Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

Page 24 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW October 4, 1941 Bach Stage in the Short Shops — Bert Gilroy ■pWO-REEL COMEDIES and outdoor westerns are Iwo types of films that have survived various film cycles, and they're apt to be with us for many, many years. At any rate, that's the way Bert Gilroy, producer of RKO's short subjects and westerns, ieels about it. So strong is Gilroy's belief in the entertainment value of westerns that he has made it possible for short subjects to boast this type of screen fare. In addition to the Ed Kennedy, Leon Errol and many other two-reelers, he has been producing, for the past few seasons, a series of Ray Whitley musical western shorts that have a place of their own among the junior features coming out of Hollywood. That strong addiction to outdoor films probably stems from the fact that Gilroy was born in the Gila Valley of Arizona on a cattle ranch. As a youngster, he punched cows, lived with cowboys, ate from a chuck wagon and slept on the ground. He matriculated at the University of Arizona when only fifteen years old. Leaving college before graduating, he started with $100 given him by his father, who ordered him to "git out and git goin'." Bert Gilroy, producer In 1914 he went to Hollywood to work with D. W. Griffith as assistant of short subjects and cameraman of "Intolerance." But machinery and engines began to attract his westerns at attention and so fascinated him that even the lure of Hollywood couldn't keep him from shipping out as fireman on a salmon fishing boat bound for Alaska. Following this adventurous trip he sailed to Mexico and South America, then joined the Navy at the outbreak of World War I. Before leaving the Navy, he became first class machinist's mate so he could be an automobile mechanic. But Hollywood beckoned once more, and almost before he knew it Gilroy was back on the coast as a prop man at Paramount. He had no intention of going into the movies, he points out here, it just happened inadvertently. Subsequently he became an assistant director. In 1925 he joined Metropolitan Studios as production manager, and two years later signed a contract with FBO (the forerunner of RKO-Radio) to become assistant in the Fred Thompson unit. Following the death of. Thompson, a western star of that day, Gilroy was forced to bed with double pneumonia. For a year he rested in Arizona. Recuperating from his illness in 1930, he had to start all over. He joined RKO Pathe in 1930 as a member of the short subjects department, and in 1932 returned to RKO-Radio as associate producer of shorts. Four years later he was elevated to the post of producer. Producership of western films became his assignment in 1938, in addition to his other duties. Gilroy is married and has a 14-year-old daughter, Barbara. He lives in Beverly Hills and maintains a completely equipped wood and metal shop in which he putters for recreation. Recently he has taken an interest in raising wild birds. He is a fight fan and an avid football rooter, always buying a yearly season ticket for all the U.S.C. games. He keeps pace, too, with the legitimate theatre and the movies. Naturally, we wish Gilroy had told us more about his short subject production activities, but what can you do with a fellow who also produces westerns, enjoys producing westerns, and likes to talk about them? Not that short subjects are a sideline with him, for in this capacity he has a major responsibility. But those westerns — well, you can't blame Gilroy. After all, he is the man who picked Clark Gable for "The Painted Desert," his first outdoor film and the one that launched him on the way to the top. But again, we repeat insistently, Bert Gilroy is a short subjects producer — and one of the best in Hollywood. '1-2-3 Go7 and Charninsky's Off in a Flash to Sell Comedy in Showmanly Style There have been many outstanding campaigns on the Our Gang comedy, "1-2-3 Go." And there will probably be many more before the subject has been played out. Comparable to the best of them is the one put over by Manager Louis Charninsky of the Palace Theatre, Dallas, who, from all reports, went "hog wild" in his efforts to make the one-reeler the chief topic of conversation among Dallas residents. And the fact that he succeeded is easily understood when one studies the following high spots of the campaign: Distributed Safety Club membership badges to kiddies attending the theatre. Also gave them punching bag balloons imprinted with "1-2-3 Go" copy. Conducted an essay contest on the best set of traffic rules. Held a special screening for prominent citizens. Used extra space in newspaper ads to advertise short. Gave Western Union and Postal Telegraph boys special reduced rate admission cards. Received cooperation from Citizens' Traffic Commission. Address on traffic safety delivered by member of police department who also presented prizes to essay contest winners from the stage of the Capitol on day the short opened. Sent letters to P.T.A. members, Citizens' Traffic Commission, school officials and city officials plugging short and inviting them to attend special screening. Served lunch at Baker Hotel for Citizens' Traffic Commission. Invited traffic patrols from all Dallas schools to attend first showing of "1-2-3 Go" as guests of the theatre. Placed set-pieces at parking stations near the theatre one week in advance of playdate. And so a short subject was given a whale of a selling campaign by one of the southwest's smartest showmen. It's smart showmen, by the way, who devote their energies to exploiting short subjects as well as features. For that big dinner, you choose the dessert with care. Short subjects are the dessert of "our program, so choose them, also, with care. WB to Make 2-Reeler on FBI; Other Shorts News Warner Bros, has set "The Man From the F.B.I." as the title for the first two-reel short to be made in cooperation with J. Edgar Hoover and the Department of Justice. Script by Owen Crump is in Washington, D. C, awaiting the head G-man's final approval. Producer George Pal has set "Jasper and the W atermelons" as the sixth Technicolor Puppetoon for Paramount, scheduled to go before the cameras upon completion of "Rhythm in the Ranks." First attempt to give adult appeal to serials will be tried in Larry Darmour's "Holt of the Secret Service," currently before the cameras for Columbia release. Budget has been trebled on the picture and shooting schedule has been increased to take care of the new added situations in the screenplay. Title role in Universal's 12-episode serial, "Don Winslow of the Navy," goes to Don Terry, with Anne Nagle, Nell O'Day, John Litel, Wade Boteler and John Taggert rounding out the cast. Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor are co-directors. Director Jean Negulesco is scouting for expert ice skaters and specialty teams for "Ice Frolics," two-reel Warner Bros, short subject. Jack White has completed a sailor's yarn for the Three Stooges, who return to Columbia from a personal appearance tour shortly. UA Distributing Short On Non-Profit Basis Involving a radical departure in its distribution set-up, United Artists is currently distributing, on a non-profit basis, a two-reel short subject entitled "A Letter From Home." Directed by Carol Reed, the film comes to the United States from England. The usual custom of playing films in one firstrun theatre at a time is being waived in the case of "A Letter From Home," which will be shown simultaneously in competing theatres in each of hundreds of cities. Exhibitors are paying a regular rental fee for the showing of the picture, and the proceeds derived from distribution will be handed over to the British Government for disbursement among various war effort organizations. "A Letter From Home" is said to be completely different from the type of short subject that has come here from England since the beginning of the war. It has none of the elements of a newsreel or documentary film, but rather dramatizes the day-to-day life of men, women and children who find themselves in the midst of modern warfare. SHORTS SHOPPING {Continued from Preceding Page) exhibitors' turn to take a ribbing, so we hear, and the ribbing will be done a la Pete Smith in a short subject titled "Flicker Memories." According to the information furnished this department, "the new film, a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer release, recalls those early days of filmdom when the theatre owner was also manager, ticket taker, usher and janitor and when, between reels, signs were flashed on the screen with such trenchant messages as 'Ladies will remove their hats — others must'."