davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-09-05
A Times Square News Letter
By Jack O'Brion

wood in the interests OF his new
film, THE Eagle With Two Heads"
which was flop stage vehicle here
last season for Tallulah Bankhead.
. .. Jimmy Dunn off to Hollywood
to addition actors for the musical
he'll produce, called Happy Dollar" J"
Mickey Rooney's pop, Joe Yule,
is vacationing from "Finian's Rain
bow but he'll be back. He's been
a great hit in the show. Peggy
Wood and Ernest Truck are ap-
pearing in Miss Dilly Says No" in
the strawhats, with Broadway in
the hopeful future should the hay
loft dates prove sufficiently success
full. "The Skin of Our Teeth"
will be revived here this year at
the Cherry Lane Theater. :. Bill
Saroyan has decided to stay in New
York and write for the theater ex-
cluSively,
Evening star., 1948-09-05
HOLLYWOOD.

Be a movie producer! Make big
money! No investment required!
You won't see such advertisements,
out it can happen.
It happened with dangerous fire.
luency during the war. That's one
-eason why Serious independent
movie makers are having tough
time today. Banks are growing
wary. The established independents
are suffering along with the fast
buck boys.
There are all sorts of independent
producers. Some are talented and
respected men who make good pic
lures. Some can finance a 81 900 900
film with 100000 or less.
But the, lads who never lay out
any cash Of their own (even when
they have it, are far more fascin-
ating. They're not really producers
at all. They're promoters. They'd
do Just as well In cheese. or Persian
rugs, If those businesses boasted
Hollywood's star-struck bankroliers.
Talk Is the promoters sole tool.
The only thing he won't talk about
is how he puts together an entire
picture deal, right up to the point
where the cameras are ready to
roll, without exchanging a single
dollar or signing single document.
Let's say the promoter meets a
screen writer at cocktail party.
He never Identifies himself as a
promoter. Of course. He's a man
about Hollywood, sharp dresser,
a table hopper. He says he knows
where he can get money to produce
a picture when he finds good
script and a suitable star.
Now He Can Unload.
The writer always has a script
perhaps it already has made the
rounds of the studios.
Usually he knows a star who likes
the story-because it's entirely dif-
ferent from anything he has ever
done.
The writer figures this is his
chance to unload. He gives the
promoter . 90-day option on the
script, on speculation. The pro-
moter takes the script to director
preferably one who has been having
front-office trouble and wants to
make pictures his own way. The
director is interested but suggests
certain revisions.
Back to the writer goes the pro.
moter. He offers the writer 5 pei
cent of the films anticipated earn.
ings to fix up the story.
Assume that the stars regular fee
Evening star., 1948-09-05
NEW YORK.

NEW YORK. !
Ann Dvorak of the films is the
new star of the successful The
Respectful Prostitute" Meg Mundy
having moved on to bigger stage
and screen offers. One of our
best acting ladies, Ethel Critics,
has joined the cast of Ruth Gordon's
The Leading Lady" in which Miss
Gordon will be leading lady. "A
Texas girl, Valerie Belts, dancing
star of Inside u S. A." received a
right smart home State visitor the /
other evening-Gov Beauford H. |
Jester of Texas, first of 20 Governors |
who've accepted invitations of the
management to see the hit musical.
"Hilarities," revue which opens
this week, will be somewhat of a |
cross between book show and a
vaudeville program, SO the producers
engaged an old-line vaudeville con-
ductor to wave his baton at the pit
band, Ruby Zwerling, veteran of the
Palace and State Theaters on Times
Square. . The Barter Theater of
Virginia reports one of its busiest
and most successful seasons. i
Agnes De Mile, who put ballet into
musical comedy when she staged
the exciting leaps and jumps in
"Oklahoma!" has been signed to
dream up the dances for Ken Eng
lund's musical, Sweet Dreams.
:. It'll have music by Vernon Duke
and lyrics by Ogden Nash, the fel-
about men seldom making passes at
gals who wear glasses. Before or
after Dorothy Parker?-EdD.
Newcomer Gets Lead.
The story of the small Pennsyl-
vania town which inherited for
tune already has been turned into a
film script by Newspaperman Fred
Dickinson and Michael Raymond,
and there've been offers to turn it
into musical comedy for a spring
presentation. +. It's title: "Cinder-
ella City"
Joan Gray, signed for the lead in
Marc Connelly's "A Story for
Strangers" never appeared on
Broadway before, and, in fact, has
had but handful of parts in sum-
mer stock. Marc Connolly
secuted the lass himself during her
final appearance in a Long Island
strawhat. Betty Lou Barto,
Nancy Walkers sister, joins the new
Mike Todd musical, LAS the Girls
Co." Irene Rich also has been
signed to play one of the leads, op-
posite Bobby Clark. It's a story
about first lady president of the
United States and Bobby is the first
husband of the land
Cocteau Has a Film.
Summer and Smoke" casting
completed and well into rehearsals,
will open on Broadway on October
6 at the Music Box Theater. :.
Jean Cocteau, French dramatist, is
headed for Broadway and Holly
Evening star., 1948-09-05
He Says Story
Will Develop
In the Making
By c. R. Brusini
AMALFI, I

