Boxoffice-July.01/1950

Blues Get
The Bird
In England as well as the United States, theatremen
are rolling up their sleeves to nurse the boxoifice
back to health. At right, a clever lobby promotion
helped "It's a Great Feeling" for Ken Hall,
at the Savoy Cinema, Wolverhampton, England. A
pet shop offered canaries to patrons who put jigsaw
puzzle, left, together in shortest time. The canaries
and cages were set on a large tree, center,
while above each cage appeared the title of one
of the picture's hit songs. The birds did their share
singing the praises of the film. Hall is holding a
stopwatch on one of the contestants.
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At left, Monty Salmon's
perennial
weather display at
the Rivoli Theatre,
N. Y., gives out-oftowners
a chance to
compare local temperature
with that of
their home town.
Flash iront constructed of bark ballyhoos "Outriders" for
Manager L. F. Register and assistant Ed Hinson at the
Berry Theatre, Hartsville, S. C.
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a J
O. A. Cooper, manager of the La Grange (Ga.) Drive-In, comes up
with a couple of ideas for promoting more patronage. At left, a
highway marker, one of many which will soon direct motorists to
the theatre, and right, concession truck wrhich Cooper personally lettered
in Glow-bead paint to let the public know that Movies Are
Belter Than Ever. The paint is luminous and copy is readable aiter
dark as well as during daylight hours. Cooper believes continual
plugging wins new patrons.
When Raleigh, N. C, played host to world premiere of "Bright Leal,"
the entire city cooperated. Merchants aided a statewide search for
a queen. Two of the window displays are pictured above. Center
photo shows one of scores of beautiful floats which participated in a
gigantic parade proclaiming the opening at the Ambassador Theatre,
Warner Bros, exploiteers and local theatremen did a great job handling
the campaign which paid off with national wire breaks and
extensive radio publicity.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser July 1, 1950 — 229 — 39