Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 48 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW May 6, 1939 IN TME MCM Having done almost one hundred westerns, Jack Perrin gets his first chance at a dramatic role in the latest of John Nesbitt's Passing Parade Series. Entitled "PennyAnte Racketeers", the short, which is the sixth in the series, is now in production under the direction of Basil Wrangel. Currently in work under the direction of Frank Zinneman is "Help Wanted", the latest of the Crime Does Not Pay series. "One Against the World", the seventh of the Passing Parade Series, will go into production next week. Jacques Tourneur will direct and Jack Chertok will produce. Paramount In "Paramount Presents Hoagy Carmichael" the ace composer not only appears in this informal subject but also aids in putting over six of his hit tunes. In this musical short, which features Jack Teagarden and his orchestra, Meredith Blake introduces Carmichael's latest composition "That's Right, I'm Wrong". This is followed by unusual pictorial background shots interspersed with musical renditions by Carmichael of his following hit tunes; "Washboard", "Lazybones", "Small Fry", "Rockin' Chair" and the immortal "Stardust". culed and called a fool when he made known his idea. Jan LeMan, well known in Europe for his documentary films, is writing and directing the series, and Hugh McCoilum will supervise their production. Buster Keaton's first comedy under a new contract will be called, "A Pest From The West". Lorna Gray plays the feminine lead, and Jules White produces and directs. "Static In The Attic" is the title of the Walter Catlett comedy in which Ann Doran, Forbes Murray, Tommy Bond, Beatrice Blinn and John Tyrrell comprise the supporting cast. Charley Chase directed. The Three Stooges' comedy of the oil wells, directed and produced by Jules White, has been titled, "Oily To Bed, Oily To Rise", and Charley Chase's adventures as a school teacher in a hillbilly section will be released as "Teacher's Pest", Del Lord directed the last named, and Chase and Hugh McCollum co-produced. San Francisco's World's Fair was the setting for a Columbia Tours one-reel subject completed last week. Accompanied by Arthur Seid, cutter, and Frank Good, cameraman Hugh McCollum spent a week at the Bay City's famous Treasure Island, filming the most popular points of interest. The entire reel was shot in Cinecolor, the fair's color and beauty being captured with true fidelit5^ Vitaphone Leon Schlesinger has renewed his contract for the 1939-40 season, and will produce 42 cartoons, 15 of which are already in work. Schlesinger will deliver 26 Merrie Melodies, 16 Looney Tunes and a special patriotic cartoon. Columbia Elias Howe, inventor of the sewing machine, will be the subject of the first onereel historical short in the series titled, "Fools Who Made History". There will be six in number, each dealing with a great humanitarian and benefactor who was ridi Local Boy Makes Good When Terry McCary discovered that the short subject, "The Champagne Music of Lawrence Welk", featured a band leader who had been a favorite in Corsicana, Texas, some years ago, he proceeded to sell him as a local boy making good, to the delight of the Corsicanians who left their knitting to march down to the Palace Theatre to see him on the screen. . . NEWSREEL SYNOPSES . . (Released Saturday, May 6) PARAMOUNT (No. 79)— Italian Libyan troops reviewed by Goering; Party for '69ers at Council Bluffs, la.; New Crosley midget auto; British royalty prepares for U. S. trip; Mrs. Roosevelt chooses her wardrobe for English visitors; Cubs vs. White Sox; Babe Ruth teaches Softball; Gehrig ends consecutive games record; Japan Day at San Francisco Fair; Scandinavian royalty at N. Y. Fair; Amusement center opens at N. Y. Fair. MOVIETONE (Vol. 21, No. 68)— Italian Libyan troops reviewed by Goering; Commemorate Washington's inauguration in New York; New air depot dedicated at Sacramento, Calif. ; Daredevil at N. Y. World's Fair: British royalty prepares for U. S. trip; Don Budge crovmed as all-round sportsman at N. Y. Fair; Sen. Capper, Sen. Lundeen give views on neutrality; Aviation fashions; Lew Lehr's monkey island at N. Y. Fair; Cubs vs. White Sox; Outboard motor boat race; Horse race at Sydney, Australia. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 11, No. 768)— Apple festival at Wenatchee, Wash.; British royalty prepares for U. S. trip; Norwegian prince visits U. S. S. Tennessee; May Day in Mexico; New road in Indo-China; Fire at Manchester, England; New mercury lamp; New Crosley auto; Japan Day at San Francisco Fair; Gehrig ends consecutive games record; Babe Ruth teaches Softball; Stratton baseball game; Amusement center opens at N. Y. Fair. