Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1939)

Friday, September 15, 1939 Motion Picture Daily 11 Short Subject Reviews "Life Begins for Andy ^finda" ( t^ivcrsal) The customary newspaper flurry caused by the birth of a baby panda ' in a zoo is utilized to make a lively Walter Lantz color cartune. A baby panda is born in the forest and all the animals celebrate. However, Andy's desire to get into the newsreels causes trouble and he has a narrow escape. Running time, 9 mins. "Snuff y's Party" (Universal) Poor little Snuffy Skunk invites all his friends to his birthday party but they arrive with their gas masks and shut him out. He watches the festivities from the window while a rain storm breaks. His chance to become a hero arrives when the dam bursts and his friends welcome him back. A Walter Lantz Cartune. Running time, 7 mins. "Silly Superstition" (Universal) Here is a Walter 'Lantz Cartune which sets out to prove that superstition is nonsense and winds up with the rueful conclusion that there may be something to it after all. Little Blackball, a colored lad, tells his dog that superstitions are silly and defies them all. A few mishaps, however, change his mind. Entertaining. Running time, 7 mins. "Violin" (French Cinema Center) Credited with winning a Paris short subject prize, this subject, produced by Films Jean deCavignac, pictures the making of violins in France. WTith a background of effective stringed music, the subject is extremely interesting and casually instructive. John S. Martin supplies the narrative in English. Running time, 10 mins. "Stranger Than Fiction, No. 66" ( Universal) Five varied items make up the current issue of "Stranger Than Fiction." A collector of fishing tackle who has been forbidden by his doctor to indulge in fishing ; a handcarved miniature circus ; a collector of President Roosevelt's press clippings ; a tame quail ; and a man who can place several billiard balls in his mouth, are included. Running time, 9 mins. "Going Places, No. 66" (Universal) Here is an unusual tropical forest designed and cultivated in Florida by a fruit grower and an industrialist. A point of interest for tourists, the eighty acres abound in tropical plant and animal life. Monkeys and sensitive tropical plants are there in profusion. Running time, 9 mins. Hollywood Review "Rulers of the Sea" (Paramount) Hollywood, Sept. 14. — Exhibitors will find Paramount's "Rulers of the Sea" a showman's dream come true. A moving story of the birth of steam's use in trans-oceanic travel, Paramount will release it late in November, at a time when, perhaps, the world will more thoroughly realize the perils confronting merchantmen and other vessels through the European strife. It is fiction, based on fact, and with a measure of romance. The film is the dramatization of the dream of two men that steam would supplant sails and wind as the driving power for boats which would ply the seven seas. The picture affords the widest of current opportunities for exploitation, and its contents justify the expenditure involved. Topping the cast is Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., in his best characterization to date. Making their American film debuts are the British favor .tes, Margaret Lockwood and Will Fyffe. Both of the portrayals augur well for their American film future. Exhibitors can tell their prospective patrons that "Rulers of the Sea" was made by Frank Lloyd, the same producer-director who brought forth "Mutiny on the Bounty," and that Talbot Jennings, one of those credited with the screenplay of "Bounty," worked with Frank Cavett and Richard Collins on the story and script of this film. "Rulers of the Sea" is the grim conflict of men against nature, harnessable and otherwise. Supporting the top trio is a cast of character players, headed by George Bancroft, Montagu Love, Vaughan Glaser and David Torrence. Laid in the early 19th Century, the story is of the vision of Fyffe, Scotch foundryman, that steam would be used for transAtlantic travel. Scoffed at, Fyffe finds new hope in enlisting the aid of Fairbanks, a sailing vessel mate. Fyffe's daughter seeks to dissuade them in pursuing their dream. They labor hard and their efforts are for naught, until a lucky turn of events finally enables them to win success. Fyffe is outstanding as the mechanic whose humble Scotch philosophy is poignant. Running time, 95 minutes. "G."* G. McC. "G" denotes general classification. 'Maid' at $7,500 In Montreal Lull Montreal, Sept. 14. — "The Old Maid" made the best of the war situation with a gross of $7,500 at the Palace. "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" registered $4,000 for its seventh week at Loew's. Estimated takings for the week ending Sept. 8: "When Tomorrow Comes" (Univ.) CAPITOL — (2,547 ) (25c-40c-55c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $8,000) "Gccdbye, Mr. Chips" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (2,800) (30c-40c-60c) 7 days, 7th week. