Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 September 1937 — Page 17

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~ THURSDAY, SEPT. 16, 1997. “Broadway Melody’ Opens New Season Showings on Loews’ Screen Tomorrow

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES ___ cd babi eile

SCENES FROM OUTSTANDING FALL RELEASES BOOKED TO SHOW HERE

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Latest of Series Begun Eight Years Ago Features Eleanor Powell and Robert Taylor; Settings Termed 'Ultraspectacular.'

The 1938 edition of “Broadway Melody,” M-G-M’s annual cinema institution, is to open Loew’s new season with a week’s engagement beginning tomorrow. This is the third consecutive production in a series which began eight years ago, soon after sound came to the screen. The initial} “Melody” was one of the first attempts to take musical com-

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edy away from Broadway.

Here are a few facts on the

new season’s opener:

The Stars—Eleanor Powell and Robert Taylor. Both are veterans of the “Broadway Melody of 1936,” and Miss Powell also was in last year’s edition. Although Mr. Taylor is not a musical star, he does have the background of a cello-playing career. He sandwiched this in with medical studies in the days before he was forced to drop both to be what the fan magazines call “Ameri-

Coast from top spots in the “Vanities,” “Scandals,” “Crazy Quilt” and - other New York-successes. In Hollywood she joined a large group of Jack Donahue-Jack Boyle dancing school alumni, all of whom have taken graduate work before the camera. Included in the group are Joe E. Brown, Ruby Keeler, Buddy Ebsen, Arline Judge, George Murphy, Miriam Hopkins, Dorothy Stone and Ginger Rogers.

The Supporting Players—Mr. Murphy, mentioned above, is the first equal-footing dancing partner to be featured with Miss Powell in her film experience. He's a Yale graduate, and was succesively a tool maker, real estate agent and night club dancer/ before crashing the big musicals. These included “Good News,” “Of Thee I Sing,” “Shoot the Works,” “Hold Everything” and “Roberta.” Another veteran of the 1936 “Melody”%is Sophie Tucker, the selfstyled “last of the red-hot mammas.” Miss Tucker has been vacationing and picturemaking in Europe the past two seasons, but hurried home when she heard a new “Melody” was in production. In the current picture she has been teamed with youthful Judy Garland, who has been tagged the “baby Nora Bayes.” Judy has been seen here before in “Pigskin Parade” in which she revealed a voice quite able to cope with Miss Tucker's. Other featured performers are Robert | Benchley, whose comedy takes both corporeal and literary forms; Charles Igor Gorin, the Russian baritone who drops the Charles in his radio appearances, and Binnie Barnes, blond Britisher last seen in “Three Smart Girls.”

The Production—This year’s “Melody” was directed by Roy Del Ruth, making his third annual megaphoning appearance. In more than 20 years’ film experience, he has concentrated on screen musicals, with a sideline of “gangster” and mystery pictures. Other recent tune-and-tap pictures to Mr. Del Ruth’s credit are “Born to Dance,” “On the Avenue” and “Thanks a Million.” Jack Cummings was the producer, dances were directed by Dave Gould, who has worked with Mr. Del Ruth in several pictures and who won the 1935 Academy Award for his footwork staging. The Music—Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, collaborating tunesmiths for the past four years, have written six new songs for the picture. Song-and-dance numbers include “Feelin’ ‘Like a Million,” (Miss Powell and Murphy); “Yours and Mine” (Miss Powell and Mr. Taylor); “Sun Showers” (Gorin); “Pair of New Shoes” and “Follow in My Footsteps” (Miss Powell, Mur= phy and Ebsen), and “Your Broed-

way and Mine,” the finale which contains fragments from the other movies of the same series.

The Settings — Ulfraspectacular jm——

backgrounds are promised. The finale has a Broadway background, as might be expected. It is introduced by the raising of seven silk curtains, then of a glass curfain, 120 feet high and 100 feet wide. Behind this is a miniature Manhattan, lit by 25,000 lights. The “buildings,” like the glass curtain, are manipulated by elevator motors, and grow from a height of 20 feet to 90 feet. As the buildings rise, traffic begins to flow. There are motor cars. cabs, trucks and motorcycles, all built to scale and operated by remote control. It took six months of preparation for the finale, and three weeks for the actual filming. Nearly 3000 persons, performers and technicians, had a part in this closing sequence.

Snores Pay

Ex-Hoosier

Scenes from early fall releases

booked at Loew's:

1. The surrealistic looking lady is Myrna Loy, of course, and her military companion, William Powell. They'll be seen in “Double Wed-

ding.”

2. A domestic serenade, featuring Franchot Tone and Joan Crawe ford, who will appear in “The Bride Wore Red.” 3. Greta Garbo and Charles Boyer as Countess Marie Walewska

and Napoleon in “Conquest.”

4. “The Big City” will provide Luise Rainer with her first modern, American, movie role, She is shown here with Spencer Tracy and a couple of companions in a scene from the picture. 5. Eleanor Powell and Robert Taylor, stars of “Broadway Melody

of 1938,” which opens tomorrow.

Local Quartet Was His First Bid for Fame.

