The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

10 HOLLYWOOD NEWSREEL • HELLO, FOLKS! This is WARREN STOKES speaking to you from Hollywood over the JEP network. In a few short months this industry will celebrate its Golden Jub.lee THE 5 0 th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOTION PICTURES! We are all hoping for better results than the MPAYBE campaign. The only way we can expect these results is to do a little thinking and planning in advance of the date set for this celebration. To this end, it behooves each and every one of us to submit suggestions and ideas through which might be formulated a closer relationship between the industry and the man on the street. We must never lose sight of the fact that the man on the street is a very important individual. To begin with, there is a bad taste in his mouth. It is doubtful whether or not excessive ballyhoo will help the situation. True, we must blow our horn to attract attention, how we blow it is the main concern. That Bad Taste • HIGH MOVIE SALARIES, exposed in the daily prints, without reference to the amounts received by the government in taxes, have created that bad taste in the mouth of the family man. I have been talking to the man on the street and, believe you me, when he digs into his pocket book for the family seats at the neighborhood theatre, he believes he is contributing to these high salaries and it goes against the grain. The problem is that of winning back his goodwill. He must be convinced that, proportionately, Hollywood gives just as much as it takes out of his pocket book. What Films Mean • THE MAN IN THE STREET can be made to realize that, in addition to furnishing entertainment at nominal cost, the motion picture industry contributes to his welfare to a far greater degree than he realizes. Be he tinsmith, lumber-jack, baker or candlestick maker, his weekly pay check can be traced in part to some purchase made by the motion picture industry which demands, in large quantities, every known commodity from tooth picks to locomotives. In my opinion, the part this industry has played in the field of education and entertainment needs little more ballyhoo. Now is the time to play up the part it has played in community welfare and industrial progress, a phase of our industry too long neglected. Progress Note • PROGRESS OF THE INDUSTRY will naturally be the keynote of its Golden Jubilee campaign. However, if the campaign can reflect the patron’s own progress as a result of the industry’s success, it will have more appeal to the public, making for increased goodwill. This can be done, I believe, if this industry will include in its 5 0 th anniversary campaign a celluloid subject devoted to its status as an industry, contributing to the success of other industries and the individuals therein employed, through its enormous demands for raw stock and other commodities, proving its relative value to the man in the street and his pay check. This should do a real selling job for Hollywood, offset the belief that only Hollywood payrolls benefit; and do more than anything else I • can think of to increase, on a national basis, through individual appeal, motion picture appreciation for its contribution to the wheels of industry as well as the entertainment field. The Facts • STUDIO PRODUCTION DEPARTMENTS have available, countless facts and figures on the cost of production, and other data which can be woven into a fascinating and interesting subject to be presented on the nations’ screens in an entertaining manner. A note on my desk tells me that in the cathedral scene of "The Man With The Iron Mask,” 2,5 00 candles were used to create the proper lighting effect. That’s a small item. But it gave more work to the candle makers. Beh'nd the amount of cement, lumber, nails, paints and various other commodities used in the construction of the cathedral itself is another story. The point I want to make is this: Finished product of Hollywood is a combination of other products, manufactured in various parts of the country. The Background • WHAT MAKES A MOVIE and how the ingredients purchased for that purpose contribute to the weekly pay check of the individual miles away from Hollywood itself; the individual who has never realized these facts, is indeed interesting subject matter for this industry to give serious consideration. To be sure, the movie patron has seen celluloid documents of pictures in the making, the glamour side of Hollywood and some of its technical ramifications; these may have established a certain closer relationship and a better knowledge of studio facilities. To te'l a story of Hollywood and the part it plays in contributing to the nation’s payrolls is something that has been sadly overlooked. The Golden Jubilee offers this industry a golden opportunity to tell such a story, win the goodwill of the wage earner, proving that the motion picture industry is a vital part of our industrial structure through which benefits accrue to all. And that’s all for today. This is WARREN STOKES saying, "So Long, Folks!” "Stoneage” Cartoons A new cartoon series, entitled "Stoneage,” featuring the adventures and romance of prehistoric characters, will be presented as part of the Fleischer studio releases through Paramount. Color Classics, with Hunky and Spunky having an increasingly important part in the series, will continue, and, of course, the Popeye and Betty Boop cartoons will continue to be made. Isa’s Next The next picture that Paramount plans for ISA MIRANDA, whose "Hotel Imperial” goes into national release on May 14 is entitled "Madame Mystery.” Strenuous Course After a hardening process encountered by the "Dead End Kids at Valley,” it should be a pipe when they come up against collegiate curricula in "Dead End Kids at College.” Ladies’ Man TIM McCOY, cast in a dual role in "Trigger Fingers,” will have two leading ladies in this western which SAM KATZMAN is producing for Victory. JILL MARTIN, formerly of Republic, and JOYCE BYRANT, formerly of Monogram, have been signed for the two feminine leads opposite McCoy. Ludwig to Columbia EDWARD LUDWIG, who directed the DEANNA DURBIN picture, "That Certain Age,” has joined the Columbia roster headed by FRANK CAPRA, HOWARD HAWKS, WESLEY RUGGI.ES, FRANK LLOYD, ROUBEN MAMOULIAN. Ludwig is slated to direct "Coast Guard,” co-starring RANDOLPH SCOTT, RALPH BELLAMY. Hopalong Special HARRY SHERMAN will produce a Hopalong Cassidy special with increased budget and a cast of higher bracket actors including WILLIAM BOYD in the top role. Title of this special is "Calgary Stampede.” Sherman will take his troupe to Calgary, Canada for authentic background. Lee Republican DOROTHY LEE, who once supplied the feminine interest in WHEELER and WOOLSEY comedies, has been added to the cast of Republic’s "Tidal Wave.” RALPH BYRD and GEORGE BARBIER have leading roles. JOHN AUER is d'recting. ARMAND SCHAEFER is associate producer. Thirteen for Pete Pete Smith’s new contract with Metro calls for 13 specialities for 1939-40. One will be made in collaboration with HUGH HARMAN and RUDOLF ISING, and will combine human and cartoon characters. Pete has just completed "Culinary Carving,” with FELIX FEIST directing. Bronte Sisters Set The story of the BRONTE sisters — CHARLOTTE, EMILY, ANNE— will be the subject of "Devotion,” a special Warner production to be filmed early this summer. This picture will re-unite BETTE DAVIS, GEORGE BRENT, GERALDINE FITZGERALD, Director EDMUND GOULDING, all of whom were associated on "Dark Victory.” Slim Free-lancing SLIM SUMMERVILLE has checked off the 20th Century-Fox lot with the termination of his three-year contract. Slim will free-lance. Title Change Title of Warners’ "I Am Not Afraid” has been changed to "The Man Who Dared.” Picture features HENRY O’NEILL, JANE BRYAN. CHARLES GRAPEWIN. Hecht-MacArthur Original Paramount has acquired "The Monster,” an original by BEN HECHT and CHARLES MacARTHUR, which it is planned to produce in the east. RAYMOND MASSEY is sought for the lead. April 26, 19)9