Canadian Film Weekly (May 13, 1942)

Page 6 War Services Committee Meets A meeting was held last week of the Canadian Motion Picture War Services Committee at which it was decided to form a Toronto film committee to assist in the coming Red Cross Campaign. “With N. L. Nathanson acting as chairman, the meeting chose Nat A. Taylor as chairman of the Red Cross committee, with Gordon Lightstone as vice-Chairman and Ed H. Wells as secretary. Also under discussion was the forthcoming War Savings Certificate campaign, which will coincide with a similar drive in the United States. The committee selected to arrange for motion picture co-operation comprises Nat A. Taylor, Lt.-Col. John A. Cooper, Morris Stein and Tom Bragg. Ray Lewis acted in her regular capacity of secretary at the session. Others present were Harry Alexander, Morris Stein, Herb Allen, Clair Hague, Oscar Hanson and those mentioned above in other matters. Seaman F. Polakoff Home on Leave Home on leave on hisfirst furlough in a long time, Seaman Frank Polakoff, son of the popular Lou, is On the Square helloing and being helloed. Frank looks in the pink. He’s dropped any excessive weight he had, sports a beautiful tan and looks husky enough to sink the Von Tirpitz with a right hand punch. Frank’s eyes have taken in a lot of territory since he donned the King’s blue. He was one of the first to answer the call to arms, which gives him almost three years of scanning the waves. Many a good tale he has to tell, too. When the ship’s larder needs restocking the commander, in many instances, has to take what he can get at whatever port the ship is in at the time. In one case, it was in a country that exported turkeys to the USA. So they took on turkeys. Every day was Thanksgiving for the longest time. But Frank, having been in picture business, was used to turkeys—which, for the benefit of you uninitiated, is slang for floperoo. Red Cross Film In 500 Situations Five hundred theatres throughout Canada will be assisting the 1942 drive for $9,000,000 to be staged by the Canadian Red Cross Society in May. At least that number of motion picture screens are expected to play the one-reel short ‘‘There Too, Go I”. Gar L PERLEY, of the Kenwood, Toronto, on ‘Target For ToNight,” placed a large target on the sidewalk, adjacent to the theatre, with printed copy telling of the towns and cities recently bombed in France and Germany. Persons passing the theatre must either step on this target or around it. Practically everyone read the message. A large spotlight was directed right on the target from under the marquee. A “Diddle Contest” is also under way at this theatre for the lively Saturday matinee patrons. Free sweaters are given to the winners. * * * (OR the “Lady Is Willing’? Bob Brown of the Vanity, Windsor, had small cards distributed to the hotels, drug stores, restaurants, etc. The cards read: “The lady is willing’ and the phone number of the theatre was printed beneath. These cards brought many laughs, much talk, and many phone calls. On “Sleepy Time Gal’ Bob used two street gags. One, a girl with pig tails carrying a suit case and an alarm clock, had a sign on her back reading: “I’m on my way to see Judy Canova in ‘Sleepy Time Gal’ at the Vanity Theatre.” The other street ballyhoo was a boy in blue overalls and straw hat, walking up and down the street, plugging the picture. Heralds were distributed playing up the riotous fun angle, copy reading ‘It’s corn, but you’ll love it.’ Cobs of corn on the cover, with catch-line: “The most delightful corn you’ve ever seen.” * = L STEPHENS, of the Granada, Dunnville, had telegram forms printed for “49th Parallel.’ These were marked “Urgent,” delivered from door to door and addressed to John Doe, Dunnville. They read as follows: “This mesSage received: “CANADA INVADED—Dunnville Focal Point for three days April 30-May 1-2— Knowledge is Power—See ‘49th Parallel’ at the Granada Theatre, these dates. (signed) M. R. Stephens.” * ! XOID week in Cobourg gave Pete Harrison, of the Capitol, a swell opening for some live publicity. Co-operating with the Medical Health Officer, he gave passes to all the children that were inoculated. He in turn announced this in the theatre, all the schools, and also at a doctor's banquet. The stunt received a great many favorable comments from the local doctors and should help pile up a heap of good will. % oa Canadian FILM WEEKLY ALPH