Variety (Aug 1930)

^edaesdBy, Auguet 6, 1930 PICTURES VARIETY 17 Press Stunts Minneapolis. t^AP "The Plorodora Girl," last ;^k'fl R-K-O Orpheum screen at- SSuon, Manager Bmll Franke «n- Sfei a bevy of young womei^ to SSS^ old-faahloned bathing suits T^mtx m with the^crowds ot S??her3 and swimmers at the city's 5S Wee bathing beaches. The 2?^ wearing banners on their ^Sb advertising the picture and «?Su«. attracted much attenUon. ^yanke also rounded up the most •ncient automobiles obtainable and made them the nucleus of a parade. The old fllvs afterwards were used S a display In front of the theatre. New Orleans. With this city In the throes of a tree-sitting endurance contest and Sore than 60 boys perched in tree tSiches in various parts of the fli^ln an effort to. break the na- SoSfti record, Rodney D. Toupa, manSger of Xoew's State, saw his ^rtc© to capltallae on the stunt. iS^had huge cards ta<iked on the 'teObka of the trees announcing that ?h» winner would be awarded ^^>soh pass to the theatre. State tuSei publicity lor itself through ' ■Uift newspapers carrying announce- ments of the season pass ,award In their dally rep orts. Fargo, N. I>. Hearing the cry, "Bring the chil- dren back to the theatre," Manager Bd. ia:au8 made two tie-ups which ■ resulted In niore than 1,000 kids at- tending the showings of "Swing . Mlsh" at the Publix-State, ■ Kraus set up two stands inside ' the lobby, with whlte-coatcd at- ttihdonts, who served all the kiddles with pink lemona<3le on their Wfiy in and handed them a sack of Jumbo peanuts t»n their, way out Iiocal ' bank i>ald for the peanuts and the ' radio station for the. Iranonade, MadiO station announced for three days prior to the opening of the jtfctQie, Ave times daily, all about I'tiiCl^^ree lemonade and peanuts. No k .i(o the theatre. m Rochester, N. T. iir ; stunt of Manager Jay 'G0l4eo;,pf the Ri-K-O Palace nearly WfentwrdiDg. Fake arrest arranged ivlth pc^ilee Of. Second Precinct for ZteeraId#'$lBteriB and Patti Lee rol- ' ler skatbig at busy downtown cor- ner. Traffic' cop called the wiagon. Seigeant not in on the affair thought it regular arrest and took .tl^ girls to headquarters where they were booked by the matron. - By then Qolde^ was burning up the wires trying to find his skaters, due to open the vaude bill in about IS mtgiutes. Finally got them trans- ferred to the Second Precinct and ' MIeased in time to go oh. Pictures «nd Stories. Girls had appeared '.IthA night before at the state-coa Teatioa of police chiefs so stood aces. Brooklyn, N. T. Through a tie-up with the Brook- lyn "Times" In tiie interests of the Cortlss-Wrlght Flj^Ing Band, play-f Ing the local Albee this week. Casey Jones, Curtiss-Wright official^ gave a short talk to. 600 Brooklyn "Times" newsboys at the theatre ^yesterday at 11:30 before the regular show and ^»II1 do the same today (Wed Besday) for another 500. other stunt with Forrester by sup- plying him with five numbers dally of automobile drivers who were seen using extreme caution In driving about town. Numbers were pub- lished in the local daily, and the owners of the license numbers re- ceived two tickets for the picture. Norfolk, Neb. In midsummer, a week in advance of the opening of "Cuckoos" at the Granada, Manager Carl Rose set up a big Christmas tree in the foyer of the theatre. It was decorated. Sat- urday before picture opened a horse and buggy ballyhooed the film. Driver dressed as Santa Claus and accompanying hlin another mart In a fur coat and straw hat. ▲ sign on the rear of the buggy carried the copy: "If you think we are cuckoo, see 'Cuckoos' at the Granada." Detroit. Aug. K. Michigan Theatre Owners Assn., Detroit, have a tie-up with Kunsky- Trendle radio station WXYZ. to broadcast picture pirogr ams ovier the ahr and plug station WXTZ in the theatres. Deal is a t strictly trade with no money changing hands. Entire deal engineered by