AMALFI, Italy.
A fairy tale for grownups will be
told by Roberto Rossellini Of open
City" and "Paisan" fame, in his new
film, THE Machine That Kills Bad
People"
Two excl actors, Miss America
Of 1885," score Of sun-baked
urchins. an old camera, sea, sun
shine and Amalf1 will be the In
gradients.
The plot-well, that is something
Rossellini rarely worries about.
1.-The story will come to life in
the making" Roberto said, "and
more scenes will certainly be added
to the tentative script Universalfa
Films has approved"
However, it Is possible to put to-
gether rough outline-a sort of
cinematographic jig-saw puzzle
from talks with Roberto, Actors
William c. Tubbs of Milwaukee and
Joe Falletta of New York, Marilyn
Buferd the onetime Miss Ameri-
caD and from Amalfl youngsters
enlisted in the picture.
Idea in an Odd Shop.
Rossellini said the idea came to
him when, loaflng along the Amalfl
Riviera after completing another
film in the nearby Salerno Noun
tains. he discovered an old village
photographer with an amazingly
strange shop.
The story runs something like
this: A jeep with three Americans
aboard narrowly misses an old man
in Majori, near Amalfi. The old
marl-the Devil-takes refuge in the
shop of the village photographer.
(The three Americans had come
to Majori to modernize it. They
planned to drill tunnel to make
transport easier, provide agriculture
with better water supplies and lend
money to the municipality for ur-
gent public works.
Powerful Camera.
Earlier the town policeman had
asked the old man awkward ques-
tions and mistreated him.
In the shop the old man asks the
photographer if he has a picture of
the cop. Handed the picture, the
old man puts it in front of an
ancient camera and presses the but
ton. The cop, strolling in the main
square, falls dead in the attitude
portrayed in the photograph. .
The old man then disappears.
The photographer, pondering the
mysterious death of the cop, Won
ders whether the camera retained its
power. He tries 1t on a dog. 1t
works again.
Then. the Moral.
With this mysterious power O. life
or death in his hands, the photog-
rapher begins to kill off all he thinks
wicked. He starts with the mayor,
then proceeds against the local
money lender. Every day somebody
dies in Majori. The population
strikes to protest against govern
ment carelessness' in the face of
the epidemic"
Miss America" goihg to the
beach for her daily swim, adds a
bit of sex appeal to the serious busi-
ness of the strike.
The strike ended, the populace
leaves Majori. Three dogs only re-
mainland the photographer with
his deadly machine.
And so what?
Don't you see the moral of the
story?" asked Rossellini. Every
body with too much power is dan
gerouS -
The film-with quite likely an en-
tirely different plot-will be ready
late this year.
Evening star., 1948-09-05
Movie Economy Also Is an Art

