Business screen magazine (1938)

ftci^ Oail Pi'cducticM ^hcu; Vet I'i ^\^^ NATIONAL LEAGUE MOVIES TAKE A CHAPTER OUT OF BASEBALL HISTORY • The sun beat ilowii nu-rcik-ssly on tlu arid fields but General Grant's liead<)narters tent was pitched in the kindly shade of giant elms. Horses on the nearby picket line hung weary heads over the hitching rail, lacking the energy to cock a wary ear to the distant sounds of battle. Dispatch riders and staff officers came and went away again without interrupting the General, for Grant was deeply engaged in conversation with a distinguished guest. The guest sat on a camp stool near Grant's table strewn with ma|)s and plans of strategy. His long figure slouched lankly, his bearded chin rested heavily on his lean breast, and his deep eloquent eyes watched shadows flecking the waters of a little stream which flowed placidly at his feet. General Grant, standing across the table from his guest had asked him a question and there had been a long silence. "But this is important, Mr. President", said Grant impatiently. "Yes", replied President Lincoln pulling himself out of his reverie, "I suppose so. Most things are important. General." A wistful smile played aljout his loose lips. "I was just thinking of that baseball game the New York soldiers were playing against an Illinois regiment. That was important too. General." General Grant shifted his cigar nervously from one side of his mouth to the other. "But, Mr. Lincoln", he began. Lincoln held up his hand. "If you want something really important" he said solemnly, "It's to get the men in both armies back home where they can play ball on their own grounds! — and now that's over will somebody f'r the love of Mike give me a Coca-Cola!" A soldier hurried to Mr. Lin coln's side with a cool liottle and anothci' for General Grant. Both drank thirstily. For them the war \\as o\'er. "Hank!" Nate Watt bellowed at his assistant, "Tie a little rock on General Grant's wateli chain so the darned thing will stay in his pocketl" Then, turning to the others: "Let's shoot it again. Quiet, everybody!" For Nate Watt was on from Hollywood to direct the production of the National League's film on baseball. Next year marks the hundredth anniversary of Abner Doul)le<lay's epochal creation of the national game substantially as it is played today, and in celebration of the centenary, the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs commissioned Burton Holmes Films, Inc. of Chicago, to ])roduee a four reel centennial film. Ford Frick. president of the National League, has dedicated his film to youth and the production has been designed to exemplify the spirit of the dedication. The first half of the film is devoted to the high-lights in the history of the game since IS.SO and the latter half to inspirational and instructive shots of various jilayers and their technique. All of the instructional scenes are put on the screen in a manner which will interest any audience of ba.seball enthusiasts regardless of age, but they are primarily intended to instruct youthful players in the finer points of baseball playing. One phase of the historical material which will hold espeei,-d interest for .spectators, is the cause for, and the method by which, the National League was formed in 1876. The prime mover in the creation of the National League was one William A. Ilulbert. Hulbert was a native of Chicago and lies buried in Chicago's Graceland ceme tery, llis joli of rescuing baseball from the evil days upon which the game had fallen was one of the most dramatic incidents in the story of organized sp<irt. Associated with the National League as cospcmsor of tlu' film is General Mills, Inc. of ^Minneapolis. The Wheatics broadcasts of the game during the past several seasons made General ^lills a "natural" for such an association but the company has been more than modest in its demands for screen recognition. Ne\ertheless the Wheatics plug is in the pictun-: once with the National League on the main credit title as co-sponsor; once as a window tlisplay useil iinobtrusively as background for a scene in a country store; once when Stan Hack of the Chicago Cubs is photographed with his charming wife and tiny son at breakfast; and once again when "Red" Barber of radio fame is broadcasting a game. All of the.se plugs are natural to the action and in no case intrude upon, or interfere with, the develojinient of the baseball theme. When released for public exhibition, whicli will be this autumn, the film will be loanetl free to all schools and colleges, and to any established organizations such as fraternal orders. American Legion Posts, Youth Movements, churches, etc., etc. The National League is setting up its own distributing offices to the end that orders for the free loan of the film may be made to National League headquarters in Radio City, New York, or to any office of the eight clubs which make up the National League, or to the producer. Burton Holmes Films, Inc. at T.'JIO North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, who will handle the physical distribution and servicing of the picture.