Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 8, 1942)

Page 6 Reagan Plays Buffalo Bill Convinced by Ronald Reagan’s ef performance in ‘Kings Row” that he is destined for top-flight stardom, Warner Bros. will give him “Buffalo Bill,” an epic film of the old West based on the career of William F. Cody, noted scout. The production is being planned on a basis that will make it one of the most important Warner pictures of the the stellar role in year. The picture will be produced by and directed by who has made the big-scale adventure films starring Errol Flynn. The screen play is being written by Hal B. Wallis, Michael Curtiz, most of .Walter Doniger. “Buffalo Bill” ment, ‘Desperate Journey,” which he co-stars with Flynn. “Now, Voyager,” next Bette Davis starring vehicle, will be directed by Irving Rapper, recently completed “The Gay Sisters,’’ starring Barbara Stanwyck and George Brent, with Geraldine Fitzgerald and Nancy Coleman. Rapper made his directorial debut only a year ago with “Shining Victory” and then did the memorable “One Foot in Heaven.” 2 “Sweethearts of 1942’ is the title of a new film musical planned by Warner Bros. which will be one of the most elaborate productions ever turned out by that studio. Representing a wide departure from the usual musical film pattern, it will be calculated not only to entertain but aso to provide a spur to national morale. Its theme will be the activities of the girls left behind by men serving in the armed forces. Already selected for the cast are Priscilla Lane, Brenda Marshall, Alexis Smith, Jane Wyman, Jean Ames and Peggy Diggins. The screen play is being written by Hugh Wedlock and Howard Snyder. Robert Lord will be the producer. McCormick to Hollywood S. Barrett McCormick, director of advertising and publicity for RKO Radio, has left New York for Hollywood. This is his regular Spring trip and will be devoted to viewing the new 1942-43 pictures at the studio and to consultations with various studio executives. Also leaving for Hollywood are Roy Disney, general manager of Walt Disney Productions; Antoinette Spitzer, Disney Eastern publicity director, and Jack Pegler, of Lord and Thomas. & * is slated to go into production shortly after Reagan finishes his current assignin who \Wifett with Spring Festivals, Peach Blossoms, and the odd Robin, we eagerly turn our backs on Old Man Winter. Some of the boys are busy wielding their trusty paint brushes, and believe me, nothing gives that Spring atmosphere as much as a good old cleaning and a new coat of paint. Get your paint brushes out, boys, and get that Spring fever into your veins. a * . S. SMART of the Capitol, Cobourg, supplied the hockey ticket agencies with envelopes printed on his own Multistamp, reading ‘“‘He Scores Again!’ George Formby singing new songs and into New Howlarious Mixups in ‘Come on George’.” Strike up the Band on your Spring Festivals, boys, we’re waiting anxiously to hear all about it. * L JOLLEY, of the Columbia, St. Thomas, distributed 3000 ‘teaser cards and ran a teaser ad in local women’s paper in advance on “Birth Of The Blues,” Also had a co-operative ad with music store. Obtained free orchestration from Music Corp. of America, also secured several music sheet title covers free from New oF a x a York, using these for display purposes. He received a wire from Bob Chester, American bandleader, when he played Palais Royal, on opening of the picture. It plugged the picture and obtained fine free space in local paper. There were free plugs at a record club, and contests with music from the picture, with passes to lucky ones. “ ts wh ~ * se pox MASCARO of the Capitol, Belleville put out a folder for his Spring Festival, the back page advertisement carrying half the cost. He had these folders numbered and each evening places a group of lucky numbers in the lobby. Anyone having a corresponding number is admitted free. He is receiving many favorable comments on his Spring Festival. % * ALPH TIEDE of the Geneva Theatre in Orillia, had a teas er type ad in the paper. Two one column ads were side by side with heading. “So Hilarious . . we just have to tell you twice.” x cd a L JOLLEY of the Columbia, St. Thomas, plugged a Laff Week program, ran teaser ads in advance stressing the Laff angle and had drug stores displaying cards as distributed by the Pepsodent people featuring Bob Hope in each. Canadian FILM WEEKLY RNIE WARREN of the Midtown, Toronto, sent out doorhangers reading ‘After Dinner tonite your screen menu is—’’. On the Formby picture, Ernie got a swell radio plug through Liberty Magazine, free of course. He also had a very attractive trick cutout weeks in advance. This was a life size figure of Formby hanging with one hand to a lamp post and blowing a police whistle with the other hand outstretched in a stop position. A tieup was also arranged with a local radio dealer three doors away to play Formby hits over his outside Public Address system and spotted it with announcements of the coming picture. A small window display of his records and music was also granted. In an attempt to get the Saturday patrons to come earlier, the cashiers in this theatre have been instructed when answering all telephone calls to add to the information given out, ‘‘We advise you to come early.”’ Many of the callers thanked the girls for this’ advice and it has resulted in a greater number of admissions between the hours of six and seven on this important night. ': ts ws = * * “QHANGHAI GESTURE” now doing tremendous business at the Vanity in Windsor, has been plugged consistently with heralds, newspaper teasers, paper napkins distributed in restaurants, painted with the title in red Chinese letters. One of Bob’s favorite stories is the one about the lady patron who told him that if the picture was not as dirty as she heard it was, she wanted her money back. Keep on slinging your mud, Bob. * * RH MILEY, JR., the genial manager of the Granada in Napanee, had a boy pushing a vacuum cleaner along the street with card reading “I am cleaning the streets with this vacuum cleaner—If you think this is funny you should see Abbott & Costello in ‘Hold That Ghost’.” * ae 2 me N “Face Behind The Mask” & “The Devil Commands” the Rex, London, had its heralds headlined with “Superman fainted ae *!when he saw this monstrous hor ror show” he * ICK FREEMAN, the new mananager ‘of the Pix, Toronto, is right in his stride. He’s all set for making his theatre one of the top houses. On leaving the Kenwood his staff presented him with beautiful Ronson lighter. Keep that flame burning high, Dick. = te Sati April 8th, 1942 TEVI McMANUS of the Bayview, Toronto, is running a contest for the month of April to be known as “The Manager’s Birthday in April,’’ the idea being to guess the date—the bait being a few guest tickets. Preparations are also being made here for dolling up the front of the theatre for the Spring Festival. Do we perchance hear the tinkle of bells, Steve, intermingled with all this Spring Festival? Will it be about June? Hopalong, Cassidy McMannus, we're rooting for you. x a EITH WILSON of the Tivoli, Kingston, ran a Horror Show. He used the Faint check gag. These were large-sized _ tickets printed with copy, and at one end printed with large letters: “Faint Check.”’ Also copy reading: ‘If you happen to faint during the showing of the Double Horror And Thrill Show at the Tivoli starting—bring this check back for admission to a milder show . . We Dare You To See Them!” i Ee Oshawa Stuart Gillespie had a peep show placed in a store window on “It Started With Eve.” Nice idea, Stuart, keep ’em peep ing. DISS PATTERSON, of the Opera House, Orillia, ran a Blon die contest on “Blondie Goes to College.” He tied up with Wool worth’s and two drug stores, ar ranging for a color window. a * bd = % te Boe BROWN, manager of the Vanity, Windsor, will celebrate his fifth anniversary with Twentieth Century Theatres and Vanity Theatres Limited on April 12th. The milestone finds him well and still going strong. “I would like,” Bob says, “to express cordial greetings to my friends and associates during those inspiring years.” Congrats, Bob, old boy. Many happy returns. HEATING AND VENTILATING CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERS OUI ;