Manhattan Parade (Warner Bros.) (1931)

© et ~A Complete Campaign For Planting One Week Before Opening Story No. I (This story contains complete information on “Manhattan Parade” and will be of invaluable aid to your editor, not only as the first announcement of the picture, but also as a reference guide to all subsequent stories.) Smith and Dale of the Avon Comedy Four, the team of comedians who scored heavily in the Broadway stage hit, “Mendel, Inc.” will arrive at .......... Theatre next .*....... in their first feature length production, “Manhattan Parade,” which was produced by Warner Bros. “Manhattan Parade” is heralded as one of the funniest pictures to come out of Hollywood in years. An imposing cast of comedians, including Winnie Lightner, Charles Butterworth, Bobby Watson and Luis Alberni join hands with Smith and Dale to earn the plaudits of press and public in the initial engagements of “Manhattan Parade.” The story chronicles the ludicrous but human adventures of the brainy Doris and her gallivanting husband, John, in the management of the Roberts Theatrical Costume Company. An important personage about the place is the solemnly philosophical wag, Herbert, played by Butterworth. Doris works day and night, while John (Walter Miller) lives the life of Reilly, entertaining theatrical producers, as prospective costume customers. Doris with reluctance consents to her husband’s demand that she stay at home and care for their small son, Junior (Dickie Moore). John elopes to Paris with the secretary, Charlotte (Greta Granstedt). Doris quickly gets back into harness to save the failing business, her principal prospects being the Delman Brothers, theatrical producers who need a director. Fate helps Doris out by sending a maniacal director (Luis Alberni) whom she sells to the Delmans as a ‘genius.’ How the ‘genius’ boosts the costume business and busts the producers—how the erring John returns, vows that he is done with Charlotte, and tries to grab back the business — how Doris foils his plans—how Herbert the wag, manages to get in his penny-worth— how the Delmans wrangle—and the actors make rough-house—are some of the situations which make the colorful parade of fun and fashion one of the comedy highlights of the year. The Delman Brothers are portrayed with zest by Joe Smith and Charles Dale. Others in the large east are Bobby Watson, Charles Middleton, Claire McDowell, Ethel Griffies, Polly Walters, Douglas Gerard, Mae Madison, Ruth Hall, Nat Pendleton, Bill Irving, Frank Conroy, William Humphries, Edward Van Sloan and Harold Waldridge. Lloyd Bacon directs with fine artistry. The picture is photoraphed entirely in Technicolor. Story No. 2 New Movie Laugh Makers Were Together More Than Thirty Years Joe Smith and Charles Dale, former comedians of the Avon Comedy Four, but now leading comedians of the new Warner and Vitaphone Picture in Technicolor, “Manhattan Parade,” which COMCE Ss COsbnOS a es Theatre, celebrated their thirtieth year as a comedy team recently. They made their first appearance as a blackface song and dance team in a small Bowery theatre and have been inseparable ever since. The Avon Comedy Four was born in 1901 at the Atlantic Gardens on the Bowery. The other two members of the quartette were Will Lester and Jack Coleman, and the four were an instantaneous success. They have been in vaudeville and on the musical comedy stage ever since. They were featured with Fannie Brice in “Why Worry?’ and were seen in “The Passing Show,” the revival of “The Belle of New York,” in Earl Carroll’s “Vanities,” in “The Sidewalks of New York,” and the stage play, “Mendel, Inc.” Smith and Dale, formerly of the Avon Comedy Four, who appear with big comedy cast in “Manhattan ”? a Warner Bros. and Vita phone Picture. Cut No. 25 Cut 15¢ Mat 5e Story No. 3 Mayor Jimmy Walker Presented Film Comedians With Anniversary Cup Parade, No other than New York’s popular and immaculate mayor, Jimmy Walker, presented Joe Smith and Charles Dale with a beautiful silver cup recently in honor of their thirtieth anniversary as partners in the laugh business. And now the two comedians are making their screen debut at the ........ Theatre this week in the Warner and Vitaphone Technicolor picture, “Manhattan Parade,” with a big cast of featured players including Winnie Lightner, Charles Butterworth, Bobby Watson, Ruth Hall and others. Smith and Dale made their first ap pearance as a blackface song and dance: team in 1899 in a small Bowery theatre and have been partners ever since. They originated the Avon Comedy Four in 1901 in the Atlantic Garden on the Bowery and it became one of vaudeville’s most famous acts. The other two members of the quartette were Will Lester and Jack Coleman. They were featured with Fanny Brice in the musical comedy, “Why Worry,” were in “The Passing Show,” the revival of “The Belle of New York,” Earl Carroll’s “Vanities,” and the successful play, “Mendel, Inc.” They have made a number of motion picture short subjects but “Manhattan Parade” is their first full length feature production. Story No. 4 Dale Was Knocked Out By Smith But Now They Are Mates In The Films No personnel in the theatre is made of sterner stuff than the comedian who _inevitably acquires his bag of tricks through a long and picturesque pilgrimage. The sport follower and his wife or girl friend who view Smith and Dale in the new Warner and Vitaphone Technicolor picture, “Manhattan Parade,” at tO as a Re eee Theatre this week, may not pause to consider a fistic terror and his antagonist lost to Madison Square Garden. True, neither Joe Smith with his Cyrano-like beak, his Ghetto slouch, his broad-brimmed derby fitting neatly about his ears in a halo of comedy, nor Charles Dale, alternately puffing out his chest and exhibiting a crest fallen air of acute indecision, appears to bear in a Story No. 5 Notre Dame Alumnus Spurns Law Dignity For Serious Comedy Charles Butterworth, who is featured with Smith and Dale and Winnie Lightner in “Manhattan Parade,” the Warner Bros. and Vitaphone production in Technicolor coming to: the ...5 2 .