Showmen's Trade Review (1939)

Page IS SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW July 1, 1939 * <** * / **» — =|r— Dealing realistically with the booking, advertising and exploitation of the newsreel, serial and short, and emphasizing their importance. IN THE SHORT SHOPS MCM Pete Smith's pet "Dumb Dora" has gone Cuban. Sally Payne, who has heckled Pete by her dumb antics in many of his specialties, was cast yesterday as a Hollywoodite who is fascinated by native rhythms of the Cuban dance, La Conga, in the latest miniature musical, "Hollywood La Conga." Sammy Lee is directing the one reeler which is being filmed at the Hollywood "niterie," La Conga. "Captain Spanky's Showboat," the latest of the Our Gang Comedies got under way yesterday with Edward Cahn directing. The cast is comprised of the regular gang plus newcomers Clyde Smith, Mickey Gubotisi and Shirley Coates. Sid Sidman is the assistant director and Jack Chertok produces. Vitaphone "They Fly Through The Air," a prizewinning radio script by Norman Corwin, CBS editor has been acquired and will be filmed as a two reel novelty short subject. Production of the screen version of the script is expected to get under way within the next two weeks. Vitaphone will release twelve short subjects during the month of July. Two of the "Kal's" Leo, Jr. Candidate Mayor Arthur L. Blakeslee is snapped by Ron Abbey, photographer for the Kalamazoo Gazette, receiving via Postal Telegram "Cubby," a baby lion entry in the MGM-Lions International lion hunt for Leo, Jr. twelve are of two-reel length, and ten are one-reelers. The two-reelers are: "Quiet Please" featuring Fritz Feld and Charley Foy, a "Broadway Brevity" in Technicolor (July 1); and "A Swing Opera" featuring Tess Gardell, a "Broadway Brevity" (July 22). The one-reelers are: "Lives in Peril," a Floyd Gibbons "Your True Adventures" film (July 1); "Old Glory," a "Merrie Melody" cartoon in Technicolor (July 1); Rita Rio . . NEWSREEL SYNOPSES . . (Released Saturday, July 1) PARAMOUNT (No. 95)— U. S. leaves Paris; Feminine golf tournament; Dutch Smith in comic rlives ; Governors greeted by Roosevelt; Daredevil drivers at N. Y. Fair; Navy boats fly to Honolulu; Louis vs. Galento; Jack Benny at Waukegan, ill. MOVIETONE (Vol. 21, No. 84)— Roosevelt greets Governors; Navy boats fly to Honolulu; Endurance plane down at Springfield, 111. ; Large juvenile orchestra at S. F. Fair; Shriners at Baltimore (Wash, only); Louisiana changes Governors; Admiral Yarnell and Eric Mayell in Far East; Swedish prince gets degree; Gowns; Swedish day at N. Y. Fair; Life guard drill at Chicago; Dog race in Australia; Lew Lehr and daredevil drivers. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 10, No. 284)— Navy boats fly to Honolulu; First Clipper passenger flight; West Point host to 24 Governors ; Army gets new commander; Father Flanagan honored; Lnni«i?na changes Governors; Shriners at Baltimore; MGM Information Center opens; School's out!; Louis vs. Galento; Movie daredevils perform. PATHE (Vol. 10, No. 99) — Governors' convention; Father Flanagan honored; Rodeo practice in Mont.; Swedish prince gets degree ; Daredevil drivers at N. Y. Fair; Navy boats fly to Honolulu; Outboard motorboat regatta in Wisconsin. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 11, No. 784)— Shriners at Baltimore; Navy boats fly to Honolulu; New submarine launched; Otto Kahn estate sold; Italian festival in New York; Life guards drill at Chicago; Kindergarten graduation in New York; First show at Bronx Zoo; Louis vs. Galento; Rodeo at Los Angeles. (Released Wednesday, June 28) PARAMOUNT (No. 94) — New Mauretania makes ocean debut; Gen. Montiero at air show; Paul McNutt arrives at White House; Italian regiments present battle colors; Anniversary parade in Spain; Jewish refugees at Antwerp, Belgium; Clippers leave and arrive at Port Washington, L. I. ; War Admiral retires; Diana Boiling wins Eastern Skeet championship; Harvard defeats Yale in college boat race. MOVIETONE (Vol. 21, No. 83) — New Mauretania makes ocean debut; Paris air raid precautions show; Anniversary parade in Spain; Jewish refugees at Antwerp, Belgium; Rhododendron king and queen honored in North Carolina; Gen. Monteiro guest at White House; Paul McNutt returns home; Charity fashion show in Philadelphia; Harvard defeats Yale in college boat race; Japanese World Series starts at Tokyo; Water sports in New York; Lew Lehr and cycling contraptions. