Kid Millions (United Artists) (1934)

Page scan 0009 from Kid Millions (United Artists)

Record Details:

Title:
Kid Millions (United Artists)
Date:
1934
Publisher:
United Artists
Volume:
Kid Millions (United Artists Pressbook, 1934)
Leaf #:
0009
Language:
English
Collection:
Pressbooks
Format:
Periodicals
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:
Content Warning: This pressbook includes a few pages in which Eddie Cantor appears in blackface. While this practice is reprehensible and was criticized even during the era of the film's release, it is important that we not ignore the racist side of United Artists' (and the rest of the entertainment industry's) history in this collection; Cantor, one of the two most popular performers of the day who regularly utilized blackface, made multiple films for UA.

Even more importantly, however, it is vital that contemporary disapprobation toward practices like blackface not blind us to the significant (and often devastating) experiences of Black entertainers and entertainment industry figures of this era. On August 14, 1954, the Chicago Defender ran a story by Enoch P. Waters about Bert Williams, an extremely popular Black comedian active from 1893 until his death in 1922, at the age of 47. In this story, Williams (who often performed in blackface himself) was dining alone in his Chicago hotel room when he was visited by Eddie Cantor. Asked by Cantor why he was eating alone, Williams replied, "Bert Williams, the black face comedian on-stage is one person, but Bert Williams, the man off-stage is a Negro -- and there's nothing funny about being a Negro in this country."

Discussion of even the most terrible aspects of the United States' history, if approached thoughtfully, can make us listen to the voices and experiences of individuals like Bert Williams. Presenting this pressbook here is an effort to acknowledge the pernicious practices of Hollywood past and present, as well as to highlight the need for greater awareness of the Black performers--and Black audiences--who have always been a integral component of the entertainment industry. (The story above, titled "Adventures in Race Relations: The Unfunny Bert Williams," was found via the ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Defender database.)

Pressbook for the film Kid Millions, starring Eddie Cantor, Ann Sothern, and Ethel Merman.
Date Added:
August 29, 2022
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“Most HILARIOUS film CARTOONIST^S spry impression of picture fp V. Here’s Cartoonist Hoff¬ man’s impression of “Kid Millions.” Cantor, Ann Sothern, Ethel Merman, Block and Sully, and the Coldwyn Girls get a play in this ink humorist’s layout. Good for illustration of fea¬ ture stories, to lend zest, to a review, and it can be used for coloring contests with its airy line treatment. In color¬ ing contests, the best Egyp¬ tian atmosphere painted in, pyramids, palms, the Sphinx, might be weighed in the judging. Four-Col. Mat No. 13 — .20; Cut .80 !>'''llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll ANTIQUES pageantry Egyptology has several Interesting phases which can be worked into displays for the theatre lobby or tie-up windows. Coins, old knives, swords and utensils, costumes, mummies, such as can be ac¬ quired from private and public collec¬ tions, can be presented around Cantor cutouts, the “Kid Millions” who unearths some surprising Egyptian treasure, in¬ cluding comedy and girls that made the Sphinx wake up and laugh. ' - ' ' you can’t KID MILLIONS! Figures don’t lie . . . Whether you have a harem or a two- room apartment, you can have all the luxury and con¬ venience of modem home¬ making at small cost . . . with ELECTRICITY Call or write Home Helpmate of the COLUMBUS GAS & LIGHT for free booklet Here’s Cantor and a sheik chieftain looking over a menu, bill of estimate, booklet of statistics, catalog, or paper. The above yarn shows how it can be utilized by a public utilities company to stress the economy of modern gas and electric accessories. There are a hundred other ways of adapting this scene and mat to special circulars, programs, menus and other broadsides, crediting Cantor and the picture, and getting across the Egyptian atmosphere of the feature. A natural for a classified page tie-up in which Cantor and the sheik weigh the advantages of want ads. Yom Can’t KID MIllIONS Figures don’t lie — here’s the lowdownl Two-Column Mat No. 12 — .10; Cut .40