Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1942)

32 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW October 3, 1942 Clay Models Replace DrawingSy Save Film Cartoon Producer Hugh Harman cufs raw sfock requirements in half by photographing clay models instead of experimental animated drawings. He is shown inspecting miniature figures for a new cartoon. Moulding clay has come to the rescue of Hollywood's movie cartoon makers today, pulling them out of a materials-shortage which eventually might put world-famous animated characters off the screen for the duration. Producers of animated pictorial subjects so far have acquired large stocks of materials — most of it raw film — to perfect the myriad bits of pen-drawn action of their characters. This has been mainly a trial-and-error business in an attempt to smooth out life-like capers with thousands of separate drawings required in perfecting correct perspective of each movement. With a pinch on material, the animation chiefs have been busy figuring out a way to keep their characters on the screens of the world in the face of government pruning. Hugh Harman, pioneer in the animation field and responsible for bringing the first sound voice to cartoon character, not only has solved the problem for the present batch of characters but has perfected a claymoulding method that will make possible production of "King Arthur's Knights," fulllength animated movie to be done in color. Staff members of Harman's organization — Charles McGirl, Melvin Shaw and Max Ising — shaped in miniature all the characters of the new project: knights on horseback. Sir Lancelot, Guinevere, Sir Modred and all the other people of the famous story. These were completely "wardrobed" in colored paint, then photographed with a special camera from every possible angle. These photographs are being used by the animation artists to get their perspective exactly and quickly instead of making thousands of trial drawings which would have to be photographed via the motion picture camera. Experimental work with the new system already has shown a 50 per cent saving in film stock, Harman disclosed. First screening of the method will be embraced in the short subject, "We Can Lose," now under way at the Harman Beverly Hills Studio with the cooperation of the Academy and Office of War Information. Ninety-eight clay models will be required for the King .Arthur project. With the war subject and the longer knight story as proof of the method, Harman is certain that animation producers will be able to weather the materials shortage without curtailment of their instructive and entertainment outout^ Bowlers Attracted by A Direct Campaign Hurlers of the large black spheres in Maysville, Ky., were given the chance recently to brush up on their prowess when Manager Edward May of Schine's Russell Theatre exhibited Paramount's Grantland Rice Sportlight, "Better Bowling." The astute theatreman tied up with a local bowling alley which plastered its windows with signs calling attention to the subject. In the local newspaper an ad was planted under this heading : "Notice Bowlers." This copy then followed : 'Attention Bowlers!' "All interested in bowling are hereby advised to see Grantland Rice's 'Better Bowling,' featuring the world's greatest trick, fancy and comedy bowlers at Schine's Russell Theatre Friday and Saturday. 'The feature screen attraction will be 'Ten Gentlemen From West Point.' 'Superman,' an all-color cartoon, and 'The Magnetic Telescope' complete this great show." It is not known whether May bore the cost of the ad or promoted it from the cooperative bowling alley. At any rate, it attracted the howling enthusiasts, and was unique in that it billed a short subject above a feature. A four-inch reader on the Sportlight was promoted in another edition of the newspaper. Now that the campaign is over and "Better Bowling" has been exhibited, just try to exceed the scores of Maysville's crack bowlers who have learned the fine points of the game from viewing the subject at the Russell. For Umpteenth Time, Short Subjects Save Weak Feature Here's another case where good short subjects saved a weak feature. At the Almeda Theatre, Houston, Texas, Manager Al Adam decided to bolster the boxoffice draw of his program with a four-unit short subject bill consisting of Porky Pig in "Notes to You," Donald Duck in "The Village Smithy," Our Gang in "Baby Blues," Barney Bear in "The Flying Bear." The All-Star show was advertised via clever heralds, a special trailer and marquee billing. Reports Adam : "Grossed almost as much as 'Fleet's In' on the previous Saturday, and as the star of the feature is not popular, you can readily understand what the comedy and cartoon did for us." .A.dam did it, why can't you ? Our Gang Comedy Campaign Nucleus For Safety Week That there are some short subjects whose aspects of timeliness make them appropriate at almost anytime no matter what their age, is well known. Such a subject is MGM's Our Gang comedy, "1-2-3 Go," which although released a season or two ago, was the feature of a Safety Week campaign held recently at the State Theatre, Cortland, N. Y. Manager John Manuel was assisted by MGM exploiteer Jack Gilmore. Decision to hold the Safety Week campaign followed a meeting attended by the Mayor, president of the City Council, Commander of the American Legion, Chamber of Commerce and several factory experts. The Our Gang comedy was chosen as one of the highlights. Local schools, represented by the Superintendent, agreed to cooperate with a series of essay contests on traffic safety. A series of daily talks over the school public address system plugged the contest and the title and playdate of the film. Three classifications were listed so as to take in all ages. The superintendent also approved and planned a school bicycle parade, with prizes for the best decorated bicycles. Badges mentioning the Safety Week and the subject were made up and distributed by the schools. The Police Department cooperated by rigging up a police car with a P. A. system and parked it at busy corners during the Safety Week. An announcer called out to pedestrians who were violating safety rules and then suggested that the violator see the film. To the police were issued a number of passes which they awarded to pedestrians noted as being careful and courteous. In each case the theatre name, playdate and title of film were mentioned. When it was pointed out that loss of life and time due to accidents was a serious problem in the war effort, the County Chairman of Civilian Defense units agreed to put on a series of first aid demonstrations on the State stage in conjunction with the showing of "1-2-3 Go." Participating were the Boy and Girl Scouts, Firemen and regular First Aid classes. The newspariers came through in fine shape with much space in the news columns and a picture of the active committee, with the title and playdate prominently visible on the film can appearing in the picture. Factories cooperated by placing placards on their bulletin boards next to the time clocks. They also mentioned the campaign, including the film, in their weekly safety pep sessions. Local Service Clubs invited five-minute speakers who talked on safety. With the film and playdates receiving due attention, these talks reached the Kiwanis, Rotary, Exchange and Monarch clubs. If by chance you haven't yet played "1-2-3 Go," we suggest you plan to do so soon, planning a Safetv Week campaign in connection with its showing. Or if you exhibited it without much ado. we suggest you bring it back and create much ado on the safety angle. Short Companion to Football Film A special "Community Sing" featuring football songs has been released by Columbia as a companion to its football feature, "The Spirit of Stanford." Reel highlights Songs of the Stanford Red, the University of Stanford's gala college song. 'Menace' Impresses His Patrons Manager Joe Scotti of the Sunshine Theatre, Albuquerque, N. M., utilized the newspapers, his lobby and marquee in selling "Menace of the Rising Sun."