Canadian Film Weekly (Sep 2, 1942)

Page 6 Bie re your gas, come and relax, take a movie vacation. Thrill to Maria Montez, the screen’s new blaze of excitement in ‘South of Tahiti. On the same program ‘About Face,’ another army Laugh Blitz’! This is what Douglas Petterson, of the Regent, Creighton Mines, offered his patrons. The patrons liked it and the results were most satisfying. On ‘Larceny Inc’ Doug gave away ‘free cigarette lighters’. This consisted of a match enclosed in an envelope with copy: ‘‘Courtesy of Edward G. Robinson, boss of Lareny Inc.” All around town half-sheets were placed which read ‘‘For sale cheap! A slight case of Hysterics, containing 1,000 laffs, 730 Howls and 875 Roars. Will sacrifice 838 Thrills at no extra cost. Act quickly and see —etc.” Studios Protest at Argentine Ban Film company representatives in Argentina are not taking the Axis-inspired ban of ‘49th Parallel” and ‘Secret Agent of Japan” lying down. The mild protests that followed the government order to withdraw “Nazi Spy” in 1939 and “The Great Dictator” in 1940 are a thing of the past. Film men have registered vigorous protests at the latest action. “Secret Agent of Japan’ and “49th Parallel” were ordered off Argentine screens when Nazi and Jap diplomats protested their showing. The government’s excuse was that United Nations films were violating Argentine neutrality—a tongue-in-cheek reason considering that German documentary films have been getting uninterferred-with runs. The tactics of the government in this regard are highly unpopular with the average citizen, who sides with the democracies and would like nothing better than to see Argentina at Brazil’s side as a United Nations ally in South America. The latest is that the censor is considering a ban on the victory slogans, symbols and emblems that are used on films and ads, such as “V.” There are signs that the USA is tired of the type of dangerous nonsense being indulged in by pro-Axis Argentine diplomats and will lay the law down at any time. Ferg Martin Enlists Fergus Martin, popular member of Famous Players’ Audit Department, has enlisted in the 48th Highlanders. The boys farwelled Ferg in fitting style. CONTRIBUTED BY CANADIAN SHQWMEN FOR CANADIAN SHOWMEN Canadian FILM WEEKLY A} @ Contributions to this column will be greatly appreciated from any member of the motion picture industry, from coast to coast, whether he has chain affiliations or is strictly independent. Address all letters to “What Did You Do?” c /o Film Weekly 21 Dundas Sq., Toronto, Ont. L PERLEY, Midtown Toronto, on a campaign for ‘Kid Glove Killer,” held a special preview. Among those present, were Roly Young of the Globe and Mail, Jack Karr of the Toronto Daily Star, Miss Allen, Evening Telegram, Chief Detective Coulter and party, Mr. Cuddy of the Chemical Laboritory Resea rch Investigation Bureau, etc. This film was most interesting to all and the scribes who were present, gave it a very attractive writeup in their respective papers. Teaser calling cards were printed with “A killer leaves his calling card.” These were enclosed in detective magazines and wmewspapers. Hangers were placed on every available doorknob, including automobiles etc. For “Wife Takes a Flyer’’—Al invited No. 2 Division, RCAF, Manning Depot, to see the picture. Traffic was stopped to allow the men to enter the theatre. After they were comfortably seated in the theatre, the Midtown’s goodlooking usherettes passed through the audience handing out cigarettes to the boys, which all added to the happy atmosphere. Flying Officer Greening, the handsome Commandant of No. 2 Squadron, who a short time ago was acting on Broadway in “Sailor Beware” and other stage successes, was loud in his praise, and on behalf of the boys and himself, gave a very hearty vote of thanks to Al Perley and the Midtown Theatre for a very grand and entertaining afternoon. And said he wasn’t even thinking of the usherettes. The boys left in high spirits, taking along teaser cards for the Midtown’s next attraction to give to the boys at Manning Depot. * * * RAY ATKINS, Kenwood, Toronto, arranged a window tieup with Metropolitan stores. He promoted a quantity of RCAF equipment including a Bomb Sight which