every scene in advance Menzies re-
duced the number OF takes per scene
from perhaps Is to three or four.
1t Isn't New.
"We know exactly what we want
before we start" he explained. This
is called precutting. 1t eliminates
shooting from every angle and then
picking the best in the cutting room
later-a very expensive process"
Precutting isn't new. Other
economy minded moviemakers do it.
But Menzies probably introduced
the practice, years ago. Then, in
the golden age which followed, ex-
travagance was considered almost
mandatory, and production design
ers like Menzies became voices in
the wilderness. Now it's their cycle
again.
Menzies is a writer, director, ward
robe designer and landscape archi-
tect, among other things. He has
just finished two 20-minute films for
television, utilizing many of his
production methods. He shot EN- in
two dayS.
Evening star., 1948-09-05
The Promoters Primer
Or How to Make Movies Without Touching
Dime of Your Own Money
By Howard G. Heyn

is $4,000 picture. He's free at the
moment. and agrees to defer $4,000
of his salary in exchange for a 10
per cent share of profits. His $4,000
in cash will come from the produce
ton budget.
They Can't Lose.
On the same basis, the director
defers $4,000 Of his usual $4,000
salary. for a per cent cut. The
promoter asks the director to break
down the script Figure the cost per
scene) so that he can draw up q.
budget. He may even give the di-
rector another l or 2 per cent to
do this.
The point to remember at this
stage is that good directors and
writer's do get into such deals. Since
they put up no money, what can
they lose? Percentage Is the key
to the whole scheme.
Our shoestring operator now. sets
up his budget-say $500,000. Then
he goes to small releasing COM
pany which distributes independent
pictures and shows what he has
star, script, director and budget. The
company agrees to distribute his
picture in return for, say IS cents
of every dollar taken in at the box
Office.
That's high. A good release costs
as little as 171a cents because the
picture will be shown in better and
many more theaters. But such deals
are for solid independents; the pic
ture has to be pretty good.
1t Looks Impressive.
Armed with release. star, script
and director, the promoter goes to
the bank. He can borrow so per
cent Of his budget If and when he
puts up the other so per cent. This
is where the rich backer comes in.
During the war, when any kind OF
picture would sell, the banks often
loaned up to 65 per cent. They still
do, to few noted independents.
BY this time the stars press
agent has spread the word, and all
these preparations look impressive
to a vacationing businessman who
would Just as soon risk some of his
money as pay income tax on it.
When the capitalist puts up his
$250,000 it's time to sign papers.
i Articles on incorporation are filed.
Studio space is leased The bank
loan is completed. The rest of the
cast and crew is assembled.
But He Doesn't Care.
| The promoter assigns a healthy,
cut of the profits. maybe 90 per
cent, to the backer. He already
has given away 20 per cent, to
writer, director and star. But here's
the simmick: These are shares OF
the net profits. First to come out
of the gross receipts is the IS cents
per dollar due the releasing COM
pany.
The promoter, however. isn't in
terested in the earnings. He gets,
as producer. per cent of the
budget in salary. He controls the
budget. so whatever he can save is
also his. He will realize at least
$25, 900 even If nobody ever goes to
see his picture in a theater.
That's why he accepted an un-
attractive release. The script has
been kicking around Hollywood for
a year, with no takers. The star
IS eSsaying a role he never tried
before. The director will have to
work too fast to take any pains.
He'll shoot the picture in about 30
days.
The result, automatically. is q
question mark. 1t may turn out
to be an entertaining little pro-
gram picture. 1t may prove less
than passable. In either event.
don't expect the promoter to care.
He's already working on a new deal.
Evening star., 1948-09-05
Coming Attractions

AMB A S S ADOR - Beyond
Glory" with Alan Ladd,
starting Thursday.
CAPITOL-"That Lady in En-
mine" with Betty Cradle,
starting Thursday.
COLUMBIA-"A Sout h ern
Yankee" with Red Shelton,
starting Thursday.
DUPONT-"Marius." with Raj
mu, starting Wednesday.
HIPPODROME-"Frieda," with
Mai Zetterhng.
KEITH'S Good SAM" with
Gary Cooper, starting tomor-
row.
LITTLE-"Beauty and the
Beast" with Josette Day.
METR OPOLITAN - -Four
Faces West with Joel Nc
Crea.
PALACE-"Abbott and Costello
Meet Frankenstein."
PIx-"Will 1t Happen Again?"
starting Tuesday.
PLAYHOUSE Escape" with
Rex Harrison.
WARNER-"Beyond Glory"
starting Thursday.
Evening star., 1948-09-05
S. Syrjala of Olney
Creator of Theater's ID Productions Goes
Back to SD Street to Rest
By Joy Cormody

