Variety (May 1944)

Wetlncstlay, May 31, 1944 BUr INVASION BONDS IS 24-Page Press Book for 5th War Loan Piess book for the Fifth War Loan, being distubuted to exhibitors, is a 24-iJage manual covering tested, War. Bond selling promotion, publicity and advertj-sing. ^ Designed for use by theatre managers in all situations, press book is the result of the combined efforts of Robert M. GiUham, Stanley Shuford and Ray Beall, John Hertz, Jr.. of Buchanan & Go., turned over his. art department under John Van Orman's direction, to do the art workvwhich was Supers: vi.'.ed by L. A, Mezg^r of the same agency. Agnes Mengel and Jphn Cicero hahdled printing, production and en- graving. Gampaiga press book covers the following ;bond-selling plans: 1. VVAR BOND PREMIERES 2. JUNIOR WAR BOND PREMIERES 3. SPECIAL BOND DAYS 4 SPECIAL TALENT NIGHTS 5 FREE MOVIE DAY. 6 SCHOOL PHOMQXIONS. —, ' 7 ORGANIZATION TIEUPS. 8 COMMERCIAL TIEtfPS. 9. BOND BOOTHS 10. SPECIAL HOLIDAY OCCASIONS, 11. ACCESSORIES, Cam^Shanks Army Show Big Click bi Debut As Blueprint for Other Gl's Br ARTHUR BRONSON ■ "About . Facp," . the Army Service Forces levue put on at Camp Shanks of Hie N Y Port of Embarkation Friday (26). IS a smart jobi the an- swer to the Army's need for GI seU- enteit^mment anywhere. Hie all- ■ soldier musical, written, largely by GI s with some civili;in help, is sim- /ple, in: design, .amusing and, turiel'til,;; •.Although intended tor soldier audi- ences spetificalty, the show would rate a leyit run for civilians with a little more outlay in talent, sets and production. As isi. it has a Broadway . stamp throunhout: Tested as a "masicr blueprint," the script will be sent overseas to be ireprpdiieed bv units everywhere; as well as servo tlic Army as a pattern for niluro shows. Undoubtedly the revuo'won't !];et the cast and pro- .ducUon lacilities at other bases that It got help But because it confoinis . to the Arm.v.-s desire tor a imivcr- sally-usdhle show with "Actor-proot" skits, "sinKable' sonys and simplv- constiucted sets the revue should ■ click wherever it's done,: even with the replacements nceessltat6d by lo- cal coiYditioiiK, Audience response at Shanks- was' enthusia.'iticv ' . . Pool: of taiejii' connected with the .show IS considerable. Production was super\ised bv Majni Haiiy Sal- ter and Capt, Carl W. Broman, with Robert S. Gordon directinfi it. aided by Tec. 3 Rrtbeit Licb and Pvt Lcs- Alioiii Fa«*<> , Caiiip Shanks, N. Y., Mav 26. . ,. Ai'lil,^': St*i.^v!^'^' 10>i('''K. l>riMl:Ui-tioii tt.l' iwllHi.-; ■. P.!!. [)) itfVt* ^('t' (i:i.^:;1'Il(','ii;'.\Mll?ic "Kv .|*Srl\' J P'l ml. Im'-.v.i im II, Zinl T/.Wjrt TVt**.!; j.rml :Jtl:«yfjt.. J.iM-ry. I<ivi.tiK^l'»i- J.i»u Siusn'.. Skll.H liy ; .Mnrt ■ J.rwl». • lVi.vr .S^'«ltt.wrt/. llt»\rMril iltinrt!!. SliI Z**Unti!i. I'vt. , .*rn»»M A»itM-l».-ifVi. ■ >'t;i?»^l : ltr Rolwit. II. '^•It^ftim. 'IV'"'. illn)>Prr T.iel> a)ni Pvt. i>.s-. tjfe l.i-n tyC.- Wfl.f, . Hfftii. (!eoi'K.o I'eciT 'aliiV ,; r.tiM»i f :.\lnjii| ti: <.o,«UllU(',s; I'vt. I'.nsp llillx-li- ...st^i'.iii.; '.M ; Vi,i':t ir.v- ''llu'll. (■.•"aitm. yii:inl;H of ■■■X ,T.:':]'.irt.'iil'-'l':iiilin.i'li4ili"ii. liar .'j!. I'iist ini'lMili'ii. I'vl;' ,N:il.i< .Ai'k^rmVHi.. Ciil. TJi.tsiMi-,( '>inip. I<fc', ■ l.uiiii'.lJi'it5-.' Isl ■I^I: :T.:n\ - T*.ih-("UI)»mV.^.