Variety (Sep 1937)

VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday^ September 8, 1937 lefty Stages a Preview; The Credits Get More Applause Tiian the Fdm By Joe Laurie^ jr. Coolacres, CaL, Sept. 7. jQggjt Joe * . Had a spool salesman come through here with the States rights for a picture caUed 'Damaged Goods." He give me a sw.ell sales talk and^had a good flashy lobby display. It was a cheap buy so I went for it and double featured it with my regular program—the picture I played with it was •It Can Happen to You.' Everybody looked at the marquee and laughed. I think I should run my comedies on the marquee. I did a pretty fair business—it took Aggie r. half hour to count up. She counts the receipts three or four times; she don't want to forget what money looks like. . « . »« «t'ii You remember me writing you that I played 'I Met Him in Pans ? Well Fish-Eye (that's what I call the salesman) told me if I would send in a list of my patrons he would send them all postcards frotti Pans. I figured it would be good exploitation. Well, we got our cards today—they were from Paris, KENTUCKY, and they're just pictures of hills and dales. Welli I added another experience to being a theatre operator. We had what they call a 'sneak preview.' A guy calls me up from Hollywood and sez that Mr. McBerg wants to siieak-view an epic of . his. And he picked-my place because it was the proper distance and.a representative audience. Would I please rope off about 10 rows as all the big shots would be there. I was not to say anything to-my-customers about it as it must be kept very quiet. Well, around nine o'clock we had a lot of ^uys drive up and show cards.. Aggie and m6 always believed'in professional courtesy but this was a little too much courtesy, so I gave Aggie the wink and she charged a tax on the tickets. They just paid the tax so we did pretty good. . : " <= " ; I met Mr. McBerg himself and told Him that his pictures go" very, big In my little house and gave him a good routine of talk as you never can tell when these guys may bie in a spot to do yoii a favor. Well, he prom- ised to send me a picture of himself playing polo for my lobby. When his feature • finally started I never heard so miich applause for a title—one guy next to McBerg said, 'marvelous,', even when he just read the title. Then every credit line g6t a big hand. In fact the title and the credit lines went bigger than the picture itself. Afte^ it was over McBerg said it i^eeded cutting. Aggie sed. by cutting it down it will make it shorter lousy. The natives who saw it got sore at me for roping off the best seats for strangers and for making them sit through three, features. Well, you can't please everybody. Aggie taught me that years ago. Doc Lee, the king of Brpoklyni sent me some, swell exploitation stuff that don't cost much to do. For instance, advettise ^ hat and- coat hanger for all the men—and you give them a regular nail; You also take a regu- lar cow and have a sigh on it reading 'This Is No Bull. We Have a Great Picture at the World In Motion Today.' Those are swell ideas and I may use 'em one of these days as soon as I get a good picture; ^ My pal Rhiney Hiehle from Parkersburg writes me that he gave away a little pony saddle and bridle;<-it dofesn't cost -much iand makes a-big flash giveaway. When I told it to Aggie she .'said, 'Lefty, never buy anything that eats. We would be losers after the first meal,' besides the winner may not take it. You got enough with that boy Vic; he eats so much and so fast that from the back he looks like he's playing a snare drum.' I am thinking of going to the Big Town for the Legion Convention. The Post here will pay all expenses for three of us. I haven't said anything to Aggie about it. I sure would love to take" her with me, if I go, because we don't meet anybody out here that speaks our language. . They don't know who Frank McNish was, pr Arthur Rigby, or Barney Fagan, and I know it would do "us a lot of good to . cut up touches with the old gang about the Mozart circuit and the Pan tim* and the W. V. merry-go-round. It's been a long time since I dipped my feet in the Palace Beach, so I think I'm gonna start being nice to Aggie so I can get away. . . .Best to the boys arid girls and tell 'em I'll be seein' them soon,, that is Aggie willing. Sez Your Pal, Leity. Pi S. Wiiliam Collier, Sr., sez a super was a guy that held a spear and got 50c. a show years ago. Later in Hollywood they kidded "Visor-to it and made it Supervisor and pay him .thousands of dollars' a year for doing the fiame thing as the. supe used to do for 50c. (Continued from page 1) also .after .sund<iflirn^,bave caught oh in a 'startling iTOW")^^ this past simi- mer. This . is ..paf^cujarly .true . of the west and south, ^ where mer- chants in numerous Instances are sp.onsoring such games. There are cases, also, where- local business houses or groups organize their own teams and put on games for the locals as a giveaway and