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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1941)
Bing and Mary Sing, Elsinore 'Birth of the Blues' Is I Weekend Bill With Myriads of Music The happiest news to report on the local film front at this mo ment is that Paramount's "Birth of the Blues" opened at the Elsi nore theatre last night, and that It is one of the finest, most ex hilarating treasures of Jazz music and laughs ever to hit the screen. Crowded with some of Holly wood's best entertainers and di rected by Victor Schertzinger, who has no peer as a director of musicals, the cast of "Birth of the Blues" Is lighted up with the . names of Bing Crosby, Mary Mar tin, Brian Donlevy, Carolyn Lee, Jack Teagarden and Rochester. Each gives a grand performance. In the cavalcade of blues heard are those great favorites. "St Louis Blues," "Memphis Blues," James Infirmary Blues " "Birth of the Blues," and also several '.. Other enduring numbers, played , In Dixieland Jazz style, such as : "Cuddle Up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine," "By the Light of the Sil T' very Moon," and "Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie." Incidentally, , Bing's singing of . "Melancholy Ba- by" as a lullaby for little Caro ! lyn Lee got across with thrilling effect to last night's audience. The new song presented is one that al ready has achieved popularity. "The Waiter and the Porter and the Upstairs Maid." The story of "Birth of the Blues," fortunately, is not com plex. It remains simple and di rect throughout, merely - setting the stage and preparing the at mosphere for the sizzling saxo phones, Brian Donlevy's torrid trumpet, Jack Teagarden's blistering-hot trombone, Harry Rosen thal's peppery piano, Bing Cros by's dance-inducing clarinet and Mary Martin's spicy singing. "Birth of the Blues" goes back Vs S: i ft iff lv f " f - - I - 'J Tlta eat res' Sac. 2 Salem, Oregon. Sunday Morning, Dcmbr 7. 1941 5 shindliisScen l KOLLYWOO "SWAMP WATER b the story of a- bey and a girl and of a sadghty bllglag big man-eating aUlgater brlztgs U the fere new romantic . teani, Dans An drews and Anne Baxter. Called an tonsaal aa4 strange trans, the feature beads the cm rent program at the Grand theatre. fc.. - J L v;'"" THOSE COLORFUL DATS In New Orleans when Dixieland Jan was fighting for recognitlen are re . enacted in the filmusical, "Birth ef the Bines," new showing at the Elsinore theatre. These are the "Basin Street Hot Shots," among whom can be recognised Brian. Donlevy, cornetist; Bing Crosby, clarinetist; Jack Teagarden, trombonist. In the inset is pretty Mary Martin, the band's hot-eha soloist. Music Is Gala In "Gulliver" Cartoon of Land Of Little People Has Hit Tunes The State theatre is due to have a music festival all of its own starting today, when Para- to the days when pioneering white mount's new full-length animat- folks first began playing the jazz cartoon in technicolor, "GullK that negroes invented. The story ver's Travels," opens there. Its takes us to the New Orleans of eiht new son "Gulliver" the early 1900's, presenting us 88 year Jackpot as far as Bing Crosby as a blues-happy screen music is concerned, and clarinetist who wants to organize memories would have to go back th hottest hnd in th Srn.thinnH pretty far to find a picture to The tale then goes on to relate "Lua U m lavishness and 1ual Btnff'a htlaHmiM and mii1rl f. "J 01 score. forts after he gets his band to get the white folks to cotton-up to I his Dixieland jazz rhythms. Jackie Cooper and Suzanna Fos ter are co-starred in the com panion film, "Glamour Boy," A Walt Disney cartoon in techni color is also shown. "Gulliver's" eight nit songs, none of them strangers to radio listeners, phonograph record fans .and frequenters of nlfht spots, are "All's Well," "Faith ful Forever," "I Hear a Dream," "Faithful." "Forever," "We're "AD Together Now," "Blue birds in the Moonlight" and "It's a" Hap-Hap-Happy Day." Through a' remarkable coast-to- coast cooperation, Max Fleischer, who Droduced "Gulliver's Trav els" In Miami, Florida, enlisted the services of Hollywood's front rank tunesmiths to write his score. Tne iirst seven numbers