-' I*\ t. j.o.sloi'M.f 'iVIl lli't'- . pfi? iilrti. Ski.'' iS.iviii fluiliiijs... \>\i. r.i-iiny 1\t'in. IH'i;.' 'I'iim (.r0.n.'ll-<i.r.-I'vl. . XhI ;I>'>- liiK... Ski : I.i(U(r UliMhuin. .Sftt.. KiilliP.s: 1 !!!u i;. .,T/.-.. 11„ri;;uVl iJni.i.T. 'I7:> Winifvoil: \V:it- ■ ti«i\^..'l'.v.i.. ■■(■..iiiin.v: i|i-in,icl. J'vi, '.TulPs M.irn-.: ..Nliiii:, l.'i^, n;U-(Mitf' .C.Oi'io-';. *Jil l.t, 'I'lifiiiiMS' M,'if-i-\. i.,v'mi'. hnvlihi. ■'lyH ■. f.oinilr iilfi.ij ' l!iri'fi)'.";:. ..." tti Lewis Gcoi^e S Kaiifman s:,t . iiy as ccihsii.) tah I; '•■ VyV. j. Frank Lnes- sei'. eoH.lriljiitori : inost of the. .niitslcV aided b\ Pvt. H,\ Zuet T Sfit Petci Lmd ll.ues ,uid .lei i v LuinKslon : .and Loti S!'i'itpi% . .S.ki;ts.'wCi'o: W by Ivl(irl Lewis. Dav-e Scl-iwartzv : HiVvvai;.el Hat'i fx,' Sid Zelinka land Pvt. , Ai.'Oolri Aiu-vlxich. v..; fteyi'e .1.4 in .Ktahda.rd yor.'5fon-.of ai- ■ t&niaie :.'a; \i\p:i 'and^^sli'Vts.' ;wlth ti - cpii*- .elviclitr' :,PX. 'ixniiTbei'. that , enables, all ,\t'ypes;(jf talent, to .shp.w' its slun,'.. The- .;..s1<it-.-s are",ye lie rally amusing;-.with-"the .iit;(titor, bvo:id l\a)her: than subtle.; and .some ol It mlcllicdble. natuialh only to Gl's But a skit like "Civil- ian Seleclive S"i vice" about the . tioocl ,■ 0 [,: 'iHAfii h(!' Gl's for civil ian ■ ■.life; Is witty, and pointed, as. Well as- -roivdity.' fyiiViy, Tlie.'hiusic' is .pleas-' ant and tatehj ralhei than distifr- siuishcd with "DOHlace" a snanpv „cliiii"aetbv■ soti.t;.;■ .and ■."Private'' First Clas,s, Mary ..Browii.'' an. appeaiiri.«i.v vsihjp'le- ■ senti'inoiifftl -ballad; topping: ■,:the-10ti V-','-v'-'..,';■>. .:':.-.;' :y-f ■ '-■_'' Tlie, cast..Vail. I'roni,, .Gamp, -Slia'h,l;s. , int'lurie's , two': olticcrs.:: 14- eiilisted. nie.n: seven, WACs and a, 20-pieco "orchest'vrt. under the .d:ireotipn of.S.ijt. ■ VValtev.. Gi'O.ss, ': CrtSi: Ktalldout.s,: are /two comics i'vom' the! Broadway scene; Who (•nii't„,c;t't- b'.iek to'AvSi.Vpn. for the: ^Stem's. - good;'^ . ; Jules iMuniihin :(^"f)io;;Arn1v P1ay,by Play"') is a dry ,comic a pres.'; between Ed Wvnn and "Avtli'iir TKfrrtoher,. w'li.p-panicked- 'ehi with a sc; lecture and his imper^ onjtion «l Dr. Kildare. Pvt Lc|in\ Kent le-^'-nitcTv m.c ) is a Sad-Sacl»- ,:-^h: ....riHit : .with ', a: : versatile , line. - ;V;'iefEli<;r :;d()iii!' ,a dQii,li.)o-t:Ok stunt 1 ccplaininc; the show, acting a liar- Willing to Co-op Washington, Ma.v 30 : Producer of a : national net- : woik .show recently phoned the radio section of Army Public Re» lations and offered a two and one-halfrminute spot on his show to the .first woman to laild in Guadalcanal—an Army nurse "We don't have transmitters at Guadalcanal, you knowj'' replied the Army p a "You wouldn't want us to transport her thou- sand.s of miles back here after ; we traiwportcd her thousands of miles to Guadal. would you?" The program exec pondered this, and then, by way of upping • tlie ante, replied: "'Well, if you do. mi-make it three minutes on the an." ried recruit; or plaintively wailini; his 'Why Do They Call a Piivate a Private (When His-Life Is a Pub- lic Event) .'