From Deseret News archives:

Utahns swoop in on treasures

'Joker' bowling ball is part of online contest for upcoming Batman movie

Published: Monday, April 7, 2008 12:18 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Holy bowling balls, Batman!

Holladay resident Sean Leslie and his friends were among 28 people around the world to score some loot in an online treasure hunt centered on the new movie "The Dark Knight." And there is apparently promise of more as they anticipate further instructions in the ongoing contest.

Right now Leslie has a Joker-colored bowling ball (that would be green and purple) imprinted with the code word "Sassypants," a joker playing card, a cell phone and a telephone number.

"It's like a Golden Ticket," said Leslie, a graphic designer. "We were just ecstatic."

Leslie, 31, a self-described comic book geek who has seen all the Batman movies, knew from following superhero gossip Web sites that some sort of contest was in the works before "The Dark Knight" premieres in July.

Sitting at his computer Tuesday awaiting cyber clues at a site called Clown Travel Agency, Leslie directed his uncaped but crusading buddies to Ritz Classic Lanes, 2280 S. State, where they found the items in a locker.

Story continues below
Where it all leads, Leslie doesn't know. And though the treasure hunt took place on April Fools' Day, it isn't clear if it's the work of a wily Warner Bros. promotions team or a crafty Internet joker. Maybe it's The Joker. Whatever the source, Leslie and his friends are having a ball and hoping for a bigger reward at the end of the line.

Bowling balls were stashed in bowling alleys in 23 U.S. cities in addition to sites in London, Paris, Hong Kong and Sao Paulo as part of the viral marketing campaign.

"It's just cool that Salt Lake was picked among those 28 places," said Leslie, a graphic designer. "There wasn't that many balls to begin with. Being one of the 28 was just awesome."

And so the Batman tale begins. Or does it return? Maybe it goes on forever.


E-mail: romboy@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Morning Newsjeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Morning News

Sean Leslie, left, and Pete Harrison found Joker-colored bowling ball in a Salt Lake bowling alley as part of online promotion for "The Dark Knight."

previousnext

Latest comments

finally a letter about this issue I can get behind, no ya but they did it...

These concerned residents obviously have no idea what a blessing it would be...

Phoenix signs off on LDS temple

They shouldn't make the building short and squatty by digging ten feet down....

The marginal tax rate kicks in after the $3.5 million. Thus, if you have an...

In China they have been enjoying enormous growth with something called...

Aggie 'D' holds BYU to season low

Comments like your's are an embarassment to us true Aggie fans. You criticize...

2 citations issued at Y.-U. game

You might also lose. Nothing in college football is a sure thing.

Editorial: Buy local this Christmas

Wow. The big reason for the great depression, not to mention our current...

Letters: Liberal because LDS

people are the poor. They give more as a percentage of "income" than...

I think Rivalries are a good thing they bring more to the Game. I do not...

Advertisements