Sweethearts of the U.S.A. (Monogram) (1944)

COMICS, MUSICIANS ON LOCAL SCREEN | BAND LEADER WAS FAMOUS Parkyakarkus, Una Merkel, from Monogram’s sparkling filmusical, theatre. Two Column Scene Mat No. 23 the screen at the LONG TRAINING Henry King and Donald Novis in a scene “Sweethearts of the U. S. A.” on | | | AS PIANIST | hearts of the U.S.A.,” the gay Mon|ogram musical film which features | | Una Merkel at the head of an un-| ; tol theatre as Broadway’s first pi|}ano team. AAS MEMBER OF PIANO TEAM One of the most famous popular piano players in the United States is Phil Ohman, for 18 years a member of the piano team of Ohman and Arden. The talented Ohman comes to the theatre on as the conductor of one of the three outstanding appearing in “Sweet-¥*— = orchestras MUSIC MASTER usual cast of screen favorites. Having studied piano all through | his youth, Ohman went to New York after serving in the first | World War, and for a year was first pianist with Paul Whiteman’s orchestra. Then he met Victor Arden, and as Ohman & Arden they made their debut at “Roxy’s” Capi In the years which followed the duo made records for all the phonograph companies, recorded for many player-roll concerns and appeared in many great musical comedies, including, “Lady, Be Good,’ “Oh Kay,’ Heads Up” and “Spring Is Here.’ Later forming his own orchestra, Ohman for three years appeared nightly at Hollywood’s famous Trocadero, and has_ since composed songs and musical scores ' |}for many important motion pic-| Orchestra leader Henry King ap BEGAN BAND LEADER $ CAREER | tures. ns he past three ee mete with his musical openteaticn Six years in New York as a piano pupil of the famous | pnil Ohman and his orchestra have|in the une a G picture, “Sweet Walter Damrosch could not fail to give Henry King a thor[been the attraction at the Cate| are of the U. ssi pee ser ae ough grounding as a musician. But that was only the start.|Mocambo in Hollywood. fesccandbs Aan Att King comes to the screen of the _...... theatre on | Other orchestras appearing in| JUMBO STAR Sede rie thicu ike: at the head of one of the three topflight orches“Sweethearts of the U.S.A.” are the Donald Novis was the star of _______| musical aggregations of Jan Garber and Henry King. The cast appearing with Una Merkel includes Donald Novis, Parkyakarkus, Lillian Cornell and Cobina Wright, Sr. Lew Collins directed for producer Lester Cutler, and the screenplay was written by Mary Sheldon, Arthur St. Claire and Sherman Lowe from tras appearing in “Sweethearts of* the U.S.A.,” the rollicking Monogram musical film which presents Una Merkel at the head of an exceptional cast. shortly after played his first engagement at the Post Lodge in Westchester, New York. His next engagement covered four years at the Embassy Club in Miami, Florida, and this set the pattern for his |future success. In addition to appearing for long periods at many After his years under Damrosch, King went to London to study with the noted composer and teacher, “Jumbo,” the Billy Rose production of some years ago which was really a circus inside a theatre, and played at the gigantic Hippodrome in New York City. Novis will be seen on the screen of the theatre on volcalist of US:A.,” eee eeeene as the leading the Monogram screenmu “Sweethearts of the} Cobina Wright, Sr. Now on Screen It was simply an ee et: that caused Cobina Wright, Sr., become a motion picture actress. It all started after she had offi;ciated at a similar debut for her | daughter, Cobina, Jr., and the lat| ter had sometime afterward mar|ried and retired (temporarily) to start raising a family. The senior Cobina Wright, in her @| second screen appearance, comes to the theater one -er 4. in Sweetharts of the U.S.A.,” the gay Monogram screenmusical which features Una Merkel at the head of an unusual company of entertainers. Mrs. Wright’s husband was _ formerly one of America’s wealthiest men, with a string of brokerage houses, yachts and mansions, who was wiped out financially in the stock market crash of 1929. Mrs. Wright soon found herself singing for a living in grand opera, after she had already taken her daughter out of a fashionable school, enrolled her for theatrical lessons, and finally for training in singing, too. But it was not until Junior had made a hit in motion pictures that her mother conceived the idea of doing likewise. She is succeding very well. In addition to Cobina Wright, Sr., the cast appearing with Una Merkel in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.” includes Donald Novis, Parkyakarkus, Lillian Cornell, Marion Martin and Judith Gibson, as well as the orchestras of Jan Garber, Henry King and Phil Ohman. Lester Cutler was the producer, with Lew Collins as director, and Arthur St. Claire, Sherman Lowe and Mary Sheldon Arthur Newstead, and here he began his first association with dance bands. Studying the classics by day, he frequently relaxed in the evening by taking over the piano of the orchestra at some exclusive dance club. By the time he returned to America, King had determined to form his own dance band, and SINGER Donald Novis several years ago won the $5,000 Atwater Kent audition for singers, and was subsequently one of the most popular soloists who ever ap|| peared in Southern California, || singing for long engagements in the leading hotels of Los Angeles and Hollywood. Novis comes to the theatre on in the principal singing role of ‘Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” the Monogram musical film which features Una Merkel at the head of an outstanding cast. | | POPULAR BANDMAN | Phil Ohman leads his musical gang through their capers in the current attraction at the theatre, “Sweethearts of the U. S. A.’ Monogram’s sparkling filmusical. One Col. Scene Mat No, 6 :| Broadcasting Company of the leading hotels of the United States, he has played extended engagements with the Burns & Allen | and other radio programs. In addition to King, Jan Garber and Phil Ohman also appear with their bands in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” and the acting cast with Miss Merkel includes Donald Novis, Parkyakarkus, Lillian Cornell, Cobina Wright, Sr., and many others. Lew Collins directed for producer Lester Cutler, and the original story by Mary Sheldon was adapted for the screen by Arthur St. Claire, Sherman Lowe and Miss Sheldon. BOUQUET Helen Hayes and Una Merkel be| came close friends during the two years they appeared together in “Coquette,” and the latter — still | treasures a wedding bouquet tossed to her by Miss Hayes at the time) of her marriage to Charles Mac| Arthur. Miss Merkel comes to the | Saas ee op THEALTOSON Sots featured role of “Sweethearts of the |U.S.A.,” Monogram’s gay musical film which presents the orchestral | melodies of Jan Garber, Phil Oh| man and Henry King. LONG-DISTANCE a National | studio in|} Chicago, in 1940 gave a long-dis| tance audition over a private wire | for the benefit of film director | Mark Sandrich, who was listening | at NBC headquarters in Hollywood —and who promptly engaged her for her screen debut in “Buck Ben Lillian Cornell, in ny Rides Again.’ Miss Cornell COMES SLO VINES Ses theatre on Re Sep in ‘Sweethearts of the USA.,” the tuneful Monogram filmusical featuring Una Merkel and the orchestras of Jan Garber, Phil Ohman and Henry King. | SUGGESTION If possible, have your newspaper run the three mats of the orchestra leaders in the same layout. Straight across the page or vertically, either way makes an impressive photo arrange ment, i Fine Cast In an original story by Miss Sheldon GENIAL JAN GARBER | | Maestro Jan Garber appears with his orchestra in the Monogram | filmusical, “Sweethearts of the U. S. A.” at the theatre. One Col. Scene Mat No. 3 eee eee eces Musical Film An exceptional cast appears in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” the Monogram musical film which comes to the theatre on FBS ger oye Poe Una Merkel is featured in the leading role, and other parts are played by Donald Novis, Parkyakarkus, Lillian Cornell, Cobina Wright, Sr., Joel Friend, Judith Gibson, Ralph Sanford, Vince Barnett, Marion White and the orchestras of Jan Garber, Phil Ohman and Henry King. Lew Collins di |rected for producer Lester Cutler, |and the original story by Mary | Sheldon was adapted for the screen by Arthur St. laire, Sherman Lowe and Miss Sheldon. The many catchy songs in the production were written by Lew Pollack, Charles Newman and Joe Goodwins. ‘|sical featuring Una Merkel. ; wrote the screen adaptation of Miss | Sheldon’s original story. SCREEN ACTRESS LONGS FOR CAREER ON BROADWAY STAGE Lillian Cornell’s present status as a Hollywood screen actress has in no way interfered with her ambition to be a Singing star of the Broadway stage. Miss Cornell comes to the theatre on 2 in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A..,’ Monogram’s gay screenmusical which features Una Mer-%*—— kel and the orchestras of Jan Garber, Phil Ohman and Henry King. After attending private schools in Chicago and Indianapolis, Miss Cornell studied singing for three years at DePauw University, and then continued under a private tutor, with the result that she spent a year as a member of the Chicago Opera Company. Then she went into radio, under contract to the National Broadcasting Company, and on one occasion sang with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, as well as on the Bing Crosby and other programs. Miss Cornell’s radio work brought a summons from Hollywood in 1940, | and she made her screen debut in “Buck Benny Rides Again.” She has continued in motion pictures ever since, but her great ambition still is to be a stage star in New York. She pursues her music study constantly, and has learned stage dancing, so as to be instantly available for her career on Broadway. In addition to Miss Cornell, the cast appearing with Una Merkel in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.’ includes Donald Novis, Parkyakarkus, Cobina Wright, Sr., Judith Gibson ;}and many other popular entertainers. Lew Collins directed for producer Lester Cutler. “SWEETHEARTS OF THE U. S. A.” A socialite’s home is converted into a night club for the exclusive patronage of defense workers in the Monogram musical comedy, “Sweethearts of the U. S. A.” screening now at the .......... theatre. Two Column Scene Mat No, 20