new Tarzan film. In other publicity stunts, Reichenbach would stage fake kidnappings of actresses set to appear in his films. One attempt involved crossing the border into Mexico, which resulted in United States president Woodrow Wilson writing an angry letter to Reichenbach asking him to stop. One of the actors Reichenbach worked for was Rudolf Valentino. Reichenbach convinced him to grow a goatee beard upon his return to the United States in 1924, with the intention of causing a negative public reaction which could be made good by shaving it off. Reichenbach then spoke at the Associated Master Barbers convention, calling for a boycott of Valentino films until he removed his beard. The story ran for months in American newspapers. 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. Many people followed them, picking up the coins. 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 who had eloped with an American soldier. Reichenbach leaked the details to the press. His 1931 book, Phantom Fame, written with David Freedman, was the basis of the 1932 film The Half-Naked Truth. Harry Reichenbach died July 4, 1931. References Harry Reichenbach (1931), Phantom Fame, Simon & Schuster. Evan V. Symon (June 26, 2011) http://www.cracked.com/article_19275_the-6-most-wildly-irresponsible-publicity-stunts-in-history_p2.html Cracked.com Notes External links 1882 births 1931 deaths American public relations people Public relations pioneers Lists of practical jokes