Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 4, 1945)

July 4, 1945 British Accentuate Star Publicity (Continued from Page 1) long time that it will be necessary to make their stars known all over the world as part of their fundamental commercial program. The first campaign of its kind has now been launched by Gainsborough Pictures under the leadership of Maurice Ostrer in order to reach the British public. This campaign is taking the form of bus and subway cards, each one of which carries a plug for a particular star. According to reports thus far received, the general public is being made star-conscious in a big way through this method, and Ostrer points out that the advertising benefits not only Gainsborough and the stars, but also the theatre chain managers who play the pictures, and even the industry as a whole. The panels include attractive new portraits of the stars together with slogans describing their personalities and a list of their latest films. The scheme allows for six changes a year for each star. This London campaign is only the beginning of a vast drive, for it is proposed to extend this bus and subway service to all large provincial cities as well as London. Although the basic idea of car advertising is by no means new, the Gainsborough scheme represents the first attempt by British distributors to make their own. stars nationally famous. The first stars to be thus publicized are: Margaret Lockwood, Phyllis Calvert, Stewart Granger, Patricia Roc, Jean Kent and Anne Crawford. The first three are said to be the most popular stars in Britain today and in many places of the outlying districts they have a larger following than that of American stars. Comments by exhibitors thus far on the new campaign indicate they are very pleased with the idea, considering the campaign a direct aid to their own showings. The cards of each star are displayed just at a time when a new Gainsborough film is about to be released and the timing has been found to be extremely helpful for individual theatre campaigns. Sylvia Sydney Back Gets 7-yr Contract Sylvia Sydney has been signed to a new seven-year contract by producer William Cagney. Absent from the screen for four years, Miss Sydney recently made a stirring comeback in the United Artists release “Blood on the Sun,” co-starring with James Cagney. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Trouble a’‘Plenty In our last issue the ad for the golf tournament was printed over in red with ‘‘Postponed” and yet everyone was being advised to pay no attention. Back of that is a story about the last few hectic days before the tournament. It seems that Jack Arthur, Tom Daley and Len Bishop went out to Oakdale, a mess because of the bad weather, and had a rough time of it. Tom lost five balls in the mud and water. They were afraid that the grounds, still unmowed, wouldn’t be in shape. A postponement was decided on. Film Weekly was going to press and Martin Bloom, chairman of the grounds committee, was a hard man to find and notify. We caught our last form before the bindery got it and had the “Postponed” overprinted. Later that day Martin Bloom was informed and he transferred the info to the club. But the club wouldn’t stand for the postponement, vowing that the grounds would be in good shape and that not enough notice had been given. The caterer had made certain of his purchases and the help had been hired, and so on. So the tournament was on again. But it had gotten around and the favorite question became “Is it on or off?” Having been told that it was off, the boys were being told that it was on. Then they picked up Film Weekly and read that it was off. They had to be told again that it was on. By this time plenty of them couldn’t remember the right answer. The committeemen didn’t know whether they were on foot or on horseback—or whether it was 3 p.m. daylight saving time or Shrove Tuesday. That’s how confused we were. But it worked out okay, thanks to the timely retribution of the weather man. a * * Andy Pura’s tartan hat was a sensation on the course, dazzling the drivers and confusing the putters ... There’s always one mishap. Charlie Mavety gave a prize porker as a surprise prize. It was in a wired orange crate but when it came to time to award it Porky has broken out and disappeared into the surrounding farmlands. Since nobody knew the pig mating call, there was no way of coaxing him back. ‘‘Where’s the piggy?” shouted Walter Kennedy during the awards. “Keep quiet,” hollered back Percy Smith, ‘and nobody’ll know you're here!” It got the biggest laugh of the day ... Al Troyer, last year’s scorer, was on vacation . . . Syl Gunn, Bill O’Neil, Haskell Masters and Gord Lightstone also missed it this time, being away on business out of town that couldn’t wait ... Lou Fox nearly had his day spoiled by getting a flat on his way out but Garson, Soloway and company came to the rescue. Maybe Lou made it up in gin rummy... Most popular fellow at the tournament was George Lester, the popular old-timer. Dozens came over to shake his hand, glad to see him again. He, Jake Smith, Harry Alexander and others lingered in the lovely shade all afternoon talking about other days .. . The guys who take a real beating, as usual, are the guys who sell the tickets and have to make up the money they can’t account for ... Menzo Craig of Ridgetown was missed and missing this year . . . George Georgas of Owen Sound, a favorite, had an off day. Takes and Mistakes When Kon McClelland’s Circus Sween won a race at the Long Branch meet it cost Gordon Lightstone a few bucks, he having wagered the former that his hurrying hide wouldn’t win a start around here ... Ralph Dale laid Paul Maynard 5 to 1 for $10 and Dick Main bet $5 at the same odds that Paul wouldn’t shoot 95 or under by the first of August. This is Maynard’s first year in golf and he started with a 170 score. He’s been taking lessons from a pro, intent on grabbing the wager. Paul likes to put a little on himself and the other day I heard that Tom Daley sold his Maynard playing rights to Len Bishop for an unstated sum ... National Film Board has just issued a beautiful and informative booklet entitled “The Arts in Canada and the Film.” .. ‘Forest Commando,” the bear cub who was Warner’s Toronto mascot, has been presented to the Staten Island zoo. Joe Laflamme and Glenn Ireton found him while shooting the short for which he was named. Page 9 H Wood Filiniies Got Big Dough (Continued from Page 1) First place in this list went to Charles E. Wilson, president of General Motors, who was paid $459,041. Wilson’s is not necessary the top salary for 1943 as it is expected that a second list will be announced. Louis B. Mayer was the top wage earner in the USA in the previous year with a salary of $1,138,992 from Loew’s, Incorporated, but his name does not appear in the latest report. It is presumed that Mayer’s 1943 salary will be included in the second list. The only other industry personality to be included among the top ten in the first list was Charles Skouras, president of National Theatres Corporation and Fox West Coast Theatres. He placed tenth with a salary of $300,000. . Six places among the first ten went to General Motors executive men. Barbara Stanwyck might have ranked sixth with $323,333 but the period of her pay covered more than 12 months and thus was not comparable with the others. Among other top wage earners in the film world included in the list eleven received salaries ranging over $100,000. They were: Don Ameche, $247,667; Bob Hope, $244,583; Bette Davis, $241,083; Rosalind Russell, $202,500; Gary Cooper, $187,500; Ray Milland, $169,000; Paulette Goddard, $166,500; Alice Faye, $163,333; Claudette Colbert, $150,000; Jas. Cagney, $150,000, and Betty Grable, $124.000. Loretta Young received $90,666. Lucknow House Open The theatre at Lucknow, Ontario, now known as the Rex, was recently re-opened at a new location, after extensive redecoration and alteration. Rexford Ostrander is the proprietor. Complete Sound EQUIPMENT For Sale IN FIRST-CLASS CONDITION BOX 10 CANADIAN FilM WEEKLY