The Film Daily (1942)

Monday, July 6, 1942 Warner Idea, Star Value in the Story {Continued from Page 1 ) the company will offer a line-up of important biographical subjects for 1942-43. garners is proceeding on the thev "=-9that the names of the famous people about whom many of the company's pictures scheduled for try 1942-43 season revolve will be able to supply the marquee power that may not be inherent in the names of the cast members. Company execs, feel that the personalities dealt with in its new biographical crop of pictures mean enough to the American people to bring them to the boxoffice regardless of who may play the screen counterparts. The biographical subjects in its new program are strong enough, the company believes, to serve as protection against cast weaknesses. The company's list of forthcoming biographical films deal with such people as James J. Corbett ("Gentleman Jim"), Mark Twain, ("The Adventures of Mark Twain"), William F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill"), Tony Pastor ("A Night at Tony Pastor's"), Nora Bayes ("Shine On, Harvest Moon"), Bronte Sisters ("Devotion"), Helen Morgan ("The Life of Helen Morgan"), a tentative title), George Gershwin ("Rhapsody in Blue"). Also on this list is "Mission to Moscow," the Joseph E. Davies record of his term as ambassador to Russia. "George Washington Slept Here," just completed by the company, is another film that capitalizes on the drawing power of a famous American name. Magic of George M. Cohan's name is currently drawing heavy crowds to the showings of "Yankee Doodle Dandy." "Sergeant York," which went into general release on the Fourth, is another Warners production dealing with a biographical subject of box-office potency. The above compendium of films dealing with attention-getting names represents an all-time high in biographical films scheduled by any one company in the business, it is said. — Keep 'Em Flying! — Dekker for RKO Picture Hollywood — RKO has engaged Albert Dekker for a role in "Once Upon a Honeymoon." Don Mersereau Frank E. Garbutt Al Wilkie Jay Blaufox Sam Lefkowitz ▼ T T Prelude to the Fourth • • • LOCAL Film Row witnessed on Friday afternoon at 5 o'clock an impressive prelude to the Fourth of July holiday The venue was famed Times Squaie And the event was the "United We Stand" Rally, sparkplugged by 20th-Fox and Movietone to aid the sale of War Bonds and Stamps hereabouts Holding the rally on Friday (it had been postponed because of rain from the previous day) proved to be a coup d'etat, for the Great White Way was not only filled with natives, but visitors from out of town Following the "overture" of band music. Earl Allvine, who edited the Fox Movietone opus, "United We Stand," was introduced, the crowd then listening to a recording of the President's Prayer to the Nation There followed the Roll Call of the United Nations and the consecration of their standards by Major Thomas Whelpley, chaplain of the Second Army Corps Area Rounding out the ceremonies were the Pledge to the Flag, the address by Bruce Smith, vice-chairman of the New York State War Savings Staff, and the singing of the National Anthem by Lucy ("Star Spangled Banner" Girl) Monroe Festivities were another example of the all-out assistance which filmland is giving to the cause of Freedom After the program, the participants attended the Palace Theater where they saw "United We Stand" T ▼ T • • • PVT. LEO PILLOT of the U. S. Air Corps, who left our celluloid midst to don Uncle Sam's khaki, pens us that he was in his camp's mess hall t'other day a'reading a copy of this li'l ole trade paper He felt a tap on his shoulder T'was the Lieutenant in charge Leo's mind rushed around retrospectively to think of any transgression he had committed ... .Set the Lieutenant: "From show business?" "Yeah," sez Leo "So'm I," admits the officer, "so would you mind letting me have that publication when you've finished with it?" The officer was a former cameraman with Fox Movie T T T • • • THIS-A AND THAT-A: We're looking forward to getting the second issue soon of The Salute, nifty little publication which RKO Radio has instituted for the company's lads in the armed forces Jack Level is editing the new and compact mag. ... • Mrs. Therese E. Drazin, for the past 16 years a member of the MPPDA legal staff, is on a leave of absence to join her husband. Major Morris L. Drazin of the Army Medical Corps in El Paso, Tex Major Drazin is on duty at the William Beaumont General Hospital there Before entering the Army last May, he practiced as a specialist in internal medicine in New York City. ... • Flash from Ross Federal Service, Inc., reveals that every home office employe is now a contributor to the War Savings plan, bringing the 45 members o' the Ross Federal h.o. staff into the charmed circle of companies reaching the coveted 100 per cent goal. • Gus S. Eyssell, managing director of Radio City Music Hall, and his entire confraternal organization there, as well as the big stand's patrons, are mighty proud of the grand service flag which flies in the grand foyer symbolizing that 41 employes of the playhouse are now in the armed forces Big as the Music Hall is, that's a helluva large number of service stars Latter represent singers, dancers, ushers, artists, projectionists, musicians, carpenters, electricians, cafeteria countermen and designers. ... • Dave Epstein, Hollywood star and player representative, and himself a star promotion solon, has returned to the Coast from New York where he was busier than an "A," let alone a "B". . . . T T T • • • AVENGE PEARL HARBOR! Race Tracks Gripe Boston Theaters Boston — Boston theaters have a new gripe now — and apparently one that is justified. It was bad enough to have the competition of horse and dog racing tracks under normal conditions. Now the State Racing Commission has granted permission to Suffolk Downs to run nine races daily which means the last race is run at approximately 6:45 o'clock and that patrons leave the track at seven or thereafter. Now here is the distinct gripe in this set-up — Wonderland Park, the dog track which garners more money than the combined "take" of any other six dog tracks in the country, opens its gates at that same hour and runs its first race 30 minutes after the last horse race at Suffolk. Since the two tracks are one mile apart that means that thousands go directly from one to the other, grabbing a hasty dinner of a hot dog and a bottle of soda pop. That naturally means that whereas in former years when the horse track closed around 6 o'clock and the first race at the dog track was not run until around 9 o'clock, many' went to a movie first, now the nervous bettors hasten from one track to the other and there is no play whatever for the theaters. One of the largest circuits now forbids its employes frequenting the race tracks under penalty of actual discharge. But that apparently cannot be applied to the thousands who airily proceed to lose their money— and their interest in pictures — at both tracks. Taunton dog track several miles from Boston, also draws a good share of patronage from this district. — Keep 'Em Flying! — Stock In Rochester Indie Rochester — Embassy indie, has been leased to Leonard Altobell and the Rochester Summer Theater, which moves in from nearby Avon, where it had been located three years, to meet the gasoline and tire problems. STORKS! Wilmington, Del. — Mr. and Mrs. Lewis S. Black, of this city are receiving congratulations on the birth of a 9% pound son in the Delaware Hospital. Black is in charge of the Wilmington Warner theaters. This is their second son. James Memery, Loew-Poli Division artist at New Haven is father of a second boy, 9% pounds, born at New Haven Hospital and named Robert Mason Memery. Portland, Me.— Fred Stone, manager of the Portland theater, has a new son, Ronald Wayne. It's his fourth; there's also a daughter in the family.