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

FALSE START DELAYED GIRL'S DEBUT IN MOTION PICTURES Una Merkel used to wonder if unfriendly fates had conspired to keep her off the motion picture screen. But it was her own success on the stage which was partially responsible. Miss Merkel comes to the theatre on in the featured role of “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” the gay Monogram musical film which is¥ = ze filled with songs and pretty girls,;two years she played an important and the lilting orchestra melodies|role opposite Helen Hayes in ‘“Coof Jan Garber, Phil Ohman andj quette.” In her next play she Henry King. was seen by the noted director, D. After completing a course in a|W. Griffith, who engaged her for New York dramatic school some|his historical film, “Abraham Linyears ago, Una made her debut in/coln”’—and finally, after many the entertainment world through] years, she actually appeared on the the medium of motion pictures, | screen. She has since made more playing the role of Lillian Gish’s|than 50 films. sister. But the film was never comThe cast appearing with Miss pleted, so the ambitious young ac-|Merkel in “Sweethearts of the tress was balked in her search for|/U.S.A.” includes Donald Novis, screen fame. Parkyakarkus, Lillian Cornell, Joel Next she turned to the stage, and|Friend and Cobina Wright, Sr. secured a one-line part in “Isn't Life Wonderful,” which launched her on a theatrical career of gradually increasing success. This reached its high point when for Collins as director, and Mary Sheldon’s original story was adapted by Arthur St. Claire, Sherman Lowe and Miss Sheldon. DIALECT Parkyakarkus became a Greek dialect comedian through the circumstance that his father was an importer in Boston, and as a young boy at his parent’s place of business he came in contact with many Greek customers. Parkakarkus comes to the theatre on ai eit cates in the principal comedy role of “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” the Monogram screenmusical featuring Una Merkel at the head of a cast which also includes Donald Novis. LARK CHANGED ADVERTISING MAN INTO RADIO COMEDIAN JAN GARBER violin soloist with the Philadelphia Symphony Orcnestra, and later United States Army. Garber’s present orchestra, as well as those of Phil Ohman and Henry King, appears on the screen of the thestreOne 128.5 in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” the sparkling Monogram filmusical featuring Una Merkel and an exceptional cast of entertainers. eee ew ene ce eee eee Parkyakarkus made his debut in radio purely as a recre-| ational hobby, with no thought of thus embarking on a professional career as a comedian. The popular dialectician comes to the theatre on in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” the gay Mono gram musical film which features¥— | Una Merkel at the head of an ex| ® ° ace ae of et Comedian Film : Capital 'Ribber “Parky”’ (or Harry Einstein, to use his true name) was the son of a Vince Barnett is Hollywood’s official ‘“ribber.” many years in Boston importer, and all through his boyhood came in contact with his father’s Greek associates. By} for no banquet bee ee he Ri cate year old Mee the film capital was complete withwas “showing off” his Greek dia; lect before company. Later, when out the presence of the comedian, he entered business, he chose the! expressly for the purpose of heckadvertising profession, and eventu-/ling the visiting guest of honor. ally became the highest paid eq | Barnett might be impersonating a tive in this field in New England. | i j | college professor, a waiter or a for In 1928, more for his own amuse-/ 4:5. diplomat, but he never failed saeek phen PNG else: HINSvCN | 5 to insult the unsuspecting celebmade his first radio broadcast in| i+) that the latter was reduced a Boston, and found himself literally | state of livid rage. The other \dinsapere dige mi Beer oe ote kept their faces straight with by the radio station to remain reg : ye difficulty, only to explode with ularly on the air, he appeared ‘each | laughter when the hoax was finally week thereafter, and eventually | veale a evolved the narne of Parkyakarkus Anni” momies 16 the. Bees for a comedy Greek character who was supposed to be running for the office of mayor. In the ensuing years the character became so popular that in 1935 the comedian was summoned to New York by Eddie Cantor, and gave an audition which resulted in his becoming an established part of the Cantor show. Parky now says that if he ever gets tired of his characterization he will go back to the advertising business—but apparently there has been no falling off in interest, either on the part of the comedian or the public. In addition to Parkyakarkus, the cast appearing with Miss Merkel in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.” includes Donald Novis, Lillian Cornell, Cobina Wright, Sr., Ralph Sanford, Judith Gibson, Vince Barnett and the orchestras of Jan Garber, Phil Ohman and Henry King. Lew Collins directed for producer Lester Cutler, and the original story by Mary Sheldon was adapted for the | screen by Miss Sheldon, Sherman | Lowe and Arthur St. Claire. theater on of the U.S.A.,” the gay Monogram musical film which features Una Merkel, with Donald Novis, Parkyakarkus, Lillian Cornell, Marion Martin and Cobina Wright, Sr. Also featured in this tuneful picture are the orcestras of Jan Garber, Phil Ohman and Henry King. playing the featured role in the Monogram musical film, “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” Una Merkel went to the South Seas with Gary Cooper, Phyllis Brooks and Andy Acari, forming a USO Overseas unit entertaining service man at many camps and forward outposts in Australia and New Guinea. Una and Phyllis were the first Hollywood film Lester Cutler produced, with Lew | Jan Garber as a young man was) SINGING STAR RETURNS TO SCREEN IN MUSICAL FILM Pees by Joe Goodwins, conducted a 56-piece band in the) UNA MERKEL FIRST ACTRESS TO VISIT SO. PACIFIC AREA As soon as she had _ finished | 1 |rent at the theatre. eseeseeene of radio and night clubs. the: U.S.A.,” | gram musical film which comes to | the theatre< on er kas ; with Una Merkel in the featured | role. | Atwater Kent $5,000 award follow| ing auditions by singers in all parts afterward embarked on a radio ca/reer which established