H. M. Rlchey. • Rlchey selected "Take Tour Girl to the Movies" as theme song and interpolates movie chatter in the program announcements. Programs of about 100 houses around Detroit are announced with IB minutes being allotted for the service. Hollywood. Fox studios on the Coast effected a tie-up with T.A.T., Western Air Express and Bowing TransContin ental, whereby the latter will an nounce to passengers flying over the Oregon trail that this Is where most ot the action for "The Big Trail' took place. It will also be used as a plug for the air lines, with stress on the con trast of weeks by wagon and hours by plsme. Milwaukee. In connection with "The Dawn Patrol" at the B-K-O Palace-Or pheum. the publicity department hookied up with the Wisconsin "News" for a prize contest. Two plctunto of well-known aviators ap- peairea dally for ten . days In the "News." Would-be winners had to Identify the prints and tell what each flyer had done to become f am ous. ' The prizes were $250 in cash and free tickets. For "Blushing Brides" by Selby Carr at the Denver was a preview for 15 stores in the city. All escort- ed were sent home In taxis. Bulletins were posted in the stores calling attention to the picture and asklne the counter Jumpers to ask the girls to attend the. preview, Cards were provided for all so they could see the show for the ^natinee price until 6.45. price changing for others at 6. Rest of the campaign tied in with stores having things all brides are * continually wanting, Three drugstore chains -were -.used for counter and window displays of perfumes and cosmetlca , Chicago. With the midwest going heavy for endatance contests of all sorts. R- K-0 Bnglewood here has an en- durance Iron-beam sitter in Vic Nelsdn. press agented as the champ of Sweden. Nelson Is sitting on the Iron beam In front of the theatre, ^nglng his legs and toying with the-keys of a typewriter. New York. R-K-O exploited the public curl- oslty^rrounding the visit to Amer- ica of Zaro Agha, 156-year-old Turk, Inviting him to Palace matinee Pri- "a^y (1) as guost of management and getting him To stop on the stage with Harry Rubin for laughs. It was claimed by R-JC-O as the nrst vaude sliow the old Turk had ever attended. Decatur, 111. froe band concerts in the city Park are ordinarily a draw away *f°"J^thea,tres. Paul Witte, manager or the Lincoln, broached supplying wnglng talent. A girl sang the songs from "Big Pond" through a jnegaphone which had the attrac- Jjon, theatre name and play dates printed on the sides. Girl was a •ocal amateur, doing It gratis. VAA, ^ Kearney, Neb. ■tddle Forrester, manager of the J-OT'^' for "Safety in Numbers," tie-up with the Hugo John- ".C'othing Co. whereby a suit of jjjothes was given to a local young n!r"^"ose suit measurements com- rIo- 7,^*^* nearest to those of the ho.Ui^"^'"'®^ Rogers. Two thousand thlTv^ '^^'■e prepared, for which int ^J^atre paid, with l.OOO explain- hfi,.! . contest and providing a cr^iVi^ V which tl»e measurements triK,r* V written. These were dis- lle« tfom house to house. Po- <-« aepartment co-operated in an- Denver. Harry' Huffman, owner of four houses here, put on the largest treasure hunt ever In this territory. Over 3.000 awards were grlven and any number of stores and businesses where hooked up In the. search for the prlzea Keys were distributed from house to house and others were given out at each of his theatres All the "pirate" had to do was to run around and see If his key would unlock any of the treasure chests. Twenty-flve hundred of the r~Izes were pies. Others Included a $1,600 down payment on a millionaire's car, furs, rugs, radios, clocks, mountain lots, tires, $100 in cleaning, clothing, use of driverleas cars. etc. ~ The Aladdin, one of Huffman's houses, was broken into and the safe cracked. $150 was taken but Saturday's and Sunday's receipts were overlooked. It is thought some of the