Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1940)

Page 16 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW January 20, 1940 ^^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^y ^ ■ 1 IN TliE §HCCT SHOPS MCM Selected in a recent poll as one of Hollywood's younger players who will achieve stardom in 1940, Tom Neal was cast for the leading role in the newest "Crime Does Not Pay" subject "Jackpot." Neal's first roles, were in the Crime Does Not Pay shorts. Right on the heels of her portrayal in a recent "Crime Does Not Pay" subject, "Think First," Ann Morriss has also been rewarded with a principal role in "Jackpot." John Nesljitt, originator of the dramatic Passing Parade series. Thousands of voices were heard by Director David Miller and Producers Jack' Chertok and Richard Goldstone, but none seemed to fill the bill. Yesterday, the same trio listened to several of Nesbitt's shorts and decided that his was the perfect voice. Nesbitt starts recording the voice of the Flag immediately to meet the film's early February release. Vitaphone William McGann has been signed to direct the first two featurets in the new series featuring Elsa Maxwell and titled "How To Get Fun Out Of Life." "Riding Into Society" will be the first picture in the group and is scheduled to start shooting on Jan. 22. "How To Give A Party" will follow immediately. Gordon Hollingshead is supervising the series. With Alfalfa Switzer more interested in spring fever but more involved with spring cleaning, the latest Our Gang comedy "In Love Again," got under way this week. The one-reel comedy, directed by Edward Cahn, is the story of Our Gang's leading man and his romance with Darla, brought on by the spring. Other members of the gang, Mickey, Spanky, Buckwheat, and Butch, share the important roles. Others in the cast are Barbara Bedford, Hank Mann, Claire AlacDowell, Billy Newall, and William Tannen. Jack Chertok and Richard Goldstone produce from a script by Hal Law and Robert McGowan. Sid Sidman is assistant director and Clyde DeVinna is the cameraman. Columbia Buster Keaton's second two-reel comedy, "Rolling Down to Reno," was completed this week. Its gags are strung along a 3,000-mile railroad journey, and the yarn was scripted by Keaton and Clyde Bruckman. Dorothy Appleby was the star's leading lady. Vernon Dent, Eva McKenzie, Johnny Tyrrell, Snowflake and Richard Fiske head the supporting cast, and Jules White both produced and directed. The "search-the-country-over" for the perfect American voice to speak the words of the Flag in the two-reel Technicolor Special, "The Flag Speaks," ended up right where it started — on the MGM lot. And the perfect American voice is that of Charlie Chase's second comedy of the month finds him a demon stamp collector. The story is by Harry Edwards and Elwood Ullman, and for philatelic props the studio will borrow the extensive stamp collection of Loretta Young, now at Columbia for a feature-length comedy, "The Doctor Takes A Wife." "A-Plumbing We Will Go" has just been agreed upon as the final release title for the recently completed Three Stooges plumbers' comedy. Bess Flowers, Lorna Gray, Monte Collins, Eddie Laughton and . . NEWSREEL SYNOPSES . . (Released Saturday, Jamuiry 20) PARMWOUNT — Military ski demonst-ation at Fort Brady, Mich.; Franlt Gan-ett's hat in ring; Adventurers off to Bahamas; Quadruplets in Jasper, Ala.; Chamberlain inspects B.E.F.; Di'rhess of Wirdsor furthers shioment cf supplies; War fashion from Paris; B.E.F. men home on leave; Business goes on in Finland; Por-e Pius vi its Royal Palace; Venzke wins mile classic; Hockey, N. Y. Rangers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: Bobsledding at Lake Placid, N. Y. MOVIETONE (Vol. 23, No. 38)— War in Finland; King Gustav prenares Sweden for war; Belgium prepares defenses; Holland on the alert; Big guns on Western Front; French ski troops train; French wom,en work in aviation factories; Mass celelirated along Ma%inot Line; Father O'Hara named Bishop of Milan; Supreme War Council in France; Po-e Pius visits Royal Palace; Rnma'-iar' KiPH; warns Russia; Duchess of Windsrr works for Red Cross; New dance at Stork Club; Bathing beauties in Florida; Skiing in Lapland. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 11, No. 236)— War in Finland; Guns roar on We'te-n Front; Mass along Maginot Lire; Chamberlain at Fro-^t; Duchess of Windsor with Red Cross ; Pope Pius visits Royal Palace (except Indiarapolis, Memphis and New Orleans); Bishop O'Hara made Bishop of Milan (Indianapolis only) ; Mississinpi hails new Governor (Memphis and New Orleans only) ; Quadru':lets at Jasper, Ala.; Greenbay Packers vs. All Stars. PATHE (Vol. 11, No. 53)— War in Finland; Pope Pius visits Royal Palace; Earl Browder on trial; Princess Juliana ice skating; Siege gu"s on Western Front; Twenty-one leave for island Utopia. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 12, No. 842)— War in Finland; Submarine Ursula returns from victory; Le=lie HoreBelisha retires from Cabinet; Canadian troo s arrive in England; French artillery on Western Front; Duchess of Windsor with Red Cross; French women work in aviation factories; Quadruplets in Jasper, Ala.; Pope Pius visits Royal Palace ; Sun tan salon at Miami Beach; Green Bay Packers vs. All Stars; Tonato wrestling match. (Released ll'ediiesday, lanitary 17) PARAMOUNT (No. 40)— Marines embark for war games; Bomb plot round-up by G-Men; Wrestler arrives for matches; 91 die in mine blast; Fashions in hats; Scenes from Finland. MOVIETONE (Vol. 22, No. 37)— Marines embark for war games Army Tank Corps displays war tactics; War drags on in Far East; Season on in Miami, Fla. ; Fur trapping in Canada; Girl serves tea in giant plane: Fashions in neckwear; Lew Lehr and midget; Hockey, N. Y. Rangers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs; Hi?leah Inaugural; Golden Gloves bouts in Washington. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 11, No. 235)— Coal mine tragedy takes heavy toll; Bomb plot round-up by G-Men: Marines embark for war games; Fashions in hats; Bob sledding .5t Lake Placid, N. Y.; Maetall wins Hialeah Inaugural. PATHE (Vol. 11, No. 52)— 91 killed in mine explosion; Bomb plot round-up by G-Men; General Motors turns out 25,000,000th car; Skaters set for national titles; Marines embark for war games; Frostbite Sailing season gets under way on Long Island Sound; Gene Venzke wins mile classic. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 12, No. 841)— G-Men seize 17 in conspiracy; 91 dead in coal mine blast; Marines embark for war games: Fashions in hats; Gloria Jacobs is world's pistol champ ; Citrus Fiesta at Mission, Texas: Bette Davis gets film award; Bob sledding at Lake Placid, N. Y.; Venzke beats Cunningham in miler ; Maetall wins Hialeah Inaugural. Preparing Dorsey for Scene Here's news for your swing fans, so let them know about it. Jimmy Dorsey will soon be seen in a Paramount Headliner, "Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra." Here is Director Leslie Roush preparing the band leader for one of the scenes for the subject, now in production at Long Island City. Wilson Benge play supporting parts. The comedy will be ready for preview next week. A new Charlie Chase comedy of domestic mixups goes before the cameras this week, with Ann Doran, Arthur Q. Bryan, Helen Lynd, Richard Fiske and Linda Winters 'in supporting roles. Harry Edwards and Elwood Ullman wrote the screenplay, Del Lord directs, and the production credit is shared bv Lord and Hugh McCollum. "Drunken Driving" Accorded 1939 Award of Traffic Safety Croup The 1939 award of the Motion Picture Traffic Safetjf Committee has been won by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for its short subject, "Drunk Driving," an October release. The award is made yearly to the film which "most effectively encourages safer use of the streets and highways." The trophy signalling the award was presented to Art Schmidt of the New York Loew theatre department, at the annual convention of the National Safety Congress, in Atlantic City recently. Leslie Simonson, traffic engineer for the city of Chicago, made the presentation. All civic and fraternal organizations cooperating with the Traffic Safety Committee throughout the country will aid in exploitation and publicizing of the picture. Delivery Trucks Are Bannered in Tieup with Canada Dry on Short The home office publicity department of RKO Theatres, Harry Mandel, director, tied-in with Canada Dry Ginger Ale, radio sponsor of "Information Please," to carry banners on their trucks for the metropolitan playdates of the short. Fifty-four delivery trucks displayed date strips in a prominent position on the upper front of the trucks a full week in advance of the playdates. Valuable advertising accrued as a result of the tie-in for RKO Theatre box-offices in Manhattan, Bronx, Westchester, Brookh^n, Queens and Long Island.