Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, December 31, 1949 17 Ricketson Week Marks Return of Executive Returning from a five-week business survey trip to Europe, President Frank W. "Rick" Ricketson of Fox Inter-Mountain theatres found more to be thankful for than just his "beloved America and Denver." During his absence, the Fox Inter-Mountaineers, operating theatres from Canada to Mexico, promoted a "Rick's Rousing Return" week which produced results that shook the record books of the showmanship-conscious Denver territory. It Can be Done' The special week exceeded in results anything delivered in 1949 by the circuit with an array of activities ranging from automobile giveaways to stage weddings. Disproving the old bogie, "Christmas Slump," the boys from the high country set a pace which proves "it can be done" if the incentive is right. "Rick's Rousing Return Week" proved to be just that. Ricketson accompanied Charles P. Skouras and Elmer C. Rhoden on the junket which took them to seven foreign countries over a 22,000mile route. They inspected economic trends, recovery programs, motion picture production and oossible theatre locations. 'SAMSON AND DELILAH' OPENS IN NEW YORK Showmanship Contest Planned on ^Mother' A nationwide showmanship contest for exhibitors, with winners reaping a total of $7,500 for engagements played between March 2 and May 7, will back the release of 20th-Fox's "Mother Didn't Tell Me" next March. Entry details will be announced via trade press advertising, contest brochures and through the company's exchanges. The contest was prompted by the success of the "All-American Premiere Contest" staged this fall for "Father Was a Fullback." Hundreds of campaigns were submitted for the "Father" contest which ended Dec. 4. Judging by the national panel, consisting of William Ainsworth, Si Fabian and Lou Little, will take place shortly with results to be announced in January. NEWSPAPERBOYS MOVIE GUESTS. This picture and caption greeted readers of the Arkansas Democrat when the boys who sell that paper were invited to the Arkansas Theatre in Little Rock by Manager Jimmy Thames. Newsboys are a favorite human interest subject, and what better time to remember that than during the run of Paramount's "Chicago Deadline"? Note the prominence of the film title in this nice spacegrabber. CECIL B DeMILLE S MASTERHECE SAMSON AND DELILAH COLOR BY TECHNICOLOR ! t m PERSON l^ySS CASE « ORCHESTRA J_P6UUH BIBLICAL SPECTACLE UNVEILED AT DUAL WORLD PREMIERE. Crowds jammed Times Square and Broadway one night last week (21) when Cecil B. DeMille's widely-publicized Technicolor spectacle, "Samson and Delilah," was unveiled at its dual world premiere at the Paramount and Rivoli theatres. The elaborate front and marquee display at the Paramount is seen in photo at upper left, while events taking place under the marquee are shown in photo at upper right. The announcer (center of photo) described the action to radio and television audiences and newsreel cameramen recorded the events. In photo at bottom left Mr. and Mrs. Barney Balaban participate in a television interview in front of the Rivoli, while in center photo may be seen Buddy Rogers and Mary Pickford. Photo at bottom right shows the large premierenight crowd in front of the Rivoli. mm FOR f RE sHOwaANsmr mvL Following a canvass of exhibitors in various sections of the country to get their ideas on the best methods of building its new screen personalities, Universal-International has completed a teaser trailer on Shelley Winters as the first step to a campaign being devised as a result of the exhibitors' suggestions. While the trailer plugs the actress' latest picture, "South Sea Sinner," major emphasis is on Shelley herself and credits the public and press with playing a major role in her rise to stardom. With 36 bookings of his 1950 winter personal appearance tour already set and 34 more in negotiation, Gene Autry is planning a trek which will carry him through 22 states and part of Canada. The cowboy star will open in Pueblo, Colo., Jan. 7. From there he will tour through Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ontario, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Autry and the 27 members of his Western Variety show will play auditoriums, from where Autry's Columbia network radio program, "Melody Ranch," will be broadcast each Saturday afternoon. The star has completed his latest Columbia western, "Beyond the Purple Hills." * * * One of the promotions in the merchandising campaign now being prepared by RKO Radio for the forthcoming release of Walt Disney's "Cinderella" is a tieup sponsored by the National Paint and Manufacturers Association and known as the "Clean Up — Paint Up — Fix ^Up Community Development Program. The campaign, beginning in February, will be highlighted by posters and streamers lithographed in color, the entire theme based on Cinderella, the characters and background of the picture. .A.11 were designed by Walt Disney artists. The campaign will be the theme of window displays :'n hardware stores and paint shops in everv community in the country. ^ * ^ A special series of spot announcement trailers for television use are being prepared by Paramount Studios for use on "Dear Wife," soon-to-be-released sequel to "Dear Ruth." The general practice heretofore has been to adapt theatre trailers for television use, and in very few cases have trailers been prepard specifically for exclusive use on television. The "Dear Wife" spots are designed as chain breaks and run 30 seconds each. Spotlighted Flowers Flowers promoted from a florist were placed in the lobby of the Kent, Kent, Ohio, by Manager Ben Geary who had them "glamorized" by playing two differently colored spotlights on them, against a lobby background of "Story of Seabiscuit" stills and posters. r