviewing stand. Should any Labor Day exercises have to be held indoors, offer your theatre for that purpose. Sept. 10. SCHOOLS OPEN IN MOST COMMUNITIES. Although we place this date under National Observances, we realize that the actual date will vary in individual localities. Anvway, you'll know the date in your own community. Since, in most cases, children aren't requ'red to attend school the entire day, you might hold a "school's open" matinee at a spec ally reduced price. You might also promote blotters or book jackets with institutional copy imprinted thereon to distribute to the youngsters at school. Sept. 16-22: NATIONAL DOG WEEK. Such pictures as MGM's "Son of Lassie," RKO's "My Pal Wolf" or W. R. Frank's "A Boy, a Girl and a Dog" would be ideal attractions for this week. Here are a few stunts for the week, whether or not you play a dog p'cture: Stage a contest for the best drawings of a dog (perhaps the contestants' own pets). An csay contest could be on the subject, "Why I Like My Dog." Arrange a pet parade, with pr-zes offered for the best-looking dogs, the cutest, the most humorous, etc. Have the parade end at your theatre. Be sure to tie up with dealers for window displays on dog foods and equipment. These are just a few hints to get you started in creating showmanship for this week that should pay excellent dividends. Sept. 30: GOLD STAR MOTHERS DAY. Invite Gold Star Mothers to be your guests, and arrange with a flower shop to give them a carnation or some such flower. Be sure your screen attraction is clean and wholesome entertainment. Perhaps spec'al ceremonies paying tribute to local Gold Star Mothers could be held on your stage. Anniversaries Sept. 1 : Germany invaded Poland, 1939. Sept. 1 : First air express service, 1927. Sept. 3 : England and France entered into state of war against Germany, 1939. Sept. 4: Henry Hudson, in "Half Moon," discovered Manhattan, 1609. Sept. 5 : First Continental Congress opened in Philadelphia, 1774. Sept. 6: Lafayette Day (Lafayette born 17S7). Also celebration of Battle of Marne. Sept. 7 : Boulder Dam in operation, 1936. Sept. 8: Italy surrendered, 1943. Sept. 8: Globe circumnavigated in 1522. Sept. 10: Elias Howe patented sewing machine, 1846. Sept. 12: 1 68th birthday of New York State. Sept. 13: Star Spangled Banner written in 1814. Sept. IS: William Howard Taft (27th Pres.) born 1857. Sept. 16: Selective Service Act, signed by Pres. Roosevelt. 1940. Sept. 17: Constitution Day (Constitution adopted 1787). Sept. 25: Bill of Rights, enacted 1789. Sept. 25 : First Transatlantic air express service to Lisbon, started 1941. Sept. 27: Warsaw surrendered, 1939. Sept. 27 : Germany, Italy and Japan signed 10Year Pact, 1940. S"-it. 28 : Germany and Russia partition Poland, 1939. Sept. 28 : American Indian Day. Sectional Observances Sept. 9 : California joined Union, 1850. Sept. 12: Defenders Day in Maryland. Religious Observances Sept. 8: Rosh Hashanah (First Day), Jewish New Year. Sept. 9: Rosh Hashanah (Second Day), Jewish New Year. Sept 17: Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Jewish Holiday. Sept. .0-Oct. 6: Religious Education Week. Cooperate in this observance as best you can. Support 01 tne churches is always important in the successful operation of a theatre. Miscellaneous Dates Sept. 15: Federal Income Tax, 3rd payment due. Sept. 23 : Autumn begins today. Business Groups to Salute Paramount Birthday Celebration Paramount's One Third of a Century Celebration and "Incendiary Blonde," the anniversary release, will be saluted by merchants' associations and businessmen's groups throughout the nation. In New York City, members of the Broadway Association are displaying an 11x14 poster in salute to Paramount Pictures and the anniversary release, with a large still of Betty Hutton featured, and calling attention to the fact that the picture is playing at the Paramount Theatre on Broadway. The four-color poster is on display in prominent windows on Broadway, from 34th Street to 90th Street. It has also been placed in hotel lobbies, restaurants and night clubs, banks, department stores, telegraph offices and bus terminals. Similar cooperation of business