The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-01
In Hollywood
By ERSKINE JOHNSON NEA Staff Correspondent


 You gotta give these movie press agents credit sometimes. They're amazing fellows. Today the postman delivered a big wicker basket to our desk. In side, all tied up with colored ribbons, were a lot of little numbered packages. An accompany ing card read:
 The Great United Artists 'Knickerbocker Holiday Jun-Kit - complete in one package nc headaches no travelling no hemming and having in front of the managing editors desk for an okay to attend"
 A jun-kit. the card explained, is a junket in capsule form. For best results open each capsule in numbered order"
 AS you may remember, pre-War Hollywood was in the throeS ot a series of press junkets to various cities throughout the country to ballyhoo new films.
 Then the wartime transporta- tion problem put an end to such sightseeing, much to the regret of press agents assigned to publicize the film "Knickerbocker Holiday"
 But you can't stop those movie nress agents. The "Knickerbocker Holiday" boys immediately came up with their jun kit" in capsule form.
 CAucxur CONTENTS
 Capsule No. 1 was a package of foot powder with the explanation, No cabs available so jun-kit starts out from railroad station to Hotel New Yorker on foot. Press agent No. 1 fired for failure to have cabs on hand"
 A deck of monogrammed cards from the 21 Club was in capsule No. ?, with a note: Some go to the 21 to drink gin and some to play gin but never the twain shall eat. Capsule No. 3 was la- beled, You take a shopping tour" and contained 8 carton of cigarets, with a note: Press agent No. 3 fired for shoplifting - and getting caught"
 A box of Chinese candy from Ruby Zoos was in capsule No. 4, Capsule No. 5 was labeled, You see Oklahoma. Tickets for Okla homa' so scarce scalpers go to scalpers to get them
 You Rugged Males Have a Date With Follies Girl" was the intriguing note attached to Cap sule No. 6. Enclosed was pho tograph of a beautiful young lady named Mimi Walthers who had autographed the picture, inti- mately.
 The note on Capsule No. T read, You visit Billy Roses Diamond Horseshoe we could have given you diamond. Or a horseshoe. But We didn't" There was pro gram in the package.
 An ash tray from the Stork Club, the book Since You Went Away, If you can't sleep" and box of aspirin tablets flor the morning of the second day" were in capsules No. 8, and 10. There was package of tobacco from Dunhills in No. il.
 Capsule No. 12 was, You lunch at Sherry's." Enclosed was & box of candy.
 A program from Carmen Jones and Hildegarde record were ir Capsules Nos. 13 and 14. No. IS was a variety of cheese from Reuben's restaurant.
 SEEING THE SHOW
 You Attend Special Preview o1 'Knickerbocker Holiday" read note on Capsule No. 16. Enclosed wer some stills from the picture which stars Charles Coburn, Nelson Eddy and Constance Bowling. "You cheer, you laugh" continued the note. After preiew you rush to press room where special wires have been set Up for direct home paper connections. Naturally, we have bribed the telegraphers to give us copies of your stories and given them list of super ultra -colossal words to weave into your copy"
 Capsule No. IT was a bill marked Paid" from the Hotel New Yorker We check out" the note read, "be- fore we get thrown out. There is a tense moment when the bill is presented. but the remaining Uni ted Artist press agent finally beats the rap. Otherwise, he, too, would have been fired"
 Yes, sir, these movie press agents are amazing fellows.