■' - ■- : Pie. Leon Gray, former Fred War-- nif; vocalist; displays a rich baritone loi 'Piivate Fust Class Maiy Brown.' and Sgt. Lvnn: Durkin. ex- nitery : singer, warbles., a catchv "When He Come.s Home.' Pvt. Vi- cente Gomez, onetime concert gui- faiist does a specialty in the PX number, as well a.s-leading the eonga^ rliiimlja line finale; . Tec;/4 Bonnie Vaughn s "Lass With the Delicate Air" IS nicely done. -•..'Sets; purposely made from: scrap: ihaterial as a Eiuide to: other campS; were supervised by Sgt, George Peed. ex-Disney: animator, and Sgt; Robeit Majois 'MEX HAYRIDE' SKEDDED FOR AN OVERSEAS TOUR .... USO-Carrip. Show.s will .:create an: O.vei\s'oas,. -strearrjliiied version:, of Mexican Haynde for the near luturc; . .f Follow the Gir-ls" . was, ii(3\'or Ci/..>;ak'ftd ft-i USO 1.53-, -t'e- .spite " cpiltrary. , report^, , because, - if, |a,ck.S: : a book and is - ptherwise irii- .suited;.:,,:'B,6,th. '.sh'o:ws",: are,■ ctirrent,. Brpaclway ■ hits.: ;■ ' : -; : V V" ,:"US6 hosn't; ca.st either of its; two pi;;;rineii ;compaiiies - pf "Oklahoma,'', having:. (siil,y beeii ,: able;-tb line / up- three; players in i.four; :weeks for one. of tlYe .show.s;.'i;ac'h.:Streamii'ned show Mil ha\o a cast ot 12 Oiilv USO ve)'"sion;. o,i;, a 'curi',d:ii,t ;.-Broad^^^ .hit' now ov el seas is the "0\ci 21" com- pany now in Afiita. Veterans of the Wars Bv K^Y BEALL ■ ^'jMfiSfi'ti.fasiyi .' .;lh\,fh-e ■-'■I;igh,t:ing'^^^ canipaign.; we are all.: veterans, ;no .lpn,ge;,r.,hoY,i'fces: - Thi.s;';appli;es to -exs hib'ilj;on.-,disti'ibufion arte! -prodyptioh.:' Therefore, w,e wiH iiot-attempt to le':l liie .showmen who are' on the :iflr;ihf;!', 'lins;;.. ilOwi- .Jo . ,fi:ght::,; this/War Bpiirj ,.'selling, battlev, ijut-' rathCr: i\'e: Will -provide 'bond-selling!-- ammu tlon in',the-,,;foliowihg,'iftah'ner';.'' •A-pi"acti,,cal: shbvymanship campaign, bftpk; ■ bon'd-selliiig frailer.s; and ac- :ce.s.«ories; the. combined showman- ship of the "Honoied Hundred', and, last but not least, the counsel, advice Olid ■ .showmanship.of. the slate -puta- Ifcity chairmen and the other asso- ciates- m the field. nils ammunuion, if properly used, will- re.yilt m 'a Bondsellintj .victory .■■.ir::::{ the "B'ighling Fifth'' War Loan campaign!'; :'c'\. ■-;■ ;' -:',',,; ;^-:,':;'■ Showmanship Methods Used by ''Honored 100" to Put Oyer 4th War Loan Are Basis For 5th Bond Drive The motion pictuie industiy's greatest bond salesmen, the "Hon- ored Hundred," have been polled to ftnd out exactly how they operated in selling bonds, during the Fourth War Loan drive; on a record-break- ing : scale. These detailed reports weie then caiefullj sifted foi the best ideas employed in eveiy situa- tion. Covering 10 separate fields of op- eration, the lepoits liom the "Hon- ored Hundied' piovide hist-iate mateiial for the stiales,i&ts in the Fifth War Loan drive beginning June 12. Some of the methods employed follow. PREHlIERilS. Special War Bond Premieres proved the greatest bond- sellers for the ' Honored Hundred" and will likely repeat in: the Fifth War Bond drive. Special section; of the press book, turned out by the in- dustry campaign committee,- outlines various types of preems-and special shows SPECIAL BOND D\YS. Among the most . successful bond-selling: sho\vs along these lines were the fol- lov\ing (d) Biiv a Bond for Baby Week; purchasers of War Bonds posted the picture of iheir "baby" ;in theatre lobbies on a special board. ■(b) Local Heroes' Day; purchasers Ixiught a. bond lor son, father or: sweetheart, who was notified , by a letter from the theatre manager that a bond - had been purchased im his