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $8,000) "Four Feathers" (U. A.) ORPHEUM— (919) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days. 4th week. Gross: 3,200. (Average, $5,000) "The Old Maid" (W. B.) PALACE— (2,600) (25c-40c-55c-65c) 7 days Gross: $7,500. (Average, $11,000) "These Glamour Girls ' (M-G-M) "Indianapois Speedway" (W. B.) PRINCESS — (2,272) (25c-35c-50c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $6,500) Form Radio Company Dover, Del., Sept. 14. — Independent Radio Network Affiliates, Inc., has been incorporated here to engage in radio broadcasting. Stock has no par value. Incorporators, were J. Vernon Pimm, Albert G. Bauer and Albert S. Roebuck, all of Philadelphia. Joins Columbia Artists Larry Puck has joined the personal appearance department of Columbia Artists, Inc. Puck, who conducted his own agency for a number of years, brings with him several artists, including the Diamond Brothers, Neila Goodelle, Al Trahan and Marty May. 'Maker' at $10,000 Leads Providence Providence, Sept. 14. — "The Star Maker" and "Heritage of the Desert," at the Strand, garnered $10,000. Fay's reopening, after the summer closing, with vaudeville and "Angels Wash Their Faces," took $7,000. "The Star Maker" (Para.) "Heritage of the Desert" (Para.) STRAND — (2,100) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days. Gross: S10,000. (Average, $6,000) "Lady of the Tropics" (M-G-M) "A Woman Is the Judge" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,230) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $11,000) "Angels Wash Their Faces" (W. B.) FAY'S— (1.800) (25c-35c-40c) 7 days. Vaudeville. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $6,500) "In Name Only" (RKO) "The Girl From Mexico" (RKO) RKO-ALBEE— (2,239) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $6,000) "Frontier Marshal" (20th-Fox) '•Tcrchy Plays With Dynamite" (W. B.) MAJESTIC — (2,250) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days. Gross: S5,500. (Average, $7,000) "Each Dawn I Die" (W. B.) "The Man Who Dared" (W. B.) CARLTON— (1.526) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,200. (Average, $3,500) "Five Came Back" (RKO) (3 days) "Unmarried" (Para.) (3 days) "Million Dollar Legs" (Para.) (4 days) "The Man in the Iron Mask" (U. A.) (4 days) EMPIRE— (2,200) (20c-30c). Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,800) Warner Club Elects Seattle, Sept. 14. — The local Warners Club composed of employes of the Warner exchange, has elected 1939-40 officers as follows : president, Morton Endert ; vice-presidents, Art Gollofon and Aldean Hawk ; secretary-treasurer, Mary Schmidtt ; board of governors, Craig Turner, Margaret Crow, Guy Maxey. Theatre, Personnel Changes McKinney Is Shifted Kansas City, Sept. 14. — W. G. McKinney, former Topeka, Kan., exhibitor, but more recently with Griffith-Dickinson Theatres, Inc., at Lawrence and Paola, Kan., has been brought into the home office as assistant to Ralph Kieffer, head booker. T. G. Morrissett, formerly with the Griffith Amusement circuit in Oklahoma, succeeds McKinney as manager at Paola. Monogram Names Goldberg Kansas City, Sept. 14. — Stanley Goldberg has been named booker, orhce manager, and city salesman for Monogram here by Douglas Desch, manager. Golberg has been in the theatre premium field the past two years, but formerly was booker for the Monogram exchange. RCA Shifts Johnson Kansas City, Sept. 14. — Carl Johnson, for five years service manager for RCA at Dallas, has been named service manager here, succeeding Gus Holly, who has been transferred to Camden, N. J. New Kansas City Lease Kansas City, Sept. 14. — D. Donnici, who has operated the Palace, downtown subsequent, for over 20 years, has closed a new long term lease and will remodel the house. Wolfberg Names Barrett Kansas City, Sept. 14. — Ken Barrett, formerly with the Glen W. Dickinson Theatres, Inc., and prior to that for five years with Isadore N. E. Krutman, New York, has been named manager of the new Giles, John Wolfberg's house. Remodel, Rename Theatre The Liberty, Sayreville, N. J., closed for some time, is being remodeled and will be reopened about Oct. 1 by Alvin Theatre Co. of which Max L. Rothman is president. The house will be renamed the Colony. Open New House by Dec. 25 Theatre under construction on Broadway and 43rd St.. Manhattan, on the site of the old George M. Cohan theatre, is expected to be ready for use before Christmas. Consolidated Amusement Enterprises will operate. Burlesque House Reopens Irving Place Theatre has been reopened after a Summer shutdown and is operating with burlesque. Summer Closing Ends Avalon, Bronx, has been reopened by Consolidated Amusement Enterprises. It was closed for the Summer. Burlesque and Films Shubert, Brooklyn, has been taken over by the Salmon Amusement Co., Inc., and has been reopened for burlesque and films. Remodel in San Antonio San Antonio, Sept. 14. — -The Princess will be closed for a short time for complete renovation. L. W. Oppenheimer is the owner.