TIEDE, who has been transferred from the Geneva, Orillia, and who is now managing the Century, Trenton, invited a unit of the local militia to the theatre during the showing of “Tanks A Million.” This brought a couple of free write-ups in the local papers and did much to introduce Ralph to the new community. Both writeups played up the picture as swell Army comedy. Good stuff, Ralph, a few more stunts like this and you'll be a real native. se x od RT MAGEE, of the Community, Toronto, in preparation for the Blackout, had his sign writer paint a sign for the boxoffice telling his patrons about the inside boxoffice. He went over the letters on the sign with luminous paint. The operation was successful and now Art is all ready for the call of the siren. a x * (PECEGS STROUD, manager of the Palace Theatre, Hamilton, arranged a tieup on “Rio Rita’ with the local agent of Saturday Evening Post, who _ distributed placards to newsstands and United Cigar stores reading: “READ Abbott and Costello’s Rise to Stardom in the Saturday Evening Post —and SEE Abbott and Costello at the Palace starting Friday.” oo * a WHOLEHEARTED welcome awaits our newcomer to this column, Preston Salter, of the Community Theatre, Hamilton. Hope to see you here early and often. On the feature, “Kisses For Breakfast,’ Preston had envelopes made enclosing a candy kiss in each one, handing these to couples as they entered the _ theatre. Watch out, Preston, that these things don’t backfire. * a * RED THOMPSON ran a boxing contest on the stage of the Rex Theatre, London, that went over in a big way. A suggestion was also made, that all boys join an athletic club to learn the art of self defense for themselves and their country. * * * RNIE WARREN, of the Midtown, Toronto, on “Blues Of The Night” contacted local distributors of the “Juke’’ boxes and supplied them with gummed streamers for use inside of the glass fronts. Over 400 of these were used and proved to be a valuable plug. Extra streamers with the same copy were used by several of the larger music stores, as the copy was appropriate for both. May 13, 1942 In Management The Department of Motion Pictures of the Washington Square College of Arts and Sciences, New York University, announces the appointment of Michael Zala as Lecturer in Motion Picture Theatre Management. This is the first such course offered in any college or university. Professor Robert Gessner, chairman of the Department, declared that “any educational institution training creative talent for writing and production must also study the needs and problems of production, distribution and exhibition. A potential writer improves his technique by understanding the difficulties of exhibition. In creating this course in Motion Picture Theatre Management, we feel that this important though neglected field will eventually profit by the addition of trained personnel.” Mr. Zala has been affiliated with theatre management since 1927, when he became the conductor of a theatre orchestra. For three years thereafter he was a New York state circuit theatre manager and in 1931 he became Manager of the EHighth Street Playhouse. The course in theatre management will begin in September and will be continued through June 1943. Students working towards a degree will be credited with four points for the academic year. The course will also be open for persons who wish to study the technique of theatre management and continue in this work as a career. The class will meet for two hours every week at a time that will not interfere with those students who are employed during the day. Thieves Prowl Through Hamilton Theatre Last week an attempt was made to rob the Capitol theatre, King street east, Hamilton, Ontario, during the early hours of Sunday morning. It’s an Odeon house. The night watchman of the theatre found an exit door open when he reported for work on Sunday. He notified the detective department and investigation revealed the thief had ransacked the desks in the mamager’s office. No money was found in the desk drawers. An attempt had aiso been made to break open the candy-dispensing machine in the lobby. Roadshowings for "This Above All’ Twentieth Century-Fox’s version of Eric Knight’s novel, “This Above All,” which stars Tyrone Power and Joan Fontaine, will get two-a-day presentation. The book was a best seller and the fact that the picture has been awaited _] anxiously provided the idea. e