as a hypo for goodwill arid trade. . The exhibitors recognize openly that night baseball is taking away, plenty of business, particularly in situations where there are gamips every night of the .week> but admit that there is nothing they Can do about it it they" want . to avoid creating ill-will in their communi- ties. Any effort to fight this com- petition, as has been done Avith cir- cuses in the past, theatres putting on free shows while they were in town, is out. Local folks do not care about any competition against circuses that might appear unethical, but they certainly would against their local sports activities. The industry has fought dog rac- ing ' me'asures in various states, backed by public opinion that is generally againSt them, but doesn't dare to try to interfere with base- ball, football, horse rafeiiiff'and'oth^r forms of sport. Growth in aU branches, including dog races where they , are put on, is very disturbing^ however.- It is even likely that the. spread of dog racing can't be Stopped. . • This year will be the biggest in gross , and patrdnage'-that both rac- ing and baseball: has enjoyed, while last fall football increased its heavy following and is likely to do' even better this year. The interest that has been stirred in football in. recent years may also create an appreciable following for professional pigskin contests which began to catch on in real proportions last year. The pro games are usually more' often than on Sunda^^ afternoons, and include midweek night games at times. Gambling craze in America ' has motivated a keener interest in sports, with betting ' on horses, baseball .games, football, ' boxing matches, etc., 'making these sports highly profitable propositions. This sanie gaming urge is what made bank nite what it is in the theatres. PAR AND PATHE'S ADDED NAME COMMENTATORS Both P'aramourit and Pathe news- reels are going in for name com- mentators this fall. Gabriel Heatter and Par have agreed on terms un- der which the radio commentator would join as narrator though actual contract has not been signed. Plan is to bill Heatter as chief of voice staff with lesser lights as commen- tators such as with Fox Movietone, which has Lowell Thomas as well as sports and other specialty men and women commentators. Paramount at one time this year was seriously considering some form of unit production such as Fox news- reel has but after the sales conven- tion the idea was nixed because of cost. Use of well-kno.wn commen- tators is said to be a compromise. Heatter joins Far. newsreei this, month. Pathe has listened to .more than 20 announcers and airwa,ve commenta- tors in an effort to sniig some name narrators. Clem McCarthy stays on sports ■ but no others have been definitely set. Joseph Johnstone, for- liieirly of the N. Y. News, joins Pathe as head of dialog department. Pathe editors plan to launch the newsreei in new dress next month, these in- cluding altered titles and a longer reel. J COLOR PATENT SUIT German Patentees Given , B«llef. Partial Three Scripters Set Hollywood, Sept. 7. Stephen Morehouse Avery and Eve CJ-reen. have been as.signed to script "'Dresm of Love,* next George Raft flilni at Paramount. ■ 'Virgin.iia Van Upp' goes on the script of 'Are'Husbands Necessary?' from - Dorothy ' Bennett's original yarn. American Natural Color " Films, Inc., was yesterday (Tueisday) en joined by N. Y. Federal Judge Rob- ert P. Patterson from disposing of the Wolff-Heide process which it controls, pending outcome of the pat ent infringement suit brought by Emi and Ada Klamp of Germany, who claim they are the pioneers and inventors of the process. Besides the corporation, James W Gerard, former Ambassador to Gar many, is a defendant as are Paul and Harold Addott. The Klamps claim a former employee obtained their process and later sold it to the defendants. Judge Patterson re fused the plaintiffs' request to s^op the corporation from continuing business pending outcome of the action. The Sris"Eye View** Sheman's 16 MM. Co. Hollywood, Sept. 7. Harry Sherman, Sam Berkowitz and J. D. Trop have organized Harry Sherman Visual Education Pictures, Inc., with $100,000 capitalization, to produce 16 mm. film for educational purposes. Berkowitz is understood to have completed a survey of the 16 mm. Held and concluded that the time is ripe for an invasion of that field. Production will start in the next few weeks. Berkowitz continues to op-^ erate his Far West Exchange. Jane 'Withers' 'Salomy' Hollywood, Sept. 7. Jane Withers tops the ca.st of 20th Century-Fox' remake of 'Salomy Jane." Sol Wurtzel is producing pilot. Cleveland, Sept. 7. National Air Races hot.' only cracked all former attendance rec ords by drawing 257,200 sightseeers into municipal airport over Labor Day weekend, but also tied up town in one of worst traffic jams in its history. • Congestion made it nearly impossible to driv# through down town arfea, and astute natives didh' I try it. That plus atrial competition