The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

12 • HELLO, FOLKS! This is WARREN STOKES coming through with another broadcast from Hollywood over the JEP network. Thanks for all the fan mail! Your praise of the constructive features and your compliments on our entry into the weekly field is greatly appreciated. Most encouraging is your reaction to our comment on the Stars of Tomorrow and their necessary development for the benefit of this industry in general. Stars of Tomorrow • STARS OF TOMORROW are the life’s blood of the picture business and the development of these personalities is now an acknowledged fact. Our exhibitor correspondence has resulted in an overwhelming desire on the part of alert showmen to cooperate with the producers in every way possible; to preserve and foster the future of the cinema through co-operative exploitation of worthwhile talent, worthy of consideration for future stardom, thereby protecting the producer, the exhibitor and the industry in general, against a shortage of box office personalities, either through natural cause or competitive competition. Build the Future • THIS EXHIBITOR INTEREST in the future welfare of his own business, which he must build through a better knowledge of up-andcoming personalities, by becoming more familiar with promising box office names destined to make the lights on his marquee, sounds the call for an all industry drive to build for the future from what we have learned in the past. It is a fallacy that new stars can still be made over night in sufficient quantities to keep the wheels of this industry running in perfect order. The majority must come from seasoned players having actual experience and a head start on name value to the producer, exhibitor, and, last but not least, the paying patron. Box office names of today are as familiar to everyone as the oldest trade mark on a bar of kitchen soap. The only difference is the soap manufacturers maintain the supply to meet the demand. Lack of soap in the kitchen can easily be remedied by Junior’s jumping on his bike and getting another bar, but no soap at the box office can’t be remedied so quickly. Another Service • PREPARATION FOR THE FUTURE is the keynote of this exhibitor interest. We accept gratefully the opportunity to do our part. Today is born another JEP service feature to the nation’s exhibitors, created for the future welfare and prosperity of the motion picture industry in general, a constructive guide to worthwhile talent of tomorrow, making the exhibitor name-conscious of the new comers climbing the ladder of success, names of future value which he should include in his local advertising and publicity releases, thereby familiarizing his patrons with such names, stimulating public interest in future stars and building the future of this industry on a firm foundation. Jay Emanuel Publications cover the Hollywood front with advance screenings on forthcoming product. Our Finger Tip File of 6-Point Reviews makes available a complete record of celluloid product in advance of your playdates. Hollywood Newsreel now provides you SPECIAL FEATURES with a record of new marquee names as they come into the spotlight through virtue of their outstanding ability, an Outstanding Performance Record which will keep you posted on worthwhile names to remember, aid you in posting remunerative publicity for your future attractions, the building of the new names for your marquee, the building of your own business and the advancement of the industry in general though a co-operative industry drive and a JEP service designed to promote the welfare of everyone concerned. Meet Miss Morison • PATRICIA MORISON is our first name for the record by virtue of her outstanding performance in the new Paramount picture (typical of this new service feature) titled "Persons In Patricia Morison Hiding.” Miss Morison, a product of the New York stage, has crashed Hollywood with a brilliant performance in this above-average G-man story and she reflects a combination of glamour and histrionic ability, which definitely marks her for the marquee lights in bigger and better productions. As we go to press, a flash from Paramount advises us that her work in this picture has been noted by studio executives. As a result of her work in this picture, Patricia Morison has been assigned the feminine lead opposite LLOYD NOLAN in "The Magnificent Fraud,” to be directed by ROBERT FLOREY. The name of Patricia Morison is one to remember and definitely one for your Hollywood Newsreel record. This service affords you the opportunity to check and double check. Your comment and opinion on this new service to increase its value is respectfully invited. This is WARREN STOKES saying, "So Long, Folks!” Korda Schedule Set Further details of the ALEXANDER KORDA production schedule were available this week. RUDYARD KIPLING’S "Jungle Book,” with SABU as its star, will be made in the early summer, and then Korda will film "The Conquest of the Air,” based on the story of aviation and its advancement throughout the world. "Jungle Book” and "Conquest of the Air” will both be made in technicolor. Two starring vehicles for MERLE OBERON, titles of which will be announced later, will round out the 193 9 Korda program. Hathaway on "World” HENRY HATHAWAY was signed last week to direct "End of the World” for Paramount. The director is now on a visit to the East. He arrived in New York City last week. Schildkraut in "Man” JOSEPH SCHILDKRAUT has been engaged by EDWARD SMALL to play the role of Colbert in "The Man with the Iron Mask.” MOVIE LOTS’ I NEWSY SHOTS [ 1 1 Small Gets Paul Appointment of VAL PAUL as production manager for EDWARD SMALL PRODUCTIONS, INC., releasing through United Artists, is announced by Small. Paul assumes his new duties immediately, starting work on plans for “The Man In the Iron Mask,” which goes before the cameras early in February. Cast is headed by LOUIS HAYWARD, JOAN BENNETT and WARREN WILLIAM with JAMES WHALE directing. Paul was formerly studio manager for Universal, a post he held through several administrations. Lederer Signed FRANCIS LEDERER’S first act as an American citizen was to sign a contract with Warners to appear in "Confessions of a Nazi Spy,” starring EDWARD G. ROBINSON. Picture is now in the making under direction of ANATOLE LITVAK. "Hunchback” Returns "The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” which first came to the screen in 1923 under the Universal label and shattered box office records of the silent role, has been purchased by RKO-Radio from era with the late LON CHANEY in the title Metro Goldwyn Mayer, the latter studio having held the talkie rights to this silent epic. It will be produced as a talkie under the RKO-Radio banner as one of the outstanding spectacles o.a this studio’s 1939-1940 program. Lee Tracy Returns LEE TRACY is back in Hollywood after an absence of six months during which period he starred on the London stage. Tracy has been signed to a new picture contract by RKO-Radio. First one to go before the cameras is titled "What’s A Fixer For?” "Wind” Is Growing "Gone With the Wind” is actually in the making. THOMAS MITCHELL will play the role of Gerald O’Hara for which WALTER CONNOLLY was under option for more than a year. ANN RUTHERFORD goes on loan from Metro for the role of Scarlett’s younger sister, Careen, and the part of Suellen goes to EVELYN KEYES, on loan from CECIL B. DeMILLE. New Strip Tease Negotiations are under way to syndicate a cartoon strip of characters based on Fine ArtsGrand National "Cipher Bureau” series. Characters of Major Philip Waring and his assistant, Helen Lane, portrayed on the screen by LEON AMES and CHARLOTTE WYNTERS, will be sketched to resemble their screen prototypes. New Hollywood Bowl Hollywood’s latest inovation is the EARL CARROLL night club. For $2.5 0 patrons can get a meal, a two-hour show and a slummer’s look at the "Magic Circle,” glass enclosed, which houses the star guests who have donated $1,000 for the privilege of knowing just how goldfish feel. February 1, 193 9