OUR TOWN

SOL LESSER presents his first production for United Artists release
from the Pulitzer Prize Play by Thornton Wilder.

"Our Town" is the story of all towns... it is the ecstasy of youth and the soul-memory of old age... it is man, woman and marriage... it is life stripped to its bare essentials and presented on the screen to reach deep into the heart of all humanity. It is a motion picture for the masses!

Hollywood poured all its resources into the filming of "OUR TOWN".

"ONE OF THE GREAT PLAYS OF THE GENERATION" BECOMES "THE MOST MEMORABLE MOTION PICTURE OF OUR TIMES"

Experts all...

THEY POURED THEIR HEARTS INTO "OUR TOWN"

**Sol Lesser**
THE PRODUCER... The keynotes of his career have been showmanship and novelty in entertainment. In "Our Town" he has achieved the acme of both.

**Sam Wood**
THE DIRECTOR... He believes that "Our Town" has even more potentialities of greatness than his widely-acclaimed "Goodbye Mr. Chips".

**Thornton Wilder**
THE AUTHOR... That his manner of expression is supreme is evidenced by his award of the Pulitzer Prize for his play, "Our Town".

**William C. Menzies**
He designed the production against which the story of "Our Town" is filmed. Mr. Menzies won an Academy Award for his work on "Gone With the Wind".

RELEASED THRU UNITED ARTISTS

THE
PRIZE
MOTION
PICTURE
OF ANY
YEAR!

23 LOS ANGELES CALIF.
MAR 27
9:30 PM
1940
ARCADE ANNEX

Mr. Thornton Wilder
50 Deepwood Drive
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

SOL LESSER

presents

# "OUR TOWN"

By THORNTON WILDER

## CAST OF CHARACTERS

<table><tr><td>WILLIAM HOLDEN</td><td>as George Gibbs</td></tr><tr><td>MARTHA SCOTT</td><td>as Emily Webb</td></tr><tr><td>FAY BAINTER</td><td>as Mrs. Gibbs</td></tr><tr><td>BEULAH BONDI</td><td>as Mrs. Webb</td></tr><tr><td>THOMAS MITCHELL</td><td>as Dr. Gibbs</td></tr><tr><td>GUY KIBBEE</td><td>as Mr. Webb</td></tr><tr><td>STUART ERWIN</td><td>as Howie Newsome</td></tr><tr><td>FRANK CRAVEN</td><td>as Mr. Morgan</td></tr><tr><td>DORO MERANDE</td><td>as Mrs. Soames</td></tr><tr><td>PHILIP WOOD</td><td>as Simon Stimson</td></tr><tr><td>RUTH TOBY</td><td>as Rebecca Gibbs</td></tr><tr><td>DOUGLAS GARDNER</td><td>as Wally Webb</td></tr><tr><td>ARTHUR ALLEN</td><td>as Professor Willard</td></tr><tr><td>CHARLES TROWBRIDGE</td><td>as Dr. Ferguson</td></tr><tr><td>SPENCER CHARTERS</td><td>as Constable Warren</td></tr><tr><td>DIX DAVIS</td><td>as Joe Crowell</td></tr><tr><td>TIM DAVIS</td><td>as Si Crowell</td></tr></table>

## PRODUCTION STAFF

Directed by

SAM WOOD

<table><tr><td>Screenplay by</td><td>Thornton Wilder<br/>Frank Craven<br/>Harry Chandlee</td></tr><tr><td>Production Designed by</td><td>William Cameron Menzies</td></tr><tr><td>Associate Designer</td><td>Harry Horner</td></tr><tr><td>Music by</td><td>Aaron Copland</td></tr><tr><td>Director of Photography</td><td>Bert Glennon, A.S.C.</td></tr><tr><td>Orchestral Direction</td><td>Irvin Talbot</td></tr><tr><td>Art Direction</td><td>Lewis J. Rachmil</td></tr><tr><td>Technical Adviser</td><td>Edward P. Goodnow</td></tr><tr><td>Special Effects</td><td>Jack Cosgrove</td></tr><tr><td>Film Editor</td><td>Sherman Todd</td></tr><tr><td>Interiors</td><td>Julia Heron</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant Director</td><td>John Sherwood</td></tr><tr><td>Second Assistant Director</td><td>Lee Sholem</td></tr><tr><td>Unit Manager</td><td>Al Raboch</td></tr><tr><td>Wardrobe</td><td>Edward P. Lambert</td></tr><tr><td>Sound Technician</td><td>Paul Neal</td></tr><tr><td>Still Photography</td><td>Robert W. Coburn</td></tr><tr><td>Production Manager</td><td>Barney Briskin</td></tr></table>

Running Time-- 90 Minutes

A SOL LESSER PRODUCTION

## Some Facts —

Thornton Wilder, the author, won the Pulitzer Prize for "Our Town" as a play. It was his second Pulitzer award; his first was for the novel "The Bridge of San Luis Rey."

Before a foot of film was shot by Director Sam Wood ("Goodbye Mr. Chips") 1200 sketches of camera setups were sketched by William Cameron Menzies, the production designer, who had a similar assignment on "Gone With the Wind," and his associate, Harry Horner.

Martha Scott, who plays "Emily," ironically enough won the role only after nearly 100 other actresses had been interviewed or tested. A logical choice for the part since she had created "Emily" in the New York stage production, she was originally given little consideration because of a poor test she had made at another studio. To Cinematographer Bert Glennon goes much of the credit for realizing Miss Scott was the "victim" of a bad test. As he viewed it in a projection room he told Producer Sol Lesser the lighting was wrong; when Lesser brought Miss Scott to Hollywood for a new test, Glennon made it, proved she was highly photogenic.

Frank Craven, dean of the American stage, recreates the character of the narrator, "Mr. Morgan," as he originated it in the New York production.

