Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 8, 1942)

<2 ee April 8th, 1942 Manager Prevents Theatre Panic (Continued from Page 1) Brothers.” A panic and great tragedy might have resulted from the criminal act had it not been for ab: quick wit of manager Ernie Warren. Warren was busy in the lobby when the firemen, bearing distinguishers, dashed in and headed for the theatre proper. He had to use physical force in preventing the earnest smoke-eaters from plunging down the aisles and frightening the audience. The fireman were restrained until the captain in charge arrived. He listened to reason. The possibilities of the situation were clear to the captain, who agreed that any sensible theatre manager would summon the reels in a quieter way if he had discovered a fire in the same circumstances. Meanwhile the street grew black with people and traffic snarled for several blocks. The call had been reported as coming from the Midtown switchboard and the firemen required a report. At Warren’s suggestion they changed their revealing clothes to mufti, entered the theatre and found nothing to justify a visit. Manager Ernie Warren is to be praised for his quick thinking. He still catches his breath when he thinks what might have happened. There is a lesson here for all managers. The firemen learned plenty too about the best way to go about things—and that all fires are not alike. This was the third of such calls. The same thing happened to the Uptown and Shea's during the last year. The police are looking for the criminal. If they catch him they ought to flog him, lock him up and throw away the key. Fire Destroys New Palace, Verdun, Que. Several firemen were injured when a fire gutted the Palace Theatre in Verdun, Quebec, last week. The afternoon performance had just started when the fire broke out, but the few persons present marched quietly into the street. The blaze raged for two hours before being brought under ‘control. A. Bahen, manager of the theatre, said he did not know the cause of the fire, nor could he give an estimate of the damage. The theatre had been renovated “last year, with new seats and fixtures installed. The theatre had a capacity of 500. The entire body of the theatre was a total wreck, as fire ate through the upholstery of the chairs and scorched the walls. Canadian FILM WEEKLY OnTheSq with Aye Bo Hy That's Telling ‘Em! A while back this column told of some of the adventures of Del Goodman, Paramount’s Canadian chief, during his years in the East. Del slings a string of Oriental lingos in a smattery, pattery way; he can read and write laundry marks and lottery tickets that look like chicken tracks to anyone else; and he can handle chopsticks without poking out an eye. Del made a point of recording things that seemed unusual to him. In his files he has what the Manchurian Daily News wrote of De Mille’s “Cleopatra.’”’ Headed “Story Well Cranked,” it will make our word-splurgers weep: “The story is cranked from a scene of struggle of power between Cleopatra and his brother Ptolemy, in Egypt. “The critic has no space to hear repetition in these columns that the content Cleopatra is too popular to insist it. “You, the fans, certainly be much all of a jump if you see the De Mille for sets of several thrilling scenes of battle on in the sands and in the sea, the Egyptian Armies fighting against Romans and of dancing by Egyptian girls with swish and swirl and revolving through grand marble halls and on the sumptious barge to the swish of gully slaves.” Gee, I wish I could write like that! Maybe our screen scribes will steal a little style from the lad and add to the gayety of our daily reading. Letdown The other day this chronicler got a hurry-up call to hustle to the office of Miss Arna Mann. Figuring on a sprig or two of news, I did. The uncertain tones of “Happy Birthday to You” greeted me. On a desk was a lovely cake and sundry packages. Surprise! The natal day plunder, however, was for Miss Mann. My overenthusiastic manfriday, Master Mark Burman, no doubt trying to ingratiate himself with the boss, told the Twentieth Century celebrants about my birthday. They merely extended their party to include me, that’s all. Nice of them. Oh, yes, Miss Mann sprayed a little of her gift perfume on me (whoops) and kicked in a slice of the cake. Mark is hereby demoted to fourth assistant associate viceeditor. Changeovers William Saroyan, who panned Hollywood, is back there producing and writing for MGM. He found the exact words for the popularity of “How Green Was My Valley,” which he liked. “It has respect,’ Bill said, “for the dignity of the human being”... Charlie Ray, the old silent star, has occupied himself during the quiet years with writing a book of movie terminology. Maybe he can find a new word for “stinkeroo” ... A Japanese propaganda station reported that the USA was on the verge of revolt and, referring to Benny and Allen no doubt, said: “Even their radio comedians are feuding” ... Hit of a recent Midtown stage show was usherette June Barrett, an accomplished vocalist who delivered in uniform. The staff tendered June a bouquet and a steady patron sent in a present. ... Film folk are polishing up the bicycles, what with car crowding and gas rations. Jack Melzer and Sylvia Alpert are the latest. Sure I Read the Comics I was indulging in my favorite intellectual pastime last weekend. and came across the funny called Mickey Finn. Mickey's Uncle Phil dropped into a theatre to see “The Return of the Fat ' Man.” And sat right in front of one of those theatre pests who saw the picture and insists on telling his companion all about every new twist before it happens. Uncle Phil finally blew his roof, plunked the pest in the eye and got pinched. The judge fined him ten dollars, then called him into the chambers. “Here’s your ten dollars back,” he said. “I go to movies too!” Remember that next time you say there’s no justice. Page 3 » Gallup Check On Patronage? (Continued from Page 1) lowing a private poll of the studio heads by Dr. Gallup. America’s cross-examiner No. 1 approached the studio bigwigs with a technique worked out during his two years as a private movie inquisitor for RKO and Sam Goldwyn. Back in 1940 he was hired by George Schaefer, RKO executive, to conduct surveys in the study of motion picture habits and tastes, and to advise the studio in the selection of stories, casts, and titles for forthcoming productions. To conduct’ these surveys, the Audience Research Institute was established in Princeton, N. J. At about the same time, Gallup was also engaged in a double feature preference inquiry carried out at the request of Sam Goldwyn. With this movie background, plus his cross-section survey technique, Gallup was able to impress the Hollywood producers. The information acquired in the planned weekly polls will be passed on directly to the studio heads, guiding them in their selection of stories and casts. A Gallup Poll, hitherto restricted to national and international affairs, is a decisive step away from the industry’s reliance on box-office receipts as the indicator of public preference. Gallup will get down to specific issues, and will furnish specific answers. "Woman'’ Blue Ribboned The National Screen Council has awarded “Woman of the year,” MGM production starred in by Spencer Tracey and Katharine Hepburn the Blue Ribbon, its annual honor. This is the second year Hepburn has won it and the seventh successive year for Tracey. FOR ALL THEATRE EQUIPMENT and SUPPLIES —Call nies PERNS ie COMPANY LIMITED ‘Se See ee