Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1939)

Page 16 S H O W MEN'S TRADE REVIEW November 4, 1939 FIRST RUN SHORT PRODUCT BROADWAY, NEW YORK (Week Beginning November 4) ASTOR—Prophet Without Honor (MGM) rev. 6-17-39. CAPITOL—Set 'Em Up (MGM) rev. 10-28- 39; One Against the World (MGM) rev. 9-2-39. CRITERION—Coat Tales (RKO-Radio); Going Places No. 67 (Univ.) rev. 10-21-39. GLOBE—Evergreen Empire (20th-Fox) rev. 9- 23-39; Big Fish (Col.) rev. 9-9-39; The Golden West (20th-Fox) rev. S-19-39. PARAMOUNT—Popular Science Xo. 2 (Para.); A Dog Is Born (Para.) rev. this issue; Peru (Para.) rev. 10-21-39. RIVOLI—Acres of Plenty (RKO-Pathe) rev. this issue; Donald's Penguin (RKO-Disney) rev. S-20-i9. ROXY—A Mouse and a MilHon (20th-Fox); The Silly Season (20th-Fox). STRAND—The Bill of Rights (Vita.) rev. 8-26-39; Jeepers Creepers (Vita.) rev. 10- 7-39. CHICAGO LOOP (Week Ending November 4) APOLLO—Birthplace of Icebergs (20th-Fox) rev. 8-19-39; Sheep in the Meadow (20th- Fox) rev. 10-14-39. CHICAGO—Busy Little Bears (Para.) ROOSEVELT—r e d Fio-Rito & Orchestra (Para.); Land of the Midnight Sun (Vita.) rev. 9-23-39. UNITED ARTISTS—Think First (MGM) rev. 10-7-39; A Failure at Fifty (MGM) rev. 10-28-39. IN TME Paramount The fourth in the series of ten Headliner short subjects has been completed at the Eastern Service Studio on Long Island under the direction of Leslie Roush. This subject, as yet untitled, features Hal Kemp and his orchestra. In addition to Hal Kemp's theme song "How I Miss You," the following songs will be heard: "Swamp Fire," "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree,'^ "In An Eighteenth Century Drawing Room" and "Vagabond Dreams" Hoagy Carmich- ael's latest composition. Pushing forward tiie heaviest cartoon pro- duction program in their history the Max Fleischer studios in Miami, Fla. announced that there will be no let-up in activity for several montlis. As fast as various depart- ments of the Fleischer organization com- plete their share of work on the feature- length Technicolor production, "Gulliver's Travels," they are being rushed into pro- duction on the 30 short cartoons on the plant's schedule. The story department of the Florida studio has completed all but two stories for the program, which include the Popeye, the Stone Age and the Color Classic series. Fleischer expects to com- plete the entire program by April—three months ahead of schedule. Vitaphone A new series of two-reel short subjects to be known as "Racket Busters," dealing with the battle of law enforcement agencies against crime, is being prepared for release on the 1940-41 program. The first picture in the new group will go into work either (Released Saturday, Noi'e)nbcr 4) PARAMOUNT (No. 19)—Challedon wins Pimlico Special; John D. Rockefeller, Jr. pleads for peace; Fashions from China; Typhoon brings Shanghai floods; Captain Bob Bartlett's last 1939 voyage; Foot- ball, N. C. vs. Penn. MOVIETONE (Vol 22, No. 16)—John D. Rocke- feller, Jr. pleads for peace; Two German aviators shot down over Scotland; Parachute jumpers fight forest fires; Scotch whiskey shipped to U. S.; Spain rounds up (iivil War autos; Class graduates from San E)iego naval training school; Fashions from China; Flying over Australia mountains; Lew Lehr and chimpanzees; Football, Penn. vs. N. C.; Horse show in Australia. NEWS OF TKE DAY (Vol. 11, No. 214)—U-Boat scare in America's safety zone; U. S. tests air de- fenses; Fashions from China; Challedon wins Pim- lico Special; Diamond belt bouts; Football, N. C. vs. Penn. PATHE (Vol. 11. No. 31)—End of Polish state; Rockefeller Center completed; Fashions from China; Grid Giants beat Dodgers; Challedon wins Pimlico. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 11, No. 818)—Rockefeller Center completed; Finland's army; Shanghai flood; Aerial forest fire fighters; Chinese fashions; Tug o' war in Maryland; A.A.U. walking race; Football, Vanderbilt vs. L. S. U.; Tulane vs. Mississippi. (Released Wednesday, November 1) PARAMOUNT (No. 18)—San Francisco closes Golden Gate Exposition; New York World's Fair in late December or early January, with Gordon Hollingshead supervising. Al- though no principals have been set as yet, possibilities for the leads are Dennis Mor- gan and Lucille Fairbanks. A. one-reeler has been purchased from Del Frazier entitled "American Saddlehorses," featuring Douglas King, celebrated five- gaited horse which was winner at the Madi- son Square Garden. Filmed at Mt. Whitney in color, the picture was written, directed and produced by Frazier, and is now being narrated by John Deering, who was the narrator in "Confessions of a Nazi