ATLANTA, Dec. 6 -UP)- Film I mentioned above come from the Actress Carole Bruce got her first atelier of Leo Robin and Ralph Christmas present and a Georgia Rainger, the team responsible for Tech junior figured he got as such hits as "Love in Bloom" and much as he put into it "Thanks for the Memory," while Johnny Rogers, who said he "It's a Hap-Hap-Happy Day" had been a Bruce admirer for represents the work of Al J. Nei aome time, hid himself in a large burg, Sammy Timberg and Win- box wrapped in Christmas paper, ston Sharpies. King Features Smdicat Writer HOLLYWOOD Whatever he says and does in night clubs, John Barrymore still gets off some very sharp cracks during working hours. The star was supposed to stand-in front of a mirror, pluck his eyebrows and sing a song in a shot for the pic ture, "Play mates." The stu dio was going to clear the rightsto some tune but Barrymore said he'd ad-lib. So, as he plucked, the star sang "Ba, ba, black sheep, have you been a fool? "WelL sir, that sir, depends en tirely on the point of view, After the shot was over, a wag suggested that the star ought to finish the song and publish it; maybe he'd make some money. "Well, if I do," said Barrymore, "IH find a home for the critics of 10 years ago who said I was washed up." John Barrymor to be guest of honor at the town's centennial "ball. " If it will make Mickey Rooney, Bob Taylor, Tyron Power and Charles Boyer feel any betterTone of the theatres in Sharon is oper ated by-Clark's uncle Charlie. Which recalls the time that Uncle Charlie went to Atlanta to be with Clark at the premiere of "Gone With the Wind." Photographers were getting ready to take a picture of the two when an Important Holly wood executive said. "No, 1 they cant do that Look at Us ears." Uncle Charlie's ears are as big as Gable's. A. While the reporters were combing Las Vegas for her, Ros alind RusseU was at the Yucca Loma ranch at Victorville, chap eroned by the Barton Mac Lanes. With all the false reports, wouldn't it be funny if Rosa lind really did set out to get married one of these days and nobody would believe the story? Paulette Goddard's trick new makeup table (you push a but ton and a radio slides out) is the talk of the "Reap the Wild Wind" set And wouldn't everybody be surprised if they knew who "gave it to her? , Speaking of the De Mille film. THE WELL-KNOWN STORY of the secretary who fall, in love withP j? really Darcy McCoy, son of Col. Tim McCoy and grandson of the her boss is given a new twist in "Unholy Partners," drama of a flrhtlnr tahlnld ditar. now xhnwlnr al the Canitol theatre. Ed ward G. Robinson plays the editor, with Laratne Day east aa the late stage star, Henry Miller secretary. After the heavy drama of "The Little Foxes," Samuel Goldwyn has turned to light comedy In "Ball of Fire." Barbara Stanwyck, a strip tease dancer in a night club, has to dis appear for a while, so she takes refuge in a house where eight pro fessors, most of them oldsters, are writing an encyclopedia. The professors are all aflutter. This week, I watch Director How ard Hawks shoot a scene in which they are about to send breakfast up to Barbara's room. Gary Cooper, the youngest of the professors, seizes the tray. 111 carry it up," he says. He does it very nimbly, too, without rattling a dish. "You're pretty handy with that tray," I remark to Gary. "Why not?" he says. "I used to carry, stacks of dishes four times that high." Whereupon, Gary reveals what is (to me, at least) a new story about his early career. When he was going to GrinneU college, the future star worked in a restaurant to earn side money. He used to open up the place at 5 ajn., make the coffee and wait upon the counter until 7:50 when he had to dash away to make aa 8 o'clock class. Post Novel Is On Grand Bill 'Swamp Water' Stars Anne Baxter and Walter Brennan The loves, the hates, the lives of the unusual people who live near, a foreboding, mysterious and unknown swampland will flash across the screen of the Grand theatre when 20th Century Fox's "Swamp Water" begins to day. Under the expert guidance of Jean Renoir, famous French di rector who has gained renown for his "Grand Illusion" and "Madame Bovary," the