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Showmanship

The art of showmanship combines a
canny understanding of the audience,
topicality, a little audacity and even
serendipity. If theatre and cinema are
about enhancing the sensory
experience, clever showmanship can
take that experience one notch further.
Here are some examples.

Damn Clever Those Hollywood
Moguls.
In the version of State of the Union
released in Australia in 1946, there is a
scene in which Spencer Tracy and
Katharine Hepburn sit reading a
number of congratulatory telegrams
after a campaign speech by Tracy in his
bid for nomination for President.
Hepburn reads one of the telegrams
in silence. She turns to Tracy and asks,
“Who is Jack Davey?” Tracy whispers
(inaudibly) in her ear. The audience
naturally assumes that he has answered
her question.
The scene was shot several times
with Hepburn saying a different name
each time, each one selected for
audience identification in a specific
overseas market.
* Jack Davey was the king of radio
quiz shows. As a narrator for the
Australian Movietone News, his many
charity stunts also reached a huge
audience.
The telegram scene from State of the Union. Image from The Films of Katharine
This example was sent in by
Hepburn by Homer Dickens.
William Gray of North Parramatta.
Scent of a Woman Here Endeth the Lesson You’ll Never Know….
During the long run of South Pacific In the Ten Commandments, Cecil B. The premiere of South Pacific at the
at the Esquire Bourke Street, Manager DeMille played up the scene from Esquire Melbourne was a big night for
Gil Whelan and his team became expert Exodus 3:14 in which Moses, dubious Hoyts. George Griffith, a stickler for
perfume dispensers. Using hibiscus about his ability to continue to lead his presentation, was in the audience with a
concentrate supplied by a chemical countrymen, asks God for more group of VIPs. All went well until the
company, a diluted mixture was poured information. closing moments.
into the plenum air intake chamber at At the Dendy Brighton, manager Manager Gil Whelan watched with
the moment John Kerr sets eyes on Robert Ward and projectionist Don a sinking heart as the house lights came
Liat, daughter of Bloody Mary, who Kennedy had an idea about how to play up but the new curtains were not
wants him for a son-in law. The effect it up too. closing. They had jammed, leaving the
was momentary, the ventilation system Running a wire from the projection screen exposed and blank.
quickly expelled any scent. room, Don fitted a large speaker into “I’m in for it now,” he thought. As
The idea was the brain-child of the lighting trough along the spine of he walked across to the dignitaries to
Hoyts Southern Supervisor and the ceiling. At the moment Moses escort them out, Griffith turned to him
consumate showman, George Griffith. asked his question, Don flicked a and said, “Whelan, that was a good idea
It became an established part of the switch and the thunderous reply, “I AM of yours to give the audience a last
show, repeated at every performance. THAT I AM,” left no doubt in the impression of the size of that screen.” ★
theatre that God was not amused.

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