The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

12 THE EXHIBITOR WARREN STOKES HOLLYWOOD NEWSREEL • SHORT SUBJECTS AWARDS turned the local spotlight on the increased popularity of short subjects when G. L. Carter, owner-manager of Hollywood’s TeleView, devoted to the exclusive showing of newsreels and short subjects, announced the winners in the year’s poll conducted by the theatre through the votes of its patrons. This is the first time any theatre has given such recognition to short subjects and the first time in the history of the picture business that paying patrons have been allowed to participate in such a contest. Manager Carter hopes to enlist the aid of other newsreel theatres throughout the country to put the patron participating poll on a national basis. The idea is worthy of every consideration by short subject theatre operators. The Hollywood poll proves definitely a growing interest in these celluloid briefies. They Screened 416 • FOUR HUNDRED SIXTEEN SHORT SUBJECTS were screened at the TeleView in the last year with statues being awarded to nine producers for the following contributions in the shorts field: Best cartoon award went to Leon Schlesinger for “Old Glory.” Pete Smith captured an award for “Follow the Arrow,” voted the best onereel sport. “Australia,” made by James A. FitzPatrick, carried away the award in the travelogue division. RKO-Pathe’s “The Bird Dog” was voted the finest one-reel outdoor production. “Yankee Doodle Goes to Town,” produced by John Nesbitt, was the outstanding onereel novelty, and “The Great Heart,” made by Carey Wilson, won the award for the best one-reel dramatic subject. Vitaphone’s “Lincoln in the White House” was voted the best two-reel dramatic color production, and Metro’s “While America Sleeps” carried a majority in the black-and-white two-reel division. An additional trophy went to Pete Smith, Hollywood’s Citizen No. 1 “The Real Glory” is honored, too voted the most popular commentator and Paramount News received a trophy for its outstanding news sequence, that of the British King and Queen’s visit to the United States. Sam Goldwyn Honored • SAMUEL GOLDWYN joined the 1939 award winners in a colorful ceremony at the Los Angeles Armory where Bear State Post (Hollywood’s Own) VFW 2386, conferred upon the producer its 1939 Citizenship Medal. The medal and a citation were presented to Goldwyn by Horace Shidler, Commander of Bear State Post, at a review of the 160th Infantry of the California National Guard. The award was made to Goldwyn, the citation stated, “In recognition of your outstanding American citizenship, your many unsolicited kindnesses to former service men and your contribution to patriotic and historic motion pictures.” In presenting its 1939 Citizenship Medal to producer Goldwyn Hollywood’s Bear State Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars took special cognizance of his latest picture, “The Real Glory,” which depicts the valor and fighting qualities of the American officers of the Philippine Constabulary early in the present century, all of the real life counterparts being eligible, on account of their overseas service, to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which was founded in 1899. LaGuardia’s Move •MAYOR LaGUARDIA OF NEW YORK gives Hollywood something to think about after his recent press conference with representatives of the film trade unions in which he expressed the belief that production of pictures could be moved to New York. Folks in this neck of the woods believe it is a lot of idle chatter and are wont to dismiss the idea with the same nonchalance as the Florida situation. Some of them, however, pause to reflect that the financial end of the industry is situated in the eastern territory and take into consideration the possibility of a closer watch on extravagances and expenditures. La Guardia might not be so far wrong. Hollywood might take the tip and watch the money bags. Reducing the cost of production might be the answer to keeping the movie making business in Hollywood. Columbia Watches • COLUMBIA EXECUTIVES are casting one eye on the box-office grosses of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and the other eye on adverse criticism of the film from certain quarters labeling the offering as an insult to the senatorial group. It is interesting to note that the picture is doing a record business in every situation. Personally, I can hardly consider it a political expose that insults the Washingtonians as some scribes would have their readers believe. It is rather a celluloid document fostering freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and, above all, freedom of the screen. Hollywood tonguewaggers have been spreading the report that other producers are prevailing upon Columbia to withdraw the film from the theatres because of its anticipated influence on the outcome of the Neely Bill. I think there is little to worry about in that direction. Should a producer dare to make a picture exposing the political situation in Hollywood then the movie moguls would really have something to worry about. Meanwhile, Mr. Smith is going about the business of doing bigger business at the theatres and Hollywood might profit by figuring it from that angle. The picture should be an incentive for the rest of the industry to concentrate on bigger and better pictures instead of resorting to idle gossip that smacks of nothing else but out and out jealousy. Hi TWO TH/llIfKfOIVIIiOf NO TURKEYS! DAVIS FlYMN •19E »«* huvati fi ELIZABETH mWrn ar» ESSEX THE EXCHANGES ALSO EXPLOIT. This was the seasonal promotional display on two Warner pictures, created by branch manager Thomas Gilliam, Chicago. November 22, 1939