Vereen Bell story has come to life with all- the excitement and thrills of the most unusual serial ever pub lished by the Saturday Evening Post. Renoir has again shown his artistry in this, his first Ameri can film. Walter Brennan as-Tom Keefer, Walter Huston as Thursday Ra gan, Anne Baxter as Julie and Dana Andrews as Ben are out standing in portrayals which bring the unsual characters to life just as the author must have con ceived them. They are real people who have their loves and hates. The exciting story follows Ben's experiences when he goes into the awesome Okefenokee swamp of Georgia to find his dog Trouble. He finds the dog. but also meets 'Keefer, a hunted crim inal who has been living in the swamp. They make a deal to hunt and trap together. Ben is to give Reefer's share to his daughter Julie. But Ben's father forbids him to go into the swamp again, and his girl friend becomes angry when he pays too much atten tion to Julie. How he straight ens out his personal problems and proves Tom is innocent is shown in ' a thrilling chase through the alligator-infested waters of Okefenokee. Excellent support is given by the balance of the cast, which includes Virginia Gilmore, John Carradine, Mary Howard. Eugene Pallette and Gumn Williams. Dud ley Nichols wrote the fine screen play. It was produced by Irving PicheL Because Judy Garland dldut want to take off ber weddtag rmg. M-G-M allowed the star to dlsgube it In "Babes on Broadway.:" She has a special settlns that clips on. YmII think tt is Jus aa ordinary girl's ring. Collegian Is Gift; v Gets Real Reward From Actress and the fancy trimmings. Two friends wheeled Johnny backstage -while Miss Bruce filled a personal appearance engage ment here. "Who . . . who are jtou?" ask ed the startled actress on opening the package. "I'm Johnny!" he stammered. 1 "Qh, Johnny!" said Miss Bruce, who squared things with a kiss and an autographed picture. An equally spectacular coup on the part of the producer was the talent he secured to sing three of the Songs in his pic ture. Lanny Ross and Jessica Dragonette, two of the count try's most popular singers, vo calise "Faithful," "Forever" and "Faithful Forever." The music in "Gulliver's Trav els," moreover, is more impor tant than in mose productions be- . Talk about a ease of thwarted lovers! Brenda Marshall col lapsed on the set of "Captain of the Clouds." Meanwhile BridesTOom Bill Holden was de layed even longer on location for "The Remarkable Andrew" because Ellen Drew, who plays opposite him, had to enter a Reno hospital with flu. Salem's Greatest First-Run Show Value! Doon OOi Adults Open u:45ttr pias Tax We Dare Yon lo See the Greatest Adventure Story Since Treasure Island! JUDY CANOVA, the hillbilly "hit" rlrl, stars In "Sis Hopkins" at the Liberty theatre starting today. Second feature is "Angela Over Broadway," starring Douglas Fairbanks, jr, and Rita Hayworth. Sword play between Akim Tami- roff and Henry Wilcoxon for "The Corsican Brothers" produced the freak accident of the month. Tamiroffs blade slid between jWilcoxon's parted teeth and cut a two-inch gash in the roof of the actor's mouth . . . And all without touching his lips. Call Board Continuous Today from 1:00 ELSINORE Today Bing Crosby, Rochester, Mary Martin in "The Birth of the Blues." Jackie Cooper. Suzanna Foster in "Glamour Boy." - v- l v I Wtiwsn F.llm nrtw. Robert Pre- cause uie vjr Vm I ' , "TT5Si i..V Ifi.h in tne screen version 01 uean ton in "Night of January Weaver Bros., Elviry in Junction. Today Mon.-Tues. - t Hits New Low Prices for Greater Shows Plus Tax - 1:00-4:05-7:15-1:2 27c CiulM'i nlaiilc th miniature WA 0 " " I 1 T" TT TT !