1t is the practice of those who think all to feel sorre
for actors in epertory things
all the otherwise free worrying dialogue
play is going to plop right into the
This valid Repertory
In summer theaters harried lot The that they
not they act
man around these epertorv groups
who has it harder than the players
the Oney this summer his name was S. Syrjala.
Worked Everywhere.
Syrj pronounced the blue which
before hanne tweeds and pads
he mas worked in all the better summer theaers the Cape Dennis
MASS IN BUCKS county, which the summer home of all the rich
actors playwrigh and producers virtually
including oney.
Mr. syrala sometimes thinks designing
absurd spend everybody season.
thinks maybe this neuot Again.
along about the middle of October
the nunbness and wondering bring
Between October paints soothing
the SOUL
Fourteen in as Many Weeks.
The oneys designer who created IA productions in IA weeks
the nearby Maryland theater puts lot of healing
of Gotham after summer in the country
But Fifty-seoond street." you suggest
"Oh. especially Fysecond Syrjala retorts
At night he explains I look down all those restless
hundreds of milling night club customers
much they willing spend
vaded bv tho feeline bat the ht WOW m .h my d % % % Is per per-
time to just sit Nine months Of this painting
to do, puts in shape for the
finer restorative process"
syrjaa plump man. keeps track of the
number OF living bedrooms settings
them he is much too busy to think thing
better not to look
The oney Theater, which this
than decade OF standing its pretty
work Of his hands than
the plays whose settings he created BEFORE tn.
opening May the theater substantially redegne
raked and the house
Job with three rolling platforms in wosoy hapd
structure at the front of the house.
Theater In Winter
This" he recalls December You
ought to take close look time
December This struck looking
American Legion hail. but thought of possibilities
that right guess my part"
He is not only responsible the
also supervised the construction
Richard Skinner producer about this and he will
tell explains the sum-
theae He is only artist Skinner
practical in the whole anything from
creating ancient Grecian palace setting Amphyon
to driving all night finding the antique furnishings that
the place look right ancient happens
audience"
Hardest Job Satisfying.
Until this week anything about
IA
modern musicals Victorian among
themselves in his mind question instance
Of which OF the IA liked best.
oddly enough he enoyed
most The play The Importance Being
challenge that
In New York thought perfect the garden
everything afraid would duplicate
It, which certainly would have
those original designs wanted own and in
the think the most satisfying lob
ut rate of the whole
Today the Oneys closing
second street beginning the restoration process
BY May the Oney summer theater the former
most likely will find him again. producers
should choose to interrupt his painting to have him
Evening star., 1948-09-05

CONFLICT IN THE NEW MOVIES-The drama OF Escape"
takes uoeny physical turn aboUe Rer Harrison plants
solid haymaker the jan OF George Woodbridge to insure
his continued freedom The film Uerson OF the John Gals
por stage success is nert the Playouse schedule The
conflict betDeen Ann Sheridan and Gary
matter (beoo less acue perhaps but less evidence
in Good SAM This Leo McCarey picture should along
at
Evening star., 1948-04-08
HOUSES FOR sALE-Northees..

