Harry Reichenbach
Encyclopedia
Harry Reichenbach was a US
press agent
and publicist
who dreamed up sensational publicity stunt
s to promote films. He worked both for actors, as an agent, and for the studios as a promoter.
Among his first jobs was to promote a woman called "Sober Sue" who never smiled. He got her a contract at the Victoria Theater
on Broadway
and made them offer $1000 to any New York comedian who could make her laugh. Actually, the woman had Mobius syndrome
—i.e. paralyzed face muscles—so she was incapable of laughter
.
Later Reichenbach founded his own public relations company. Looking for new customers he noticed lithograph of Paul Chabas' September Morn, a modest nude painting, in an art store window. He made a deal with the storeowner who had not sold any of his 2000 prints. Next he incited interest of moralist crusader Anthony Comstock
and took him to see the store window. Reichenbach had also hired a couple of boys to "ogle" the picture so the Comstock would be suitably outraged. Comstock's Anti-Vice Society took the case to the court and lost. However, the case aroused lots of interest to the painting, which sold out on the art store and several million prints more. Reichenbach made $200 from his deal with the art store. The original of the September Morn is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
.
Reichenbach promoted the first Tarzan
movie in 1918 with setting loose apes and lions in hotels in New York. To promote the sequel the Return of Tarzan, Reichenbach hired an actor who checked into the Hotel Bellclaire with a name Thomas R. Zann. Zann had a huge crate that was hoisted to his room through a window. Then he ordered fifteen pounds of raw beef. When the cook and the hotel detective
arrived, they saw that the meat was for the guest's pet lion. Hotel called for police and the "Mr Zann" explained to them and the press that he was a huge Tarzan fan.
One of the actors Reichenbach worked for was Rudolf Valentino. Reichenbach convinced him to grow beard to cause a bad reaction that was followed by a good one when he "agreed" to shave it.
For the 1915 film Trilby, which included nude scenes and hypnotism
, Reichenbach hired a young woman to run several times around the block and take a seat besides him just before the movie ended. She looked agitated and exhausted and Reichenbach hinted that the hypnosis scenes in the movie might have something to do with it. He also arranged that various psychologists would speculate on possible effects of hypnosis through cinema.
In 1928 Reichenbach was managing the Colony Theater in New York City and took Walt Disney
's animated film Steamboat Willie for a two-week run.
When Reichenbach was working for actor Francis X. Bushman
, he took him to see studio executives. He began to walk with Bushman from the railway station and dropped pennies to the street from his pocket. Lots of people followed them, picking up the coins and following them. The crowd gave the studio executives an impression that Bushman was very popular and they signed him up for a big contract with Metro Pictures
.
For The Virgin of Stamboul
, he hired actors to pose as a clandestine Turkish rescue party that was hunting for a royal bride that had eloped with an American soldier. Reichenbach leaked the details to the press.
Harry Reichenbach died July 4, 1931.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
press agent
Press agent
A press agent, or flack, is a professional publicist who acts on behalf of his or her client on all matters involving public relations. Press agents are typically employed by public personalities and organizations such as performers and businesses...
and publicist
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
who dreamed up sensational publicity stunt
Publicity stunt
A publicity stunt is a planned event designed to attract the public's attention to the event's organizers or their cause. Publicity stunts can be professionally organized or set up by amateurs...
s to promote films. He worked both for actors, as an agent, and for the studios as a promoter.
Among his first jobs was to promote a woman called "Sober Sue" who never smiled. He got her a contract at the Victoria Theater
Victoria Theater (New York City)
Located on 125th Street in Harlem, New York City, the Victoria Theater was designed in 1917 by Thomas W. Lamb, a notable and prolific theater architect of the era, for the Loew’s Corporation....
on Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
and made them offer $1000 to any New York comedian who could make her laugh. Actually, the woman had Mobius syndrome
Mobius syndrome
Möbius syndrome is an extremely rare congenital neurological disorder which is characterized by facial paralysis and the inability to move the eyes from side to side. Most people with Möbius syndrome are born with complete facial paralysis and cannot close their eyes or form facial expressions...