name, tc) 'Marine Day;" "Navy Day," "Army. Day'—members ot the respective branches of the service are guests of War Bond purchasers during ' their' day bv an arrange- ment.worked out wherebv each bond purchased made a pass available for a serviceman., Instead of the bond- buyers getting a pass on ■ these daysj it was: given to servicemen. CHILDREN'S PROMOTION. Local Boy and Girl Scouts are of tremen- dous help.; Leaders are contacted and .competitions arranged between the girls and boys m soliciting bond purchases throughout the city—at the ; theatre, in department stores; door-to-door, at church, meetings, etc. A trophy or scroll is awarded in most cases to the winning group by the theatre managers.; Individual prize winners are awarded passes to tlje theatre. Public schools are also placed m competition with each other. In; the Fourth; War Bond campaign students were;, called "Bomb ScUerii.'',. Trips and War Bonds were presented to the. students selling the most bonds! Since schools, will be out m most cities dulling the "Fighting Fifth,": this plan can eastly be adapted to competing Boy Scout troops. "A Bond for Each Student" campaign proved successful dunng the last campaign In one city 3.200 Series "E" Bonds were sold through this plan — SPECIAL SERVICES A poster bond : was set up in the lobby ^in- nouncing that the theatre would be glad to .send a repiesentative and War Bond booth to any organization rally, whei'e"siich an -organization had no authou/ed Is<^ulng agent Public was kept constantly aware of the theatre s eagenies.s to - keep selling bonds -through .-• lobby board.s,. ah- hpunc'eirients in the iiewspaper-s: a;niJ via radio.; Bonds were .sold through membeis of the theatie staff who nriade hoase-to-hpuse canvass to boost sales. Support 'Of local hi?h ;school students was secured to do special chores; such as mowing lawns tak- ing care Of :chi:idr,e:n ;aiicl h'elbin.g' .in' stores, for bond purchases. Some- members of the "Honored Hundred' ■held special midnight performances and "swiijg shifts" to lally wai workers behind the War Boiwr drive, inviting employers, plant luiuiasiers and union leaders; to deliver talks that sold; bonds.' . ■; - / ORGANIZATIONAL TIEUPS. Local women i voluntary sei vice and civilian defense organizations pro-, vided smartly-uniformed,; experi- enced Bond Saleswomen to serve as issuing agents at thpatre bond booths, The most prominent and active or-; ganizations, such as the American Legion. Veterans of Foreign; Wars; Kiwanis.' Rotary,; Daughters of :;.,the American Revolution^ Fraternal Or^ derSi etc.. were each assigned a spe- cial night on which to .sell bonds Union locals; of the AFL, C^O and Railroad Brotherhood, werf. ■ enlisted to compete, with other locals on -speT cial W&r Bond nights at the-theatre. Theatres were turned over for; one night to local, women's club.s "^or a half-hour show and bond drive. MILITARY TIEL'PS, Servicemen's shows were held at theatres. Through the cooperation of nearby Army camps and Navy bases, the theatre managers worked; directly with:-the. Public Relations Buieau'i. peisonnel, with big results. Reserved seats sold from $25 to 41,000 The mayor, prominent business men and leading club women got : behind the show. The local- Red Cross Canteen :;Gomr mittee fed the east. American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars assisted m holding open, house for members of the compahy before and after the show. One such stunt resulted in sales of $932,475 m War Bonds. COMMERCIAL TIEUPS. All de- artment stores m. many : cities con- tributed merchandise which- ; wa$ auctioned ofl for War Bond pur- chases on the stages 6t theatres. Night clubs and hotels with live tal- ent sent performeis o\oi to iheatici. for bondselhng stunts Peifoimeis also sold bonds for limited periods' in the bond booths iii the lobbies of theatres OUTDOOR BALLYItOO Full-scale paiades with soldieis, sulois, ma- rines; World War 1 vets of the Ameri- can Legion, and. Veteran.s-ot Foreign Wars. Boy Scouts CDVO membcis, etc.Parades ,ended :VN'itH bOiid rallies:, ui iront of theaties \ith uuuoi or Other prominent spc.ikei^ Soififd trucks, >\'ith banneis caujing name of theatie toured the city broad- casting "Buy Bond" nTCS.sage.s SPECIAL STAGE EVENTS. A 'Bond Belle' contest This" was ^ variation of the beauty contest, with e\ei\ bond puichasei entitled to vote foi the ' Bond Belle ' ' Bond Belles",were: nominated tar,,e:lectipn 1 by tieup VMth vaiiou.s local conceins, such as department stores, etc.. who presented their candidate's picture to be displayed in the lobby ot the theatre andm the newspaper. Can- didates, otcour.sc. were employees of the. nominating firms ; and thus c o m p e 111 lo n was tremendously heightened "Amattnir Night was staged in some instances. Any bond purchaser was given an opportunity to perfoim on the btage' of the thea- tre; - ;' ' '., -. LOBBY EVENTS. Theatres used the "Cover Your Man' stunt with excellent results. Stunt tied in all fraternal, civic organization.s. Each club member or theatre patron re- ceived a card with; space provided for name ■ of. :;SomQOne in service ■ whom he was- honoring; Local papers published daily; lists -of cDmpleted cards and names of people m service honored; -. Aside from the appeal to theatre patrons, the .stunt was made com- petitive between organizations and .scored, so that the goal was 100% of all member!;. The stunt was'kept hot Tof publishing replies from sei vice- men who received the cards of bonds sold in their honor. "Honored Hundred" reports .show that individu.'^.ls get a kick out of seeing their names tied in with bond and similar; activities. Some man- agers place a huge ' Honor Roll" -m ; lobbies, near the Victory Booth, with- the names of all bond buyers in- ■ scribed on hand-lettered cards;- When these;"Honor Rolls' were filled new ones were placed in another part of the lobbies; -; Ex-H'w'dites Now in Combat Camera Units Cited By Army Air Forces Washington, MaySU; Army Air .Forces paid special triijute' Sunday.;fi28); tp; its coriibat camera units, citing the heroism of former film industry men now in unifonti; and al.sb pplnting ' to ..the oi'ganizatio.n and .production.' work doi!e by some. "Gombal cameramen .on bombing missions." said : the : War Dept; an- nouncement; mu.st be able to man- a machinegun in emergencies. They ve accounted foi a total of thiee i\JE',s one FWr three Zeioes and a Jap tanker, togethei with three other plane,s probably de- stroyed - "They've earned a : total of 70 medals—two iihei Stais fi\e DFC's with two Oak;-Leaf GItistefs,.' 