Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 29, 1942)

id April 29th, 1942 Schenck Boosts Lew Ayres with MGM, was supposed to have given a much-quoted interview in which he condemned Lew Ayres for his recent action. But Mr. Schenck denies that he ever made such statement. On the contrary, he had nothing but praise for Lew Ayres, as he reveals in the following open letter to the actor. “The newspapers this week have carried a story from Miami which has distressed me deeply because things I said have been misquoted. These are the facts: “During an informal dinner in my home at Miami Beach, where I spent a few days, you were being discussed and severely criticized. I felt that my guests should know you as I do. It was not my province to judge your philosophy or the road you have taken. I said: ‘Since Lew Ayres is not with us, since this boy is away at camp, I can speak as an individual and not as the head of a company in which he is a star.’ ‘I told my guests that you were one of the finest men it has ever been my privilege to know, a person of utter sincerity. I explained to them that you had asked your country to send you to the front lines as an ambulance driver no matter how great the risk, that it was your hope to save human lives, that you could not kill. In this connection, I told them a fact with which they were not familiar, that you did not eat fish or meat or anything that had to be killed. I told them that in all Hollywood there was no more charitable individual, that there was no cause for which you did not give bountifully. I pointed out specifically the splendid work you have been doing for the Red Cross. I told them that you not only made large contributions of money, but that day and night, apart from your studio duties, you had devoted yourself to conducting classes in first aid. “Among those present was a Miami newspaperman. He expressed great interest in many of these statements, was delighted to get a true picture of an individual who has been misunderstood. Mind you, at no time did I discuss or express agreement with the stand you have taken. Frankly, I must confess that I have never understood your position. It is a peculiarity beyond my personal comprehension. “What you saw in the papers was a distressing misrepresentation, doubtless unintentional. I wanted you to know.” ( Nicholas M. Schenck, president] (_) of Loew’s Inc., which is tied up eS SS EO COYLE, of the Granada, St. Catharines, created much talk and interest in “Bitter Sweet” when he telephoned to all the leading musicians in the city, giving them the highlights and playdates of the picture. He had cards placed in nearby towns and also in the Military Camp at Niagara. ed * u ILL PAYNE of the Granada, St. Thomas, on “Blues In The Night” had tieups with several music stores. A co-operative ad was given by one of these stores and a tieup with Kresge’s on the same feature was a full corner window with song sheets and records. A one-sheet with copy was used as a background and a revolving disc with copy and music centered the window. ws a s os RANK REID of the Park. Chatham, issued STOP & GO teasers this week. These were folded, the outside reading “STOP —before it’s too late’’ and the inside reading “Enjoy a good Movie Vacation in April, etc. GO and see ‘Week End Vacation in Havana,’ etc.” *% “: * E lads in the booth at the ‘ Centre, London, are keen on making their show one of the best and are continually drumming up little ideas with the help of colored gelatine, effective slides, tinted feature titles and shorts. This all tends to add a soft, relaxing atmosphere. After one Community Sing, when “There’ll Always Be an England” was played, a Union Jack effect slide was flashed on the whole front of the stage. This gets a big hand every time and is a real snappy arrangement. Nice work, boys, it sure does make a difference when you fellows up in the cage put your hearts as well as your hands into the job. 4 & s = * x TEWART GILLESPIE of the Marks, Oshawa, stirred up a lively plug on “Ride ’em Cowboy.” A horse and rider with copy banners placed on each side of the saddle pranced down the street. This was a show horse that waltzed around and attracted a very great deal of attention. ‘ * & MM“ PHILLIPS of the Regent, Sudbury, on “To Be or Not To Be,” plugged this picture in a tieup with local merchants whose ads gave the picture a boost. Spotted photos of local girls who have enlisted in the Forces, set in the different ads. sold the