—i.e. paralyzed face muscles—so she was incapable of laughter
Laughter
Laughing is a reaction to certain stimuli, fundamentally stress, which serves as an emotional balancing mechanism. Traditionally, it is considered a visual expression of happiness, or an inward feeling of joy. It may ensue from hearing a joke, being tickled, or other stimuli...
.
Later Reichenbach founded his own public relations company. Looking for new customers he noticed lithograph of Paul Chabas' September Morn, a modest nude painting, in an art store window. He made a deal with the storeowner who had not sold any of his 2000 prints. Next he incited interest of moralist crusader Anthony Comstock
Anthony Comstock
Anthony Comstock was a United States Postal Inspector and politician dedicated to ideas of Victorian morality.-Biography:...
and took him to see the store window. Reichenbach had also hired a couple of boys to "ogle" the picture so the Comstock would be suitably outraged. Comstock's Anti-Vice Society took the case to the court and lost. However, the case aroused lots of interest to the painting, which sold out on the art store and several million prints more. Reichenbach made $200 from his deal with the art store. The original of the September Morn is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
.
Reichenbach promoted the first Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
movie in 1918 with setting loose apes and lions in hotels in New York. To promote the sequel the Return of Tarzan, Reichenbach hired an actor who checked into the Hotel Bellclaire with a name Thomas R. Zann. Zann had a huge crate that was hoisted to his room through a window. Then he ordered fifteen pounds of raw beef. When the cook and the hotel detective
Hotel Detective
A hotel detective is a security guard employed by a hotel. Hotel detectives feature prominently in certain noir fiction, especially in the works of Raymond Chandler, and are sometimes referred to as "House Dicks"...
arrived, they saw that the meat was for the guest's pet lion. Hotel called for police and the "Mr Zann" explained to them and the press that he was a huge Tarzan fan.
One of the actors Reichenbach worked for was Rudolf Valentino. Reichenbach convinced him to grow beard to cause a bad reaction that was followed by a good one when he "agreed" to shave it.
For the 1915 film Trilby, which included nude scenes and hypnotism
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
, Reichenbach hired a young woman to run several times around the block and take a seat besides him just before the movie ended. She looked agitated and exhausted and Reichenbach hinted that the hypnosis scenes in the movie might have something to do with it. He also arranged that various psychologists would speculate on possible effects of hypnosis through cinema.
In 1928 Reichenbach was managing the Colony Theater in New York City and took Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
's animated film Steamboat Willie for a two-week run.
When Reichenbach was working for actor Francis X. Bushman
Francis X. Bushman
Francis Xavier Bushman was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. His matinee idol career started in 1911 in the silent film His Friend's Wife, but it did not survive the silent screen era....
, he took him to see studio executives. He began to walk with Bushman from the railway station and dropped pennies to the street from his pocket. Lots of people followed them, picking up the coins and following them. The crowd gave the studio executives an impression that Bushman was very popular and they signed him up for a big contract with Metro Pictures
Metro Pictures
Metro Pictures Corporation was an American motion picture production company founded in late 1915 by Richard A. Rowland . Louis B. Mayer who worked for Metro Pictures Corporation early on. It is not to be confused with MGM which is a much later franchise concerning itself, Goldwyn and Louis B....
.
For The Virgin of Stamboul
The Virgin of Stamboul
The Virgin of Stamboul is a 1920 drama film directed by Tod Browning and starring husband and wife team Priscilla Dean and Wheeler Oakman and featuring Wallace Beery in a supporting role.-Cast:* Priscilla Dean - Sari...
, he hired actors to pose as a clandestine Turkish rescue party that was hunting for a royal bride that had eloped with an American soldier. Reichenbach leaked the details to the press.
Harry Reichenbach died July 4, 1931.