Spy" and will be scored by a 50-piece orchestra under direction of Leo Forbstein. RKO Camera work has been completed on a Reelism subject featuring Kansas City's American Royal Show. This annual horse show, largest event of its kind, attracts blue- ribbon horses and crack riders from all parts of the country. Footage taken at the Show will be supplemented by material on live- stock in general, filmed near Kansas City. MCM Pete Smith marks a new trail with a sequel to a short. Last season, the commentator made, as one of his specialties, a story of dog's devotion to man, "Man's Greatest Friend." The response from Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Societies, dog-lovers throughout the world, and movie-goers in general, was immense. Now Smith is mak- ing another dog specialty, "The Adventures of Stuffie," dealing again with dog's devo- tion to man. Smith, himself, is preparing the script and Fred Zinneman will direct. Pete Smith's next specialty will be "Women in Sports," in which he will pic- ture those members of the "weaker sex" who are active in baseball, hockey, football, basketball, swimming, tennis, track, and what-have-you. As his ne.xt in the "Passing Parade" series, John Nesbitt will offer three "clips" dealing with "The Secret Seven," the age-old secret organization of the LTniversity of Virginia; closes; Big snow cruiser readied for Arctic expedi- tion at Chicago, lands in creek bed at Lima, Ohio; Finland against Soviet demands; Football, Cornell vs. Ohio State; Notre Dame vs. Carnegie Tech; Northwestern vs. Illinois; Michigan vs. Yale. MOVIETONE (Vol. 22. No. 15)—First pictures of Germany's war fleet; Huge snow cruiser goes into ditch; Virginia coast artillery tests anti-aircraft guns; Queen Elizabeth does her bit on home front; Fash- ions for college girls; Bird paradise in California; Football, Fordham vs. Pitt; Cornell vs. Ohio State; Michigan vs. Yale; Notre Dame vs. Carnegie Tech; U.C.L.A. vs. Oregon. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 11, No. 213)—R.A.F. active in France; English royalty inspects hospital train; Wilhelmina looks to Holland's defenses; Grand finale for New York and San Francisco fairs; Huge snow cruiser goes into ditch; Endurance flyers set 726-hour record; Football, Cornell vs. Ohio State; Fordham vs. Pitt; Trojans vs. Bears; U.C.L.A. vs. Oregon; Georgia Tech vs. Auburn. PATHE (Vol. 11, No. 30)—R.A.F. active in France; Royalty active in war and peace; Huge snow cruiser begins long trek; Wartime wool-gathering for Britain; Football, Cornell vs. Ohio State; Trojans vs. Bears; Notre Dame vs. Carnegie Tech. UNIVERSAL—R.A.F. flyers "map" Nazi lines; En- durance fivers land after month in air; Gala parade marks end of New York Fair; Byrd's snow cruiser cracks up; Football, Cornell vs. Ohio State; Notre Dame vs. Carnegie 'Tech; Fordham vs. Pitt. "The Red Rose," telling the tale of Baron Henry Steigel's most unusual will; and "Science Gives A New SOS," relating how operations are performed at sea by wireless. Nesbitt, himself, wrote the series. Presenting a new form of patriotism in motion pictures, the Technicolor special two-reeler, "The Flag Speaks," got under way recently. This new film traces the history of democracy in this country, from just several years before the War for Inde- pendence up to the present, recalling such historic scenes as the Constitutional Con- vention, the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, scenes from both the Revolu- tionary War and Civil War. .\mong the noted personages seen are George Washing- ton, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton and a great many other American immortals. The cast of more than 400 speaking roles is headed by Claude King, Sara Haden, Robert Warwick, William Tannen, Christian Rub and others. David Miller is directing from a script by Robert Lees and Frederick Rinaldo. The latest "Our Gang" comedy went into work this week. The short, "In Love Again," is directed by Edward Cahn from the script by Hal Law and Robert McGow- an. Jack Chertok is producing. "Pound Foolish," latest "Crime Does Not Pay" short got under way last week with Felix E, Feist directing Columbia The "Three Stooges," who have been ap- pearing wath sensational success in George White's "Scandals," have left New York for Hollywood to resume their picture commit- ments. The first "Three Stooges" comedy of the 1939-40 season will be "Nell's Bells," from a screenplay by Lou Sarecky. Jules White will produce and probably be the director. On completing their assignments the comedians will return to New York and re-enter the cast of the "Scandals." . . NEWSREEL SYNOPSES . .