[1] The popularity of Bank Night and similar schemes contributed to the resiliency of the film industry during the Great Depression more than any other single business tactic.
The person selected must reach the stage within a set amount of time to claim their prize, usually a few minutes (they would not be required to purchase a ticket to enter the theater).
While not technically requiring any purchase, and thus circumventing the numerous local lottery laws of the time, Bank Night had the effect of drawing people to theaters, many of whom bought tickets anyway.
Although lucrative, the franchise faced scrutiny from state and municipal authorities, who often challenged theaters in court for holding Bank Nights.
The legality of the popular sweepstakes was challenged by a local prosecutor under Ohio's anti-lottery rules after a Keystone Cops-like raid on the theater during a performance.
It is also mentioned in at least two Warner Brothers cartoons directed by Tex Avery: A Day at the Zoo and Thugs with Dirty Mugs (both released in 1939).