treasure hunters had drawn blank keys, got sore and returned to the theatre to see If they wouldn't have better luck where the hunting was a little better. Dallas. MarseUlne K. Moore, manager of Publix-Palace here, tried his hand on originality for a "Big House" press stunt. Moore tied up Adolphus hotel to blow sirens and some locAl stores to fly flags on opening day of flicker As a surprise, he had ushers throw fake bombs off of Palace that gave Elm street an appearance of a Mos- cow street flght. One motorist was so frightened he wrecked his car. A riot' wagon and Are dept. an- swered call and moved Moore to police headquarters, where some quick explaining kept him out. Seattle. How to pret the Idds into the the- atre Is what's been worrying many manaprera. The Orpheum wants more kids to go for its shows. In SEATTLE CAPITALIST BEHIND NEW HOUSES Seattle, Aug. 5. L. M. Rosen^aum, local capitalist, is flnancing three new Fox West Coast theatres, at Spokane, Billings, Mont, and Phoenix, Ariz. Each is about a 2,000-seater. Spokane, including the ground, will go around $1,260,000; BllUngs and Phoenix are on 99-year leases, costing between $300,000 and $400,- 000 each. Rosenbaum also maintains an of- flcfe on Wall street, New York. Joe Leo's Time Up Joe Leo's 90 days' leave ot ab- sence expires today (6). This is the date he la supposed to report to the Fox headquarters tor an as- signment under his three-year con- tract.' Leo, it is said, is agreeable to an asslgnnient to bis previous task, as operator of POx. Metropolitan The- atres, or will accept a cash settle- ment of his Fox term. When Leo was given a leave of absence or a vacation, Harry Ar- thur was brought on from the coast to succeed him. Leo has been loafing on full pay. Leo's leave of absence has been made Indeflnite. He was getting $1,260 a week. Augusta, Me. Because Clyde H. Smith, flrst se- lectman of Skowhegan, was flnan- cially Interested in the lease of the Skowhegan Opera House to his brother. Myron D. Smith, by the town of Skowhegan, and the assign- ment of the lease by him to the Prlscllla Theatres, Inc., ot liOWlston, the action of the selectmen of that town in making and executing and approving the assignment of the it-nse was illegal, according- to a flndlng of tact by Associate Justice Prank G. Farrlngton ot Augusta. Gelsey at U Studios Los Angeles, Aug. 5. Irwin Gelsey arrives here Thurs- day as Unlversal's scenario editor, Previously he was story editor for Paramount In the east line with this idea Joe Cooper, R-K-O advertising manager for Northwest district (Seattle), worked out a "skooter" plan with prizes of fered for best home-make and fast- est kid's skooter in town. There was keen competition. Final took place on the Orpheum stage last Saturday; with all kids, 6 to 10, ad- mitted fr^. A serial was then started on the screen. Hereafter the kids must pay 16c. Idiea was to get them started on the flrst installment so that .they would come back to see subsequent ones. Scotes liowry, kid actor, was brought up from Hollywood for ballyhoo. Behind the Keys Minneapolis. Harry Lotz, special representative for UA for several years, has J^een appointed branch manager for that producer-distributor here, succeed- ing Tom Burke. Before becoming special rep. Lots was exchange boss for UA in Boston. Reading, Pa. WilUam H. Lee, Philadelphia, Is the architect ^ho will design the proposed Wilmer & 'Vincent Holly- wood theatre, this city, 4,000-seater, to cost $1.000,OtfO, exclusive of site. Greenfield. Mass. Par-Publlx has leased Lawler and Garden theatres here and the Am- herst, Amherst, from Carroll J. Lawler, who will remain as resi- dent manstger. San Francisco. Cliff Work made a tie-up with the "Call-BuUeUn" to give a midnight preview of "Dlxlana" at the R-K-O Orpheum, jn'oceeds to go to summer home for poor kids maintained by the newspaper. Newspaper netted close to fl.OOO on