Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1941)

September 13, 1941 MOTION PICTURE HERALD ^ I I ^ r Shorts Release Chart with Tj W 1—1 f 1 M I ^ Synopses Indexed Can %J 1 I IV 1 *J L Be Found on Page 266 J THUMBS UP, TEXAS (RKO) March of Times (23101) This latest issue of March of Time turns its cameras Texasward and uncovers a vast store of interesting data and information. The camera depicts cattle ranches and farms, mountains, prairies and the prosperous Texas cities and their industrial and financial executives at work and play. Such personalities as Karl Hoblitzelle, head of the Interstate Theatre Circuit, and Amon Charels Carter, publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, are brought to the screen. Midway the film turns from the business activities of the state to the various Army and air force training camps and shows the individuals of the armed forces and their recreation in the various cities. Highlight of the film is the home-spun narration of Cal Tinney which has been inserted in the major portion of the film. Release date, Aug. 29, 1941 18 Minutes ALL THIS AND RABBIT STEW (WB) Merrie Melody (Color) (7701) The little colored Sambo decides to try his hand at capturing Bugs Bunny, but meets with the same success as his predecessors. Just as he has the screwy rabbit cornered, Bugs Bunny entices him into a crap game, and little Sambo winds up a sadder and wiser hunter. Release date, September 13, 1941 7 Minutes THE HENPECKED DUCK (WB) Looney Tune Cartoon (6616) A barnyard marital relations court with Porky Pig as the Judge and a duck suing for a separation offers an amusing set-up for this cartoon. Mr. Duck's story is told and Daffy almost loses his wife through* his carelessness when entrusted with their first egg. Release date, August 30, 1941 7 Minutes MINSTREL DAYS (WB) Broadway Brevity (7101) The growth of the minstrel show from its inception until the present day is traced here, and then a complete show, with interlocutor, end men, dancers and chorus is presented. Impersonations of famous ministrel men like Mclntyre and Heath, Eddie Leonard, Bert Williams, George Primrose and Honey boy Evans are presented, and shots of Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson are included. Many of the favorite tunes of yesteryear are played. Release date, September 6, 1941 20 Minutes SHAMPOO SPRINGS (Univ.) Stranger Than Fiction (6371) Oscar Mayer of Shiloah Springs, Cal., in the Cascades, has piped mineral water to his home. It will give a shampoo without soap. Wiley Tucker, banker, San Antonio, Tex., makes baked goods in the shape of animals. He runs a regular cookie zoo. Old Shasta, Cal., has a grocery store museum run by Robert Litsch. Professor Ralph Biengfang, Norman, Okla., collects rare odors as a hobby. Mary Wills Bridges, Baltimore, raises a cat on a bottle. Release date, September 8, 1941 9 Minutes CARNIVAL OF RHYTHM (WB) Technicolor Special (6006) In this subject, Katherine Dunham and her colored dance troupe perform four Portuguese native dances. Photographed in color, the dances have been staged with attractive background settings and in the costuming of the dancers. A commentator explains the dances as they are staged. Release date, August 23, 1941 20 Minutes What They're All About Who Made Them Production Numbers Release Dates EXPLORING SPACE (Col.) Cine scope (3971) This short was photographed in the Hayden Planetarium of the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The planetarium is a theatre of the stars, with the stage as the whole creation and the actors the bright celestial objects of endless space and eternal time. Streaking upward from Mother Earth, the land falls below us like a dropping leaf. We speed through space, calling on the moon, the regulator of tides ; to Venus, beautiful because of her dazzling brilliance ; and to Mars, which scientists believe our planet will be like in some remote future when life on earth has run its course. We stop to examine the Sun, so large that there would be parking space for more than a million earths inside it. Then we continue on swiftly toward great nebulae of glowing suns, gas and dust which whirl and flare like enormous pinwheels. We are travelling a strange and forbidding realm, trillions of miles high, without maps, as did Columbus when first he sailed across the Atlantic, and like Columbus, discover new worlds. Release date, August 8, 1941 9 Minutes THE TANKS ARE COMING (WB) Service Special (Color) (7001) This subject was produced at Fort Knox, Ky., in cooperation with the United States Army. In addition to the Hollywood