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 10, No. 281) — Jewish refugees at Antwerp, Belgium; Citizenship Day rally in New York; Fred Snite, Jr. returns from spiritual pilgrimage; Bike family sets pace awheel; New Mauretania makes ocean debut; McNutt home from Philippines (Indianapolis only) ; Freighter runs aground (Los Angeles and San Francisco only); Valuable painting arrives in U. S. (except Indianapolis, Los Angeles and San Francisco) ; Viking girls drill atop N. Y. skyscraper; Harvard defeats Yale in college boat race; Japanese World Series starts at Tokyo. PATHE (Vol. 10, No. 98) — Louisiana political set-up shaken; Haven in Antwerp for refugee ship; New F.D.R. appointees outline duties; New Mauretania makes ocean debut; Brazil's army chief tours U.S. posts; Ski star furnishes thrills on water; Blast grips Granite Quarry in England; Yale crew trails Harvard on Thames; Derby Day in Cincinnati. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 11, No. 783)— Fog delays Clipper crossing; French submarine victims mourned; Gen. Monteiro sees air display; New S. S. Mauretania arrives; McNutt home from the Philippines; Bless banners for warships in Italy; Fog-bound freighter beached; "Silly cycles" baffle experts; Floral festival in North Carolina; Water ski champs show form; Glider aces in thrilling meet; War Admiral retires; Harvard crew defeats Yale. FIRST RUN SHORT PRODUCT BROADWAY, NEW YORK (Week Beginning July 1) ASTO R — Prophet Without Honor (MGM) rev. 6-17-39. CAPITOL— Culinary Carving (MGM) ; Jamaica (Para.) ; Yankee Doodle Goes to Town (MGM) rev. 6-24-39. CRITERION— Dog Gone (RKO) rev. 5-6-39; Help Wanted (MGM). RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL — Hockey Champ (RKO) rev. 5-20-39. RIALTO— Saved by the Bell (Col.) ; Good Skates (Para.) rev. 4-29-39. ROXY— Tempest Over Tunis (20th-Fox) ; Africa Squawks (20th-F6x). STRAND— The Right Way (Vita.) ; Naughty But Mice (Vita.) and Orchestra, a "Melody Master" (July 1); "Modern Methods" a "Color Parade" (July IS) ; "Porky's Picnic," a "Looney Tune" cartoon (July 15); "Dangerous Dan McFoo," a "Merrie Melody" cartoon in Technicolor (July 15) ; Will Osborne and his Orchestra, a "Melody Master" (July 22); "Snow Man's Land," a "Merrie Melody" cartoon in Technicolor (July 29); "Witness Trouble" featuring the "Grouch Club," a "Vitaphone Variety" (July 29) ; and "Three Minute Fuse," a Floyd Gibbons "Your True Adventures" film (July 29). Columbia The Short Subjects department this week made known the story backgrounds for three two-reel comedies now in preparation. Two of the productions will star the Three Stooges, now en route home from their successful personal appearance tour in the British Isles. The third will star Andy Clyde. In a script now being completed by E.dward Ullman, the Stooges will be steel workers, with one dizzy sequence taking them 42 stories above the sidewalk. Del Lord is writing the second Stooge comedy. It will present the trio as plumbers. The Clyde two-reeler is also being scripted by Edward Ullman. Andy will be the coach of ct girls' swimming team. A corps of beauties reminiscent of the Sennett girls at their shapeliest are being interviewed for this untitled comedy. Del Lord is scheduled to direct the three pictures and to share production credit with Hugh McCollum. Jules White, expected back from his Gulf Coast vacation within the next ten days, will immediately begin preparations for his next two Columbia comedies. A versatile veteran in his field, White will both produce and direct the two-reelers. The first, to star Andy Clyde, is now being put in screenplay form by Ewart Adamson. Clyde Bruckman is writing the second, which is to headline the Three Stooges. Jan Leman has returned from his hurried trip to San Francisco involving research for the "Fools Who Made History" series. Leman spent five days in the Bay City, devoting most of his time to a perusal of volumes and rare, unprinted manuscripts in the Hubert Hugh Bancroft Library, University of California. He garnered much additional information on the life and major accomplishment of Charles Goodyear, who is to be the second subject dramatized in the "Fools Who Made History" series. The first of the group to go before the cameras, on or about July 10, will be "The Story of Elias Howe," inventor of the sewing machine. Leman, who is writing the series, will direct under the production supervision of Hugh McCollum.