idea. > Canadian FILM WEEKLY At the beginning of each Sun day Midnite show from about 12.01 to 12.20, Len Herbert of the Centre, London, presents ‘The Band of the Week.” He runs the latest records on the Non Sync. These records are supplied by Heintzman & Co. in return for a credit slide on the screen. Each week a different band is presented with the newest recordings. Five thousand small-sized heralds were put out, the cost being split. These are handed to patrons when leaving the theatre. The piano firm handed them out from the record department, several dance halls gave them out and more were placed in busy restaurants. In fact, the whole town was covered with them. A good time was had by all, for to quote Len ‘‘The whole town went nuts trying to sing the ‘Zoot Song’ which was printed on one side of the herald.” * * a DETE HARRISON, of the Cap itol, Cobourg, tied up with a window display showing the com plete new army outfit. He thus! got the interest of the local Legion who gave the picture plenty of boosts. “ ms a % T ES VICARY of the Geneva, Orillia. arranged a large RCAF flag and several small flags on top of the marauee and boxoffice, getting these through the courtesy of the RCAF. A tieup with Woolworth’s arranged a window display on the “Be An Airman” game. They also featured an Airman Sundae at their soda fountain. Another display in a jeweler’s window consisted of several clocks, each one set for the correct time. in different parts of the world, the main clock giving the correct time to see the feature at the Geneva theatre. x x E’VE heard of v quaint objects being found in a theatre, but the find of last Saturday—a live baby in the wash room of the Vanitv theatre. Windsor, tops them all. Could it have been that kind and motherly face of Bob Brown, the genial manager, that warranted this action? b= * & o R. PLUMB was the lucky winner of the Foto-Nite prize at the Rex theatre in London. Mr. Plumb is an employee of the CNR car shops. The prize money, 2 cheque for $200.00, was duly presented by Fred Thompson, manager of the Rex, and exhibited in the car shops, causing quite 'a sensation among the workers. Page 7 ea Hollywood Jottings Humphrey Bogart assigned by Warner Bros. to leading role in “Casablanca,” Hal B. Wallis production telling a story of American war refugees in French Morocco ... Ann Rutherford gets lead opposite George Montgomery in 20th’s “Coney Islend,” her first role since joining that studio... Craig Stevens borrowed by Republic from -Warner Bros. for romantic lead opposite Jane Frazee in “Tahiti Honey” Universal signs John Boles and Kay Francis for featured roles in “‘Love and Kisses, Caroline.’”’ Bonita Granville, Ilka Chase, Gladys Cooper, John Loder and Lee Patrick given important roles in “Now, Voyager,’ new Bette Davis-Paul Henreid starrer at Warner Bros. . . . Evelyn Brent returns to Paramount after several years’ absence for featured role in “Wrecking Crew” .. . Rita Quigley goes to 20th from Paramount for important role in ‘The Postman Didn’t Ring” ... Andre Charlot, producer of the famed “Charlot Revues,” makes film debut in Warner Bros.’ “The Con‘stant Nymph” . .. Philip Dorn has lead in Metro’s “Random Harvest.” James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland, -Charles Boyer and Joan Bennett among first Hollywood stars selected for Victory Caravan, which will tour country for Army and Navy Relief funds... Six-year-old Patty Hale, who made film debut in ‘Always In My Heart,” has contract renewed at Warner Bros... . Joan Crawford, anxious tq produce as well as act, will first try her hand on a short at MGM ... 20th Century-Fox to release Tyrone Power, its No. 1 boxoffice personality, to the Navy after “The Black Swan” is completed. “The Male Animal” asserting himself at Pomona College, where student officers of the ROTC have decreed that if their honorary co-ed officers want to wear uni some very, forms they also must drill... Walter Huston plays his third unbilled role in a picture his son John directs when he does a drunk bit in “Across the Pacific,” at Warner Bros. .. . Abbott and Costello buy complete new uniforms for Father Flanagan’s Boys Town baseball club . .. Ricardo Cortez turns from acting and directing to become an agent, NFB's Russian Short The National Film Board’s newest issue of the “World in Action” series, “Inside Fighting Russia,”” opened at Shea's, Toronto, on April 24th. Soviet war reels are big audience stuff now, and NFB’s record of hits guarantees this one.