actors, the entire corps of enlisted men and officers took part in the production. George Tobias portrays a New York taxi driver who enlists in the tank corps which is stationed at Fort Knox. The subject then shows the training Tobias has to go through before he is a fullfledged member of a tank crew. The new recruits have to take intensive courses in mechanics, radio work, electrical repair work and target shooting with small guns and heavy machine guns. Tank maneuvers conclude the subject. Release date, October 4, 1941 20 Minutes AN ACHE IN EVERY STAKE (Col.) All-Star Comedy (3401) The stooges are in the ice business in this film. They canvass their wares from house to house. At one place the lady of the house is distressed because her servants have left. She is in a dilemma, having to prepare a birthday meal for friends. The Stooges — the boy scouts — offer to help her out. They cook the turkey, bake the bread and cake and then serve the guests in their own inimitable and startling way. Release date, August 22, 1941 18 Minutes KINGS OF THE TURF (WB) Sports Parade (Color) (7401) Here the camera takes the audience to a stud farm where harness horses are raised and trained. The actual birth of a thoroughbred colt is shown. As the young horse grows p, the trainer begins to take him in hand. He is broken to harness and taught the various gaits. The several methods of teaching the horses trotting and pacing are demonstrated, and an actual trotting race concludes the subject. Release date, September 20, 1941 10 Minutes SHOW DOGS (Col.) World of Sports (3 802) This reel is devoted to America's great show dogs. From far and wide they come to show their prizes. Miniature French poodles, six weeks old, Pekes, Afghans, Fox Terriers, Dalmatians, Saint Bernards, Airdales, Great Danes, Cocker and Japanese Spaniels are exhibited. Nornay Saddler, the unquestioned king of dogdom, winner of sixty first places in dog shows, is featured in this short. Bill Stern is the narrator. Release date, September 12, 1941 10 Minutes THE MERRY MOUSE CAFE (Col.) Phantasy Cartoon (2707) After the "Squawk Club" closed its doors for the night, cute little mice took possession and put on a show of their own. The glib Master, or Mouse of Ceremonies introduced such talented little stars as Hedy La Mouse who stopped the show. A rube mouse from the country in search of adventure met and fell for Hedy. The M. C. jealously attempted to restrain Elmer. The lovestruck Elmer continued his campaign with the charming Hedy, assisted her in a fancy dance, and a Conga, with all the mice participating. The porter arrived, and the mice scurried to safety. Release date, August 15, 1941 7 Minutes A CITY WITHIN A CITY (Col.) Panoramic (3901) Known the world over as the greatest spectacle on earth, Rockefeller Center, Radio City, is in substance, considered as a city within the city of New York. Andre de La Varre, camera artist, has produced a complete panorama of this exclusive community where over 25,000 people work, and several hundred thousands more visit daily to transact business or enjoy its entertainment facilities. Scenes of a radio broadcast, a television show, and the inside workings of the main control room where farflung stations of the network are banded together, are effectively shown. The backstage Music Hall visit with the famous "Rockettes" putting on one of their precision dances and the trip to the Rainbow Room atop the 65th floor of the RCA building are other features. Release date, August 8, 1941 10 Minutes POLO WITH THE STARS (WB) Hollywood Novelty (7301) This subject opens with a description of how polo ponies are trained. One of the ponies shown in training is bought by Buddy Rogers and is used in a game in which Joe E. Brown, Jack Holt and other players are contestants. Along the sidelines are Jack Oakie and Edward G. Robinson. The latter two come in for some tough moments when the game suddenly seems to envelop them. Joe E. Brown makes the winning tally for his side. Knox Manning is the commentator. Release date, September 20, 1941 10 Minutes UNCLE JOEY COMES TO TOWN (20th-Fox) Terry -Toon (2 502) Uncle Joey Mouse, spry, genial and enterprising, comes to the big city to visit his little nephews in the basement of a fine mansion. The Butler of the mansion, attended by a Cat, sets the dining table elaborately for a meal, but the mice have other ideas. They swarm up on the table and start a baseball game, using the tableware and food as baseball equipment. Uncle Joey helps to keep the merriment going. Release date, Sept. 9, 1941 7 Minutes Product Digest Section 265