Neighborhood theatres conducted many activities beyond simply showing movies. They involved patrons in amateur nights, beauty contests, radio shows, and even cooking classes. During both World Wars they held bond sales as well as organized drives for rubber, metal, paper, and other raw materials. In the Depression, when a third of all movie theatres in the country closed, they attracted patrons through giveaways that included everything from dishes, fur coats, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners. The announcement shown here from 1931 in the middle of the Depression is an attempt to collect food for families in need. A single, non-perishable item will be accepted in lieu of a ticket.