The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (Sep 15, 1941)

September 15th, 194] PRC Increases Production List Under the supervision of George Batcheller Producers’ Releasing Corporation is making the greatest production spurt in its history. One picture is in the cutting room, four are shooting and four are ready to go within ia month. Currently in the last stages of cutting is B. B. Ray’s production of “Dangerous Lady,” Neil HamiltonJune Storey co-starer. The cast includes such personalities as Douglas Fowley, John Holland, Emmett Vogan, Evelyn Brent, Greta Gransedt, Clark Stockdale, Jack Mulhall, Kenneth Harlan, John Ince, gart and James Aubrey. Before the cameras is MerrickAlexander’s “Professional Bride,’ P.R.C.’s first feature on the 41-42 schedule. Jack La Rue, Kane Richmond, Mary Healy, and Iris Adrian are the top quartet in this film. You all remember La Rue’s great work in “Paper Bullets’’—hailed by critics from coast-to-coast as one of the standout performances of many months. Kane Richmond, starred in ‘‘Double Cross,” returns to P.R.C. after leading roles in two 20th Century-Fox pictures, including “Last of the Duanes.” Mary Healy, formerly under contract to 20th Century-Fox, makes her first picture away from that lot for Merrick-Alexander. Iris Adrian has been featured in ‘Back Door To Heaven,” “One Third of a Nation,” “Wild Geese Calling,’ and ‘Lady From Cheyenne.” "Tillie" Back New York’s Criterion theatre has revived “Tillie’s Punctured Romance,” the ancient silent comedy with the late Marie Dressler, Charlie Chaplin and the Keystone Kops. The Exhibitor Picture Pickups By TAP KEYES (Harland Rankin is owner of the Plaza, Tilbury, and manager of the Centre, Chatham. Harland, one of the province’s topranking managers, is friendly, efficient and alive to all boxoffice possibilities. He has a sense of humor and a good memory—as witness these recollections. ) Harland Rankin Recalls: Four years ago I picked up a chap outside the town of Tilbury. After driving a while I asked him if he ever attended the Plaza theatre. “Yes,” he said. He went once a week, he explained—and spent the rest of the time at home picking slivers out of himself. (We had old wooden seats then.) % Es # * * One evening I noticed a mother holding her baby. She looked tired. The Boy Scout in me came out. I held the child to give the lady a rest. She was most appreciative. So much so that she slipped away, took a seat somewhere in the house and I had a baby on my hands for the rest of the show. The baby wasn’t too pleased with the arrangement. So I bribed it with an allday sucker—which I shared. ok * of *. + One time a society lady was taken with a heart attack in the theatre. I put her in my car and rushed her home. I had to carry the patient into her house. The house had sixteen steps. My back needed chiropractic treatments for a week. * * * * ook Another time a gentleman had the same thing happen to him. He was an out-of-towner visiting our local hardware merchant. Again I took the patient home. I got out of the car in front of the house, walked around it and got in beside him to ease his distress. All of a sudden the car door opened and a beautiful lady threw her arms around me, saying, “Are you all right, dear?” It was his wife. Was she surprised! And were we both embarrassed! * Co * * * There was the night I was about to act as master of ceremonies for our amateur contest. I ripped my trousers. A frantic search revealed that the projectionist wore the same size as I do. They needed pressing—but a hurried change and the day was saved. * * * * Po Five years ago I visited Paris, France. Like other tourists I wanted to see one of the much-talked-about Paris shows. In one theatre I found jan end seat, sat down for a moment, then thought I’d be more comfortable without my topcoat. I stood up, removed it and sat down—on the floor with a . bump! There was no seat. I landed ungraciously in the aisles, to the loud laughter of my fellow-patrons. Several years ago, when picture G-men became popular, I got a presentation idea. I arranged for the house to be dark just beforeé the picture was to begin. My idea was to slip backstage and shoot off a shotgun for effect as it opened. I removed the bullets from the shells. The signal came. I pulled the trigger. When I came to the feature was half over. Not being familiar with shotguns, I hadn’t noticed that the barrel was plugged with mud! * * * * * This experience, I think, is the one I’ll remember most often. I visited the local jail and the turnkey insisted I see everything. including the solitary ‘confinement cell. He opened it and I was placed “in confinement.” My next-door neighbor was to be tried for murder. I carried on a conversation with him through a small hole in the steel door that separated the cells. Five minutes went by and the turnkey wasn’t back. Ten, fifteen and thirty minutes passed—but '. no turnkey. By that time I was beginuimy to wonder what I was in for. I was hot in my topcoat. The diginfaetant penetrated my clothes. There was no place to sit down. Fimally the turnkey came—and I never saw a more welcome man. A good piece of comedy that didn’t happen in a theatre— though I didn’t think so at the time. Page 5 Graduation Day A La Show Biz Readers of gossip columnists and theatre scribblers know of New York’s famed juvenile junta of the early 1900’s, Gus Edwards’ group. In it were Walter Winchell, Eddie Cantor, George Jessel and other now-celebrated folk. Toronto, too, had such a kid crew. Teacher of the Queen City crowd was the late Harold Rich, father of Harold Rich, the wellKnown radio and show pianist. Among the imps ruled over by the elder Rich were Bea Lillie, Gene Lockhart and the Pickford children, Mary, Lottie and Jack. Gene was quite an athlete. He won the cross-the-bay swim three times in succession in Toronto. It was years later that Gene, after a hard night of studying the Officers’ Course at’ U of T, walked outside into the dawn—then walked inside again to write the words that became the lyrics of “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise.” Once the children were booked for a concert in a smalltown. After the show the manager was found gone with the “take.” Mr. Rich took no nonsense from’ them and they knew he’d be. irate. So Bea, a hellion then as now, was chosen to transfer the bad news by telephone. She phoned Mr. Rich. “Stranded, eh!” the teacher guffawed.. “Now you can really call yourselves actors!” “TR. 1257