the stunt Pre- ceding performance theatre for a week got half-i>age publicity spreads In "CaU-Bulletln" daUy, and cam- paign helped ge^ picture big regular opening. Youngstown, O. Sw S. Solomon, manager of the State, worked up interest in "Love Among the Millionaires" by staging a beauty contest to determine the most attractive waitress In the city. The girls went on the stage of the State several evenings in advance of the picture. Selections were made by applause. Springfield. Mo. A shooting gallery was rigged up in the lobby ot the Publix-Electrlc to exploit "Border Legion." Theresa NIbler, manager, fixed up an old shadow box and bung the marker In the center, any person hitting the bull's-eye being admitted as a guest. Marker was hard to hit. as it hung free, and as the wind blew It would move back and forth so that only an average of one out of every 200 made a hit. Daisy air- rifles were used. Each person, was allowed one shot Gallery was run each day during the engagement from 2 until 4 in the afternoon and 7 to 9 at night. Rock Island, III. When "King of Jazx" played at the Fort, manager G. D. Blckford placed a free weighing scale In the lobby ot the theatre and offered free admission to anyone who could tip the scales within 25 pounds of Paul Whiteman's weight El Paso, Tex. A girl attired In a newspaper dress was used by Manager W. R. Remphill to ballyhoo "Lady of Scandal" at the Publix-Wigwara. Girl was garbed in a dress made out of newspapers with the scandal headlines prominently showing up. She carried a sign on her back giv- ing title of picture, star, theatre and play dates. Girl paraded the crowded streets and shops one day In advance of the opening. In the same dress she also attended a dance at the City park. Stunt got comment in the newspapers. houses, has been transferred fo Danville, 111., as manager. Ft. Dodge, la. Jess Day, manager of the Strand Blank house, has Joined R-K-O staff at Des Moines. Succeeded here by H. M. Schrodt later in month. New York City. Further R-K-O managerial ap- pointments are Edward Masters, Woods, Chicago, replacing A.; G. Larsen; W. A. Whelpy, Proctor's, Mt 'Vernon, replacing Joseph Di Lorenzo, and A. L. Watlington at Littlo Rock, aucceeding Raymond WllUe. • New York City. R-K-O continues to shake up its managers, letting men out here and there. A long list ot replacements include: Henry Sommers to Albce, Cincin- nati, to replace Cliff Boyd. Mark Silver to Lyric, Cincinnati, to suc- ceed Sommers. B. F. Moore to Ma- jestic, Columbus, replacing Mail: Silver. W. C. Welch twinsferred to Orpheum. Oakland, replacing Clem Pope. .7aek Bdwu^s to Orpheum. San Diego, succeeding W. C. Welch. Jess Day to Orpheum. DeS Molrtes, replacing C. D. Garity. Raymond Willie, Palace, Little Rock, suc- ceedln.g E. T. Oliver. Ralph 'Walsh transferred : to Palace.. Akron, re- placing ■ Allen Glenn,' who takes Walsh's former house. Hip. ClevO- land. In view ot the size of the circuit R-K-O has fired, switched and brought In more new managfers than any of Its competitors. Fox Theatre Pob. Dept With Neiir Complexion Publicity and exploitation division of Fox Theatres has taken on a new setup under the direction of Gabe Yorke. Coming in ot Mtuc Shane, from the Coast; Al Margolies. from the Roxy, and Ned Gerber, from At- lanta, has changed the department's complexion. About the only flrst choice remaining is Jpel Svenson, editor of the "Last 'Word," Fox's Inter-help organ. A mechanical artist is due, while Morry KInzler .is Fox h. q.. with duties still to be assigned. New setup marks a new policy besides which on the Inside to to do away with division explolteera In the field. Fox Theatres beads fig- uring that In the majority of spots the managers are either fitted to handle tho limited exploitation themselves or n. g. In one or two spots Fox has managers trained in newspaper and publicity work and In others where