Showmen's Trade Review (1939)

Page 16 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW July 8, 1939 Dealing realistically with the booking, advertising and exploitation of the nensreel, serial and short, and emphasizing their importance. IN THE SHOPS MGM One of the nation's great gridders, a former soldier, is currently enacting an enforcer of the law in the latest "Crime Does Not Pay" short, "Think First." Several years ago, James Flavin starred at football for West Point, winning All-America mention. Later, he resigned his army post to return to acting. Recently, Flavin was cast as Lieutenant Lawrence, who breaks up the shoplifting racket run by Marc Lawrence, Laraine Day, Jo Ann Savers, and Ann _Morriss in the two-reeler. Roy Rowland is director, Jack Chertok producer. him, Edward Cahn was again selected to direct the young stars in their latest, "Captain Spanky's Showboat." Cahn made his debut with the Gang with "Joy Scouts." His second comedy with them was "Auto Antics." Columbia Three two-reel comedies starring the Three Stooges are now being completed. The scripts were written by Edward Ullman, Del Lord and Clyde Bruck'man. Lord will be behind the megaphone during the first two, and will co-produce both pictures with Hugh McCollum. The third story will be directed and produced by Jules White. Robert Benchley's film directors have a habit of sticking by the comedian once they start with him. The comedian's former mentor, Roy Rowland, saw him through fourteen consecutive one-reelers. When Rowland was promoted to the direction of tworeelers, Basil Wrangel was given the Benchley directorial assignments. Recently, Wrangell finished his first with Benchley, "Bee Sting." Then, Jack Chertok informed him that he will also direct the new comedy, "A Day of Rest," and the remainder of Benchley's comedies for the new film year. RKO Production Manager Frank Donovan is in Sun Valley shooting a film on trout fishing, which will be released in next season's Sportscope series: Ray Holland and his son Dan will demonstrate how to get trout from mountain streams and into the creel, and will flick wrists to show casting technique. Camera work will be done by Larry O'Reilly and Bob Donahue, Jr. Sound Man Clarence Ellis will record the ripples and splashes. FIRST RUN SHORT PRODUCT BROADWAY, NEW YORK (Week Beginning July 8) A STOR— Prophet Without Honor (MGM) rev. 6-17-39. CAPITOL— How to Eat (MGM) rev. this issue ; Goldilocks and the Three Bears (MGM). CRITERION— Death Valley Thrills (Para.) rev. 7-1-39; Somewhat Secret (MGM) rev. 4-22-39; How to Sublet (MGM) rev. 1-28-39. GLOBE— Hobo Gadget Band (Vita.) ; Saturday Night Swing Club on the Air (Vita.) rev. 6-24-39. RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL— March of the Movies (M of T-RKO) rev. this issue. RIALTO— Clvde T ucas and Orchestra (Vita.) rev. 1-14-39; Mickey's Parrot (RKO) rev. 9-3-38. ROXY — Tempest Over Tunis (20th-Fox) rev. this issue; Africa Squawks (20th-Fox). STRAND— The Right Way (Vita.), rev. this issue; Naughty but Mice (Vita.) CHICAGO LOOP (Week Ending July 8) APOLLO — Yankee Doodle Goes to Town (MGM) rev. 6-24-39. CHICAGO — Yankee Doodle Goes to Town (MGM) rev. 6-24-39. GARRICK— How to Eat (MGM) rev. this issue; Old Glory (Vita.) rev. this issue. ROOSEVELT— Quiet Please (Vita.) rev. 6 3-39; Old Glorv (Vita.) rev. this issue; Radio Hams (MGM) rev. 6-24-39. MGM Launches Ail-American Lion Hunt to Find a Leo Junior for Next Year's Shorts Two new Crime Does Not Pay shorts will soon be ready for production, according to Jack Chertok, shorts producer. One will deal with the current drunk driving problem. The second concerns the slot-machine racket. Already dubbed "Uncle Ed" because of the affection "Our Gang" members have for Lions throughout North America are pretty jittery and excited these days since learning details of a new Lion Hunt game Hollywood has invented at their expense. All this attention, they are afraid, may result in the public losing proper respect for household pets. This trouble in the lion colony started when MGM decided it needed a "junior" lion to take over the job of introducing all short films next season, replacing the senior Leo who has appeared at the beginning of all pictures produced by MGM during the past 15 years. Logically enough, MGM has enlisted the co . . NEWSREEL SYNOPSES . . (Released Saturday, July 8) PARAMOUNT (No. 97)— A.A.U. meet at Lincoln. Nebr. ; Stock car derby at Langhorne, Pa.; TransPacific yacht race; Dr. Smith returns to New Orleans; French fleet in maneuvers; Refugees in Paris; Patron saint's day in Moravia; Floating hospital in New York; Lou Gehrig day at Yankee Stadium. MOVIETONE (Vol. 21, No. 86)— U. S. fleet at San Francisco; French fleet in maneuvers; Franco comes home; Dixie Clipper at Marseilles; Chamberlain defines England's policy; Paris fashions; Trans-Pacific yacht race; Trotting race at Goshen, N. Y.; A.A.U. meet at Lincoln, Nebr.; Horse racing at Arlington; Lou Gehrig day at Yankee Stadium. