Evening star., 1939-01-15

No. man of the hour. He made
dozens of personal appearances-at
theaters and in the public squares.
Government officials dined the
screen star as an honored guest. The
newspapers couldn't have given him
a bigger space break if he'd carried
10 publicity men along.
Power returned to Hollywood few
days ago still tired, but with happy
gleam in his eye. For a young fel-
low who hasn't yet turned IS. he
had managed 4 pretty swell job OF
movie diplomacy and salesmanship.
His bosses congratulated him-and,
if they haven't yet slipped him fat
bonus, along with an expense check,
many will think Ty was cheated.
There are skeptics here who in
sist that the Goth Century-Fox Stu
dio planned the Power trip and paid
the check. Substantiating that
theory, they point to the Annabella
incident, one of the high points in
Tys vast publicity accumulation
on the jaunt. Around Hollywood,
Annabena was never a No. ! card
In Ty's romance deck. But when,
by some odd coincidence, the
French starlet dropped in on one
of Tvs ports. the two got yards
of newspaper space. Significance
is also attached to the fact that
"Suez." co-starring the couple, was
booked into most Latin theaters
about that very time.
Nevertheless, whether a stunt or a
real vacation that set OIL accident
ally beneficial repercussions, Ty's
Latin foray will go down as one of
the real Power plays (and no pun
intendeO of the screens quest of
new markets. Every studio in town
is now viewing the result of that ex-
cursion with an envious eye.
Vast possibilities for stepping up
foreign trade were pointed out by
the Power trip and they are no
longer to be overlooked by the
movie makers. Just as American
trade in general is turning toward
Central and South America for
dependable markets to replace those
lost in Europe and the Orient, so
the screen is lifting a f1irtatious eye
toward our neighbors to the south.
Already there's a substantial
movement afoot to send a dozen or
more outstanding screen personali-
ties out over the Power trail during
1899. All studios will be represented.
The trek will begin in March, it
is expected, when Bette Davis and
Paul MUM are to be sents down
by Warner Bros.
Others repeatedly approached on
the South American jaunting prop
osition are Clark Gable, who made
a tremendous hit several years ago
when he played hockey from M-G-
M and domesticity to have fun
thereabouts; Alice Faye and Tony
Martin, Carole Lombard, Clau-
dette Colbert, Randolph Scott, Rob-
ert Taylor, Fred MacMurray, Sonia
Henie, Gary Cooper and Nelson
Eddy. Mickey Rooney is another
possibility, due to the delight with
which South Americans look on
his Andy Hardy adventures.
And there's q hint that the Tenn
pies, originally intending to take
Shirley and the family to Europe
next summer, may mend their
plans and head into the new trade
district.
Some of those approached are
viewing the trip as a lark, but it
will turn out to be anything but
that-as Powers diary will reveal.
At least 1t will mean a change of
scenery, which some Of the players
seem to need very badly. Expense
accounts and the prospect OF
bonuses aren't to be listed as handi-
Gaping factors, either.
In its earlier campaign to capture
Central European trade, a market
now almost totally blasted by wars
and restrictions, Hollywood had
Ibeen neglecting the 10000 900 OF
more people in Latin America.
Heretofore, too, the men who
mold the plots have totally ignored
them as q source of romantic
movie material. But that situation
is also to be remedied.
A few days ago, Warmers an
nounced plans for making series
Of technicolor featurettes, entitled