-.. J kingdoms Of "LUliput" and 'Ble- dard in "Nothing but the Truth." fuscu" nearly go to war because their kings cannot agree on "Faithful," the national anthem of "Lilliput," or "Forever," the "Ble fuscuan" patriotic hymn. Broadway." Wednesday Jack Holt is "Fugitive From a Prison Camp." Wendy Bar- rie in "Women in the War." Friday Tim McCoy in "Riders of Black Mountain." Warren William in "Lone Wolf Takes a Chance. HOLLYWOOD Today Charlie Chaplin. Paulette God dard. Jack Oakie in "The Great Dictator." "Raggedy Ann and Raeeedv Andy." Tuxedo Thursday Guy Kibbee in "Seattergood Andy Devine in "Raiders of the Desert." Qy a margin of 4761 votes, fans at Sharon, Pa., selected Clark Gable as the star they'd most like Editor Film At Capitol ,y.!lS,lit . W Partners," a Companion Feature "GLAMOUR BOY" Jackie Susax Cooper Fost ' Time: :45 - 5:55 - :t4 ina er drama of tabloid newspaper adventure, with Edward G. Robinson as the star, is the current bill at the Capitol theatre. Edward Arnold appears as the overlord of New York gangsters, who buys a half interest in Rob inson's tabloid. They are bitter enemies and partners until the showdown. "Fiesta.r GRAND Today Walter Huston. Anne Baxter, Walter Brennan. Virginia Gilmore in "Swamp Water." Bruce Bennett, Rochelle Hudson. Roger Pryor in "Officer and the Lady. STATS J Today Claudette Colbert, Henry Fonda. Edna May Oliver in "Drums Along the Mohawk." Travels." Wednesday Greer G arson. Walter Pidgeoni in "Blossoms in the Dust." Ann sotnem. ueorge imurpny in "Ringside Maisie -Saturd ay Don Araeche, Mary Martin. Rochester in "Kiss the Boys Good . bye." John Barrymore. Francis Farmer in worw fremier. -CAPITOL -Today Edward C. Robinson. Edward Arnold in "Unholy Partners." Gene Autry. Smiley Burnette in "Sierra Sue. Wednesday Errol Flynn. Miriam Hop kins in "Virginia . City." Frankie Darro, Jackie Moran in "Let's Go Collegiate. Saturday Bela Lugosi, Dead End Kids in "Spooks Run WUd." . CUve Brooks, Diana Wynard in "Voice in LIBERT! STARTS TODAY Gulliver's I Continuous Today - 1 to 11 P. M. CHAPLIN Teday-MouL-Tues. - t Big Hits 2:40 - tSO the Night.' Laraine Day has thferninine SiJudy ci.nova. Bob Crosby in "Sis Hopkins." Douglas Fairbanks. Rita Hayworth, in "Angels , Over Badman ts. Badmant lead as Robinson's secretary with whom he is in love. Marsha Hunt anneara as a Broadway sineer. in troducing her iirst screen song I -;un and in the struggle Robin- number. "After You've Gone." mm.. - m I . . it a a The story reveals Robinson as wwing , ar ne cannox con d.tnr of s tabloid In which Am-1 tinue as an editor, and that mar- old manages to buy a half interest B longer possible, he They battle over policy and sev- ioins a transatlantic flight which era! times Robinson risks his life destined to fafl. Gene Autrr and Smilrr Bur- YtfAuprfifj Crucial hold on the father of the ette arefeatoed the com- - - 1 1 singer, xaarsua xiuuv, wiutu curves 1 1 , ---- II1llft1kv iTr iTTI'iatn U tn h .ttentive to him. al-1 first chapter of the new serial liltlliyj' iliHaiaSy iAi,bk ,h lv, Ori . When the "Jnngle I Girl" is also shown. 7 7: showdown comes Arnold produces -4,: 12:45 Companion Feature j . 4:12 - TLVS NETS' 6SSIAL Edjar Rice Burroughs' "JUNGLE GIRLW r . TUl f " Continuous The Elks Present Scdam Chie Hcryars' in their Annucd CSuxrUy Show "IIccfEa Uila'' I Dee, f-rli-11 s ., Elks Audltoriom Tickets oil Sals at Templeji r v i. --TODAY Claudette ' , Colbert 1 Pins Defense Tax ii. JJL Henry Fonda "DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK" '; Time: 2:55 -6:15-1:! . Feature Lengta Color ! p . Cartom -GULLIVER'S TRAVELS" l:4t-S.-l-gt "Lone Wolf Takes a Chance." 0 Always I Big Hits HOLLYWOOD Today Charlie Chaplin. Paulette God- rTTtaAlaH dard. Jack Oakie in "The Great ft f 1 1 11 h 111 ly J Dictator.". "Baggedy Ann and I HI II I ll fd 1 1 I 1 fl Raeeedv Andy." 11 n V J m All 1 r II I Andy Devine in "Raiders of the J STAIiTS TODAY 11 j w The Biggest Hillbilly Hit of the I 111 , 1 Year with a Star-Studded Cast ISIrimtlaTl r- STARTS Fla,PefaMte I jfi 1 TODAY i4Vit yl'J:!! rx fV f.Yk 1 I . mmmmmmmm 1 1 .v 1 "V wm - l ill ' tad ' I - ..- :S - ' VOX t p lGa nssS Ha 1 ' 1 - - - . - it - dssfc Oad ua sjaSss ?: f Also News, ' T -."fLVf I 'l0 Big Attraetloa- -! M4TX": "ACClDr AfOYT A ' COMEDY rfl . V"""""- I 4 C Ceatinuius Dally 7 yy1 MtXeMMKOto 1 JL9C , from lt P. IX.. j -IT M Plus Tax - 1 TTTrrT r " X' i if l j i - i r- i . CsisbrcK . WALTER C ?wEI 1 1 IAI 1 WALTER IIUST011 ; AtHIE CAXTER DAIIA AIIDREVS ' SECOND EXT FEATURE -'."-V. ilfOFFICER AND THE LADY" Starring Bruce Bennett and Rochelle Hudson . Th first Crscffhsi d rrtfidi tfiredor JEAN REN0I2 worMrtnowasd for Ms prodocSav ? 1 w liusTsx 'from 1M " "Crew rnnTeV
