Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1946)

Record Details:

Something wrong or inaccurate about this page? Let us Know!

Thanks for helping us continually improve the quality of the Lantern search engine for all of our users! We have millions of scanned pages, so user reports are incredibly helpful for us to identify places where we can improve and update the metadata.

Please describe the issue below, and click "Submit" to send your comments to our team! If you'd prefer, you can also send us an email to mhdl@commarts.wisc.edu with your comments.




We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.

Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.

44 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, October 5. 1946 SELLING THE PICTURE First Musicolor Short Is Shown in Salt Lake City World premiere of the first of a series of seven Musicolor shorts being produced by David L. Loew for United Artists release took place one day last month at the Centre Theatre in Salt Lake City. Setting a precedent, the subject, "Toccata and Fugue," was given the benefit of a gala opening, with Werner Janssen, prominent orchestra leader who furnished the musical background, making a personal stage appearance at the Centre in the interest of the ten-minute short. Special advertising was also used to herald the opening. During his stay in Salt Lake City, the noted conductor was guest of honor at a luncheon sponsored jointly by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and Salt Lake Advertising Club. Interviewed by the press upon his arrival, Mr. Janssen explained that his idea in "Toccata and Fugue" was to combine the works of old masters with scenes which typify the music. The movegoing public, he said, might in this way develop a deeper appreciation of classical music. "Toccata and Fugue" unfolds the story of Utah's famed Bryce Canyon to the accompaniment of a musical background of Johann Sebastian Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor played by Mr. Janssen and his 90-piece symphony orchestra. The subject, filmed in the new three-color Cinecolor process, has no commentary. Instead, the musical background expresses the word picture to audiences for the action taking place on the screen. Greculd, O'Sullivan Set New 'Chick Carter' Club Columbia's serial "Chick Carter, Detective" was the occasion for the formation of a Chick Carter, Detective Club at the Rialto Theatre, Hartford. Stunt was handled by Ernie Grecula, advertising and publicity director of the Hartford Theatres Circuit, and Bill O'Sullivan, manager of the Rialto. Prospective members of the club were given cards at the initial Saturday matinee, with copy "See 14 chapters of 'Chick Carter, Detective,' and then present this card at the door to see the 15th Chapter, free!" Window displays and truck banners also were part of the campaign. — HAR. Lecture Aids Business Some time ago Buster Scott of the Waco Theatre, Waco, Texas, had the March of Time subject, "Problem Drinkers," booked for his house. So he arranged for a screening of the subject before local dignitaries. This was followed by a lecture on the subject's content at Baylor College. This was followed by newspaper publicity, and special ad, lobby and marquee copy. This was followed by excellent business on the subject. Shorts Above Feature When Joe Jackson of the Village Theatre, Dallas, .set up his trailer advertising for the next attraction at his house, he billed the short subjects above the feature. Given the old selling plug were Bugs Bunny, Dafify Duck, Tom & Jerry and Woody Woodpecker cartoons. 'Walter Kitty' to be New Cartoon Character "The Secret Life of Walter Kitty" has been announced as the title for the latest MGM Cartoon. Tex Avery will direct the Technicolor one-reeler, which will introduce a new cartoon character "Walter Kitty." Active again after its annual vacation, the MGM Cartoon studio recently resumed work on the heaviest production schedule in its history. A total of 20 Technicolor cartoons are in various stages of production at the studio, according to Producer Fred Quimby. Eight onereel cartoons are in final stages of production, including three "Tom and Jerry" cartoons directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, three Tex Avery-directed shorts, and two "Barney Bear" cartoons, co-directed by Michael Law and Preston Blair. Boy Scouts Attend Screening of Short A feature of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Boys Scouts of America in the Ohio, West Virginia and Kenntucky regions, held last Saturday (September 28) at the Hotel Gibson, Cincinnati, was a special