iSseme. only ' years old; 's : Separate epss :,
eo 'fhsHs Or ar ssir' ss9 svs ss iSR Eek 81
RESTRICTED NE. LOCATION Modern
piete with furniture. spacious bedrms.
fiv. rm;,, din, rm.. kit, automatie heat; heat
ST'SasfG 81 e. 'e ss4i evss an 'fi fEck CO. s4os
iTswioo.fFAMILY ri SPECIAL. elose-.n ne
Seu1ccRE: 81. 1851. evenings IA. s41s.
home. enp on Ions lot; S -se rms ~ Saths 'es
ranges. 2 refgrs.; can be converted into .
apts. hardwood mrs; gas heat; 10 yrs.
old; poss. Call till 9. AuERBAcH & CO..
RIVER TERRACE N.E-Modsrn e-reom
brick, tile bath, lovely bedrms., COM
Session: owner iesy!ns town town pTised p!
sSes. % PEcK CO. s4os 18th st. ne. IS
WOODBRIDGE sPECIAL-why pay on q
house. with the same number Of rooms in
each apt. in a 5-room house. $50 peI
mGnh Is Oh shsnp 2r fst harss Nc
ss0a see G eftnS MayNoR Il ses co soos 81 r aHe
REALLY Ri; " aoDERN HoME-This 1-yr.eolt
semidet. 6-rm. brick home has rec. room
and lavatory IN bSmt. suitable Tor apt
gas heat; located in convenient neishbor
hood Move In with $4,000 cash. balanc,
no more than rent. Call RE 1888 til
pm. GoLDSTEN BROS. 1929 L st. NV
lis 1Ith ST. N.E.-semidet. brk.: 8 rms
Income; terms. HENRY v. wILLOUGHBY
500 Mass ave. ne, AT. 7043 -e
baths, PVT; ent, gas h;xn.; nicely fnln,; IN,
pBANNoN REALTY CO. FR. 5lIa. -
HONE HONE AND NCoaE@imm.cul.ts a 70, M
Franklin sts,; Q inclosed sleeping porehei
partly finished basement: an excellen
eSS Wilson blvd. lds ~ W. s5oo. 5Ss'A sHoe'' q
Evening star., 1948-04-08
HOUSES FOR sALE-seutheo.t.

vETERANs-Two. ex-servicemen with $500
@ cash each can own 4-family, modern
old; both. occupy separate apis. The rent
you receive from the other apis. helps
t,,, to pay for the property. All 4 apis. have
bedroom and tiled bath with tSs shower: iAvee We
netian blinds. hardwood floors, kitchen
tglly n3 =, equipped: This is important: Two
udes q M n the are fhs "ssn baildne Is
located in excellent section of Metropoli-
tan Sc; l block to bus, large shoppins
ana Daanee ear4sa in
IA. si41 for details: Mr.. Medinnl.s Haii viii
Be s.I plssses As e 2 expsin sss FREDERICK w
SEW Efs asRooM sH BkickA5ast aaas SS NV Over D. c
line In Md. bedroom and tile bath or
4 bargain at i4.Ioo, terms. ROBERT
MAGEE RE 774o until g.
s: ss2s QUE ST; Sc; corner 9, Of Que an:
rooms and bath. center hall. lavatory OIL
tlrst floor: GE garbage, disposal unit; toile
IN T:s
sold, i left. vi. sssS: evenings. vi Vi
DocToRs OR INvEsroRs-spaciou
semidet. brick on prominent. highly Ell
eyated corner, in excel. location. includes
p.Rs.a 4Ooms snd ss gs' bath pu' in eR
grade basement superb construction
Spotless condition. Can WA. S625 O.
FANK g. PHILLIPS --I2
e-FAMILY SEMIDET. BRICK APT. en-
tirely separate; 1st a :. 8 rms, kit, batl
porch: oil h-w.h.: to settle an estate
price, Sl2,50o. 916 K ST. Sc. Show
NC. Realtors, Ma $50. Ia
H1LLCREST-Det. 6-rm brick; recreation
rm, garage. 3235 T st. Sc, VI. 7I0s
NEAR D. G.. LINE Brand-new e-bedrm
brick bungalow, at 5311 Pard rd., Cora
Hills, Nd. A very convenient location. nr
shopping; vacant: S10.95O; 50 1000 cash
SSs6 Ss6, mo; 70, D. BURGESS, real estate; VI
1884 $ ST. Sc. (Fairiawn)-rine semi
oct. brick like new. 8 rms. and tile bath
plus 2 rms. in bsmt:; gas h..w.h.: refgr
M2'se ssog mo; IN T, D. BURGESS. real estate
3rd AND :: CAPITOL s-apt. semidei
brick: good income possibilities. Call Mr.
IN CO., 0T25S64 "a
Evening star., 1948-04-08
SUBURBAN sALE-MARYlAkp

