The Film Daily (1936)

THE -cEZH DAILY Thursday, Sept. 17, 1936 « REVIEWS » "THANK YOU, JEEVES" with Arthur Treacher. David Niven, Virginia Field. Lester Matthews 20th Century-Fox 57 mins. FAIRLY AMUSING BRITISH-FLAVORED COMEDY WITH TREACHER'S PERFORMANCE AS THE HIGHLIGHT. Except for Arthur Treacher as the valet, the writers of this screenplay did not take much from P. G. Wodehouse, creator of Jeeves, but instead attempted to turn out a comedy of general appeal with enough British flavor to preserve the identity of original. The result is a rather mixed affair, with Treacher doing a swell job as Jeeves, David Niven acquitting himself commendably as the master, and other players working conscientiously but, like the director, being somewhat at a disadvantage by reason of their material. Locale is British and the action is motivated by a plot involving a carefully guarded aeronautical invention being sought by a gang of crooks, while Virginia Field holds half of the blueprint and Lester Matthews has the other half. Getting mixed up in the works, Treacher makes a boner by taking the crooks to be government agents and thus placing the girl in jeopardy. But he comes through at the finish in a fist fight wherein Treacher knocks out the whole crook band, one after another, for a howling finish. Story is kept moving at a rather lively pace throughout. Cast: Arthur Treacher, Virginia Field, David Niven, Lester Matthews, Cclin Tapley John Graham Spacey, Ernie Stanton, Gene Reynolds, Douglas Walton, Willie Best. Producer, Sol Wurtzel; Director, Arthur Greville Collins; Author, P. G Wodehouse; Screenplay, Joseph Hoffman. Stephen Gross; Cameraman, Barney. McGill; Editor, Nick De Maggio. Direction, Handicapped Photography, Good. Joe Palooka in "The Choke's On You" with Robert Norton, Shemp Howard, Beverly Phalon, Johnnie Berkes and Lee Weber (Broadway Brevity) Vitaphone 21 mins. Slapstick A lot of slapstick laughs result in this Joe Palooka subject which shows how Joe battles a wrestler after a brawl at their adjoining training quarters. The fighter and the wrestler fight it out with Joe using boxing tactics and the wrestler his catch-as-catch-can method with Joe coming out the eventual winner. Directed by Lloyd French. "Music Hath Charms" (Oswald Rabbit Cartoon) Universal 8 mins. Lot of Fun Humorous and well conceived, this is one of best of series starring that personality-filled young gent, Oswald Rabbit. It's harvest time, and Oswald is blowing melodiously on h's saxophone in lively tempo. His fellow farm and field musicians try to keep the locust swarms at bay NEWS of the DAY « Canton, O.— E. C. Colvin, for the past several years identified with the staff of Loew's here, has resigned. Alliance, O. — The Columbia, managed by Ray Wallace, one of the Tri Theaters' houses, has reopened after extensive alterations. Same policv will be retained, straight films* the first half of the week, and tabloid and unit shows with films the last half. International Falls, Minn. — J. R. McKinley, whose Grand was destroyed in a $25,000 fire recently, is taking bids on a new house designed by Perry Crosier, Minneapolis architect. Waconia, Minn. — E. C. Jackson, formerly of Mitchell, S. D., has purchased the Lyric from E. A. Schultz. Mitchell, S. D.— Work is under way on the Mitchell, leased by Baron Brothers from Minnesota Amusement Co., Minneapolis. Aitkin, Minn. — Charley Lyons is taking bids on a new theater. Waseca, Minn. — Work has started on the $6,000 remodeling program of the Waseca, operated by Elmer Nel Breckenridge, Minn. — The Grand will be closed for several weeks, while undergoing repairs and remodeling. Stanley, Wis. — Jack Haywood has completed remodeling of the Haywood at a cost of $20,000. The house now seats 500. Sandstone, Minn. — The Sandstone, remodeled, is open again. Park Rapids — A group of businessmen from Thief River Falls, Minn., have taken an option on property belonging to Dr. Harry Kerr, and contemplate building a new theater here. Mountain Lake, Minn. — The State, operated by G. G. Schroeder, has reopened. Canton, O. — A lone bandit followed Neil Palsgrove, assistant manager at Loew's, into the office, poked a gun into his back and compelled him to open the safe and hand over between $1,500 and $2,000. Palsgrove was formerly identified with Loew's Ohio in Columbus. He was recently assigned to Loew's here as assistant manager, replacing E. C. Colvin, resigned. Youngstown, O. — Princess, only