The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

14 ( EDITOR’S NOTE — Owing to the illness of Warren Stokes, our West Coast representative, his usual editorial observations will not appear this issue but will be resumed in our next. In this spot, therefore, appears another familiar letter from Lewis S. Mentlik, our New York Correspondent, who has his own idea on "Stars of Tomorrow.” Mr. Mentlik being a very persistent young man, we allow him the space usually given Mr. Stokes [only because Mr. Stokes is ill] to say his piece. Outside of the above, we have nothing at all to do with it.) Dear Ed: It’s funny the way little jealousies crop up in th s business. See, chief, I don’t know Warren Stokes, our Hollywood man, but I sorta envy him. No, it’s not that I, too, want to be out on the coast. Nothing like that — I fear that "unusual weather” they have there. What I do envy about his position is the fact that he picks those "Stars of Tomorrow,” will be able to say in a year or so hence something to the effect of, "I told ya so.” Well, boss, I got the idea of taking a fling at picking one of tomorrow’s stars, but I want to pick on someone who has attained practically no screen prominence at all up to this moment. Lemme start from the beginning. Yesterday afternoon, Dr. H. G. Skehar, office manager for the Avramenko Film Company, dropped into the office to exchange a few gags. Talk got around to his outfit’s recent Ukrainian production, "Cossacks In Exile,” which I thought was swell little screen operetta. In the course of the conversation, I happened to mention that the femme juvenile lead was exceedingly well done, asked who she was, what she did before. Said Doc Skehar: "Nothing.” That being a definite answer, I didn’t press it much more for a while, but it haunted me. "How in blazes,” I blurted out a few moments later, "can a kid who never did any screen work before do as grand a job as she did? What’s her name?” "Halia Orlenko — the first name is Ukrainian for Helen.” Then more words seem to come to the good doctor. "Of course that isn’t her real name; we gave her the name when she was chosen to be the romantic interest in the picture. She was selected from among fifty candidates for the job.” "Where’s she from?” I asked. "Right here in New York — the east side slum section.” No kiddin, chief, I was getting interested. Y’know, a "rags to riches” angle. When Dr. Skehar asked if I wanted to meet the young lady, I had a ready "okay” on my lips. She was really a knockout on the screen. It was then that the idea of a "star of tomorrow” came to me. I had figured out a mess of questions to ask her when she arrived. Eut when she did arrive, I couldn’t seem to get any of those queries up. You know how it is, boss. There I was sitting at my desk opening a Saturday batch of press releases when in walks a dream in blonde hair. If she was a stunner in the picture, she was an angelic vision in person (how’s that for poetic phrasing?) . After much fiddling around with pointless gabb'ng, I finally discovered the young lady has a beautiful English speaking voice (the beauty of her singing voice was proven in "Cossacks”). Only 19 years old, she was recently graduated with honors from an east side New York high school where she majored in music, dramatics. When not attending classes she was learning Ukrainian folk ballet at Vasile Avramenko’s dancing school. While studying dramatics, voice under some of the country’s most outstanding coaches, she appeared in Gilbert and Sullivan leads, sang over the radio. She also /ound time to win a coupla beauty contests. Because New York critics had such nice things to say about Miss Orlenko, because she proved herself a great little performer, Vasile Avramenko is going to star her in five more films scheduled to be made out in Newton, N. J., Hollywood. There’s only one trouble about those five films. If Mr. Avramenko hasn’t tied Halia up with a contract, some biggie out on the coast is going to steal her right from under his cameras. The kid’s destined to go places; she has everything she needs to carve a litle nook for herself in the cinema world. Gosh, chief, how often do you find a gal who is not only beautiful, but can act, sing as well? Okay, boss, I have chosen my "star of tomorrow.” I promise this is the last one I’ll pick, but I also want to say with pride a coupla years from now: "I told ya so.” Love and kisses, Your New York Correspondent, Lew Mentlik. P.S. — Boy, is she a honey! Margot Stevenson Signed Margot Stevenson, stage actress, has been signed to a long-term contract, given the lead in the Jascha Heifetz picture that Samuel Goldwyn will put before the camera on March 15. Another Remake Into production on the Metro lot last week went "Penthouse,” with Walter Pidgeon, Virginia Bruce, Leo Carrillo, a remake of the September, 1 93 3, release with Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy, Charles Butterworth. Paramount Buys Two "The Honorable Uncle Lancy,” by Ethel Houston, and "The World on Parade,” by Endre Bohem, have been purchased by Paramount. No cast, director, or producer have been set for either story. "Unmarried” Buck Jones The picture that started out to be "Me and My Girl,” with Charles ("Buck”) Jones in his first non-western role, later dubbed “Night Spot Hostess,” will become a Paramount release under the tag, "Unmarried.” "Patriot’s” Checker-Upper The services, in an advisory capacity, of Baron Cal von Ripper have been retained by RKO-Pathe for the tentatively entitled "Unknown Patriot,” a story of Nazi activities. Von Ripper is a late victim of a German concentration camp. Ditties for "Gulliver” The song-writing team of Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin (the 1939 Academy winners) are in Miami, Florida, writing music and lyrics for Max Fleischer’s forthcoming "Gulliver’s Travels,” his first full-length, technicolor cartoon. Paramount Ties Bainter Fay Bainter, the only person twice nominated on the Academy’s ballot, was signed last week to a long-term contract by Charles R. Rogers at Paramount. She is currently set for Rogers’ productions, "Our Neighbors — the Carters” and "The Star Maker.” Morgan’s Capt. Steele Ralph Morgan walked off with one of the prize roles of the year when he was signed to play Captain John Steele, U. S. Army chief of campaign against Geronimo, Indian war lord, of the southwest, in Paramount’s "Great Enemy,” Paul Sloane directing. Mysterious "Dr. Cyclops” Paramount has announced "Dr. Cyclops” will be produced by Dale Van Every, directed by Ernest B. ("King Kong,” "Grass”) Schoedsack. So unusual will this production be that only eight people thus far have seen the entire script (the story is an original by Tom Kilpatrick), and the players will only have their part, "side” by side.” "Air Raid” to Roll Because of its timeliness. Paramount's "Air Raid,” with Madeleine Carroll and Fred MacMurray, will roll March 15, replacing "Are Husbands Necessary?” on the company’s schedule. The air drama is being produced by Jeff Lazarus, directed by Edward H. Griffith. The same starproducer-director combination was responsible for "Cafe Society.” ROLLIN’ WESTWARD. Tex Ritter, of course, proves virtue triumphant in Monogram production. March 1, 19)9