Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1949)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, February 5, 1949 19 ^Ships' Premieie to Honoi Widmark; 3 Theatres Set As guest of honor, Richard Widmark, who stars with Lionel Barrymore and Dean Stockwell in 20th-Fox's "Down to the Sea in Ships," will head a contingent of personalities and members of the press who will go to New Bedford, Mass., from New York for the three-theatre world premiere of the picture on February 15. A citizens' committee, headed by 'Mayor Arthur N. Harriman, State Theatre Owner Harry Zeitz and Earle D. Wilson of the New Bedford Standard-Times, working with the fiJm company representatives, has arranged a special program for the occasion. One of the features will be a costume "Gam" (a sailor's party that was traditional with whaling vessels when they met at sea) to be held in the Bourne Museum, which houses the largest whaling exhibit in the United States. After the premiere at the State, New Bedford and Empire theatres, an old-fashioned Chowder Party will be held in the New Bedford hotel for the visiting members of the press. Governor Paul A. Dever of Massachusetts and Mayor Harriman will be official hosts for the occasion. 4 'Bad Boy' Trailers; Texas Premieres Set Four trailers will be issued by National Screen Service in conjunction with the premieres and national release of Allied Artists' "Bad Boy," it was announced over the weekend in Hollywood by Lou Lifton, AA director of advertising and publicity. In addition to a special trailer being donated gratis by NSS for the benefit premieres of the film, proceeds of which go to Variety Clubs International, an advance teaser trailer, regular trailer and television trailer have also been prepared. "Meanwhile, in Texas, 33 key cities have been set for midnight premieres of the film on February 19, following the world premiere in Dallas on the 16th. The Paul Short production will then open February 20 in more than 400 theatres throughout the state, having been booked solid by the Robb & Rowley, Jefferson Amusement, Interstate, Texas Consolidated and Johnny Long circuits. All proceeds from the Texas premiere engagements go to the Variety Clubs of Texas. Also from Texas comes word that Governor Beauford H. Jester will proclaim February 16 Audie Murphy Day throughout the state as a tribute to Texas' most famous war hero, who makes his starring debut in "Bad Boy." Manuel Wins Top Prize In Exploitation Contest First prize of $300 in the $1,000 contest conducted by Schine Theatres and Universal-International for the best promotional campaigns by theatre managers of the circuit on "Letter from An Unknown Woman" has been won by John Manuel, manager of the Strand Theatre, Cumberland, Md. Second prize, $200, went to Arthur Castner of the Madison Theatre, iRochester, N. Y. ; third prize, $125, to Lou Marcks of the Strand in Delaware, Ohio; fourth prize, $100, to Lou Merenbloom, Hippodrome, Corbin, Ky. Other winners were Bert Ruder, Malone, N. Y. ; Bob Cox, Kentucky, Lexington, Ky. ; Ken Carter, Madison, Richmond, Ky. ; James O'Shea, Oswego, Oswego, N. Y. ; and Loren Parker, Liberty, Cumberland, iMd., previously of the Avon, Watertown, N. Y. No Police Date Always on the lookout for a new angle for exploiting films, Manager Sam Gilman of Loew's, Harrisburg, Pa., hooked up with the city's parking meters as a means of exploiting MGM's "A Date With Judy." He had a man patrol the parking meters and whenever he spotted a car parked overtime, he dropped a nickel in the meter and placed a card on the windshield reading: "We saved you a date with the police department by depositing a nickel . . . now you can keep 'A Date With Judy' at Loew's." Doorman's Idea Doorman George Bannon came up with an idea that helped sell MGM's "The Secret Land" at Schine's Auburn in Auburn, N. Y. Since the picture is about the frozen Arctic, he suggested a contest to guess the weight of a 700 or 800pound block of ice. Index for January, 1949 Brass Tacks of Efficient Picture Theatre Management Do Something a Little Different Jan. 29, p. 14 Extra! Literary Vaudeville Show Jan. 8, p. 14 It's 'D'-Day for You Vs. Television Jan. 22, p. 12 Percentage and the Jones Approach. .. .Jan. 15, p. 18 Resolve: To Start Bragging Again Jan. 1. P 1° Equipment and Maintenance Jan. 8, pp. E1-E23 Exploitation Campaigns — By Pictures Fighter Squadron Jan. 22, p. 16 Johnny Belinda Jan 8, p. 18 Raw Deal Jan. 8, p. 18 Red River Jan. 8, p. 18 Exploitation Campaigns — By Stunts Baby Carriage Stunt Jan. 15, p. 15 Ballyhoos Films Via Star Blowups, -Stills Jan. 22, p. 14 Book Tieup Poster Jan. 29, p. 12 Collie Puppy Giveaway in Lassie Promotion Jan. 1, p. 11 Conventional Campaign for Unconventional Film Jan. 1, p. 12 'Dear Secretary' Contest Scores Big in New York Jan. 29, p. 12 Easy for You Jan. 8, p. 20 First Time? Jan. 22, p. 16 Guess