him as one of the most popular voices of the airlanes. engagements at many of the country’s leading hotels and night clubs. It was his work in the starring role of “Jumbo,” the Billy Rose | circus spectacle at New York’s Hippodrome in 1936, that brought about a temporary ‘ending to Novis’ ;career. Not only did he sing many songs at each performance, but his role callled for him to ride a fast horse in a huge sawdust ring, in‘haling the dust and smoke with which the air was laden. His throat and lungs became so irritated that his singing voice was definitely impaired, and for more than a year jhis voice coach did not allow him ito sing a note. Gradually, however, his magnificent tones returned, and he is now in the finest voice of his life. In addition to Novis, the cast appearing with Una Merkel in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.” includes Parkyakarkus, Lillian Cornell, Cobina Wright, Sr., Ralph Sanford and Vince Barnett, as well as the orchestras of Jan Garber, Phil Ohman and Henry King. Lew Collins directed for producer Lester Cutler, and Arthur St. Claire. Sherman Lowe and Mary Sheldon adapted the original story by the latter. Songs were written by Lew Pollack, Charles Newman and Joe Goodwins. | actresses to make the long and perilous trip to the United Nations boys fighting Down Under. The cast appearing with Miss Merkel in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,’ .which:. comes to. the theatre; on-% 32.4, in cludes Donald Novis, Parkyakarkus, Lillian Cornell, Ralph Sanford, Marion Martin, large choruses of dancing beauties and the orchestras of Jan Garber, Phil Ohman and Henry King. Several years ago Novis won the| of the United States, and shortly | | § He also sang for long'| Genial Jan Garber leads his orchestra through a rhumba tune while | Judith Gibson and Joel Friend entertain defense workers in this scene from the sparkling Monogram film, “Sweethearts of the U. S. A.’ cur Two Column Scene Mat No, 21 A real “comeback” from an almost tragic situation has been the good fortune of Donald Novis, for years recognized as one of America’s sweetest tenors, and a popular favorite Novis makes his reappearance on the screen in the principal singing role of “Sweethearts of* the rollicking Mono| | if | | | | bands coming to the ; atre on | gers were broken, but his nose was, and thenceforth he applied himself |a featured soloist with the Phila |sive classical training, and it was ' || Songs Fill New ‘Musical Film Many of the most tuneful of the catchy new songs written “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” the Monogram screenmusical which comes to the theatre on with Una Mer season’s were for Oiaiwtienis weer le i) kel in the featured role. And practically all the principal members alternate in taking part in the singing. All are brought together in the rendition of ‘We’re the Ones,” the participants including Miss Merkell, Donald Novis, Parkyakarkus, Lillian Cornell, Judith Gibson and Joel Friend. “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” theme song of the picture, is done by Novis, winner of the Atwater Kent audition and long one of the Pacific Coast’s most popular vocalists. Novis also sings two lilting duets with Miss Cornell—‘That Reminds Me” and “All the Latin I Know Is Si Si.” The _ hilarious Parkyakarkus sings “You Can't Brush Off a Russian,’ and with Miss Merkel and Miss Cornell does “Hold Onto Your Hat.” There are also piano solos by Phil Ohman and Henry King, whose orchestras are featured along with that of Jan | Garber. Music of the theme song was with lyrics by Lew Pollack, and all other songs were written by Pollack and Charles Newman. “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.” was directed by Lew Collins under the production supervision of Lester Cutler, and the original story by | Mary Sheldon was adapted for the LOVE IN BLOOM screen by Miss Sheldon, Arthur St. | Claire and Sherman Lowe. HENRY KING Henry King studied piano for six years in New York under the tutelage of the famous Walter Damrosch, and later completed his training in England, finally signalizing his entry into the field of American orchestra conductors by playing for four seasons at the Embassy Club in Miami. King’s orchestra, as well as those of Jan Garber and Phil Ohman, appears on the screeni.of the ........ theALG ON ea ral on: in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” the gay Monogram musical film featuring Una Merkel. ADMAN Parkyakarkus, comedian whose real name is Harry Einstein, was at one time the highest paid advertising executive in New England, m,|and says he would go back to his |former business if he ever tired of being professionally comical. Parky theatre on “Sweethearts of the Judith Gibson and Joel Friend are young lovers in the Monogram film, | “Sweethearts of the U. S. A.” at the | Comes to the theatre. | mM One Col. Scene Mat No. 1 JAN GARBER WAS VIRTUOSO OF VIOLIN AS YOUNG MAN A budding violinist takes an awful chance when he becomes a semi-professional baseball player as a sideline. But that’s what Jan Garber did as a youth—and in the role of a catcher, at that. Garber and his orchestra are one of the three top-flight the-¥* in ‘Sweethearts of the U.S.A.,” the tuneful Monogram musical picture featuring Una Merkel. It was while Garber was a violin student at the Coombs Conservatory in Philadelphia that he dabbled in baseball. Nene of his fin this circumstance that definitely fixed his future career. He has been at the head of his own orchestra ever since, playing for long periods in many of the country’s outstanding hotels and resorts. The other bands appearing in “Sweethearts of the U.S.A.” are those of Phil Ohman and Henry King. The cast appearing with Una Merkel includes Donald Novis, Parkyakarkus, Lillian Cornell, Cobina Wright, Sr., Judith Gibson, Ralph Sanford and Marion Martin. Lew Collins directed under the production supervision of Lester Cutler, and the original story by Mary Sheldon was adapted for the screen by Arthur St. Claire, Sherman Lowe and Miss Sheldon. exclusively to the violin. He was such a diligent student, indeed, that while still in his teens he was delphia Symphony Orchestra. One of the first to enlist after the United States entered the first World War, Garber was immediately made conductor of a 56-piece band on the strength of his exten