Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 30 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW June 10, 1939 Dealing realistically with the booking, advertising and exploitation of the newsreel, serial and short, and emphasizing their importance. IN THE MCM "He Could Take It," digest of the life of the beloved liberator, Abraham Lincoln, between the ages of 20 and 52, will be the subject of a new Carey Wilson miniature soon to go into production. Based on hitherto unknown incidents in the life of Lincoln, the short subject will lead the field of Lincoln material scheduled to emanate from Hollywood during the next few months. The series of misfortunes that branded the Civil War President an utter failure until he was past 50 were compiled by Arno Reincke and were published in The Readers Digest. direct. The central character is Dr. Ephraim MacDonald, who performed the operation in Danville, Kentucky, in 1809. Jack Chertok will produce. "Prophet Without Honor," the story of Matthew Fontaine Maurj^, who made the first trans-oceanic weather charts and has been called the father of the weather bureau, is ready for release as Carey Wilson's latest miniature. Tom Neal enacted Maury. Felix E. Feist directed and Jack Chertok produced. Second cartoon in the Three Beat series by Producer Hugh Harmon to follow "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears," is being writen by Jack Cosgriff and Charles McGirll. The story is as yet untitled. One of the wonders of the world is the subject of James A. FitzPatrick's latest Traveltalk one-reeler in his "See America First Series." The commentator returned recently, with the first shots of a complete travelogue film on Yellowstone Park. This is the third Technicolor one-reeler in this series, which will picturize the highlights of an American travel tour. In the future, Robert Benchley will be seeing his films and commenting on them from his own Beverly Hills home. The comedian has just installed a complete projection and sound recording apparatus in the new addition to his home. Benchley's latest comedy, "Dark Magic," was released nationally last week. Roy Rowland directed and Jack Chertok produced. James A. FitzPatrick has completed the editing of his latest one-reel travelfilm, in Technicolor. The short, "Colorful Curacao," is ready for immediate release. RKO Edgar Kennedy will start the first of his new series of starring shorts on the 1939-40 season this week, with Charles Roberts directing. The new series launches Kennedy's tenth consecutive year as star of the "Average Man" comedies, and gives him the record of the longest run in the two-reel comedy starring field. The comedian will make six shorts on this year's program. Bert Gilroy is producer. The next in John Nesbitt's Passing Parade series will be "One Against the World." The story, prepared by Doane Hoag, concerns the first major operation ever performed in this country. Fred Zinneman will Frederic UUman, Jr., who has been at Callander, Ontario, as production chief on the Dionne Quintuplet picture tentatively titled "Five Times Five," returned to New York over the week-end. Cameras started to grind on the fifth birthday of the quintette and . . NEWSREEL SYNOPSES . . (Released Saturday, June 10) PARAMOUNT (No. 89)— British King and Queen welcomed in United States; (Other subjects to be added not available at time of going to press.) PATHE (Vol. 10, No. 93) — Japan master over scorched earth ; Memorial to Will Rogers unveiled at Washington; Smart summer fashions in Vogue; U. S. acclaims King and Queen, NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 10, No. 278)— U. S. acclaims King and Queen ; Fire at Times Square, N. Y. ; Memorial to Will Rogers unveiled at Washington; English warships sweep skies; Gov. James honored at Chester, Pa.; Tony Galento in training; Swrim stars in rough water derby. MOVIETONE (Vol. 21, No. 78) — U. S. acclaims King and Queen; Memorial to Will Rogers unveiled at Washington; Navy bombers in flight over San Diego, Calif.; Flyer to Mars arrested; New parachute demonstrated; Jewels at World's Fair; Belmont stakes; Swedish gymnasts demonstrate; Louis and Galento in training; Lew Lehr and Indians. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 11, No. 778)— Memorial to Will Rogers unveiled at Washington ; Fire at Times Square, N. Y. ; Flyer to Mars faces arrest; World's largest bowling alley; Birthday party for kids at Independence, Kan. ; Pick perfect back at San Francisco; Prince of Norway goes skiing at Mt. Hood, Ore^, Mirrored fashions; Navy bombers on trial fligl#;.