20th Century-Fox Dynamo (February 3, 1940)

6 NEW DYNAMO NEW YORK’ THIRD STRAIGHT ZANUCK B. 0. REVELATION! Continued from Page 2 made another significant re- mark: “I like the fighting spirit of 20th Century-Fox, the daring and enterprise of Zanuck. “Here’s a combination that is doing something about bringing people to theatres. It is not cutting down either quantity or quality in product. “ ‘Little Old New York’ is proof of that. My con- gratulations to Sid Kent, Joe Schenck and Darryl Za- nuck. They are proving themselves an unbeatable combination.” Sam Pinanski of Boston’s M. & P. circuit put it this way: “ ‘Little Old New York’ is great box office because it’s a great entertainment. Looks like Zanuck may have things all his own way this year.” Nearness to deadline pre- vents your correspondent from reporting all that he heard and saw. It was a great night—a great night for everybody who had anything to do with the creation of “Little Old New York.” And this premiere was a masterpiece in showmanship, for the ad- vance campaign was out- standing in every way. A Californian, Abe Ly- man, the famous orchestra leader, and Joan Abbott were elected “mayor” and “mayoress” of “Little Old New York” in a voting con- test sponsored by the Miami Daily News and in which virtually every notable ap- pearing in this city was a candidate. This contest was dramatically conducted and drew no end of attention to the premiere and to “Little Old New York.” Sonny Shepard, manager of the Lincoln, did a master- ful job in presenting “Little Old New York.” No picture this company has released this season, anywhere in the country, was pre- sented with the showman- ship, brilliance and expert- ness that marked the her- alding and opening of “Lit- tle Old New York.” This opening must be put down as one of the greatest pre- mieres in the history of this business. And for that statement you can take the word of such veterans and qualified showmen as Maj. Warner, Nathanson, Pinanski, Leo Spitz, Frank Orsatti, M. H. Shanberg and many others! They were swept off their feet by the ceremonies at- tending the opening—and by the picture. A squad of 45 policemen from Miami and Miami Beach was on hand. Every available mounted police- man was pressed into serv- ice. Traffic was reduced to a crawl down Lincoln Road. Elsewhere in this issue is published a partial list of the notables who were on hand. Nat Blank of Des Moines was among those who ap- plauded until his hands pained. He went along with the vociferous applause that came spontaneously with the fade-out of the last flicker. So huge was the turnout, the management had to commandeer portable chairs to accommodate many Never before had this been necessary in this sunkissed (?)town. The Miami Herald Thurs- day morning said: “ ‘Little Old New York’ will go down in Miami his- tory as one of its greatest event. “We mean not only the turnout, but the picture it- that the greatest audience ever to make its way into a Miami theatre should be on hand at the world premiere of ‘Little Old New York.’ “Darryl Zanuck has been working overtime, for he has monopolized the amuse- ment sections in the past three weeks with news of rare accomplishment. “The man who has appar- ently turned in his greatest achievement in ‘The Grapes of Wrath,’ a great selling book itself, has done all right with ‘Little Old New York’ and the ovation the picture got last night left no doubt about that. “Alice Faye, as charming as ever, never gave a better performance. See Richard Greene as Robert Fulton and you will understand why he is one of the 10 most popular stars on the screen. Fred MacMurray is at home. Brenda Joyce lives up to her early promise. “ ‘Little Old New York’ is a notable screen event. “It will bring out people in droves in any city and if it is handled as enthusiasti- cally in New York as it was here, there it should run on and on. It’s that sort of a picture. Everybody will like it.” Eddie Cohen of the Mi- ami Daily News: “It remained for Miami to show New York. “But it took a Zanuck pic- turization of old New York to give Miami its greatest screen thrill. “Lincoln Road became Hollywood Boulevard, Broadway, the Loop and Main Street wrapped up in- to one. “‘Little Old New York’ was advertised as one of the better attainments of Hollywood. It’s that—and a lot more. “In the audience were fa- mous producers from Hol- lywood, stage, screen, radio and night-club stars who know all the answers. “But, these applauded as sincerely as those who paid $1,315 (at $2 per ticket) to see ‘Little Old New York.’ It is a great picture.” New Yorkers like Jim Kilgallen, Damon Runyon, Walter Winchell, Louis So- bol, Nick Kenny and others cheered with the autograph- seekers. A1 Jolson, George Jessel, Joe Lewis, Lou Holtz and others were eager to ver- bally express their enthusi- asm. Wires galore were sent by these notables to Za- nuck, congratulating him on another box office natural. Sid Meyer and Mitchell Wolfson, heads of Wometco, told this writer: “In all the years we have been here we have never seen anything like this reception.” Mayor Everett Sewell of Miami and Mayor John H. Levi of Miami Beach were “frankly amazed,” as the former put it. The former, in fact, wired Mayor LaGuardia in New York: “You don’t know what you missed letting them take the opening of this picture here. But, we did all right. Maybe we’ll let you premiere ‘Sunny Mi- ami’ one of these days.” Strictly a gag that was, but Mayor Sewell author- ized the dispatching of that wire, for, as he put it: “That’s the truth!” Kleig lights and all the accessories that go with the typical Hollywood opening were brought into play. But, the picture was the thing. “Little Old New York” came into town ballyhooed as one of the year’s out- standing hits. It was subjected to the acid test! And it came through with flying colors. Two weeks ago it was “The Blue Bird.” Last week is was “The Grapes of Wrath.” This week, it’s “Little Old New York.” The Miami Daily News also said “Little Old New York” is solid entertain- ment. “This picture with its splendid exposition of the creative, civilizing labors and ideals of men, should prove a popular film with every type of moviegoer.” Playtime Is Paytime self. “It was fitting and proper | Crowds! Crowds! Thousands Jam Lincoln Road! |