Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1939)

Page 2'd SHOW M EN'S TRADE REVIEW October 7, 1939 IN THE MGM The latest Our Gang comecW, "Learn To Play," got under way this week with Edward Cahn directing and Tack Chertok producing from a script by Hal Law and Robert McGowan. Both Alfalfa and Darla do two musical numbers each. Next week, a second gang comedy, "Alfalfa's Double," starts, and the week following, a third gang comedy, as yet untitled, will go before tb.e cameras. The latest of Carey Wilson's miniatures, "Miracle At Lourdes," has been retitled to "A Traveler's Tale." Henry K. Dunn directed the one-reeler. Jack Chertok produced. James A. FitzPatrick's latest Traveltalk in Technicolor, "National Wonders of Washington State," has been scheduled for national release October 7. Columbia October 20, when the national basketball season begins to get under way, has been set as the national release date for "All American Blondes," a new Andy Clyde comedy which revolves around the increasingly popular court game. Maxine Conrad, Helen Service and Linda Winters head the bevy of beautiful girls who play the pastime in this picture, and the comedy is expected to have strong seasonal appeal. Buster Keaton's first comedy of the 193940 season, "Nothing But Pleasure," will enter production about October 15, according to present plans of Jules White, who will produce. Desirous of giving the comedy his personal attention in every respect, White will also probably direct. Clyde Bruckman wrote the screenplay for "Nothing But Pleasure," and the story takes Keaton to Detroit where he buys a new car with the intention of driving it home cross-country. What happens en route as Buster tries to save money can easily be imagined. "The Awful Goof," which punningly recalls one of Columbia's greatest comedy successes, has been chosen as the final release title for Charley Chase's initial comedy of the season, just completed. The story is a melange of marital mixups, with Charley in several doghouses at one and the same time. Pretty Linda Winters is his leadinglady, with Lucille Lund, Dick Curtis, James Craig, Vernon Dent and Bud Jamison prominently featured. "The Awful Goof" was directed by Del Lord. John Grey wrote the original story and screenplay, and Lord and Hugh McCollum co-produced. Vitaphone Matty King has been placed in charge of dance direction on "Royal Rodeo," Technicolor short with John Payne, Cliff Edwards and Lucille Fairbanks. George Amy is the director. Howard Hill goes to Catalina within a few days to complete the boar hunting short subject he is producing with Errol Flynn. The company next plans to make a picture on trick bow and arrow shooting, with Hill, the world's champion, featured. Work on this short commences in about two weeks. Bair Uses "Propaganda" Angle In His Newsreel Exploitation The opportunity to plug his newsreels was something that Manager E. E. Bair, of the Valentine Theatre, Defiance, Ohio, didn't want to let slip by. Only a day or two before President Roosevelt had made a statement on "propaganda," and it was on this phase of the world crisis that Bair based his selling. In the local paper he ran an ad with this . . NEWSREEL SYNOPSES . . (Released Saturday, October 7) PARAMOUNT (No. 11)— Scenes showing how the public abroad is receiving news of the war; Yankees win World Series opener. MOVIETONE (Vol. 22, No. 8)— France shows her armed might; Railroad guns and big tanks; Aviators dropping bombs; Hull warns Americans abroad; Chicago honors Cardinal Mundelein; Vyvyan Donner's fashions; Yankees win World Series opener; Helen Wills tries comeback ; Lew Lehr and well-seeker. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 11, No. 206)— France shows her armed might; Sea plane sets new endurance record; World mourns Cardinal Mundelein; New daily dozen for waist line; Yankees win World Series opener. PATHE (Vol. 11, No. 23)— Cardinal Mundelein dies at 67; Hull warns Americans abroad; Hawaiian pineapple harvest; New fishing paradise discovered; Jap sand artist at N. Y. Fair; Sheep return from Montana mountains; Yankees win World Series opener. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 11, No. 812)— World mourns Cardinal Mundelein; Canadian air force training; Women's transportation service; Evacuation of Paris children; Huge salmon run in Oregon; Girls swim in sea of apples; Animals made from wire new fad; Helen Wills tries comeback ; Yankees take World Series opener. (Released Wednesdav, October 4) PARAMOUNT (No. 10)— Pan-American conference; Neutrality debate in Congress; Alfred E. Smith favors repeal; French villages evacuated; English aviators see Paris; Air raids by Germans in Warsaw; Scenes of the German armv of occupation; Notre Dame vs. Purdue football, 3-0; U.S.C. vs. Oregon, 7-7. MOVIETONE (Vol. 22, No. 7)— Liege, Belgium, bridges destroyed; Plane crasher quits stunt flying; U. S. destroyers reconditioned; Sumner Welles at Pan-American conference; Cardinal Mundelein dies in sleep; Raymond J. Kelly new American Legion commander ; Gae Foster girls dance on globes ; Lew Lehr and the stork: Notre Dame vs Purdue, 3-0; U.S.C. vs. Oregon, 7-7; Navy vs. Williams and Mary, 31-6; Pittsburgh vs. Washington, 27-6; California vs. St. Mary's (West Coast only). NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 11, No. 205)— Duke of Windsor joins British staff in France; Royal family rallies Holland for defense; Air raid terrors in Polish town; Pan-American conference; U. S. army bombers fly over N. Y. Fair; Notre Dame vs. Purdue; Navy vs. William and Mary; U.S.C. vs. Oregon; Tulane vs. Clemson; Pittsburgh vs. Washington; Lafayette vs. Ursinus. PATHE (Vol. 11, No. 22)— Holland mobilizes for defense; Pan-American conference; Air show thrills Fair crowds; Biggest herd of cattle in U. S. ; Notre Dame vs. Purdue; Challedon wins Maryland sweepstakes. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 11, No. 811)— Small nations fear war threat; Raymond J. Kelly new American Legion commander; Smith backs Roosevelt on embargo; Washington vs. Pittsburgh; Notre Dame vs. Purdue; Mississippi vs. Arkansas FIRST RUN SHORT PRODUCT NEW YORK (Week Beginning October 7) ASTOR — Prophet Without Honor (MGM) rev. 6-17-39. CAPITOL— A Haunting We Will Go (Univ.) rev. 7-15-39; Football Thrills of 1939 (MGM) rev. 9-16-39. CRITERION— Birth of the Movies (Alliance); Tliree Minute Fuse (Vita.) rev. 8-12-39. GLOBE— Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise (Col.) rev. 9-16-39. PARAMOUNT—Public Hobby No. 1 (Para.) rev. 9---39 : Popular Science No. 1 (Para) rev. 9-23-39; Breaking the News (Para.) rev. 8-26-39. RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL— The Bill of Riixhts (Vita.) rev. 8-26-39. RIALTO— Brave Little Tailor (RKO-Disnev) rev. 9-3-38; Bow String (RKO-Pathe) rev. 2-4-39. RIVOLI— Gun Play (RKO-Pathe) rev. 9-3039; The Pointer (RKO-Disney) rev. 5-20-39. ROXY— The Watch Dog (20th-Fox) ; Clocking the Jockevs (20th-Fox). STRAND — Detouring America (Vita.) rev. 9-2-39; Ice Frolics (Vita.) rev. 9-30-39. CHICAGO LOOP (Week Ending October 7) APOLLO — Remember When (Vita.) rev. 9-2 39; Public Hobby No. 1 (Para.) rev. 9-2-39. GARRICK— Hvdro-Maniacs (Para.) rev. 8-26 39; Land of the Midnight Fun (Vita.) rev. 9-23-39. ROOSEVELT— Rumba Rhythm (MGM) rev. 9-2-39: Dav of Rest (MGM); Orphan Duck (20tli-Fox). UNITED ARTISTS— A Day at Treasure Inland (MGM) rev. 9-9-39. copy: "Definition of Propaganda . . . Propaganda, as generally understood is expression of opinion or action by individuals or groups with reference to pre-determined ends ... We are fooled by propaganda because it appeals to our emotions rather than to our reason! . . . 'Think Things Through' — F.D.R. . . . Follow the Newsreels! . . . Confirm what you read and hear . . . Valentine Theatre." Large tack cards printed in bold black type were posted in every available spot and planted in every available window. Copy for the cards was "Confirm what you hear and read! . . . Follow the Newsreels . . . Valentine Theatre." Your newsreel is one of the most vital sections of your program, and during a crisis, it becomes all the more important. Take Bair's tip and get behind it. RKO Prepares Many Accessories For "Information Please" Series A press book with complete line-up of ad and scene mats and publicity stories along with a three-color bannerette, stills and a one-sheet will be available to exhibitors for RKO Radio's short series titled "Information Please." The one-sheet features the caricatured likenesses of the regular experts, John Kieran, Oscar Levant, Franklin P. Adams and Clifton Fadiman. The bannerette, like the one-sheet, may be used for each unit of the series. The stills are caricatures of the principals. The press sheet provides everything in the way of information about the series, prepared publicity and illustrations "Information Please" is said to be the most popular and talked about of all radio quiz programs with a ready-made audience of several million persons who listen to the program regularlj' on the air. This means that theatres backing up their presentation of "Information Please" with RKO Radio's comprehensive output of accessories will have a real drawing card in these onereelers.