VACANT-Possession with down payment
poreh., ns and bath
VIE ROGERS, days aY 5sens ass1 sves seFTs
HiILcREsT HEIGHTS, 2515 colebfook I'd.
Lots. Homes built to order or homes
already constructed. One Of our many and
modern convenience of design and equip
fully Equipped ,iIa Kitchen, comfortable bed
toned heat: splendid construction; con-
yyenient to Boiling Field: Census Bureau.
Nsya Naval AndrsTs rev Field and
brook I'd, turn right at our sign to
5fos Rssssl ssE HI 10 4sas dsf s1 Sz zss
g,sEDRooM BUNGALOW, of New
ns pfes ony saek s
sR wcRGRsHSa 5asG5@alSa p5assf RazfY ss
Mp ss,ek aoME; ,,,s seny to ess:u.
and bath on 1st floor; unf1n rms on end
5ox15o f.. oil h.-W.h.. fireplace, .iee. kit 1t.
At ADEL@BERT @ W. LEE, 3211 Pa. ave. Sc,
NEAR NJ BRADLEY BLVD. and elenbrook : rd
tay , ool vns ao lot e about With
sSaa' isaas sssafa ?aa sss aee
sna sa4H snth 0I Restor s%h RE ssas s garage FRED
By OWNER Takoma Park. Md.-Bunsa-
low, 5 rms, bath, firepl. 2 porches, built
in in, sarsse; gass nr. shopping and transp.
FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTs-New 6 rms, Ia
baths, fpi gli bsmt ,, gas auto h.wh; Igs
clOSetS
day ea ese E sETHEsph s Iea REAnT9 nsRees,on co
sloo Wis. ave. OIL. 370o; eyes,. TR. 2977.
SILVER, SILVER srRLNG M,II s,I Montgomery Hls
: Very very large bedrms., s gas heat. ts attached he'd
afsf sH szs5 Rssr
SILVER SPRING. North Wood Park-cen-
ter-haL brick Colonial with 21 1T. Lying
pm and fireplace, with picture window
kitchen. exhaust fan, Venetian blinds, large
side porch of living rm., all copper gut
srs. sTs t sad t Slate
and priced low at Sis, 900. 10 inspect. can
81. s44o WooDsTDE REALTY CO. IS
brick and frame BUNGALOWS. priced from
S1l 800 to 1900: some with expandable
attics: one on Lexinston DR. in Woodmoor
wndos ca sH s44o fos
housing needs. woODSIDE REALTY CO.
INDIAN SPRING TERRAcE-open daily
3 to s pm New and 2 rm.. customized
brick homes with "a and ga baths: all
have 22-ft. living rms, family-size dining
rms: luxurious equip. kits, .1st floor bath
porch and sun deck. Only $4,000 re-
ouired. Drive out Colesville rd to Indian
Spring dr., right blks. to Wire ave ana
right to model home. SIMcN q FRANK
CO, exclusive sales AGENTS. s504 Georgia
aye, SH. 1888 -8
LOVELY SECTION of Silver spring-sub-
stantial Colonial brick: lse. lfv. rm. with
fireplace and picture window. family sized
din; rm.. lovely lse. kitchen and breakfast
nook. porch and powder rm. on list a.;
master bedrms; and bath on End d.;
built-in garage, large lot: quality con-
struction: truly q beaut. home PHILIP
3. KEY REALTY CO., sIA 3010 to pm.
ONLY 81 SEQ cAsH-Brand-new s-bedrm.
brick. vacant bunxalow. near Camp
SsDrtnss,d s. Nd; ea;, ;,, 9Th .sers Of land: Of
rtss; r.fs5i; sn., ssl9,'5eo; s7s ne. p Bur;