1l

Disk Jockey Watches
Junior as Parents
View 'Pretty'
NUGGETS
Frank Nolan, manager of the Bacyrus Theatre,
Bacyrus, Ohio, has completed a tieup
with the radio station at Marion, Ohio, for
a 13-week series of amateur shows to be
presented from the theatre stage. Three
merchants are sponsoring the shows and will
pay all costs including $30 a week for cash
prizes, advertising, etc.
Ballyhoo and Radio
Plus Windows Sell
Laugh Program
Ben Geary, manager of the Athena Theatre,
Athens, Ohio, tied up with a local
grocer to award a free bicycle at a Saturday
matinee. The merchant paid for the bicycle,
coupons and all advertising.
Harold Murphy, manager of the Egyptian
Theatre in Seattle, had his usherettes wear
large brass cui'tain earrings to publicize
"Golden Earrings."
Like many American sliowmen, Jack Randall,
manager of the Strand in Vancouver,
B. C, knows that when a good picture comes
along, it is important to get behind it with
good exploitation.
"Sitting Pretty" was made to order for
the Canadian theatreman and he knew just
how to go about getting the picture ballyhooed
to a fare-thee-well.
Randall tied up with Jack Cullen, disk
jockey for the CKMO owl program. Cullen
invited listeners to send him letters telling
why they thought he would make a good
baby sitter. The contest ran a week prior
to the opening of the picture. Best letter
received each day was read over the air
and
the contributor was awarded a pass.
On opening night the grand winner of the
radio contest was given taxi service to the
theatre, free admission and a dinner with
her spouse at a popular restam-ant. While
the couple thus was enjoying an evening out,
Cullen pinch-hit as the baby sitter while his
program was broadcast by remote control
from the couple's home.
The newspaper went along with the stimt.
Large newspaper ads and radio spot announcements
on CKWX, CJOR and CKMO
were part of the regular advertising campaign.
Of COURSE
mm.
HEAVEN"
sent from UA
Jack E. Bizzel, manager of the Gem and
Rodgers theatres in Caruthersville, Mo., promoted
his local florists for orchids, which
were presented to the oldest and youngest
mothers in the audience as a Mother's day
gesture. Bizzel reports that comments on this
stunt were gratifying and won sincere reaction
from his patrons.
Fred Greenway, manager of the Poll Palace
in Hartford, gave free carnations to the first
200 mothers who attended on Mother's day.
Downtown florists provided the carnations in
exchange for a lobby credit.
In Spokane, Wash., James O'Connell, manager
of the State Theatre, helped to arouse
advance interest in "I Love Trouble" by
screening the film for members of the police
detective bureau. The picture was stopped
just before the climax was reached and the
audience queried on "whodunit?"
Kids Get School Holiday
To See 'Gone With Wind'
Ken Charlebois, manager of the Hurlock
Theatre, Hurlock, Md., really connected with
a special promotion for "Gone With the
Wind" by selling school officials on the
film's historical background.
He set a weekday engagement of the show
in the morning, then contacted school officials
and asked them to declare a holiday
so the kids could attend. Authorities decided
this would be okay if transportation
could be provided. Charlebois got in touch
with the school bus drivers, squared them
and was all set.
The theatre cashier called about 30 persons
each day for a week in advance to infonn
them of the special morning show and
this brought many extra patrons to the
theatre.
Hartford Times Stages
'Iron Curtain' Contest
In promoting "The Iron Curtain," Fred
Greenway, manager of the Poll Palace, Hartford,
set up a contest in the Hartford Times
asking readers to guess how many pictures
Gene Tierney has appeared in. Passes were
awarded to winners.
An all-laugh program consisting of "Argentine
Nights" and "Hellzapoppin" at the
Esquire in Toledo was well exploited by Manager
Frank Manente.
Entrance doors leading to the lobby were
painted in colors and decorated with stills
from the show, well in advance. An attractive
display was built against the mirrors of
the main lounge and an automatic record
player entertained patrons with song hits by
the Andrews Sisters.
Newspaper ads in the Toledo Blade, the
Times. Jewish Times, Union Leader, Campus
Collegian. Town Topic and American Echo
were supplemented by readers and art breaks.
Radio station WTOD featured Andrews
Sisters records for seven consecutive days on
thi-ee important shows with theatre credits.
A contest also helped to promote the show.
Paper bags were promoted from a local
nut shop with imprint calling attention to
the "nutty" Esquire program. Each bag contained
a few nuts which were distributed to
pedestrians on the streets.
Manente scored window tieups with leading
department stores, the five and dime shops
and music and record vendors. For outdoor
ballyhoo, a boy dressed in an antique new
look walked the streets with a sign announcing.
"If you think 'I'm Crazy,' wait
till you see, etc., etc."
Pet Show Given on Stage
With 'The Tender Years'
James Leslie, assistant manager of the Orpheum.
Spokane, Wash., staged a pet show
in conjunction with "The Tender Years,"
which was successful from two angles, point
of sales volume and public relations.
Leslie promoted a cocker spaniel for a giveaway
and many other prizes from neighborhood
merchants. Judging was based on appearance.
Intelligence and personality of the
pets.
The contest was held on stage in conjunction
with the Saturday morning show. The
spaniel awarded as first prize was used as a
street ballyhoo for a week in advance.
44 —532— BOXOFFICE ShowmandiBor :: June 5, 1948