-over San Diego, Calif.; U. S. acclaims Kii and Queen. (Released JVcdnesday, June 7) PARAMOUNT (No. 88)— Hoover at Lincoln Memorial University; French air circus thrills spectators; Gas explosion at Barberton, O. ; Man made floods at Grand Coulee Dam ; Fred Snite, Jr. at Shrine of Miracles; "Flying Hotel" on test flight over Manhattan; Derby at Epsom Downs; Nova kayos Baer in 11th round; Galento in training for ting bout with Louis; America vs. Britain 11-7 in polo. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 10, No. 275)— Hornes burned to clear way for Grand Coulee Dam ; British sovereigns head for U. S. ; Annapolis launches class of '39; "Flying Hotel" on test flight over Manhattan (except Atlanta and New Orleans) ; Glider crashes in crowd in France (except Atlanta and New Orleans) ; Air meet at Birmingham, Ala. (Atlanta and New Orleans only) ; Fred Snite, Jr. at Shrine of Miracles; Mussolini mobilizes modern Amazons; America defeats Britain 11-7 in polo; "Blue Peter" wins derby at Epsom Downs. MOVIETONE (Vol. 21, No. 77)— League of Nations in session; Holland queen visits Belgian king; Annapolis launches class of '39; Mussolini mobilizes modern Amazons; LeDeane Mount chosen Smile Girl in Missouri: "Flying Hotel" in test over Manhattan; Glider crashes in crowd in France ; Air show at Birmingham, Ala.; Bombardment test in California; Lew Lehr and electric hair-trimmer; "Blue Peter" wins derby at Epsom Downs; Harry Cooper wins prize in golf tournament; America defeats Britain 11-7 in polo. PATHE (Vol. 10, No. 92)— Refugee ship seeks new world haven; French premier honors U. S. war dead; Leiserson appointed to Labor Board; America defeats Britain 11-7 in polo; Wildcat gusher floods streets of California town; Danish gymnasts arrive for N. Y. Fair; Galento grooms for Louis title bout; Johnstown wins Belmont stakes. blast at veterans ; launches ee Dam ; Snite, Jr. in East; BirmingY. Fair; America UNIVERSAL (Vol. 11, No. 777)— School Barberton, O. ; King George visits disabled Cuba opens door to refugees; Annapolis class of '39; Area cleared for Grand Coul Glider injures 7 at French air meet; Fred at Shrine of Miracles; Giant airliner arrives 70,000 Facist women parade; Air show at ham, Ala. ; Danish gymnasts here for N. Indians in "suicide" race at Keller, Wash.; defeats Britain 11-7 in polo. Tucker Gets Huge Postcard By zcay of indicating they haven't forgotten the man who once led the band at the Spanish Gardens in Naperville, III, residents sent Orrin Tucker the huge postcard which he is showing to vocalist Bonnie Baker. Tucker, one of the nation's most popular orchestra leaders, is featured in the Paramount Headliner A8-4. The above stunt could be worked on other orchestra short reels, too. the two-reel special will be ready for late June release! "The World of Tomorrow," a one-reel kaleidoscopic picturization of the New York World's Fair, will be Number 11 on RKO Pathe's list of Reelisms. Reelism Number 12 will be "Kennel Kings," starring the whisker-to-tail perfection of many members of canine artistocracy. Filmed at the Morris-Essex dog show and at other leading kennels, the short will show the training and grooming of a prize dog before a show, and the points on which various breeds are judged. "Zoo," last Reelism release for this season, is now being filmed at St. Louis, showing the trained animals and barless cages of that city's unique and popular zoo. Vitaphone Marie Wilson will be starred in "Lizzie," which may be the forerunner of a new series of two-reel comedies. Owen Crump will do the script and shooting is scheduled for this month. A deal closed to distribute two single-reel short subjects produced by Errol Flynn and Howard Hill under the corporate name of Flynn-Hill Productions. The pictures deal with hunting and fishing with the bow and arrow and were made at Cape San Lucia off lower California coast. Hill, who is a champion archer, appears as the star of the shorts, while Flynn functions as producer. Maxie Rosenbloom, screen player, night club entrepreneur and sometime pugilist, will be featured in a series of shorts to be produced under the supervision of Gordon Hollingshead. First of the series, which will go before the cameras this week with Johnnie (Scat) Da\-is also featured in it.