crimped all theatres, pushing grosses down to a new. holiday low. Exhibitors stijl picking loudly ije cause overflow of. visitors was caught by Gre^t^ t^kes Exposition through an unorthodox but clever deal.' Expo's civi'c sponsors threat ened to refusecooperate if Cliff and Phil HenSetsOn went through original plans to stage night air races, as in previous years. Evening aviation events, they decreed, were an unnecessary anti-climax anc would dent Centennial fair's grosses Henderson boys conceded by fin ishing races at 7 p.m. during four day meet, besides arranging a novel ticket tieup to placate fair officials. Stubs gave holders free admission to Expo, with result that latter also was lahdslided into a record attendance figure for week-end. Every hotel did a sellout. Rooms were scarcer than new Charlie Chaplin comedies, but theatres were left out of melon- cutting. ^ Thompson trophy race on Labor Day was responsible for top crowd of 105,200, while Greve trophy race oh Sunday (5), won by Rudy Kling, collected 65,000 rubberneckers. Rainy Saturday (4) cut turnout down to 35,000, with 52.000-gate on preceding day. Promoters claim meeting cost $350,000, which is probably, an ex- aggerated estimate. But even after paying out prize money they earned a juicier profit than their last races here. Death 'of Lee Miles in a tryout ?.nd dramatic cr'ackup of Count Otto Hagenburg,- champ acrobatic flyer, made two highly publicized thrills that hiked attendapce. Major Al Williams . and Jimmy Doolittle with Graham McNamee guefelarred as network" announcers for most important races. A staff of Metro cameramen, Victor Fleniing directing; flew in to shoot aerial scenes to be used in 'Test Pilot.' About 25,000 feet of film'we're taken for picture to' co-stat Clark Gable, Myrna lioy dnd Scienter Trftcy. Paul .Mantz, Hollywood 'stunt fly6r,' waS scheduled to solo for Metro lens. By Marian Squire •Vfreinia' Has Clothes But No Comedy 'Virginia,' at the Center, inee-deep in period costumes,' as with recent motion pictures, is of Revolutionary flavor. (SeneraL style is tight waists and enormously,full.panniered skirts 'wired but at the hips.' Toppers are usually fitted jackets with long in the back pleated peplums, and sleevea puffed like anything at the, shoulders and fitted from elbow to .wrist. Necks 'eature cascades of white ruffles making them most becoming to .faces mt figures are kept a profound secret. ' Color riots among the gowns, but with discrimination. , All shades of green, rose, rust and what have you are brought together harmoniously, ::<oveliest of the gowns falls to Anne Booth's lot, a heavenly blue taffeta caught up here and there with huge pink roses, and one rose nestling in * the low lacy neck. Matching blue ostric^i feathers are in her picture hat. Another nice one for Miss Booth is a gray taffeta skirt in ruffled tiers with , bright orange-red jacket. A large scalloped, hiat i.n the orange, faced with gray, goes with this. The drum number is a pleasing picture with the toe dancers in. knee- high red boots, white tights, full, short, blue ballet-skirts over red, and red-and-white, candy-striped jackets. "The boots must be ingeniously de-' signed for the girls' feet look amazingly small. Mpna Barrie is lovely in a soft blue transparent velvet with deep square ruffled neck and large hat, . , ' Revolving stage is used to go from ballroom to garden where the ballet s discovered in Easter colors. The. girls in fitted bodices and ankle-length ballet skirts of yellow over white, the me.ri in orchid breeches, yellow vests and white satin coats. Statisticians might enjoy figuring "out how many miles of velvet, satin and.lace is used in 'Virginia,' but adding up the comedy, wouldn't be such difficult task. The burden-is carried by Buck, and Bubbles, Nigel Bruce, Gene Lockhart and Bertha BelmoreV witti little assistancie from the authors. It isn't likely that Anyone would .go to!'Virginia', expecting a' leg show, but in that case watdh far Patricia Bowrhan in-the 'Jack iind the bean- stalk'fantasy. .She wears-tights as 'Jiack.' ■ '-' liie score is pretty, but those geared to a little 'oomph' in their mtisic will like best Avis Andrews' 'l\)!Iirandi',' with" Buck-and^ Bubbles and .the choir singing, 'I'll Be Sittin'in De Lap o' De Lord.' ' ' 'Prisoner of Zenda' Has Re£:al Clothes Gorgeous jscenery, lavish costumes and moldy castles' give Ronald Colman (Rudolf Rassendyll) the setting in which he relinquishes his love, to Ron- aid Colman (King Rudolf V). Madeleine C^arroll, 'Princess Flavia,' who must turn her back on the dashing Englishman-, makes her first appear- ance in court,costume of white satin and ermine with a fetching tuUe veil falling into a train from her crown.