Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, October 15, 1949 Selling the Picture News and Ideas Concerning Profitable Adveriising, PublicitY and Exploitation ^Intruder in Dust^ Bows in Oxford, Locale of Filming Attended by local celebrities, 34 editors and correspondents from papers in seven Southern states, and a group of personalities from the MGM studio at Culver City Calif., the world premiere of "Intruder in the Dust" took place Tuesday night at the Lyric Theatre in Oxford, Miss., where much of the film was made. The opening climaxed two days of intensive activities in which Producer-Director Clarence Brown, Author William Faulkner, and two of the film's players. Porter Hall and Elizabeth Patterson, participated. Last Monday Brown was presented with a special football autographed by the Mississippi University team at Athletic Field House. Later he was honored by a scroll presented by Chancellor John D. Williams, who extolled his contributions to films. He likewise was made honorary member of the University Players. A mile-and-a-half-long parade from the University campus with 27 floats built especially by the merchants for the occasion, with .A.rmy and Navy air corps and band units, preceded the dinner at the University hosted by Chancellor Williams. In the evening a gigantic street dance was held at Court House Square, and this was ^ followed by a World Premiere Ball at the Uni\ versity gj'mnasium, attended by 1,200. Mayor Hosts Luncheon A luncheon was held Tuesday at Alayor R. X. Williams' mansion. In attendance were Thomas Webb Avent, president of the Chamber of Commerce ; E. H. Walker, head of Rotary; Sam Friedman, president of the Lions: j Mrs. Hazel Shelton, president of the B.P.W. I Club; Miss Jeanne Lowry, president of the I Pilot Club; George Fenger, head of the Junior |i C of C; A. H. Russell, American Legion commander, and Robert Hickey, VFW commander. The local and visiting press, Chancellor WilI liams and the MGM contingent were also on ! hand. ' As a concluding gesture. Brown presented a ! plaque to be posted on City Hall. ; The Oxford Eagle, local newspaper, published I a special World Premiere Edition last week. Most of the 18-page newspaper was devoted to news and activities in connection with the premiere, stories and pictures of the "on locaI tion" aspects of the film's making, human interest accounts of the principal players, and I other material which local citizens will unI doubtedly preserve as souvenirs of an unusual I occasion in their lives — ^the filming of a picture in their own town, with many of them as actors. Ties-in the Weather With * Hurricane' iWith storms and winds of near hurricane proportions prevailing. Manager Sidney H. Kleper j of Loew's Poli College Theatre in New Haven promoted an advance article in a local newspaper tieing-in the weather conditions with the storm I depicted in "Slattery's Hurricane," right-up-tothe-minute promotion stunt that got wide atten' tion.— HFD. DEADLY AIM of Kenneth Elmore was revealed when he sighted the kids of New Castle, Ind. Four harmless air-fire sub-machine guns like the one pointed at Elmore above were given away at the Royal Theatre, which he manages, in connection with Saturday matinee showings of the "Batman and Robin" and "King of the Rocketmen" serials. Elmore promoted the rods from local merchants, whom he mentioned in an ad. ^Fighting Man^ in Midwest Premiere With Producer Nat Holt heading a Hollywood contingent including Victor Jory, George "Gabby" Hayes, Bill Williams, Jane Nigh and Barbara Hale, the gala world premiere of '■'Fighting Man of the Plains," which 20th Century-Fox releases, was held Thursday at the Grand Theatre in Topeka, Kans. Following the Kansas opening, which was selected because the film's story takes place during the state's early history after the Civil War, the picture was slated for a huge saturation opening in the far west during the next two weeks in several hundred theatres in the San Francisco, Denver, Salt Lake City, Portland and Seattle areas. On Friday the stars were to be guests at the famed Royal American Stock Show in Kansas City, where the picture opened at the Uptown, Tower and Fairway theatres. A large regional ad campaign was scheduled for each of the saturation areas, in addition to strong radio promotion. Kansas's Governor Frank Carlson made a living trip to Hollywood last week to confer commissions and badges on Star Randolph Scott and Holt as honorary Kansas peace officers. 'Kiss for Corliss' May Premiere in Des Moines Before his departure on Friday (14), Colin Miller, producer of "A Kiss for Corliss," which United Artists will release, indicated that the world premiere of the film might be held in Des Moines, scene of his newspaper syndicate activities before entering motion pictures as a former executive of Enterprise Productions. Miller considered that city the film's locale during production he said. He plans to stop of? there and discuss premiere possibilities, after which he hopes to visit other cities on the film's behalf. Treasury, Youth Support Assured For EL ^Trapped^ Full-scale cooperation of the Treasury Del)artment in all situations and cooperation from Youth Organizations with a national membership running into millions, has been assured for "Trapped," melodrama of the Secret Service, according to Leon Brandt, Eagle Lion director of advertising, publicity and exploitation. The tieup was set with the assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury, the chief coordinator, and members of their staffs, with EL Publicity Manager Leo Brody representing the film's producers. Details of the Treasury Department tieup, which will extend to all phases of publicity and public relations include screenings in all key centers, with Treasury agents, civic officials and local club association heads present with newspaper and radio representatives ; full permission for all Treasury representatives to comment on the film for publication ; and letters from the Treasury Department to all local offices approving cooperation in every phase of the "Trapped" campaign. In addition, EL has been given permission to use the seal of the Treasury Department in all advertising for the picture, and to insert in all ads a line reading: "Produced in cooperation with the Treasury Department." As heralds, the company may use the Treasury's four-page ibooklet, "Know Your Money," imprinted with credits for the film The Treasury has also approved a poster tied-up with its war on counterfeiting, slanted to the program and membership of the Youth Organizations of America ; and has accepted a print of "Trapped" for its own archives. On the Youth Organization tieup, the Boys' Clubs of America, Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America, with a total combined membership of millions, will cooperate with displays of posters plugging the fight on counterfeiting and carrying full picture credits ; and distribution of the Treasury's "Know Your Money" heralds, also imprinted with picture credits. Hollywood Premiere Set for 'Heiress' Paramount has completed arrangements for a gala Hollywood premiere of "The Heiress'' to be held Oct. 20 at the Carthay Circle Theatre. The invitational event will be attended by stars and other celebrities. Following the premiere, the picture will open its regular run at the Carthay Circle for an unlimited engagement. Milk-Drinking Contest A recent Saturday matinee for children at the Crown Theatre. Hartford, Conn., received wide pre-showing publicity when Manager Joe Giobbia induced a local dairj' to sponsor a milkdrinking contest on the theatre's stage, insuring that advance information got directly into the homes of all of its customers. — HFD.