Penrod and Sam (Warner Bros.) (1937)

“PENROD and SAM” EW be a te oY Child Actors Have Short Careers As Screen Stars But Young Billy Mauch, Star Of “Penrod And Sam,”? May Go Far Grown-up film stars complain that their period of popularity is short, but it’s the movie children whose day in the limelight is really only a passing moment. In the twelve or more years during which the ‘‘Our Gang’’ series have been going on, the acting personnel, playing the same characters, has changed an average of seven times per character. Remember, for example, the ‘‘fat boy’’ so prom inent in all such groups of young. sters? Ten of those have had their brief reign, and passed on. Currently the star fat boy of the movies is Billy Wolfstone, who came into prominence little more than a year ago after playing many parts as an infant. At this writing, Billy is playing ‘‘Piggie’’ in ‘‘Penrod and Sam,’’ First National’s screen version of the Booth Tarkington comedy in which Billy Mauch is starred. The picture comes to the sae SOteratchnces Dheateeon eee In the same film ig the current star among the screen’s little colored boys. Remember ‘‘Farina? Well, needless to say this isn’t Farina. The new colored star’s name is Philip Hurlic, and he’s only six years old. He plays ‘“‘Verman’’ of the Tarkington story. According to William MeGann, who directed ‘‘Penrod and Sam’’ and is particularly noted for his handling of juvenile talent, boys such as Billy Mauch and Freddy Bartholomew present a different problem altogether. Their day is not likely to be brief, because, unlike the other youngsters who are essentially types, identified with a particular age, appearance and _ personality which growth will change, they are gifted and trained actors.. There is no reason why their reign should cease. ‘Bobby may go on and on, but his ‘‘gang’’ in ‘Penrod and Sam’’ is part of the secreen’s quick-changing juvenile show. ““Penrod and Sam’’ ig Booth Tarkington’s long-famous comedydrama of a group of adventurous small-town boys —brought right up to the 1937 minute by having their interests what the boys’ interests of today are. Billy Mauch, famous for his work in ‘‘Anthony Adverse’’ and ‘<The White Angel,’’ is starred as Penrod; Harry Watson plays his pal, Sam. Frank Craven and Spring Byington are Mr. and Mrs. Schofield, Penrod’s parents. There are any number of capable juvenile actors, although the story has just as much appeal for grownups. William McGann directed the pieture, from a screen play adapted from the Tarkintgon book by Lillie Hayward and Hugh Cummings. Kid Star Wants to Be Railroader Billy Mauch still wants to be a railroad man like his father, despite the fact he’s a movie star and plays in all sorts of thrilling adventure pictures. In ‘‘ Anthony Adverse’’ he was an adventurer, in ‘*The White Angel’’ a drummer boy in a foriegn war, and in ‘“Penrod and Sam,’’ coming ..... .. eee at then... 2.0 Lheatre, he’s a boy detective. Captured By The ‘G-Men’ May We Have Your Fingerprint? Billy Mauch, star, and other juvenile cast members of First National’s ‘‘Penrod and Sam’’ now playing. atthe ..3 2.2 Theatre, have more valuable collections than mere autographs. Along with each autograph of a star or other notable person such as football and baseball favorites, they collect the victim’s fingerprint as well! Craig Reynolds, as the bandit who fooled Washington’s ace sleuths, is captured by Billy Mauch (right) and Harry Watson, ‘‘ Junior G-Men’?’ who head the cast of First National’s picturization of Booth Tarkington’s immortal novel, ‘‘Penrod and Sam,’’ which comes to the ......... Beran ease Theatre, on Mat No. 209 — 20e Page Ten Hollywood Has a New Fraternity ‘*Pi Sigma Beta’’ is a new fraternity in Hollywood. It has only 37 members and can never have more. The Greek letters really stand for ‘‘Penrod-Sam Brotherhood.’’ The members are the youngsters who worked in ‘*Penrod and Sam,’’ a picturization of the famous Booth Tarkington story, now showing at the 2 Mata Sasa sn Re Theatre. They got the Greek letters from Craig Reynolds, a college man who is villain of the piece. Plays Mothers And Wives But She Can’t Keep House Spring Byington, Stage Veteran, Has Won Screen Fame In One Year Spring Byington is the film success example of 1935-36, but the fact hasn’t been heralded from housetops, so it is quite likely that not many are aware of it. Character artistes are funny that way! Currently playing the mother of ‘‘Penrod’’ in ‘‘Penrod and Sam,’’ First National’s sereen version of the Booth Tar Three For One—One For All Straight from the pages of Booth Tarkington’s immortal story and right to your heart come Penrod, played by Bily Mauch (right), Sam, played by Harry Watson, and their pal, Duke, the ringleaders of the gladdest, maddest bunch of boys you’ve ever seen, in ‘‘Penrod and Sam,’’ now playing at the ..... OSE ee Theatre. Mat No. 202 — 20c¢ Lad Has Real Farm For His Pets Little Billy Mauch, 12-year-old picture star, is probably the only lad in America who owns a real pet farm, exclusively for his ‘‘animals.’’ It’s a one-acre place in San Fernando Valley, where an old couple lives rent-free while taking eare of the Shetland pony, five dogs, several eats, six turtles, and other animals Billy’s mother wouldn’t allow in their city apartment! You’ll be seeing Billy on the screen soon in his first starring picture, ‘‘Penrod and Sam,’’ at the: aera aes Theatre. Kenneth Harlan Makes Comeback Kenneth Harlan, celebrated star of silent film days who is now busy with a come-back campaign, is playing an important part in First National’s screen version of the Booth Tarkington classic, *¢Penrod and Sam,’’ which is now showing at the .................. Theatre. Harlan enacts the role of a ‘‘GMan’’ whose efforts to trap a trio of notorious criminals are aided by Penrod, Sam, and others of their gang, called ‘‘Junior GMen.’’ “Desks for Feet!” Says Craven Frank Craven, famous actor and playwright whe appears with the all-star east in ‘‘Penrod and Sams at thoea tna Theatre, as Penrod’s father, has a lavish office at Warner Bros.’ studio. He uses his fancy desk to put his feet on while thinking, and he does his writing at a plain kitchen table. First Fan Mail for 12-Year Old Star Little Billy Mauch, whose new starring picture, ‘‘Penrod and Sam,” ?-4s now:.at: the =.....0.4.008... Theatre, is only twelve, but his screen work in ‘‘White Angel’? and ‘‘ Anthony Adverse’’ has netted him not only lots of fan mail, but his first ‘‘mash’’ note. "Twas from a 15-year-old miss in Ohio, who thought Billy might be about her own age. Kay Francis Turns the Tables on Billy When 12-year-old Billy Mauch, stage, radio and Warner Bros. motion picture star entered pictures as ‘‘Anthony Adverse’’ in boyhood in the picture of that name, he sought Kay Francis’ autograph. Then he played an important part in Kay’s picture, ‘‘The White Angel.’’ Recently he starred in a picture of his ewn, ‘‘ Penrod and Sam,’’ now showing at the ........ Peeashoe Theatre. Whereupon Miss Francis came to him for his autograph. Kid Actor Detective At 12 Training in G-Men methods incidental to becoming President of the Junior G-Men of America and starring in the picture, ‘‘ Penrod and Sam,’’ current attraction rN ina tse seer kn eee re Theatre, made Warner star Billy Mauch a capable detective at the age of 12. So, at any rate, declared an official of the Department of Justice where as Junior G-Man Billy was treated to a visit and a bit of training. kington classic which stars Billy Mauch and comes to the .............. TH@AETS One oes. , Spring has played in twelve big film productions during the scant year in which she has been in pictures. That’s something of a record! And (sh-h-h-! this information isn’t supposed to be noised abroad!) she’s doing all right financially, too. Her salary. is $1000 a week. But that’s no great surprise to Miss Byington. For many years now, on the New York stage and elsewhere she has averaged just that weekly “take” for stage work. Only not so many weeks a year! Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where her father was superintendent of schools, her mother a practicing physician, Spring rebelled against following the footsteps of either parent. She went to Denver and got a job as comedienne at the famous Elitch Theatre. Because Mary Elitch Long, the owner, brought her to fame, Spring returned there loyally nearly every summer to play in stock, following season successes on the New York stage. Spring is probably the only completely undomestie woman who has been very successful as a wife and mother. She has two daughters, Irene, 20, and Helene 18. She always lives in hotels — can’t cook, sew or knit. She doesn’t even “collect” anything because she’s essentially the nomad, and when she moves from one hotel to another, she prefers to go unhampered by anything more than a trunk or two. “Home life?” echoes Spring. “Thank goodness, I haven’t any!” In films, however, she usually plays a thoroughly domesticated wife and mother. “Little Women” started her on her Hollywood career, and she has since joined Warner Bros. to appear in “Charge of the Light Brigade,” “Stage Struck,” “Green Light,” and “Penrod and Sam.” “Penrod and Sam” is Booth Tarkington’s long-famous comedydrama of a group of adventurous small-town boys — brought right up to the 1937 minute by having their interests what the boys’ interests of today are. Billy Mauch, famous for his work in “Anthony Adverse” and “The White Angel,” is starred as Penrod; Harry Watson plays his pal, Sam. Frank Craven and Miss Byington are Mr. and Mrs. Schofield, Penrod’s parents. There are any number of capable juvenile actors, although the story has just as much appeal for grownups. William McGann directed the picture, from a screen play adapted from the Tarkington book by Lillie Hayward and Hugh Cummings. No Pillows, Orders Mrs. Mauch Maybe this a method of training that will make a child into a movie star! At any rate, Billy Mauch, 12-year-old Warner Bros. star who appears as ‘‘Penrod’’ in ‘*Penrod: and Sam,’’ at the ........ ee Theatre, has never slept on a pillow in his life. His mother believes the use of pillows causes round shoulders.