Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

2i centre pole, forming the oeiling. TlV3 seats are folding opera chairs. The scene was the finish of the Upside- Down Girl's act at the top of the tent. Her feat of walking upside down sixty feet above the tent floor had just epded. Len Smith's cameras, tilted, upward, caught her as she wound a shapely, black silk-clad leg around a silver rope and glided earthward, still head downward, as the nattily dressed circus band in its neon- trimmed band-stand played a waltz. Attorney Groucho Marx, hired to siive the show ifrom going broke, arrived in the centre of the ring at the same time as the Upside-Down Girl. She aliKhted on Groucno's shoulder, and he canied her out of the scene. On the sidelines, Harpo Marx, in tiger- skin, was too busy entertaining three prett^• girl visitors to watch what was going on. , . ^ Scores of acrobats and clowns loitered behind the cameras. .Seven hundred extras filled the seating sections. In the adjoining tent was another valu- able suggestion for the improvement of the circus. It was the menagerie • tent. The walls, in colour, represented the natural home of wild beasts. The score of cages were concealed, and the animals were viewed through openings in the foliage. Refreshment stands and all other fixtures were chromium. Behind the two big tents was the streamlined Midway. Other tents include dressing tents, the pad-room, where the performing horses were stalled, the midget's tmy house, wardrobe tents, and an emergency hospital. "This is the best answer to be found to what's wrong with the circus," com- mented S. L. Cronin, nine years general manager of a circus and technical autho- rity on the picture. "It is the first thought ever given to beaut if ying the circus and providing comr^rt to the BOY'S CINEMA patrons. And it is one hundred per cent, practical." HOW MELVYN DOUGLAS KEEPS FIT Because movie-making demands intense concentration, most of the "plavers have developed a system for keeping fit ment- ally and physically. Melvyn Douglas believes that this sys- tem might be pixjfitably adopted oy others. He discussed his own rules for keeping fit while resting between scenes of the picture "Good Girls Go To Pa:ris." They are: 1. Don't take \our.self loo seriously. The pompous man doesn't get the co-operation needed by both movie star and business executive. .2. Don't kid .\nurself. Check up on your mirrored reflection. It does not lie. Every important happening in a man's life leaves its tracery on his face. 3. Develop a sense ol humour. E\ery- thing has a lighter side. Laughj^r means relaxation. 4. Get regular exercise. Physical con- dition is as important to actors or busi- ness men as to athletes. Actors must not change appearance during the course of a picture. It may require months to make, but it is represented by about eighty minutes on the screen. 5. Don't over-indulge. Excess means slowing down. Actor or business man, neither can slacken pace. It is better to stay ahead of the game. " 6. Don't relax by proxy. When a man goes to bed, he should erase work and worry from his consciousness. Sleep is imperative. 7. Don't try to do everything. Work is judged by quality, not quantity. 8. Look ahead. An actor or business- man is only as good as his '.a.st picture or ■ , Every Tuesday^ 3ob, tout sliould be better in his next,- It's tl\e future that counts. 9. Don't worry. It's futile, makes a man nervous, ' and nerves take their toll in weariness. .. 10. Know your job. Continuous study of a profession reflects in accomplishraent. When a job's well done the first time, there's no need for 're-takes."' DOG DAYS A small whippet has been having the time of its life around the Twickenham film studios. He was specially brought from Wales to play a small part in "The Stars Look Down." the Grafton film for Grand National release, which is now in production. The dog in the film is thp property of. Ben Williams, who plays the part of a miner who loses hi_^ life in a mine disaster. The dog is with him all through the pic- ture, and to get the actor and the dog to know each other, the studio decided that the animal shovild be brought to the studio a few weeks before he was actually to be used. Then the great dav arrived. The animal took to Ben Williams at the very first introduction. Ben Williams insists that this is because they both come from the same part of Wales. Williams talked to the dog in Welsli. Instead of scaring the animal, the dog seemed to like it. Now the studio hands say tliat this is the real reason for the friendship. Whippets, however, are scarce in London. The property departmem searched all over London for a dog suit- able for the picture, but finally had to send to Wales. But the canine actor will not have to go all the way back there, for Williams nas taken such a liking lo the dog that he insists on buying the animal and keeping him. B.C.35. I'riiidil ill Eiiwlaiiil unci pulilishi-d fviry Tucsd.iv hy tin' I'ldprUtor.-t. Tiir ,V,m\i.(i.\m \tkii I'm.ss, I.ti>., J'ljr Klcot way Udiisc. I'airiiiKdoii SlriM-t. Loixii.'ii, lO.C. 1. Advcrtiscmi'iit Olliccs : The Klei-twiy JIoum , ViiiTiiiKdou Strert, J.ntidon, K.(:'..4. Suhsffiptjou l!iitc,s : JtJand ujid Aluoad ;.n.'- pir anuiim r .'vH for nix tiiontliK. Sole ARcnts for Aiislriiliii ami >>w Ziiildiid : Mc.ssrs. Gordon & liotth, Lt<l. ; and i(ir.,Suutb Afri<u : Ccntnil ^^■^vs Agiwy, Ltd. JJufilstortd for trari?- Oclo'iiT 1 till, ItKiy. i!ii'^;ii>ii to Ciiu;id;i at Magazine Itiitv*. B.h. J