PLAN No. 569. MOTION-PICTURE ADVERTISING
An advertising man in a western city successfully carried out a plan of advertising in the motion picture theaters of his own and thirty of the surrounding towns, and found it a profitable business.
He arranged with the managers of all these houses for a certain amount of advertising matter to be thrown upon their screens once each week for a year, at a figure which was very low. They were also to show motion pictures of the various departments of the manufacturers who were his regular advertisers, with attractive mottoes designed to encourage the patronizing of home industries. These were highly educational to each community.
He then made advertising contracts with a large number of merchants, manufacturers and others in the various towns for space on the screens, at rates that netted him a profit of 300 or 400 per cent, and in addition agreed to supply his advertisers free, with all items of a local character which might aid them in securing more business. He subscribed for one paper published in each of these towns, and his free information bureau he conducted with the aid of a girl to cut out and mail these items to such advertisers as might be interested in or benefited by them.
His business proved profitable for all concerned. The theatre managers received good prices for the use of their screens, the advertisers obtained good results and the manager of the business made a profit of better than $4,500 a year.