they're not It's the aim of Fox Theatres to get some who understand that kiiid of work. To accomplish this aim Fox The- atres will take these divisional ex- ploiteers and spot them aa man^ agers If t&elr training and ability Imply capable handling of such Jobs. St. Paul. Ed Masters, of R-K-O President here, replaced A. O. Larson al Woods, Chicago. Chicago. Publix-Great States personnel changes promote I<ouis St. Pierre from district, manager of northern Indiana to city manager of Rock- ford; 111., and in charge of stage production for northern Illinois. R. Sternberg, from New England, 'suc- ceeds: Resignation of Harry Ellis as- dty manager at Danville. III., moved up Russell La^b. asst. New York City. Ted Leaper has been reassigned by Publlx to his former post at the Paramount Broadway^ as manager. Leaper was at the Broadway house until the arrival of Ralph E. CrablU from the coast, and the latter signed next In charge under Milton Feld. divisional'director. Leaper's going back to the Par- amount means a switch for Steve Barutlo, who succeeded Leaper. Barutio may go to the Rivoli, Broadway. Bangor, Me. Graphic Circuit has taken over the Millinocket (Me.) Opera house, operated In that town by Charles J. Rush for 20 years. Altoona, Pa. Warners spending over $50,000 in remodeling the Strand. Reopens in several weeks as Warner theatre. Sioux City. A knockout punch that "in- fluenced" Frank Charlton, acting manager of the New Orpheum to take the "count" was all that saved an unmasked, unarmed thief who grabbed about $50 in currency from the theatre cashier. Charlton nurs- ing a dark-hued "shiner," while de- tectives were engaged in a fruitless hunt for the thief who escaped after a flst fight with the manager. Charlton was knocked unconsci- ous by the blow from the bandit's flst after he had chased him for half a block and grabbed hold of the bandit's shoulder. Charlton was in the lobby of the theatre at the time of the robbery and was attracted by the cashier's scream. Mobile. Harry Marchand, Publlx local mgr. says the Lyric, pictures, had been clo.sed because of excessive heat and failure of the cooling sys- tem to operate properly. Expect Dawn Patrol'' Action at Lw A^ Openini: Los Angeles, Aiig 6, With ."Dawn Patrol"^ going Into the Orpheum followlnglMxIana,;' It is expected ^that Howard Hughes will attempt \o stop the showing ot the Warner pIcturS. Hughes has already startM suit against War- ners and Its BubsldlaiiM. charging certain infringements 'on "Hell's Angels" and asking tor an Injunc- tion, R-K-O gets, "Dawn l^atrol" oh a prior deal with Warners calling tor four pictures. First t«fo .were "No, No, Nanette" and "Show Girl In Hollywood." Local Orpheum docked tho latter, but straightened the contract out with Warners. Padie Newsreel and Fox Proposed sale ot the Pathe news- reel to Pox stands about the same as It did last week. Negotiations under way for Fox to buy the Pathe sound news have not reached a conclusion. Report ot the po^Ible Fox pur- chase ot the oldest news reel brought a universal opinion from companies handling news reels that there are too many in the field. Adolph DeBerg, Suicide Hollywood, Aug. 5. Wanted by police for Issuing worthless checks, Adolph DeBerg, claiming to bo a picture director, committed suicide In Calexlco, over the line in lower California, yester- day (4). He had announced he would make a Spantoh talker there, using locals and a troupe-from Hol- lywood. DeBerg said he was a field man for Universal. He was unknown to any of the execs at that studio. Danville, III. Ru.s.seli M. Lamb, manager of Sti-eator, III. Paramount - Publlx Murdock's Niece Marrying Hollywood, Aug. 6. J. J. Murdock will remain hero until after the wedding of his niece, Annette Sleeper, to George Tuttle, New York banker, scheduled for early Sept. Murdock will then return to New ■york but plans coming back to the' coast before winter.