=3 = Pheatre sae: next—emerged from Notre Dame bearing a parchment which entitled him to practice law, though he insists that he had thought all the while that he was studying medicine. Mr. Butterworth says that’ though the words ‘admitted to the Indiana Bar’ had a nice smack to them, they were not all that was necessary to get something to eat. He tried newspaper reporting with rather dire results and then made up an imaginary Rotarian speech, which, by hook and by crook he got to the attention of J. P. McEvoy, who was then producing “Americana.” From then on guecess came pouring in on the defenseless Butterworth head, practically swamping him. He has never been more amusing than in “Manhattan Parade,” in which his timid and evasive comedy is contrasted with the rough-and-ready clowning of Winnie Lightner. Other uproarious fun is provided by Joe Smith and Charles Dale of the Avon Comedy Four. The cast also includes Di®kie Moore of “Star Witness” fame+:Walter Miller, Greta Granstedt and Bobby Watson. Charles Butterworth, whose placid countenance is responsible for plenty of laughs in “Manhattan Parade,” a Warner Bros. and VitaPhone Picture. Cut No. 22 Cut 15¢ .Mat 5e any relation to the white hope of Forsythe Street, New York, who. challenged the Delancey Street favorite in a bout that thirty years ago brought out the coppers. Charles Dale was a whirlwind runner when Joe Smith, with a body built of skyscraper steel, was the Delancy street mauler. Their first meeting when bicycles were built for two was arranged to rival Eastside gangs, with Joe contending for the heavyweight championship. The scene was a tenement roof and might never have been, according to Dale, except for the deceptive curve of a proboscis that was to earn its owner more fame than his cast iron fists. A man with a nose that was plainly built for commerce could not fight, Dale argued to himself until a lightning left jab sent him staggering from the ring with the determination, if he lived to consummate the deal, to be Smith’s manager. Smith actually had eight fistie encounters under Dale’s management, scoring a knockout in the final bout, which proved a boomerang. It made the boys so unpopular in the neighborhood that Dale, who had some reputation at track, took to his heels, with Smith a surprisingly close second. Story No. 6 “Manhattan Parade” Due Abscess, Tomorrow Mana get. 2S ee oe of the eee hat ~....... Theatre is pleased to announce tomorrow as the opening of “Manhattan Parade,” the Warner Bros. and Vitaphone production in Technieolor, and featuring a double team of funmakers, Smith and Dale, and Winnie Lightner and Charles Butterworth. The former team, remembered for their grand and glorious clowning in the stage’s Avon Comedy Four, have the best comedy story of the season in the dazzling all-color sequences of a play that is as dramatic as it is amusing, and with a gorgeous array of stage beauties and all the interesting hangerson of the show world. The story is from a Samuel Shipman play—one of his many successes. Other players of note in “Manhattan Parade” are Walter Miller, Dickie Moore, Greta Granstedt, Bobby Watson, Luis Alberni, Charles Middleton, Claire MeDowell, Ethel Griffies, Polly Walters, % a a / Douglas Gerard, Mae Madison, Ruts __ Hall, Nat Pendleton, Bill Irving, William Humphries, Edward Van Sloan and Harold Waldridge. The able direction is by Lloyd Bacon. Opening Day Story “Manhattan Parade” Is Here Today As Gala Laugh Show Grand and glorious entertainment awaits you today at the......... Theatre where “Manhattan Parade,” the Warner Bros. and Vitaphone production in Technicolor featuring Smith and Dale, Winnie Lightner and Charles Butterworth, opens its local engagement. Smith and Dale, remembered for their joint clowning as members of the Avon Comedy Four, are off on a new tack now, and funnier than they have ever been. Winnie plays the role of manager of a Theatrical Costuming Company, has troubles galore with an eloping husband, failing business, balking customers, elephants, ostriches, a madman who poses: as a genius—and with Charles Butterworth, who, though free with his solemn and evasive advice, is none too dependable. Dickie Moore is as adorable ag he was in “Star Witness.” Then there are many besides, among whom are Walter Miller, Greta Granstedt, Bobby Watson, Luis Alberni, Charles Middleton, Claire MacDowell, Ethel Griffies, Polly Walters, Douglas Gerard, Mae Madison, Ruth Hall, Nat Pendleton, Bill Irving, William Humphries, Edward Van Sloan and Harold Waldridge. The picture is based on a play by Samuel Shipman, author of many Broadway stage successes. Lloyd Bacon directed. Winnie Lightner, winsome screen star, who appears in ‘Manhattan Parade.” A Warner Bros. and Vitaphone Picture. Cut No. 24 Cut 15e Mat 5c Page Three