dark downtown theater, reopens tomorrow with independent burlesque. Larry Nathan of New York will manage. East Liverpool, O. — The Ceramic will return to a stage-film policy after a summer of straight pictures, William C. Tallman, manager, announced. Canton, O. — Harry Reinhart of the Mozart, McKinley and State theaters is back at his desk after a sojourn in California. Steubenville, O. — John Papulias, owner of the Olympia, is back from a three-month visit to Greece, where he settled an estate. by playing classical tunes and upbraid sincere little jazz-loving Oswald for blowing pop stuff on the sax. But swing-tempo is what is soothing to the locust breast, and Oswald triumphs when his melodies save the crops and foliage of the countryside. A lot of fun. E. M. Newman's "Colorful Occupations" (Colortour Adventure) in Cinecolor Vitaphone 10 mins. Good Novelty A variety of subjects are covered in an interesting manner in this subject. Among the occupations picturized are a woman who decorates gardens with figures from fairy tale characters; a man who carves heads from cocoanut shells; a woman who raises rare Siamese cats; a man who raises lady bugs to fight orange pests; decorating toy balloons; a man who molds figures for magazine covers; and a woman who makes pictures out of preserved leaves and flowers. DETROIT Jacob Schreiber circuit has reopened the Blackstone Theater No. 2. Sol Krim is due back from Germany next week. Free lunch is drawing a big crowd of exhibitors to the Allied Theaters meeting in the Detroit Leland Hotel on Tuesday. Purpose of the meeting has not been disclosed by H. M. Richey. E. V. Smith, formerly of National Theater Supply, has joined the RCA Photophone sales staff. American Theater Science Inc. has been set as the name of the new upstate booking combine. General Manager Frank Stuart will open offices in the Fox Theater Bldg. H. R. Byerly, former manager of the Loop Theater for Associated circuit, has been appointed manager of the Colonial, Jacob Schreiber's ace house, succeeding Mac Behrendt, who resigned because of ill health. Don Widlund of Jam Handy recently returned from St. Louis and points west. DATE BOOK » Today: Annual convention of Independent Theaters Protective Ass'n of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Plankington Hotel, Milwaukee. Today: Minneapolis Variety Club Golf Tournament, Minneapolis Golf Club, Minneapolis. Sept. 28-0ct. 2: Annual Atlantic Coast Premium Exposition, Hotel Astor, New York. Oct. 2: The Exhibitor of Philadelphia-Variety Club Golf Tournament, Whitemarsh Country Club, Philadelphia. Oct. 12-15: S. M. P. E. Fall Convention, Hotel Sagamore, Rochester, N. Y. Oct. 19-20: Annual convention of M. P. T. O. of W. Penna., Pittsburgh. Oct. 25: Pittsburgh Variety Club annual banquet, William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh. Nov. 27: Buffalo Variety Club annual movie ball, Buffalo. Dec. 13: Philadelphia Variety Club annual formal stag banquet, Bellevue Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia. CINCINNATI Ross Spencer is Paramount's new W. Va. rep, • replacing Ross Williams, resigned. William Kramer moves up in the ranks to replace Spencer. William Meier, formerly of the ad-sales department, takes Kramer's place as cashier. "Swing Time" broke all attendance records in the history of the RKO Albee, Cincy; also at Keith's, Dayton, and the Palace, Columbus. Jean Burkhardt, daughter of Fox's W. Va. rep, Ed Burkhardt, has been added to the RKO Radio staff. It is rumored that the Chesbrough Circuit and the Elaness Circuit are both dickering for Mrs. Phillip Semelroth's houses, comprising the Wayne, Sigma, Federation, Riverdale, the Ohio at Franklyn and the People's at Dayton. Nat Saland of Mercury Film Laboratories visited Cincy last week. Fred Dolle of Louisville was rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. His circuit recently took over the Brown Theater. The Schine Circuit is remodeling the old Gem Theater at Sydney for reopening. Fox's Jim Neff is confined to his home by illness. "Anthony Adverse" has been set for Sept. 18 at the RKO Shubert Theater, which has not resumed its vaude-film policy and is showing super productions only. GB's "Nine Days a Queen" has been booked for the Mayfair, week * of Sept. 21. Fox's J. J. Grady is organizing bowling teams among men and women employees of Film Row and associated industries. R. Carr, Warner auditor, is here from New York.