The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

17 SPECIAL FEATURES HOLLYWOOD NEWSREEL Otir Mr. Stokes Imagines the Exhibitors Are Still Playing the Big Annual Classic • HELLO, FOLKS! This is WARREN STOKES speaking to you from Hollywood over the JEP network continuing our broadcast of the annual motion picture industry football classic now being waged between the exhibitors and the producers. The score at the half is nothing to nothing in favor of the exhibitors and we now turn the microphone over to your loco announcer for a word picture of the colorful proceedings during this intermission. • THE STUDIO PUBLICITY DIRECTORS, headed by JOHN LEROY JOHNSON, are making their way down to center of the field in WALTER WANGER’S "Stagecoach.” Coach is now facing the exhibitor cheering section and a lusty cheer goes up for the visiting New York State exhibitor as J. MYER and LOUIS W. SCHINE, SAM COCALIS, WALTER READE, A. CHARLES HAYMAN, SI FABIAN, WILLIAM BENTON, WILLIAM SMALLEY, MAX COHEN and IRVING DOLLINGER ride into the stadium in the regalia of Indian Warriors, surround the stagecoach, command the driver to deliver the goods for the new season. • FRANK SELTZER steps out of the coach and agrees to hand over a couple of brand new "Toppers” from the HAL ROACH studios without a hold-up. HOWARD STRICKLING guarantees that Metro’s "Wizard of Oz” will do new trick at the box office. MURPHY McHENRY says EDWARD SMALL’S "Duke of West Point” will point to new box office records and TERRY DE LAPP promises "Union Pac fie” will be of Paramount importance. ED MILLS decides to make it a real Hoppy New Year with HARRY SHER MAN’S "Hop-a-long Cassidys.” GEORGE BROWN, Columbia, predicts a new high with "Plane No. 4.” BILL PIERCE, Monogram, says "Mr. Wong At Headciuarters,” will solve the mystery of business. TED RICHMOND is sure that "The Long Shot” will come in for Grand National. WALTER COMPTON believes Re public’s "Wagons Westward” will carry exhib, over the slump. HOWARD S. BENEDICT prom ises that RKO-Rad o’s "Wrong Way Corrigan" will prove the right guy at the box office, HARRY BRANDT promises that "Jessie James” will hold up the reputation of 20th Century-Fox, and BOB TAPLINGER, Warners-First National, guarantees "All This and Heaven, Too,” with BETTE DAVIS. • A DOUBLE FEATURE is now the main attraction and the stands are wild with enthusiasm FRANK and JULIUS SELTZER, brothers under the skin for HAL ROACH, are now emulating a white mule. The white mule is very prominent from our broadcasting booth. And here comes a bull! Two of the press agents are playing a little skin game of their own. There’s going to be a fight. The mule is after the bull! No, the bull is after the mule. The press agents come from behind the coach and they’re ready to shopt the bull with both barrels. The teams are coming onto the field and the demonstration is brought to a close. The participants are now leaving the field. The stage coach leads, the Indians follow and the press agents are coming after the bull, (correction) the bull comes after the press agents. Oh, well! what’s a little bull between press agents? And there’s the whistle for the third quarter! • THE EXHIBITOR LINE-UP is strengthened with CARTER BARRON of Loew’s; MORTON THALHIMER of Richmond, FRANK H. DURKEE of Balt more, ELMORE D. HINDS of Roanoke. The producers will defend the west end and the SKOURAS BROTHERS will defend Fox West Coast. • THE PRODUCERS ARE KICKING to the exhibitors. That’s a new angle. DAVID O. SELZNICK puts his boot to the ball and it’s 'Gone With the Wind.” It’s a long sock into exhibitor territory, perfectly placed after lenghy consideration, but BENJAMIN T. PITTS, the Virginia whirlwind, is under the ball and he’s fighting his way through the producer defense for a new score charge. It looks like a first down but there seems to be an argument over SCARLET O’HARA running interference. They’re going to measure the footage — and what a decision! There’s enough for a feature length release under the title of “Hollywood Scarlets of 1 93 8.” Too bad the WAMPAS gave up trying. • EXHIBITORS ARE STILL TRYING to forc^ the Producers to make some “A” plays but th y’re still gaing ground with “B” formations. DARRYL ZANUCK is now out in the clear and he’s coming through, setting the lead with the first “A” release. It’s a pass from the south with plenty speed and action, a colorful exhibition of reil showmanship, he’s got plenty on the ball this tim?, and lie’s made it to the SRO line with the speeJ of a thoroughbred from “Kentucky.” What a honey that was! And that changes the ccor-> from nothing to nothing in favor of the exh bitors to nothing to nothing in favor of the producers. And there’s the gun for the end of th' third quarter! See you next week when your Hollywood Newsreel picks up the final Quarter ofthis roloccal celluloid classic. ^e^nwli’le we join JEP in wishing vou all a hapnv FoLcLvand a prosperous 193 9. This is WARREN STOKES saying, “So Long, Folks!” ADVANCE SHOTS Glimpses of Features , Shorts to Be Reviewed Received too late to be included in this week’s Blue Section were the following features. These advance shots are given for the record pending the publication of Six-Point Reviews in the January 11 issue of The Blue Section. CROSSROADS [Carrefour] (Tri-National) — Charles Vanel, Jules Berry, Suzy Prim. 80m. A blackmail story, this is one of the best French productions, with sterling performances. While for the art, French houses, this has possibilities as a nabe dualler. FORTY LITTLE MOTHERS (D’Aigu.'ar) . 9 5m. An engagingly delightful bit of celluloid byplay which is not okay for the art houses which can play French but others which experiment occasionally with this type of show. It’s th? tale of a bachelor father who takes care of a foundling. The 40 little mothers are the students who help him take care of the child before the moth r arrives. Short subjects also received too late for this issue included the following: FRAMEUP (20th Century-Fox). 6m. Gandv Goose finally wins the prize fight, with little credit to 20th Century-Fox or Paul Terry. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Joe Conway Speaks Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Dear Jay: It doesn t seem like 20 years since 'Vine Street started, but the record can’t be wrong. Believe me, in my opinion, your shift to the weekly makes you definitely the industry’s top trade paper, and take that from a fellow who used to subscribe to them all at one time or another but knows he can get everything he wants from your trade paper now. Aside from the services, which are the tops, I like your strong editorial stand. When a fellow can combine the job of publisher with that of exhibitor he knows what problems to discuss and^ in our language — and that’s something. Keep up the good work. Sincerely, Praises Services Joseph Conway, Egyptian Theatre. Philadelphia. Dear Jay: It is a pleasure to note the signal success with which you have changed over to the weekly edition. Not only should this bring definite advantages for you, but it must be seen by those who use your magazines (and I have never heard of any who haven’t) that the service features are now even more important. You have proved that the industry will appreciate trade papers that are built on service and definite value. Good luck. Sincerely, Frank McNamee, Branch manager, RKO Radio Pictures. All Services OF THIS PUBLICATION APPEAR REGULARLY Plus • The Same Intimate Coverage • Better Management • In the Spotlight • Special Features • The National Mirror and everything else that makes this the complete trade journal. December 21, 19) S