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 10, No. 286)— French fleet in maneuvers; Chamberlain defines policy; England calls conscripts; Roosevelt against arms embargo; Indianapolis welcomes McNutt; Fall hats; Grand Prix de Paris; A.A.U. meet at Lincoln, Nebr.; Lou Gehrig day at Yankee Stadium; Stock car derby at Langhorne, Pa., Trans-Pacific yacht race. PATHE (Vol. 10, No. 101) — Lou Gehrig day at Yankee Stadium; Roosevelt's press conference; French fleet in maneuvers; Dr. Smith returns to New Orleans; Trotting race at Goshen, N. Y.; Trans-Pacific yacht race; Stock car derby at Langhorne, Pa.; Fire in London's garment center. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 11, No. 786)— -Mountainside statue dedicated at Rushmore, S. D.; Warehouse fire in London; French fleet in maneuvers; F. D. R. on neutrality; Dr. Smith returns to New Orleans; Religious rites at Lyons, France; Floating hospital in New York: Wooden bathing suits at Hoaquiam, Wash.; Lou Gehrig day at Yankee Stadium; TransPacific yacht race; Trotting race at Goshen, N. Y. ; Chinese girls try bowling; Stars and Stripes handicap at Arlington Heights, 111. (Released Wednesday, July 5) PARAMOUNT (No. 96)— Fleet's in at San Francisco; Hoosiers welcome Paul McNutt; U. S. takes lead in race for ocean air business; G-Man Hoover talks to 50,000 Bov Scouts at Fair; Trained gorilla at Cincinnati; New army gun hurls big shell 15 miles; British monarchs arrive in England. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 10, No. 283)— Britain's rulers welcomed home; Invention for R.F.D. airplane mail service; Tension in Tientsin; G-Man chief stirs Boy Scout rally; New army gun hurls shell 15 miles; Use rubber dummies for football training: National fencing championships at Golden Gate Exposition ; Lifeguards plunge into pool of fire. PATHE (Vol. 10, No. 100) — Britain's rulers welcomed home; Pacific fleet takes San Francisco; Scouts given mass citizenship oath; Chamberlain denies encirclement; Musical mounties drill at N. Y. Fair; New army gun hurls shell 15 miles; Stars flock to premiere of "Career" at Des Moines. MOVIETONE (Vol. 21, No. 85)— Crisis in Tientsin; Britain's rulers welcomed home; Bov Scout Day at N. Y. Fair: Pretty girls make huge strawberry sundae; New army gun hurls shell 15 miles; Women train like male soldiers in England; Gen. Monteiro visits Randolph Field, Tex.; Boy's State elections at Springfield, 111. ; Lew Lehr and panda ; Football training in Mass. ; Air hostesses capture shark on day off; Lifeguards plunge into pool of fire. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 11, No. 785)— Britain's rulers welcomed home; Fleet arrives at San Francisco; Survey plane off for France; West Point plebes take military oath; Boy Scout Day at the N. Y. Fair; Marble champs vie for crown; McNutt hailed in Indianapolis; Canada has gala day at N. Y. Fair; Ace U. S. fencers vie for a title at Golden Gate Fair; Old jallopies in "junk" race at Jamestown, N. Y. operation of some 3,500 clubs of the Lions International, whose 125,000-odd members will stage a gigantic lion hunt throughout North America to find a Leo, Jr. In every state and province, between now and mid-July, Lions Club members will con duct safaris into public zoos and private menageries, tracking down choice lions to be "shot" by candid camera "hunters." At Lions International headquarters, a committee of experts on matters leonine will select eight 01 more lions to appear, on the hoof, in the final judging at the Lions International convention in Pittsburgh, July 18-21. To follow in the senior Leo's footsteps, the cub must be an American-born African lion under eight months of age who will have the earmarks of a Gable, the natural exuberance of a Mickey Rooney, the savoir-faire of a Robert Benchley, and with more hair on his chest than even Robert Taylor. Designed to aid theatre exhibitors in establishing a separate advertising identity for shorts, the junior lion, in addition to his screen appearances, will be featured in various phases of MGM's forthcoming promotional campaign. The winner of the cinematic bonanza will make a personal apperance as guest of honor at the New York World's Fair on Lions Day, July 22, when, with suitable ceremonies, he will be officially crowned Leo, Jr. It then remains for the lucky cub to mount a waiting California-bound plane and hie West to a few growls a day and international fame. Exhibitors playing MGM shorts will surely contact their local Lions Clubs and aid in the search for a junior Leo. There's much extra publicity to be gained from such participation. "Sons of Liberty" Showmanship Some grand showmanship ideas were used by Harvey Ridlon, Denton, Texas, for the presentation of "Sons of Liberty," which he played on Flag Day. He used red, white and blue spots in a shadow box and a fan for the effect. At the end of each performance the P. A. system carried the flag salute.