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 10, No. 264)— Dutch dig defenses; Italian Libyan troops reviewed by Goering; Gas fear grips Paris nurseries; Lionel Barrymore feted on birthday; Thrills feature N. Y. Fair; Japan Day at San Francisco Fair; Elliott Roosevelt leads Gainesville, Texas, circus parade; Apple blossom festival at Wenatchee, Wash.; Mrs. Roosevelt chooses her wardrobe for English visitors; British royalty prepares for U. S. trip ; Sweden's king still agile at 81 ; Speedboat race at Long Beach, Calif. PATHE (Vol. 10, No. 83)— U. S. Chamber of Com merce; Snow surveyors in Wash, state; Dewey receives Newman award; New Crosley auto; Pet monkey show in Calif.; New mercury light; Columbia-Navy boat ('Released Wednesday, May 3) PARAMOUNT (No. 78)— All roads lead to N. Y. World's Fair; Norwegian royalty visits Fair; United States fleet arrives; Opening of the Fair; Official dedication by President Roosevelt; Inauguration of First President re-enacted in Constitution Mall; Lighting of the Fair at nijht. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 10, No. 265)— President Roosevelt opens World's Fair; United States fleet arrives; Ambassador Kennedy voices peace hope overseas; Italian reinforcements for Albania (except Washington); Moscow-America flyers hailed; Apple Blossom festival at Winchester, Va. (Washington only); Pitt wins in Penn Relay _ carnival ; Johnstown wins Wood Memorial turf classic. MOVIETONE (Vol. 21, No. 67 )— President Roosevelt opens World's Fair; Soviet airmen crash in Canada; Victor Emmanuel becomes monarch of Albania; Train wreck at Pittsburgh; Norwegian royalty visits World's Fair; Ambassador Kennedy gives views on world crisis; Johnstown wins Wood Memorial turf classic; Pitt wins in Penn Relay carnival; Drake Relay games at Des Moines; Lew Lehr and his koalas from Australia. PATHE (Vol. 10, No. 82)— World's Fair opens; Soviet flight ends in Canada crash; New York fetes Norwegian royalty; Italv's King Victor Emmanuel given Albanian crown; Pitt wins in Penn Relay carnival. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 11, No. 767)— F.D.R. opens N. Y. World's Fair before 600,000; United States fleet arrives; Russian flyers forced down in Canada; New York fetes Norwegian royalty; Mrs. Lindbergh arrives in U. S. ; Pitt wins in Penn Relay carnival; Johnstown wins Wood Memorial turf classic. Fashion Reel Up in Lights The Roxy Theatre, Nezv York, thought enough of Producer Truman Talley's one-reel Technicolor short, "Fashion Forecast _ for Spring and Summc}-" to give it prominent marquee hilling. These shorts, which are directed by Vyvyan Donner and released through 20th Century-Fox, are proving to he . box office stimulants -when properly advertised. Philly Mayor Awards Plaque to Warners for Historical Subject A special plaque was struck oS and presented recently to Norman H. Moray, Vitaphone sales manager, by Mayor S. Davis Wilson of Philadelphia for Warner's hisitorical short subject in Technicolor, "Declaration of Independence." At a special screening held in the reception room of the Mayor's office which was attended by prominent educators, representatives of women's clubs and patriotic societies. Mayor Wilson awarded the plaque to the company, carrying with it the inscription, "Presented to Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., by Mayor S. Davis Wilson of the city of Philadelphia, Pa., Custodian of Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pa., in appreciation of their historical contribution of the Film Version of the Declaration of Independence." You will no doubt be playing this exceptionally fine short subject. Although such an event as that which took place in Philadelphia may or may not be repeated in your community, you should make it a point _ to screen the Technicolor special for city officials and leadingg educators as soon as your playdate is set. Bair Boosts News Reels With Special Ad; Gets Country Folk When it comes to keeping up with events in Europe or anywhere else, the news reel is an excellent authority. And E. E. Bair, Manager of the Strand and Valentine Theatres, Defiance, O., put that fact over strongly recently in a special ad which read: "Chamberlain Acts ! News is Happening Fast!! Keep Well Informed! Make it a point to see as many News Reels as possible. See in pictures — what you read_ and hear about. Watch also for every issue of the March of Time . . . they will help you develop a greater field and vocabulary for conversation. Valentine & Strand." Smart? We'll say so. E. E. certainly knows how to make these subjects real box office assets. Do you? Before we conclude, we'd like to point out that the Defiance showman appeals to his rural trade by sending out a strip of two-for-one coupons good every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. This gets the country folk in town during the midweek, and at the same time boosts business. And speaking of boosting, we recommend a national "Boost for Bair" week to honor one of the country's smartest showmen.