- She has'white satin for the court ball, with drop shoulder and a train following her down the stairs. Her blonde . (resses in a heavy chignon well down the back of her neck. Mary Astor fared ill with costumes, wearing mutton leg sleeved suit with a hat shaped like half of a football with feathers; and a black boa about her throat. A later appearance in - funereal black accentuates the fact that Miss Astor is much too thin, and the heavy hair dress seemed too great a weight for her small head. -C. Aubrey Smith and David, Niven-are convincing, as the. king's aides. Raymond Massey is a wicked villain, with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., assisting in the villainy with devil-may-care charirt. Since Donald .Ogden Stewart is concerned with the dialog it is safe to assume that he is responsible for the number of bright- lines in 'Zenda.' Rockettes Go 'Venetian . The corps de ballet get a nice Japanese setting; complete With a little bridge, to make pretty pictures in flowing Japanese kimonas. The robes ar(B in color groups of green, yellow and orchid; all with yellow sashes and high glittery headdresses. In the carriage lantern scene with the 'Music Hall-singing.ensemble,- all are dressed in Lillian Russell gowns and hats, and for a touch of realism, an actual horse trbts on stage with an authentic coach. After Paul Gordon does some precarious tricks with various bicycles, the scene switches to Venice,, complete with gondola. Billowing Satin gowns for the singers, and into Venice arrive the Rockettes. Their cos- tumes had little to do with Venice, but a great deal to do with brightening up the stage. Tight little red satin jackets 'with perky peplums lined in blue, white lace vests and white briefs with red socks and blue shoes, the better to show off their famous precision kicks. 'Firefly' Fashions Fine. On and Off'Screen The Astor's microphone seridoff for 'The Firefly' brought out Broadway and east-of"Broadway in gala dress.' Mr. and Mrs. Arthur^Hanimerstein,' the former Dorothy'Dalton, hand- some in black lace with a black b6x cape. Clara Belle Walsh in black appliqued net with grass green sash. Kitty Carlisle in long black crepe y^ith knee-length tunic banded in pink and white" beading, Katherine 'Brush in black dinner dress and sniall black hat. Fannie Hurst in black skirt and long white satin tunic belted in gold beads. Mrs. S. Stanwood Mencken, sartorial belle of the Beaux Arts Ball, in sheer rose, diagonally striped in gold, with a belt fashioned of large gold leaves. The omnipotent Brulatours, Hope Hampton in dazzling white and brilliants. . Adrian must have had a lovely time designing those luscious bonnets, directoire gowns and Spanish dance costumes for Jeannette McDonald. If he isn't happy with the way .she looks in them, he should be compelled to spend the rest of his life designing dinner jackets for Charlie McCarthy. Miss McDonald opens in. Madrid, wearing several miles of glittering skirt, a tiny, fitted bodice and flowers in her blonde locks. She doesn't look exactly Spanish, but she does look like a dancer in the Spanish routines. This outfit very reasonably captivates attractive Allan Jones, and his emotional downfall is i'n the bag when she wears a tall bonnet and a long fitted coat with ruffled shoulder cape. It's a black velvet with lonj narrow train and strass flowers embroidered in a line from nieck to hem that first catches Warren William's eye, and she completes the damage to his heart in a satin directoire cut low with a. ruffle around the neck, and a bonnet with ostrich feathers peeping coyly over the top. These are just a few of the beautifully becoming gowns in which Miss McDonald does well by. the familiar lilting Harbach-Friml music, with the assistance of Allan Jones. One of the best of the love scenes, with Mi.ss McDonald in the coach and Jones riding alongside, is enlivened by the roguish fluting of I'ttl* Robert Spindola, as the coachman's son. , S. A. in a Losfjrin.^ Camp 'Roaring. Timber' crashes the Rialto, v.ith a much heavier Jack Holt, his hair line considerably lowered by an ar'Jstic rug, as a logger who"? going to get his logs rolling or else. Grace Bradley, plump and blonde, owns tne company that has to have the logs out on a certain date. You could go a ■long way and not find a girl loss li!:ely to tackle the management of a timber company than Miss E.:rdley. Nevertheless, the logs are gotten oui 80,000,000 feet of them, but not until-they've been burned, thrown ofT oi trestles and wa.shed out to .sea.- due to the machinations of villains Willaia. Robertson and Charles Wilson.' Ruth-Don,-cUy as Miss Bradley's aunt, ana Raymond Hatton as Holt's partner, ne allotted the comedy touches. Miss Bradley' chose a long black gown with hip-length, silver lame tiimc for her first night at the logging camp. After all they've been throuf-^h v\iui •those logs, it's quitfe a letdown when Holt calmly announces, 'Well.- there goes the 80',000,000th foot'—as though he were tired of the whole tliiiiM— and there the picture'ends. ' ■ ' ' . u -it h'h There'arfe enough fights and noble woods scenes', cmipled- with houb name, to lure a packed house, almost strictly stag, into the Rialto, however.