The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (Nov 15, 1941)

November 15th, 1941 PRC Signs Many New Accounts Producers Releasing) Company, which signed over 6,000 accounts this season, is engaged in a production spurt to meet its commitments. Many features are ready for release and a goodly number in production. Almost ready for public showing is the second of the Billy the Kid seriés, starring Buster Crabbe. It’s called “Billy the Kid’s Oklahoma Justice.” Al St. John has the featured comedy spot and Charles King, Slim Whitaker, Edward Piel, Sr., Glenn Strange, Dennis Moore and Ken Duncan are in the cast. Sigmund Neufield is the producer. * ok “Mr. Celebrity,” another PRC release, has been well-reviewed by the trade press as a human story full of comedy and action. In good spots are such famed old-timers as Francis X. Bushman, Clara Kimball Young and_ ex-heavyweight champion Jim Jeffries. Scheduled for production in the near future are “Duke of the Navy,” “Girl’s Town,” “Today I Hang,” “Frontier Marshall” and “Blonde Comet,” this last the story of a girl racing driver. PRC completed a deal with 14 new circuits recently. Deschene Honored More than 100 citizens of Preston and vicinity gathered at a banquet in honor of F. E. Deschene, who is retiring from busi' ness in Preston after 20 years. He was. a partner with Premier Operating in the Park Theatre and sold his share to that company. He also sold his extensive property holdings and will leave shortly to make his home in Florida. Karl K. Homuth, M.P., spoke for the assemblage in presenting Mr. Deschene with a gold-handled cane. “New Super GARDINER Projector” With Barrel-rear shutter Has no equal for fine projection and long life. As low as $9.00 weekly. GET OUR PRICES AND YOU WILL SURELY BUY FROM US “YOU CAN GUESS THE REASON” oF YOUR eel EY ea paat ss WE 20%. OR MORE pase f 6 = ASE re ht es NRC KOS fie eS DOMINION THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO S97 DAVIE ST WANCOUYVER BC The Exhibitor Picture Pickups By TAP KEYES Seiten coma cameos ee In our last issue we told how Abe Sprachman, the architect, had filched a 50-cent cigar from the vest pocket of Fred Brown. Mr. Brown took it hard, the tony smoke being the first of its price Mr. Brown ever owned. And, we reported, he got it from Lloyd Mills after an hour of tall taunting. Now comes an indignant communication from Lloyd Gurr, in Hamilton, explaining that he, not Lloyd Mills, gave Brown the cigar. Mr. Gurr wanted satisfaction in the form of a new cigar from Mills or us. Via Frank Kavanaugh we dispatched Gurr two cigars. The first was a two-for-a-quarter brand. The other was a nickel cheroot. Both had the more expensive label. The cheaper one had some gunpowder on the lighting end. The kind-hearted Kavanaugh, upon seeing that Gurr was still somewhat under the weather after a recent operation, cancelled the idea. Gurr, you owe Kavanaugh a cigar for that. In the meantime Fred Brown, having learned through us that it was Abe Sprachman who swiped his 50-center, demanded retribution and got it. Abe gave him another cigar. We don’t want to start any more trouble, Fred, but Abe Sprachman settled with you for about four cents on the dollar. Those El Productos are two for fifteen cents. We just want to see justice done, that’s all. 8 3 ok 3% % Quite a stunt the Canadian Philatelic Society has for its Toronto gathering at the Royal York Hotel on November 21st and 22nd. One hundred and two envelopes which carried fan letters from all over the world will be autographed by leading film players and auctioned off in aid of the British War Victims Fund. Glenn Ireton joined Bill Gladish in working it out and getting the scrolls and scrawls. Incidentally, the Vitagraph screening room went literary the other afternoon. Most of Toronto’s book dealers were in to see “One Foot in Heaven,” originally a best-selling biography with some Canadian background. The dealers will feature a popular edition priced at $1.39. * * * oo * How about a play for American isolationists, to be called “Ah, Bewilderness!”’ ? cS * oo oo co Some of the hindrances to the simple life, as set forth in an actor’s contract: “It is agreed that if I cannot produce the entertainment on this occasion on the time and place arranged due to fire, public emergency or necessity, legal restrictions, act of God or the pub lic enemy or because of statutes, ordinances or regulations of any _ federal, state or municipal authority, wars, death of His Majesty tie King, strikes or for any reason beyond my control, then you shall not be entitled to remuneration.” * * * * Tommy McClure, who gave up his Toronto theatrical booking agency to travel with Alf Phillips’ Aquacade, flesh being what it is, was in town the other day. Tom told about the time two Indians came to his office dressed in full regalia. He envisioned a demonstration of war dances, roping, etc., when he asked them what they did. Instead they folded their arms and began harmonizing “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”! * 3% oo % Ben Ulster’s Ace theatre, a downtown Toronto house that’s small but eye-arresting, revived “San Francisco” and ‘Mutiny on the Bounty” as a double-bill and started something. Local screen columnists commented on the program and stopped in to see it— and paid. Manager Morris Sasloff says there were lineups every night but one—and it stormed that night. Folks were driving up in Packards from fancy residential areas. This is a new one on the house which, when it was known as the Photodrome, was regarded as a grind spot. Phone calls kept coming in to the theatre, the 20th Century offices and even to the movie reviewers from people who warnited to Know where to find the theatre. Now everybody is trying to book the same bill. Enterprise, we call it. {RKO Schedules Varied Features Six technical advisors are employed by RKO Radio on the production of “Joan of Paris’’ starring Michele Morgan and Paul Henreid. Assisting Producer David Hempstead and Director Robert Stevenson are Father John J. Devlin, advisor on all points dealing with Catholic religious procedure; Lila Damert, advisor on all French oackground; Flight Commander Little of the RAF, advisor on British aviation sequences and _ uniforms; Dr. SimonR. Mitchnick, Michele Morgan’s English teacher and dialogue director; Queenie Leonard on English dialogue and accents; and William Yetter, instructor of German troops and advisor on all German data. Grand, London, Switches The Grand Theatre, London, formerly a Famous Players house, has joined the 20th Century Theatres string. Policy is subsequent run. Performances will be in the evening and at the usual matinees, instead of afternoon and evening, as formerly. Prices have been dropped from 30 cents to 25, plus tax. Jim Simmons remains as manager. CLLEGE STREN bs | TR. 1287 Perey TN ee SE Sa