2fi air •ti] edals. w i t.h ■ 28 bib.sterS; tou;r Purple Hearts,^an£l.reight ^reside^ citations ■ Among those mentioned ii' the repo;l are: ..' F.ir.Ht;,L't. .Jiihies M..;B>'ay,.. of ;H61]y-; wood ex-Pathc leiiser with the 9th All Force, who has won the Dis- tiiiguiihed Flying Cioss and the Air Medal with two dUistel's.-; ~; : ■ Mai Stantoid B, Greenwald of Hollywood,' former ; commander of the 9th All Foice cameia unit, and foimei Pai amount camerdman, whose ciew got a Piesidentja! Unit citation in the ,M ddle East Mai. John D. Craig, of Chicago, foi-niei pioducei and diietloi of ad- ,.venture'fllm.s. who succeeded Giecp- waid,!v.ahd : 'who ; ha.< „ wori the, - Air Medal with foui Oak Leaf Clusters the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the. ;British ; Order .;ot . tfe Winged Boot T Sgt Jeriy Jowick, of Chicago, former newsreelerj. who holds the DFC and the Air Medal with one cluster. - Capt Raymond G I Fein-liom, ot Mnnh ittd" Beac*' Ciht ex- feararoount; caihera:i:nan;' whp^ the: Purple Heart. ; ,, | ,. ,'Ma:i. -'Cla'i:i<, Gable), who.se ;',uriit- -is' ■attached to- .the; ;8th Aif --,F0;r,ce,, 'ha,.s : been awarded, the ■■Air, .Medal. ,';;'; ,;j Capt. .^r.drew J. Mcliityre. of Los^ Angeles ex-MGM lensei, who worked with Gable and won the An Medal Capt E F Bcighob, ot Van Nui.s Calif, loimei RKO cameiaman, who has the AW Medal for work in the Southwest Pacific ' 'lvia.i,;Frank..Ll,oy<;l,;te is; also commei)dbd for. :-wo,i^.-.jn-'.tKe Pacific Capt Ellis W Cailei, foimer Pine-Thomas cameraman;, who holds the An Medal. Fifth An Force unit, with several foiniei industij men in its crew, has a Pi evidential Citation, and more than half it membeis hold individual awaids. Two of its men. Capt, Ed- ward W. Collins, foimer 20th-Fox cameraman, and I^t Harold G Moran. of North Hollywood, are listed missing in action. Capt H. Claik Rjim^ey, of Lauiel Canyon. Hollywood, another, ex- len.ser, was wounded in action. Capt Jack W Blake, of Buibank, has the Purple'Heart. ; Staff Sgt Jack Steiling, foimer MGM stunt man and Stafl Sgt Richard R. ; Batcheller.. of Los Angeles; each dropped their cameras m a pinch and are credited with a probable: Zero apiece shot down. ,Also rhentioiled iii; the report are Lt Col Ralph Jestei, ex-Pai amount, in charge of the Air Forces 10 over- seas camera units; Lt Col William Keighley, ex-Wni nei Bi os, foi his work on J;he Coast, in Washing- ton, and oveiseas; Lt Col William Wvler, foi his ]0b in pioduring "Memphis Belle",; and -Maior Bert Teitlebdum, in chaige ol the Air Foices piocessiiig ccntei in New Yoik Bond Primer | — Continued from paKe 4 ^1 in youi town and olTei youi theatie Jp. tiiem. Tliey w'ill do the job of -- Selling. There n-.-iy lie some club or group.- that .woiild -walit to sponsor^ the premiere. Don't ti'y tp do the .io':» Blone;; the more,;: v\:hp -a.i:e interested ^ (he better. Everyone :n the com- munity wants 10 'r.elp in tiiis ,iob. ■ ■; Q '*Iy theatie is too .small" A. Ii you are riot interested ,;ii!i,- building. Up, the position ot your the- ati e nobody else is. The mai-.y small ■preiiiier.es combined, help to' rriake;,- the drive a;.success, 'FA-ery .neighbor;-;;, hood has pudc and al. o a it to jnak* their sliowing as good as possiljla and you and your theatie can help accomplish this. ,it also makes you: and your theatre a inoie impoitant Pdit of youi community. The more you do for your community the.more ' they'll do for you. ,