screening of Warners' Technicolor featurette, "Alen of Tomorrow," depicting the work of the Boy Scouts. Following the screening, Vernon Berg, Warner field representative, addressed the Scouts and outlined how they could cooperate with their local exhibitors in booking and prom.oting the picture. Save Vacation Footage For Screen Snapshots When Glenn Ford recently turned over to Ralph Staub several hundred feet of 16-mm. film shot by the Columbia star on a vacation he spent in the High Sierras, the delivery marked the inauguration of a new idea by Staub, who produced Columbia's Screen Snapshots. Staub has made agreements with a number of screen and radio personalities to furnish them with 16-mm. camera, film and all necessary equipment before they leave on vacation jaunts, and in return the stars have agreed to turn over some of the footage they shoot. This footage will eventually be included in the Screen Snapshot reels. For Radio Coverage For quick and concentrated radio coverage on "TraHic With the Devil," MGM held a special showing of the short last Saturday morning (28) at the Egyptian Theatre, Los Angeles, for news analysts and broadcasters representing every local station. The subject was produced with the cooperation of the Associated Press and the sponsorship of the National Safety Council and the Los Angeles Police Department. Cartoons Break Records A cartoon carnival broke house records — yessir, that's what it says here — for Howard Skelton at the Village Theatre, Houston, Texas. Besides the feature, "Pinnochio," the program consisted of "The Cheese Burglar," "Egg Cracker Suite" and "Hair-Raising Hare." The show was played up big in the newspapers, with a special editorial as well as ad space. A special panel was displayed in the lobby. Shorts Shopping {Continued from Page 43) lations on winning the award, and from the handsome looks of it, we're sure he'll take pardonable pride in showing it to his friends. But just be sure it sets well back on its base, Pete, for, judging from the size in the picture, which appears to be nearly half-a-man high, the trophy, if it fell, would occasion a crash that could be heard at least half way 'round the world. Speakmg of Pete and his award reminds us of the preview and luncheon MGM held recently in New York in connection with a new release, "Sure Cures," at which Dave O'Brien, star of the subject, and his wife, were guests. Dave recounted many behind-the-scenes experiences in short subject making which, in themselves, would provide ample material for a number of shorts. As for "Sure Cures" itself, we can only say that the Smith touch is to short subjects what the Lubitsch touch is to features. Pete is probably the only short subject producer in captivity who, instead of manufacturing situations for his series of one-reelers, takes them from happenings in our everyday life. We look forward to his forthcoming explorations into domestic bliss, "I Love My Wife, But" and "1 Love My Husband, But." * * * Exhibitors playing the Warner short subject, "Men of Tomorrow," would do well to seek the cooperation of local Boy Scout heads in its promotion. Seeking isn't likely to be necessary, however, for the Boy Scouts have heard about the subject and in all likelihood will be at their local theatreman's doorstep for information about playdates and what they can do to help bring the story of their organization before the largest number of people. First Republic Cartoon Now in Production Republic Studios entered the short subject field last month when the company's initial cartoon feature, "It's a Grand Old Nag," went into production at the Bob Clampett Cartoon Studio. The series of six cartoons will be filmed in Trucolor, new color process developed by Consolidated Laboratories. The first subject is expected to be ready for December delivery. Cartoon Studio is a corporation headed by Robert E. Clampett, president; Walter W. Arnold, vice-president and general manager; Roydon Vosberg, secretary, and Murray Vosberg, treasurer. Tone Poem of Gotham "Rhythm of New York," a Technicolor short subject described as a color tone poem of Gotham, has been announced by Jack L. Warner for early production. Camera crews, under Carl Dudly have been shooting footage in various parts of New Y'ork state. Short is produced by Gordon Hollingshead for Warner Bros. Next Musis;al Parade Set "Five and Dime" will be Paramount's next two-reel Technicolor Musical Parade. The original story, dealing with the adventures of two girls against a New York night club background, was developed by Jack Roberts, studio writer, who also wrote the screenplay. Lou Harris i.s producing.