attracted widespread attention. Window cards, heralds, RCAF photographs displayed in the lobby, an eye-catching banner, plush streamers and flags attached to the marquee, completed the campaign. ‘ . Ro TIEDE, Century, Trenton, rigged up a display in an empty store window. The display consisted of a large paper banner, covering practically the entire window space on one side. In the window, one sheet 11 x 14’s surrounded by army rifles, respirators, hand _ grenades, _ steel helmets and gas capes. These tied in well with his feature, ‘‘Bombs Over Burma”, = = * OR “Always In My Harland Rankin, Chatham, arranged a P.A. System with loud speaker atop of the marquee, making announcements before and after playing the feature songs. Co-operative heralds were distributed throughout the district. | * * * i | Fitment s REID, Park, Chatham, arranged a campaign on “Blackout” with an entire false front on the theatre doors and frames were covered with blackout paper. Peep holes were left so that passersby could see through to the 11 x 14’s and 22 x 28’s displayed in frames, Entire top of marquee held 20 inch cutout letters spelling “BLACKOUT.” On “Broadway Ltd.” Frank had throwaways made up to look like railway tickets. These made quite a hit. Heart” Centre, * * * “NOBODY talks more than the barber,” says Bob Brown, of the Vanity, Windsor. Whenever Bob wants a big word-of-mouth campaign, he tosses it right. into the lap of the local barber, who immediately lathers it on thick with every shave. When in doubt see your local barber! * * * REE: BOOK, Geneva, Orillia, had a teaser display in his lobby which read, ‘Warning! We will not be responsible for buttons. Sew them on tight, so that they will stand lots of hearty laffs while seeing Abbott and Costello in ‘Rio Rita.’" Another teaser placed in the outside shadow boxes read: “No tires? No gas? Don’t worry, just take a trip on our ‘Luxury Screenliner’ via the Geneva theatre.” Below this the month's attractions were listed. September 2, 1942 MR aSLON SALTER, Community, Hamilton, ran an “Indoor Picnic” for his young patrons. Preston made a house-to-house canvas, introducing himself and his theatre. Where there were children, he left an invitation card, which read: ‘Community theatre district children’s indoor picnic. Free Admission, Cartoons, Comedy and Stage Fun. Admit one—9.30 to 10 A.M. on Friday.” Space was left for the name, address, age and birthday of the child. Preston feels that this is bringing in a lot of good publicity and good will. Howard King of the Cinema, Toronto, and Art Magee of the Community, Toronto, have both followed up on this picnic idea with very gratifying results. 20th-Fox Sets March of Time First issue of the March of Time which Twentieth CenturyFox will distribute under the terms of the contract recently signed by presidents of both companies, will be titled “The FBI Front” and is scheduled for release September lith. This subject will be known as Vol. 9, No. 1 and will be followed by the second release, as yet unannounced, on October 9th and a new subject released every fourth week. Producer Louis de Rochemont and a staff of twenty-five technical and production experts were in York. Me., last week filming the last scenes for “The FBI Front,” with the Federal Bureau of Investigation cooperating on this location trip. In notifying the branch offices of the release date for the first March of Time, Twentieth Century-Fox sales executives recounted the outstanding box office record established by timely and often controversial releases of world-wide events and emphasized the importance of March of Time in supplementing Fox-Movietonews which has done a particularly fine iob of covering World War II on all fronts. Union Asks $3,000,000 Because of Bioff Bribe Local 306 of New York, IATSE, is sueing Loew’s and the RKO booking office for $3,750,000, which they claim was lost to them in wages when George BE. Browne and Willie Bioff took a bribe to keep them from getting raises, They say the bribes from RKO and Loew’s caused a reduction of their wages from $2.12 per hour to $1.87. They signed a _ ten-year agreement. Now they want $3,000,000 back pay and a new contract that will bring them $750,000 more. ~