Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1940)

Only a Two-Week Respite For Ballyhoo Artists Although Hollywood’s publicists and the industry’s field representatives in general are to be given a two-week respite insofar as concerns the staging of superlavish premieres in key cities throughout the country, the swing will be on again effective early in August, at which time 20th Century-Fox is to end the recess by debuting “Brigham Young” in Salt Lake City. Occupying the center of the stage for the past few days has been Universal, whose exploiteers saw to it that “When the Daltons Rode,” the company’s bigbudgeted western, was fittingly introduced in an elaborate premiere at Coffeyville, Kas., wherein the renowned Daltons first gained notoriety. ’This affair was staged July 25 at the Midland and Tackett theatres, followed July 26 by another premiere in Kansas City. On hand to join in the parade, rodeo and dinner-dance which highlighted the Coffeyville celebration were Director George Marshall: David Lipton of the studio publicity staff, who arranged the affair; and such celebrities as Andy Devine, Frank Albertson, Constance Moore and Peggy Moran. The latter two starlets came directly from Syracuse, where they were among the guests of honor at Universal’s “The Boys From Syracuse” premiere July 18. The premiere of “Brigham Young” will be attended by Tyrone Power, Dean dagger, Linda Darnell and other members of the cast. Twentieth Century-Fox will stage another similar affair in September when “The Return of Frank James” makes its bow in Kansas City, Mo., with Darryl F. Zanuck on hand as Gov. Lloyd Stark’s personal guest. Henry Fonda and Jackie Cooper, who appear in the film, will also attend. Academy Council Issues Sound Standards Report For use by technicians and executives in all studios participating in its cooperative technical program, the Academy Research Council has placed in distribution a bulletin containing specifications for standard release print sound track, which has been adopted by all studio-members of the council. Report was prepared by the committee on sound track standards with Wesley C. Miller of M-G-M as chairman. Columbia, Hal Roach, M-G-M, Paramount, Republic, RKO Radio, Samuel Goldwyn, 20th Century-Fox, Universal and Warner have approved the new specifications. Steele, Not Baker, Into Duncan Renaldo's Spot Through an error, an item in the July 20 issue of Boxoffice reported that Bob Baker had been signed at Republic as a new member of the “Three Mesquiteers” western personnel, supplanting Duncan Renaldo. Replacing Renaldo, however, is Bob Steele, with Rufe Davis taking over from Raymond Hatton and Bob Livingston remaining as the principal in the sagebrush series. At "Great McGinty" Westwood Preview — So enthusiastic was the reception accorded the above exploitation stunt at the preview of Paramount’s “The Great McGinty” at the Village in Westwood recently that its creator. Cliff Lewis, studio advertising -publicity head, will incorporate it into the national exploitation campaign for the picture. Tying in with the political background of the film. Paramount publicists re-created an old-time voting scene with polling booths, torches, banners and other paraphernalia, with the results as shown: At the top: A few of the fans in the process of voting. Center, left to right: Preston Foster, Marie Wilson, William Demarest, Henry Rosenthal and Steffi Duna, visiting filmites. Loiver left: Y. Frank Freeman (left) , Paramoujit studio head, and Producer -Director Ernst Lubitsch. Lower right: The results of the balloting. James Edwards Opens New 700-Seat Temple Theatre Temple City, Cal. — James Edwards has opened his new Temple, a 700-seater, operating on a 20-cent admission scale. It was constructed at a cost of $80,000 and is the second theatre to be added to the Edwards chain in the past month, Edwards having recently opened the El Monte in El Monte. "Horror" Specialists Set For Kay Kyser Starrer Three “horror” specialists — Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi — have been booked by Producer-Director David Butler for featured roles in “You’ll Find Out,” the Kay Kyser starrer for RKO Radio. Picture goes into work early in August. Jimmy McHugh and Johnny Mercer are now writing special music. BOXOFFICE :: July 27, 1940 29