Besides Craven and Miss Scott, others from the Broadway play who also appear in the film are Arthur Allen and Doro Merande.

One of the most unusual photographic effects in the film was achieved by paint. Long shadows in the moonlight scene between Fay Bainter, Beulah Bondi and Doro Merande were air-brushed on the ground.

Craven played the loneliest of roles. Although he appears throughout the picture he worked entirely alone—save for his one scene with Miss Scott and William Holden and his scene with Arthur Allen, the professor.

Throughout production—and for many months before—Author Wilder exchanged more than 120 letters with Producer Lesser in adapting the story to the screen.

Released through
UNITED ARTISTS

EAST SIDE WEST SIDE
ALL AROUND THE TOWN
Established 1988

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<table><thead><tr><th colspan="3">WEEKDAYS</th><th colspan="3">SUNDAYS & HOLIDAYS</th></tr><tr><th>PIER 81</th><th>PIER 10</th><th>PIER 10</th><th>PIER 81</th><th>PIER 10</th><th>PIER 10</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>C Center St.</td></tr><tr><td>A.M.</td><td>A.M.</td><td>A.M.</td><td>A.M.</td><td>A.M.</td><td>A.M.</td></tr><tr><td>COS.</td><td>COS.</td><td>COS.</td><td>COS.</td><td>COS.</td><td>COS.</td></tr><tr><td>11:45</td><td>12:10</td><td>1:00</td><td>11:00</td><td>1:00</td><td>1:00</td></tr><tr><td>3:00</td><td>3:30</td><td>4:00</td><td>3:30</td><td>4:00</td><td>4:00</td></tr><tr><td>7:40</td><td>8:10</td><td>8:00</td><td>10:10</td><td>8:00</td><td>8:00</td></tr><tr><td>P.M.</td><td>P.M.</td><td>P.M.</td><td>P.M.</td><td>P.M.</td><td>P.M.</td></tr><tr><td>4:00</td><td colspan="2">NO train or Motor Coach Connections</td><td colspan="3">NO return trip</td></tr><tr><td colspan="6">Standard Time - Add Tfr. for Daylight Time</td></tr></tbody></table>

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## Curtain Calls

By S. J. BRODY

MARTHA SCOTT, who created the rôle of "Emily" in the stage play, wasn't considered at first for the film version of "Our Town." Producer Sol Lesser had looked at a test Miss Scott made for "Melanie" in "Gone With the Wind"—the only one available— and declared she wasn't the type. Trials were given to more than a score of girls and still he wasn't satisfied. Finally Miss Scott's name was brought up again and he decided to give her a new test. This time he was so pleased he not only gave her a contract for the picture but signed her for a long term as well. A native of Jamesport, Missouri, the young star is a graduate of the University of Michigan. She taught school for six months, but quit when convinced she wasn't cut out for this kind of work. Among other acting assignments, she once appeared on the radio with Orson Welles in a nightly presentation of ghost stories.

William Holden, who rapidly attained stardom following his initial success in "Golden Boy," was born in the little town of O'Fallon, Illinois. When he was four years old his father, a chemist, moved the family to California. The boy became interested in theatricals while attending Pasadena Junior College. He was among three persons selected from the college for a screen test. Fortunately for Holden, it was seen by Rouben Mamoulian, the director, who engaged him for the rôle of Joe Bonaparte in "Golden Boy."

Because he has never missed a major sports event, Frank Craven has been nominated as "Public Spectator Number One" by Damon Runyan, the columnist.

## SHOWPLACE
The Magazine of Radio City Music Hall

VOL. 4

JUNE 20, 1940

NO. 25

Published for RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL by M. M. GEFFEN

Edited by BEATRICE ATLASS, Radio City Music Hall Circle 6-4600, Extension 17

Advertising Representative—

ALBERT MASOUR

Room 1510, 10 Rockefeller Plaza, N. Y. C. Circle 7-3271

CIRCULATION OF THIS ISSUE 50,000 COPIES

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[3]

SOL LESSER

Presents

# "OUR TOWN"

WORLD PREMIERE, THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1940 - BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

## TENTATIVE PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES

### Thursday, May 23:

2:00 P.M. - All parties including Governors, staffs, etc., Hollywood group, including stars etc., New York executives of United Artists, etc., Peterborough group, "Emily and George" group, Boston newspapers group, out of town newspapers group; Boston civic, social and state officials including Mayor Tobin, etc.; representatives of New England Council, Board of Trade, Loew's group, and others, meet Governor Francis P. Murphy in the French Room on second floor of Ritz Carlton Hotel for formal introductions, personal interviews and get-together.

3:30 P.M. - Entire party leaves by automobile with motor-cycle police escort for State House to be welcomed by Governor Saltonstall.

4:30 P.M. - Entire party returns from Governor Saltonstall's office to respective hotels to dress for dinner.

6:00 P.M. - Formal dinner in the main dining room of the Ritz Carlton. Please be on time for dinner, as we are on a definite schedule.

8:00 P.M. - All parties leave by automobile, with police escort, for Loew's State Theatre.

8:30 P.M. - On arrival at Loew's State Theatre, celebrities and important people will be announced over the radio and asked to say a few words in the mike set up in the lobby. WBZ, Boston N.B.C. outlet, will broadcast this event.

9:00 P.M. - Celebrities and important people will assemble on stage for personal appearance and introduction to the audience by Governor Murphy.

9:20 P.M. - The official party appearing on the stage for personal appearance will take their seats for the showing of "OUR TOWN."

The picture stars and celebrities will leave from the stage entrance by automobile with motor-cycle police escort, for personal appearance at Orpheum Theatre; returning to the State Theatre to join the party in the loge seats for the remainder of the picture.

* * * * *