Boxoffice-April.17.1948

(I
Police Support Plus
Proclamation Aid
'Missing Girls'
Grady Cofer, manager of the Rialto in
Macon, Ga.. exercised his citizenship and
showmanship in behalf of the recent engagement
of "Missing Girls" by persuading Mayor
Lewis Wilson to proclaim Crime Prevention
week.
The mayor and the police chief of Macon
threw their full weight behind the promotion
which netted the picture some worthy publicity.
The Macon Telegraph used a
three-column
cut showing the city officials signing the
proclamation in the presence of Cofer and
other city executives.
The press and radio commentators gave
the stunt plenty of space and news comment.
The police department permitted Cofer to
placard all lamp posts in the city with tiein
copy and the Rialto dates for "Missing Girls."
Bumper strips were used on all police vehicles.
Cofer obtained authentic police files on
missing persons from the local area and displayed
photos and fingerprint charts under
the heading, "Have You Seen These Missing
Persons? If so notify the police."
Cofer distributed several thousand lucky
numbered heralds inviting recepients to check
them against the list of numbers posted in
the theatre lobby. Those whose numbers
matched were given passes.
Dynamite Throwaways
Support 'Timberlane'
To exploit "Cass Timberlane," John Falco.
manager of the Majestic, Beloit, Wis., promoted
the use of a jeep and trailer and
loaded the latter with a huge crate labeled,
"Danger, TNT—Tracy 'n' Turner are Emotional
Dynamite—Saturday at the Majestic,
etc." The vehicles visited factories and office
buildings during the lunch hour. Ushers
passed out novelty giveaways which resembled
a stick of dynamite with theatre imprint,
Uses Umbrella Bally
For street ballyhoo. Bill Reisinger, manager
for Loew's in Dayton, dressed three of
his ushers in girl's clothes and had them
walk around town carrying large umbrellas
imprinted, "Three Daring Daughters, etc."
'Swordsman' Shadow Box
W. Ray McCormack, manager of the Elco
Theatre, Elkhart, Ind., used a special lobby
display to publicize "The Swordsman." It
included a 40x60 in a light shadow box and
24x82s over the doors, in addition to an exhibit
of stills from the film.
For The
DRIVE-IN THEATRE
Blevins'
Has
Special Profit - Making
Concession
• Popcorn
for
• Snow Cones
Write ior
• Peanuts
Equipment
• Candy Floss
Complete Information
and Catalog
BLEVINS POPCORN CO.,
In Popcorn Village
Nashville, Tenn.
Inc.
3098 Charlotte Ave.
Phones: 7-3272-3-4
In Southeastern Industrial District
650 Murphy Ave., S. W.
Bldg. E, Unit 8 • Atlanta. Ga. • Amherst 7141
First Edition a Sellout! Second Edition in Great Demand
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A Practical Guide to Successful Theatre Operation
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This book will help a manager to
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BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :; April 17, 1948 —455— 41