There probably. will be some envious gentlemen in Loew's audiences during the coming week who have come to see their boyhood friend, Robert Wildhack, in “Broadway Melody of 1938.” For Mr. Wildhack has what seems to be one of the

world’s softest jobs. He snores for a living. Mr. Wildhack’s earliest venture in the entertainment field was as a member of the “Breadbox Quartet.” The quartet got its name from’ the fact that performances were confined largely to a Ft. Wayne Ave. grocery store. This, one of the “boys” recalled today, was because their favorite drug store proprietor didn’t appreciate the music as much as did the groceryman. sIn those days Mr. Wildhack didn’t snore for company. He sang, and also gained considerable fame as a mimic. He didn’t discover his real gift until some time later, it seems, for he spent several years as a cartoonist. First he worked on the Indianapolis Sentinel, then went to a New York paper and finally wound up as a magazine illustrator. Mr. Wildhack left Indianapolis some 20 years ago. It was much later, however, before he turned to the stage. Except for making some phonograph - records of audible slumber he remained strictly amateur. Now, since he has cashed in on his talent, you're likely to hear him anywhere, even via the radio. He _appeared in the Broadway Melody of 1936.” ]

IS THAT CRICKET?

A cricket on a Warner Bros. set chirped so stridently in the sound recording that shooting was halted a half hour while cast and crew searched frantically before the culprit finally was located on the microphone boom.

Tonight's Presentation at Your

Neighborhood Theaters

WEST SIDE

bd ow ARD Howard & Blaine

Double Feature ‘WINGS OF THE MORN “CRIMINALS OF THE AIR”

2102 W. 10th St. S TA T E Double Feature Ricardo Cortez “THE CALIFORNIAN”

LIFOR Clark Gable “PARNELL”

BELMONT W. Wash. & Belmont

Westinghouse Air-Conditioned Double Feature “"” BO ‘MEET THE MISSUS” D A I S Y 2540 W. Mich. St.

Double Feature Barbara Stanwyck “THIS IS- MY AFFAIR” SRACKETEERS IN EXILE

SOUTH SIDE At Fountain Sqnare S ANDERS Double Feature John Beal “MAN WHO FOUND HIMSELF” “LEFT HANDED LAW”

AVALON “ford sigis™ “RRA SA © 1105 8S. Meridian ORIENTAL pou, toate 1

“QUTCASTS OF POKER FLAT 9 “THIRTEENTH CHAIR”

8. East at Lincoln LINCOLN Double Feature CT eFLY-AWAY Shoda Farrell Chas. Laughton “REMBRANDT”

FOUNTAIN SQUARE

Ni Cooling System Keevs_ You Comfortably Don ~arways nn “CASE OF THE STUTTERING BISHOP” . Buster Crabbe “FORLORN RIVER

NORTH SIDE

St. Clair & Ft. Wayne ST. CLAIR "Sous fom “BORN RECKLESS” “THE LADY ESCAPES” : Talbott & 220 TALBOTT niepcosiicat, : Double, Feature rsh

Marian GREAT GAMBINI” = «BEHIND THE HEADLINES

HN ewty Decorated Ora! REX : Gertrude Michael

“WOMA Will Rogers “DR. BULL”

Udell St. at Clifton

Double Feature LD BR Ral CT HAPPY GO LUCKY”

30th and Hiinois GA RRI C K James Dunn’ LITTLE BED SCHOOLHOUSE”

"MECCA Noble & Mass.

Double Feature \ Olivia DeHaviland “CAPTAIN BLOOD” ES OF THE RANGE”

NORTH SIDE

2361 Station St. D R E AM Dousle Feature Cc “MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW “SCOTLAND YARD COMMANDS”

ew Illinois and 84th R | ) Z Double Feature Joe E. Brown “RIDING ON AIR” “OUTCASTS OF POKER FLAT”

Hollywoo d 1500 Roosevelt Ave.

Double Feature ee John Wayne

I_COVER THE WA Judith Barrett “ARMORED CAR” Central at Fall Crk. ZARING Double F.

“THIS “YOU CAN'T BEAT LOVE”

C | N EM A 16th & Delaware

a Suple Feature “WOMAN CHASES MAN" © °° “THAT I MAY LIVE” Continuous from' 1:30

UPT 42nd & College OWN Double Feature . Edw. G. Robinson “THUNDER IN TH ITY” “HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE” EAST SIDE # 114 E. Washington B | J O U Double Feature . France oo “MIDNIGHT TAXL" RIO GRANDE RANGER” 31556 E. 10th St. R | Y O iL | Neors Open at 5:45 . ontgomery “EVER SINCE EVE” Wm. Boyd “RUSTLERS VALLEY” 2442 E. Wash. St. TACOM A Double Feature Brian Donlevy “MIDNIGHT TAXI” “TOO MANY WIVES” 4020 E. New York TUXEDO Double Feature Wm. Powell “EMPEROR’S CANDLESTICKS” “PICK A STAR” 9 5507 E. Wash. St. | R VY j N i Double Feature Victor Moore “MEET THE MISSUS” Wallace Beery “SLAVE SHIP” 4630 E. 10th. EMERSON sombre sestuie . Jack Haley,

: E HAD TO EAT” Warner Baxter “SLAVE SHIP”

GOLDEN fils E. Wash. St.

uble Feature dge Evans “THE THIRTEENT pe “TURN OFF THE MOON”

H CHAIR HAMILTON “Bef: fh “SHE HAD TO EAT” Wallace Beery “SLAVE SHIP”

1332 E. Wash. St. S T R A N D Double Feature “YOU CAN'T BEAT LOVE" “WINGS OVER HONOLULU”

i " 19th & College 2 ord Double Feature Stratf ) LIGHT BRIGADE"

P(ramount 411 E Wash.

