20th Century-Fox Dynamo (June 3, 1939)

12A . NEW DYNAMO “Young Mr. Lincoln Special’ * NEWSY SPLINTERS FROM WORLD PREMIERE Eddie Collins Gets an Ovation! By ROGER FERRI I T’S not all over. This world premiere in Springfield, 111., and the Coast premiere are just the beginning for Darryl Za- nuck’s “Young Mr. Lincoln.” These two showings indicate the possibilities of this great attrac- tion—and its terrific mass audi- ence appeal. If you who may have seen “Young Mr. Lincoln” in a cold projection room, think it’s great, you’d get an even greater thrill to sit in a theatre audience and watch the latter’s reaction. And what a reaction! The women get the biggest kick out of it. And that is GREAT news, for it is the patronage of the fair sex that sends any en- tertainment vehicle on its merry way to box office success. And “Young Mr. Lincoln” with its romance, its comedy, its heart- aches—well, it’s just what Dr. Box Office prescribed for the times—and how the womenfolks love it! • W E SAT between two ladies at the premiere at the Fox- Lincoln. One was a woman of about 60. The other a young lady of about 28. Guess it must have been our tuxedo that made them talkative. But what an audible reaction they furnished. They made good use of their handkerchiefs, too. And they laughed loud and long at the humor loosened by young Lin- coln. And the romantic scenes, first with Pauline Moore as Ann Rutledge and then with Mar- jorie Weaver as the Todd belle, brought such expressions as “beautiful,” “aren’t they a grand couple?”, etc., etc. When the showing was over they applaud- ed vociferously—and you’d think they were there determined not to stop until the players stepped out of the screen to take a well- deserved bow. H ENRY FONDA, after this, will rank with the greatest actors of our time. And don’t forget that! Everywhere there was praise for him. All of the critics voted his performance the best seen so far on the screen. You know, here in Springfield they have been hearing so much about Lincoln year after year that anyone attempting to char- acterize him has no easy task to perform. Here the folks figure him a neighbor. And to hear some of them tell, you are made to feel that Abe is still around town. They speak of him as a neighbor who could write his own ticket. And when Hank Fonda won Springfieldians over —and we are not thinking of the day’s visitors—he accomplished the seemingly impossible. Lamar Trotti’s young Mr. Lincoln was as fascinating to Springfieldians as he will be to millions every- where. • 'WEE’LL never forget the thrill ” we got when Marian Ander- son, her head thrown back, flanked by notables, proudly and inspiredly sang “America.” The word “beautiful” does not begin to do justice, not only to her rendition but to the effect her singing had on her audience. As she sang one’s mind wandered down the lane of yesteryear, re- calling all he learned about American history — and made you proud you were on this side of the Atlantic and Pacific, and born in this heaven among the world’s nations. • 'T'ELL your exhibitors to posi- -*■ tively lay off contacting the historical or educational socie- ties in their advance exploita- tion of “Young Mr. Lincoln.” This is not that sort of a pic- ture. This is great entertain- ment—and it would be a great story even if the character were not Abe Lincoln. Bear that in mind. Make certain exhibitors utilize the advertising campaign outlined in the press book. This is NO educational picture. Lay off the highbrow stuff. Stay away from tieups with societies of any kind. Address the every- day theatregoer, the women, the youngsters—they’ll love it. It is THEIR picture. Throw away the kid gloves, the high hat and the history books. Get down to earth. Sell the comedy, the ro- mance and the suspense that marks the greatest trial scene ever mirrored on the silver sheets. • N OT only did this premiere prove that “Young Mr. Lin- coln” is one of the most enjoy- able, best produced entertain- ments of this or any year—thou- sands will second that by now— but it also set Eddie Collins with the critics whose daily writings are read by millions. And Ed won them the minute he appeared on the train platform at the railroad station. They fought for his autograph—and he kept them in high humor everywhere. By 5 o’clock in the afternoon the whole town was asking for and clamoring to see Eddie Collins. After the show- ing at the Fox-Lincoln he was so besieged by people one feared people would trample him. (Look who’s talking!) • M erchants cashed in on the thousands who poured into town from all directions on Monday night. The tourists’ camps did a capacity business. Houses that never had a boarder displayed “Rooms for rent.” And they did a turnaway business. A carnival sought to play a sub- urban spot, but no license was available, for while it was a holiday, from every perspective, the entire premiere was put on with dignity and in a manner that brought new honors to this company, and that made the city of Springfield frankly proud. Its officials left no doubt about that. • 'C 1 LEVEN banners hung across " principal downtown streets left no doubt that this was one world premiere that goes down into Springfield history as some- thing they’ll be telling their grandchildren in the years to come. They hurried the annual Memorial Day parade so that everybody could get down to the railroad station to welcome the stars. • TF THERE is anything that in- volves promotion — if you want $1,000 for a dollar’s outlay —we suggest that you contact Louis (Give-Me) Davidson. He even promoted the State of Illi- nois to turn over about 75 per- cent of the state troopers to the city for service at the premiere! • N OT only did “Young Mr. Lin- coln” provide Springfield- ians and for Illinois people resi- dent in a radius of 150 miles of this city, with their most joyous day since Armistice Day, but it also marked the advent of Sum- mer. The sun was never hotter, but everybody was so busy en- joying the day’s program they did not realize to what degree they were being toasted until thev tossed off the garments— and wrestled their way into a tuxedo. • A T THE city line there were scores of farm wagons in which farmers brought their families to town! None of these vehicles were permitted to come into town, which was literally choked with automobiles. • T'' HE