We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
Pete Smith, producer.
Melville Danner, exhibitor.
Koxy Theatre, on Main Street in Granite, Oklahoma.
PREMIERE WOWS GRANITE'
By Staff Correspondent
This Saturday is Melville Darner's day in Granite, rock-ribbed Ail-American town of quarries, cotton gins and breweries out here in sunkissed Oklahoma.
Mr. Danner is the manager of the Kozy Theatre, two hundred and fifty seats, This is the first world premiere ever held in Granite, the first in Oklahoma.
The premiere launches the world screen career of a master opus in one reel produced by Pete Smith of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, for Loews' Inc., under the title of "Movie Pests." But the notion came from Granite.
As so commonly happens with the truly great efforts of Hollywood, the fame of this picture has preceded it and among the press announcements which flowed over the wires in tidings of the day's events in Granite was the announcement from the lobby of The Kozy that Charles P. Skouras, president of National Theatres Amusement Company in Los Angeles, had booked the picture for his entire circuit. He plays subsequent to the Kozy.
Reel Is a Must, Said Skouras
"This reel is a must," said Mr. Skouras' message. "I can see how audiences will react."
In the metabolism tests which MGM gives to its product in experimental previews before the provincial audiences of Los Angeles suburbs, this product registered 49 laughs in 800 feet. Mr. Smith registered a complaint with the management of the preview house on the ground that the audience mirth kept him from hearing himself talk on the screen. His pass was refunded.
This was gleaned from a strictly confidential letter which Mr. Smith wrote Herbert Morgan of the home office.
A late report from the box office checkers indicated that by midnight the entire population of Granite, 1,058 persons, Federal count, and a considerable number from outlying precincts would have seen the show.
Today's great event and the motion picture it honors took its origin with a letter from Mr. Danner to the editor of Motion Picture Herald, when he wrote saying "Here is an idea for a short subject. Every exhibitor has the following troubles." "While I write, I am thinking of Pete Smith," said Mr. Danner. "I believe he could make a good picture of it." The Herald put a head on the letter "Assignment to Pete Smith" and published it, October 23, 1943.
No. 7 is the public enemy who puts his feet out in the aisle, not tor lack of room but for lack of anything in his head, along with a general attitude of "I don't care."
No. 2 is the expansive person who fixes his gaze on the screen and practically undresses with tarHung elbows, tossing his topcoat into the surprised eyes of the adjacent spectators.
No. 3 is the woman, some call her a lady, who wears aloft the proud plumage of her brave new hat, an authentic copy of a genuine original designed exclusively for the Cherrv Sisfers.
12
MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JULY 8, 1944