The Making of a Box-office Buckaroo

PHOTOS - COMICS - GIVE-A-WAYS

Joe E. Brown's studio: Stardust Western Films went all the way with expoitation; Star Photos, a Comic Book, Pinback Buttons, and Posters to sell their new Action Star to the movie going public.

All the kids in your town will be glad to own these colorful pin backs of "The Master of the Bullwhip". A studio memo to theatre mangers said. These pin backs are 1, and 1/4 inches in diameter and make very flashy give-a-ways. They are certain to fill your theatre the day you pass them out. The price is only $1.50 per one hundred. We also have special postcard size autographed photos 3 1/2, X 5 1/2, available at $7.75 per thousand. This is an effective selling card which can be used as a mailing piece or for theatre give-a-way purposes. By placing your ad message on it you will be assured that it will act as a constant reminder that; the new king of the rawhide, will soon be showing at your theatre.

COMICS

COMIC BOOKS: StarDust Western Films, hared artist to create a Joe E. Brown Western Comic, to promote their new star, but sold out after the first one was published. Then Six-Gun Publications took over publishing and printed eight more issues.

[Today, these comics are very rear, when one is found, you can bet the going price is very high, although a limited number of reproductions of all the covers have been printed and sold as collectables.]

The first comic was pushed as a give-a-way. The other eight were sold on the comic racks.

A JOE E. BROWN FAN CLUB!

There was a Joe E. Brown Fan Club, with a pocket ID, an 8 1/2 X 11 inch wall certificate, plus a 8 x 10 photo. For just fifty cents, a young fan club member could send away for a 11 x 14 inch autographed picture to hang on his or her bedroom wall.

A STUDIO BIOGRAPHY

Hollywood created a highly fictional four page bio for Brown, the same way they had done for so many other actors. Many claims were made about him. Some were true, some were debatable, and some were downright false. . . Most of the false ones were fabricated by the studio to make their new star appear to be a macho, authentic western hero.

There were Official Joe E. Brown, "T" Shirts, Whips, and other items. Even a Gun and Hoster Set, made with real leather. . .

One would think by the studio publicity and promotion that a super-star not a western star was in the making!

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