groups is being obtained in other key cities in conjunction with the nationwide day-and-date release of "Incendiary Blonde" during Labor Day holiday week. "Salute" displays will be placed in windows on the most nrominent street in each town. Green Window Displays Used in Boston for 'The Corn Is Green' Several store window displays featuring green colors were arranged in Boston as part of the campaign on Warners' "The Corn Is Green" at the Metropolitan Theatres. An extensive poster campaign, including 500 two-sheets put up in the Boston subways, was another highlight of the local promotion for the Bette Davis picture. Contest for 'Bedside Manner' An essay contest arranged in cooperation with radio station WSB, Atlanta, highlighted the exploitation campaign set up by Irwin Zeltner, Andrew Stone Productions, and Ben Hill, United Artists -exploiteer for "Bedside Manner" at the Warner Theatre in that city. War Bond prizes and guest tickets were offered listeners for the best essay on "Should a Woman Doctor Marry?". The duo also arranged to entertain 350 cadet nurses at the picture's opening —ME. Impartial Arbitrator to Be Set In Roach-Film Classics Action Hal Roach's application to eliminate a demand by Film Classics for an impartial arbitrator in the Supreme Court, New York suit, involving the producer and the company, has been denied by Justice Botein. The action involves claims for the delivery of several features and shorts and an accounting and damages for alleged breach of contract on the part of Roach in not delivering pictures exclusively to Film Classics. A counter-action by Roach in the Federal Court this week brought a denial by Film Classics that it had failed to account accurately to Roach on receipts from the distribution of "Topper." A counter-claim to this action by Film Classics asserts Roach allowed "Topper" to be distributed by others, despite an alleged exclusive contract given Film Classics. Application has been made to the Federal Court to examine Grace Rosenfield, Roach's eastern representative before trial. 12 Bookers, Salesmen, Field Men In Service Re-Employed by RKO Twelve bookers, salesmen and field men of RKO have been discharged from Service and have rejoined the company in their old or new jobs. Claude Atkinson becomes Dallas booker; Frank Childs becomes Denver salesman ; Earl Friedman, Pittsburgh booker ; Gene Gaudello, field man ; Olmsted Knox, Washington salesman ; Daniel McCarthy, Detroit salesman ; Lloyd C. McCullough, Portland booker ; Roger Mitchell, Charlotte salesman ; Harry Simons, Chicago booker ; Marvin Wolfish, Pittsburgh salesman. Carl Peppercorn, former Pittsburgh salesman, has been transferred to New York and Mark Raymon, St. Louis salesman, is now in the foreign department. Paramount Sets First Block In New Season's Lineup "Duffy's Tavern," Hal Wallis' "Love Letters," "The Lost Weekend" and "Follow That Woman" will form Paramount's first block for the 1945-46 season. Branch managers have been requested by Charles M. Reagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of sales, to set up trade screenings for "Duffy's Tavern" and "Lost Weekend" on Aug. 16, and for "Love Letters" and "Follow That Woman" on Aug. 17. Weiner Named Division Manager Harry Weiner has been promoted by Columbia to division manager in charge of eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, with headquarters in Philadelphia, Abe Montague, general sales manager, has announced. Weiner, with Columbia 19 years, has always held the same job, manager in Philadelphia. Rene Clair Film Wins Honors Rene Clair's "And Then There Were None," produced by Popular Pictures and to be released by 20th-Fox, has been awarded the Picture-ofthe-Month honors by Redbook Magazine. The August issue of the publication is featuring the picture, based on Agatha Christie's mystery story, which in play form ran on Broadway under the title "Ten Little Indians." Fetchit Signed for Negro Films Stepin Fetchit, colored comic, has been signed by E. M. Glucksman, producer of All American News, Negro weekly newsreel, for appearances in streamlined features being produced in the East. Fetchit's first will be "Big Timers."