AEN ACNE PANN 4

Loews’ beats the gun with another of the new season winners . . . the smashing musical triumph for which Hollywood and Broadway merged their mightiest talents. Other Fall hits are on the way! Read about them in the adjoining columns. Watch the newspapers for dates.

\ 3 Ba gb A 1 Brawn and Freed ; “I’m Feelin’ Like a Million” “Yours and Mine” “Everybody Sing”

QR lit JT L |

This Great Hit TOMORROW at—

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HOW ANN REHEARSES |home. Thus she is able to study| ACTED ON 3 CONTINENTS | has acted on three continents—EuAnn Sheridan has a sound-proof, | herself from every angle and im-mirror-lined rehearsal room in her | Prove her histrionics.

Brian Aherne, currently in “The |t0OPe, North America and Australia Great Garrick,” at Warner Bros. | —and has traveled in 52 countries.

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Sweethearts Again! The girl who was born to dance... the boy who was born to romance!

aggregation of stars, ic, romance, laughsand that you ever thrilled tol

Last Times Today!

LOST #5 BXY HORIZON

THE GREATEST NEWS OF THEY : MAYER'S BIG PARADE OF 1937-38 HITS IS ON THE WAY

SONNE

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_ FIREFLY The Road Show Hit 7 coming at Popular Prices. 2); hours of glorious |

spectacle, melody, romance, starring’

Jeanette MacDonald with Allan Jones, Warren William and cast of thousands!

__BiGeeny, Luise Rainer and Spencer, Tracy — together for the first time —in a dynamic romantic melodrama of life in a metropolis. Roaring drama of city love!

~THE BRIDE WORE RED Joan Crawford in an ex¢iting romance of a cabaret entertainer who fought for her chance for happiness. The cast includes Franchot Tone, Robert Young.

i Ly / fesrenor. Agranid love story against the exciting background of spectacular air races, and stunts in the clouds. It’s Joaded with laughs and packed with pinches.’ Clark Gable, Spencer Tracyandbigeast.

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) IDIOT'S DELIGHT __ Morma Shearer in the Pulitzer Prize play. that scored a country-wide suc'¢sss.¥ A { dramatic story of intrigue lgniced with fun and romance. Miss Shearer will also be starred in ‘MARIE, #NTOINETTE.”.

‘THE GIRL OF THE _ GOLDEN WEST, e=with golden-voiced Jeanette: Mac: 'Donald singing Romberg music. This picture promises an even greater trie

umph for the talented star of “Firefly”

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__ KYANK'AY OXFORD. Starring Robert Taylor. He learns the language of love—in the most famous of all English universities.

THOROUGHBREDS ~~ _ _ DONT CRY. Watch for this one! Mickey Rooney; ‘Judy Garlend, Sophie) Tucker {and Douglas Scoteiwill give! you a” real heart-theilll :

__DOUBLE WEDDING { Your favorite light-hearted twosom William Powell and Myrna Loy—in a story of two sisters who loved the same man!

. THE GREAT CANADIAN| Clark Gableasa roughandtough hockey) star. Skating is his work; loving, his pastime. It’s tailor-made for Gable. ..

CONQUEST The great Garbo returns with romans tic Charles Boyer in the momentous! ‘drama of the ‘secret love in the life) .of the Emperor Napoleon.

LIVE, LOVE AND LEARN Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Ru ‘sell in a great story of a young coupl who found that love helped them ov ‘the rough spots in life! :

1 ; : THE LAST GANGSTER Edward G. Robinson in a roaring tus), bulent melodrama packed with action) ‘and suspense, heightened by a touch .ing love story! ~ ET

A big-name cast of stars in an exciting story of life_in Uncle Sam’s Naval Academy! =

NAVY BLUE bn fone

MANNEQUIN Glamotous Joan Crawford in a gtand| romance by Katherine Brush, who|’ wrote “Young Man of Manhattan”, % +s A brilliant M-G:M cast supports the star.’

BAD MEN OF BRIMSTONE Wallace Beery retutns to the “tough! hombre” role. A rip-roaring drama with handsome James

ROSALIE, | giant romantic musical extravagal S hs one of Ziegfeld’s most fam bproductions — wi more stars

you can count, headed by Eleanon

Powell and Nelson Eddy.

_ SWING FEVER, Allan Jones, Judy Garland and Billie Burke combine their talents to bring : [you tender romance, glorious melodies and vivid excitement. It’s 2 great showl

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