taxicabs did a record business. The manager of the local cab company informed your representative that busi- ness was up 2,000 per cent, which gives you an idea of how this usually quiet town stepped on Memorial Day. • TY ALLAS Manager Herman R. " Beirsdorf phones us from Dallas to report the enthusiasm of Bob O’Donnell and his Inter- state Circuit staff over “Young Mr. Lincoln.” We asked a news- paper friend to wire us his ob- servations and report on the pre-release opening at Houston, Tex., on Thursday. If he sent this report you’ll find it on an- other page in this special edi- tion. • r T'HE womenfolk came to town with new dresses and what not, but wisely they forget them and slipped into comfortable clothing. They go in for com- fort down here! And you never saw a more comfortable crowd at any opening nor on the streets of any city. • ’C'lVE proud Grand Army vet- erans of Stephenson Post No. 300 of the G.A.R. shared top honors with the stars at the premiere. They were also the stars of the civic parade in the morning. a T HE press book display ad- vertising campaign was used to usher in “Young Mr. Lin- coln.” The real test of the effec- tiveness of this sort of cam- paign came Wednesday when the general public was admitted. Seventy per cent of the crowds that saw the picture that after- noon and night constituted youngsters, mostly girls. • 'C' VERY one of the writers agreed that Henry Fonda’s portrayal of young Lincoln qualifies him for consideration for the Academy award for the year’s best performance. Cer- tainly, this characterization pushes Fonda to the top of the list and tremendously increases his popularity. • 'T’HERE never was and there never will be a grander trouper than Alice Brady. Not- withstanding illness, she went through the strenuous program without a complaint. Her talks penetrated the hearts of her lis- teners. What a grand person Alice is—and this is one stage star who has not “gone Holly- wood.” On the contrary, she’s a grander person! • "C'ROM Charlie McCarthy’s hard-working staff, including Rodney Bush, Earl Wingart, Leonard Gaynor, Christy Wil- bert, Lou Davidson, Bill Cham- bliss and Jeannette Sauer, ex- hibitors around these parts learned about modern showman- ship. They’ll never forget this opening! Neither Broadway nor Hollywood ever staged a more elaborate or spectacular affair— and all in excellent taste that brought added good-will to the company. • TN ONE week Marian Ander- son and her manager, Mr. Hurok, will have covered 7,000 miles. From the World’s Fair in New York, where she sang Sun- day, this great Negro contralto came to Springfield, 111. She pulled out of here on a sleeper Wednesday morning, connecting with a streamliner that took her to Los Angeles for the Coast premiere of “Young Mr. Lin- coln” Friday night. Saturday morning she was scheduled to leave L. A. for Washington, D. C., where on Thursday she will sing at the White House at the reception President and Mrs. Franklin Delano Roosevelt are giving for Their Britannic Ma- jesties. • S AM SHAIN, editor of Motion Picture Daily, stopped off in Springfield en route to New York from California, loaded down with a wagon full of lug- gage, golf sticks, tennis racquets and what not. And the ther- mometer registered 92. Sam must have sweated off 10 pounds. His comment: “What a picture! I’d have gladly swum here to see a picture like this one. John Ford never directed a better pic- ture.” • M ayor john w. kapp, jr., proved a king of hosts. He anticipated the visitors’ every wish—and the folks left Spring- field feeling no city has a finer group of officials. They certain- ly turned the city over to the company and its guests. a A ROUND town all afternoon moved a lanky character who certainly looked like Lin- coln himself, bearded and all. But the Lincoln the folks were interested in Tuesday wore no beard—a young, fun-loving Abe, who never was happier than when telling or listening to a joke. J IMMY SILEO headed the New Dynamo staff of photog- raphers who covered the pre- miere from every angle, as the photographic reproduction?, (Continued on page 14A) MR. WOBBER’S INSTRUCTIONS ON HANDLING OF CHEERED “YOUNG MR. LINCOLN” By HERMAN WOBBER == The proper handling of “Young Mr. Lincoln” is of utmost importance and we urge you to do everything possible to see that every conceivable advantage is taken tending the right presentation of this picture. The Adsales Manager must make a prominent display of all possible material—and New Dynamo gives you plenty of such material in this very issue. It is important that Adsales Managers and their departments make every effort to point out to all accounts the wisdom and necessity of using more advertising material on “Young Mr. Lincoln.” You have been well supplied with such acces- sories and we want an extra effort made on their sale. You have been given everything to properly present this great entertainment in your every situation. It is the job of every man in the sales organization to get behind “Young Mr. Lincoln” with a vigorous, extra effort! We want all to assist the Adsales Department in effecting great sales of advertising material on this picture. We want managers, salesmen and bookers to assure themselves that every effort is being made by exhibitors to properly exploit this attraction. “Young Mr. Lincoln” is one of the most commercial pro- ductions this industry has created this year. It is entertain- ment that will appeal to all types of theatregoers, old and young alike. We don’t want anyone to do anything that would leave theatregoers to believe this is a preachment, or that this picture’s bid for popularity is based on historic contents. We say “Young Mr. Lincoln” is one of the greatest entertain- ments ever produced. We know this picture will give a much better account of itself from the very beginning of every engagement if every exhibitor is permitted to see it in advance. We are anxious that all see “Young Mr. Lincoln” before the engagement. Screen “Young Mr. Lincoln” for as many exhibitors as possible. By all means, see that you get the proper house and the proper length of run on “Young Mr. Lincoln.” The studio has done its part. It is now for us and our accounts to capitalize what the studio has done. We have one of the greatest motion pictures this industry has boasted in “Young Mr. Lincoln.”