What's New? (Jan 1953)

Page 11 NEWMAN TIES UP TCA FOR TRINIDAD PICTURE Eddie Newman may not have been able to work an all-expense trip for himself to Trinidad with Trans-Canada Airlines, but he did work out a nice piece of promotion on “Affair In Trinidad” for its engagement at the Metropolitan theatre, Winnipeg. Eye-catching was his lobbydisplay of native steel instruments, model band and Anthurium Lilies, all flown from Trinidad by TCA. As well as these, special recordings were brought in to be played in the entrance lobby with a card of explanation. So unusual were these recordings, that Eddie arranged with a local disc-jockey to play them for the whole week of the engagement with the usual plugs or the picture. TCA also placed counter cards at its offices and at the airport. A nice plug was also garnered from a local church as Eddie loaned the lilies over a week-end to the church. The church was celebrating an anniversary, and theatre and attraction received a plug before a large crowd. But, Eddie writes, no mention was made of Rita Hayworth. THEATRE TICKET PLUGS Earl Scandrett of the Royal theatre, Woodstock, has run a special advertisement in his local paper to plug the sale of theatre gift tickets. The paper in turn is running a Christmas contest, making the announcement on the reverse side of Earl’s ad. Earl says that he figures that the page will be kept around the house until Dec. 19th when the contest closes, and feels that the half-page advertisement he took, was well worth the expense. Harvey Too! Bob Harvey of the Capitol theatre, North Bay, Ont., has always had the reputation for getting behind the sale of gift book tickets. A special display was created by him to plug the “Fall Jubilee of Hits” to tie in with the tickets. Then there is very attractive display on a background of plaid with copy: “Hoot Mon! Don’t get caught napping, have your Famous Players Theatre Tickets handy for our dandy coming attractions. Hye Laddie it’s good entertainment coming your way!” The card is surrounded with 11 by 14’s from the coming pictures. Bob also obtained picture space in the North Bay Nugget showing his staff, and plugging the tickets. Bob dressed his candy bar as well for the sale of the tickets. Keep after them Bob! Meet Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Crawford—honeymooners! The Crawfords were married just before the regional meeting in Winnipeg. Ralph attended the sessions at the Fort Garry Hotel. He ran the Golden West Drive In during the summer and is now at the Orpheum theatre, Moose Jaw. Congratulations to the newlyweds! WEEK IN LIFE OF BUSY MANAGER A copy of a letter from Murray Lynch to his Bob Roddick has come into our hands, and his last paragraph catches our eye, because we think it is typical of a guy like Murray. After detailing 14 different things he did to promote business at the theatre in supervisor one week, Murray closes with: “J am sorry I have not more to offer but with five sets of reserved seats going at once and being open for them from noon till 11 o’clock we find time at a premium.” Murray is a go-getter. Some of the items he looks after in any one week includes arrangement of a United Nations Anniversary display in his lobby and placement of a photo in the local paper; extra window to set up advertising the cartoon morning show (the corner by the way, sees traffic from three of the public schools); two special lobby display boards made up and any number of a dozen things that every one of our managers in the Famous Family do each week. Life in the week of a manager! SPACE-GRABBER LYNCH CAUGHT AT IT AGAIN! That indomitable space-grabber, Murray Lynch, of the Paramount theatre, Moncton, N.B., is in the papers again, and with the darndest angles too. Take, for his recent tie-ups for United Nations’ Day celebrations. One Moncton paper printed a story about the celebrafor United Nations, and midway in the story is a plug for It tells how the Boy Scouts organization in the city is stressing the importance of the UN to youth with a large display in the lobby of the theatre. It doesn’t stop there, but goes on to tell chat Murray’s current film, “One Minute to Zero,” is also in tune with the times, since it is based on the adventures of a young American UN worker. On the same page is a brief item about Murray being in Niagara Falls for the Eastern Conference. instance, tions the Paramount theatre. The other Moncton paper did right by Murray too, as they printed a three-column picture of a group of boy scouts looking over their display in the Paramount theatre. PAUL APPEALS TO PRIDE IN SEEKING BLOOD DONORS If you happen to run across Paul Turnbull, of the Granada, Hamilton, one of these days, and you think he looks a little pale, then blame it on one of his promotion schemes, and take a tip too. Paul arranged for the attendance at the theatre of two young ladies from the Red Cross, both dressed in uniform, together with “Appeal for Blood Donors’ signs. During the stage presentation for FotoNite, Paul made a public appeal for the great need of blood, especially for the Thanksgiving week-end, emphasizing that the supply of blood in Hamilton was limited. He pointed out that the Hamilton Red Cross provides free~ blood transfusions. He then announced that the first 20 persons to sign for a blood donation then and there would receive a free admission to the theatre. Some 25 persons responded to Paul’s appeal. So happy was Paul with the response that he too signed up! WEATHER HELPS STUNT An umbrella stunt used by Harry Wilson to promote “Singin’ In The Rain” turned out more effective than he had hoped. Two of the days that the boys were sent out with the umbrellas, it really rained. As a result the umbrellas were used to assist people on the street— even to keeping a policeman on one of the busiest corners of Chatham protected from the rain. But Harry didn’t restrict himself to this one stunt, as he obtained a full-page co-operative page in the Chatham paper for the picture. So successful was a Saturday morning cartoon show Harry Wilson held at the Capitol, Chatham, that he had to promise the kids another show. One of the ways Harry used to sell the show was to have someone dressed in a Bugs Bunny costume to get out to the schools and give out heralds. To the question of “What’s doing, Doc?” we think Harry might reply: “Business is good.” KIDS’ EYES POP AT SWORD DISPLAY Jack Ward of the Seneca theatre, Niagara Falls, says he made the kids’ eyes pop when he put up a display for ‘At Sword’s Point.” A picture from him, tells why. Included in his shadow-box for the picture were three mean-looking swords along with the 11 by 14’s. His copy read: ‘At the point of the Swords are the three stars of the thrilling feature...” Se Se