Western Tunes Jan. 8, p. 17 Hosiery Bag Tieup for 'Coroner Creek'. .Jan. 22, p. 16 Insurance Men, Druggist Plug 'Screaming' Reissue Jan. 1, p. 10 Knaus' Fashion Show Jan. 8, p. 17 Leprechaun-ed Napkins Jan. 8, p. 20 Nifty Institutional, Film Stunts Keep Houston Plaza Popular Jan. l,p. 11 Novel Ad Twist Jan. 1, p. 11 Old English Autos in Parade for 'Holiday' Jan. 1, p. 10 Old-Time Ballyhoo in Broadway Comeback Jan. 15, p. 15 Santa, Puppy Basis for Two H. D. Stearn Campaigns Jan. 8, p. 1/ Teaser Picture Postcards Jan. l,p. 11 Title Words on Diapers Jan. 1, p. 12 Tops in Window Dressing Jan. 29, p. 12 Usher Plays Good Sam, Tulsa's Response Good Jan. 8, p. 18 Wants to Know Patrons Jan. 22, p. 13 Women Went for It Jan. 22, p. 14 Grist for the Showmanship Mill Jan. 1, p. 11; Jan. 8, p. 18; Jan. 15, p. IS; Jan. 22, p. 15; Jan. 29, p. U Harry Strong Traces History of Ballyhoo. Jan. 8, p. 17 I.M.P.S. Member Report Jan. 1, p. 10; Jan. 8, p. 17; Jan. 15, p. 13; Jan. 22, p. 14; Jan. 29, p. 10 I.M.P.S. Members Tell Jan. 1, p. 10; Jan. 8, p. 17; Jan. 22, p.l5; Jan. 29, p. 10 Money Dates for February Jan. 8, p. 20 N. Y. 'Enchantment' Campaign Sets '49 Showmanship Rolling Jan. 15, p. 14 Showmanship Slants Jan. 8, p. 18; Jan. 22, p. 16 Theatre Management — Special Articles Intermission Music Is Important in Theatres Jan. 22, p. 12 Matinee Policy Change Gets School Publicity Jan. 1, p. 16 Merchants Help Theatres Observe 23rd Anniversary Jan. 8, p. 14 Movie Club Offers Kids Fun, Gifts, Extra Films Jan. 8, p. 14 No 'Impossibles' at New Theatre Opening Jan. 29, p. 14 Service Manual Issued to Century Personnel Jan. 15, p. 18 Simon Uses Most Popular High School Pupil Stunt Jan. 1, p. 16 2 Reade Managers Active in Civic Affairs Jan. 29, p. 14 Wallace Theatres Issue Reel News for Employes Jan. IS, p. 18 Variety Invades New^ York Jan. 29, p. 16 I.M.P.S. Member Report Utecht Combines Civic, Exploitation Activities Manager Len Utecht of the Essaness Lake Theatre in suburban Oak Park, Chicago, is an LM.P.S. member who divides his activities pretty evenly Between exploiting the attractions at his theatre and taking part in civic affairs, and finds the latter redounding to the standing of his theatre in the community, and adding to its patron-pulling power. Recently the American Legion Post 96 of Cicero, sponsored a two-week radio program over WHFC in behalf of Illinois Veterans Hospitals. Brother Utecht jumped on the bandwagon by contributing cigarets to the wounded veterans. The Legion Post gave the Lake several good plugs in reporting Utecht's donations. At the time of his report, Utecht was handling publicity for the Friends of the Oak Park Library group of which he is a member. When the Southern District Association of Oak Park gave its annual Christmas party for children and their parents at the Southern Theatre, Utecht served as one of the co-chairmen of the open house event, helping to promote free candy, ice cream and special favors. Newspaper ballyhooing and plenty of window displays brought out a good attendance for the competing theatre, at both shows. With Jimmy Lake, his assistant. Manager Utecht plastered Oak Park with window cards for his holiday week feature, "A Song Is Born" and found that a number of the stores had given the cards a lighting display and other Christmas decorations to make the cards stand out more attractively. His New Year's attraction, "Every Girl Should be Married," got similar merchant cooperation. A Youth Month display and tieup was arranged by Utecht with the Bunnygraph Studios, specializing in children and youth group portraiture. The theatre's lobby was decorated with 44 children's portraits, 20x24, in black-and-white and in oils, with many large portraits of Oak Park children captioned "Future Citizens of Oak Park" and a group of "Younger Set" portraits presented by Bunnygraph's manager, Hans Hink, who told Utecht that the display had brought him much additional trade. The Oak Park press, equally friendly to Utecht, gave the display and the theatre and its manager much free publicity on the stunt. I.M.P.S. Member Report Collie in Lobby Draws 3,000 in Anamosa {Continued from Page 13) mouth pubHcity. It was the first time this was ever used in Anamosa, and helped to sell the picture. Business was above average on Lassie pictures." The angle was just a little different from the ordinary, and that difference draw 3,000 children, and one or both parents, into the lobby, giving the youngsters a desire to see "Hills of Home." So, Brother Brite, LM.P.S. members' hats are off to you for getting results with a change of pace — and of dog ideas — in your campaign. A Real Miss Tatlock A faculty member named Miss Tatlock was discovered at nearby Mt. Holyoke College by Manager Lou Schaefer of the Victory in Holyoke, ?\Iass. She was agreeable to newspaper and other tieups with "Miss Tatlock's Millions."