Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

Rudy Vallee Joins
Vis-o -graph Corp.
HOLLYWOOD - Rudy Vallee, one of
America's best known showmen, has an-
nounced his active association with the
coin-operated motion picture industry as
president of the Vis-o-graph Corporation of
America.
Vallee, who is credited with having dis-
covered more stars of radio, screen and
stage than almost any other personality in
America, including the amazing Charlie
McCarthy, made the announcement at a
party housewarming in his new offices in
the Vis-o-graph Building at 7000 Santa
Monica Boulevard in Hollywood.
Indicating the extent to which he will
personally take part in the affairs of the
new concern, which plans to place at
least 220,000 machines throughout the
United States during 1941, Vallee said:
"I have long wanted to interest myself
in film production and this seems to be
the opportunity. Every film will be made
subject to my approval. While directors
and others will be given an opportunity
to use their own initiative, still I am going
to work closely with all concerned in the
hope that what I possess as instinctive
showmanship, will be combined with what
I have learned in twelve years of facing
audiences in every phase of the entertain-
ment world, toward the final production of
subjects that will delight those who may
be persuaded to insert a coin to be
entertained."
Vallee said he accepted the presidency
of Vis-o-graph because he believes its
engineers have developed one of the best
machines in the field. His organization, he
pointed out, includes a staff of more than
50 experts in the field of film production
and distribution. Thousands of dollars will
be spent shortly for advertising budgets in
trade publications. Thirty-two distribution
offices are being opened throughout the
United States to handle the problem of
getting the film in the hands of exhibitors
in the same efficient manner characterizing
.distribution of the finest Hollywood films.
Vis-o-Graph machines, which boast a 20
by 26 inch screen, largest in the field and
made of plastic material that give them
the finest picture, are already being dis-
tributed to such far-away places as Guam,
Wake and Midway Islands. There, navy and
army men, preparing Uncle Sam's Pacific
defenses, with no other means of enter-
tainment available, will use them for
recreation. Special arrangements have been
made with Pan-American Air Lines to
supply them with fresh film via Clipper.
Although Vis-o-gra ph production is in
its infancy, films already have been made
featuring such performers as Vallee Ger-
trude _N iessen and the Shadrack B~ys, a
sensat10nal team of Negro entertainers
sponsored by Vallee and brought by him
from the east.
Vallee brings to the industry more than
12 years of experience in the fields of
radio, stage, screen and night spots. He has
popularized scores of songs such as "The
Maine Stein Song," "Vieni, Vieni," "Vaga-
bond Lover," and "Harbor Lights." He is
credited with having discovered or helped
to fame such stars as Alice Faye, Edgar
Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Bob Burns,
Dorothy Lamour, Frances Langford and Joe
Penner. He was also the first to present
Hayes, F:3-nny Brice, Katherine Hepburn
to the a1r such stars as Eddie Cantor
Burns and Allen, Grace Moore, Hele~
and Robert Montgomery.
Among Vallees Vis-a-~raph associates are
Attorney Vincent Marco and the firm of
.Announcing
The active association of Rudy Vallee with Vis-o-graph,
as its President
RUDY VALLEE VIS-0-GRAPH
-
-
The thoroughbred of sound on film machines,
with Bell & Howell equipment throughout.
Cabinets of rare hardwoods. for your selection
Heavy duty machines that will stand the gaff
Top entertainment by famous artists of both radio
and screen
Machines and films now in production
National film distribution
-
No Film Deposit - Reasonable Quotas -
Exclusive Territory Awarded Responsible Operators
JOIN THE COIN PARADE!
Align Yourself With Men Who Know Production Value.
See Vis-o-graph at the Ch icago Show, or
write for booklet and full information.
VIS-O-GRAPH CORPORATION OF AMERICA
7000 Santa Monica Boulevard
Zagon & Aarons, legal representatives of
Vallee and of scores of other celebrities
and of prominent motion picture executives.
♦
McGuire Productions
Announce Program
HOLLYWOOD - Following permanent
location in a larger and more modern
studio at 1418 North Commonwealth, Neil
McGuire, pioneer producer of coin machine
brevities, and his associate, Will Friedman,
have announced an immediate shooting
schedule for a new series of short films to
be made in color.
While others were still discussing the
future of the new medium, McGuire made
30 subjects, independently, and his films
are now showing in more than 40 Phono-
fi lm machines along the Pacific Coast.
Joseph Ferrari, head of Metermovies, Inc.
secured McGuire's product exclusively for
three notable Coast gatherings-those in
Seattle and San Francisco, where his "The
Magic Bottle," featuring Betty Rowland of .
burlesque fame, won first prize as the most
novel brevity shown, and the Western
States Coin Machine Convention at the
Biltmore Hotel, November 18, 19 and 20.
Sardi's, in Hollywood, the Alexandria
Bar, and the colorful Airport Cafe in Los
Angeles are among . the dozens of other
spots now using McGuire's releases. At the
former, movie-rendezvous, one subject,
"The Sailboat of Dreams," has been show-
ing continuously for the more than five
months the machine has been installed
there.
A former studio art director, McGuire
first started making his own pictures in
Hollywood , California
75
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
1927. His reputation was enhanced by a
series of musical shorts featuring such
famous names as Carrie Jacobs Bond and
Jesse Crawford ,and a little more than a
year ago he returned to Hollywood from
Detroit and New York where he directed a
number of pictures for the Jam Handy
organization, commercial film producers,
among them films for Chevrolet and Gen-
eral Motors.
McGuire's films are first shot full-size to
insure maximum photographic values, then
reduced to 16mm. His two most recent pro-
ductions are "Song of India," featuring
Donna Massin and Alphose DeCruz, and
"An Arabian Oance Fantasy," starring
Daphne Wood, English musical comedy
actress.
♦
Winn Announces
New Kind of Music
LONG BEACH, Calif.-"Tone quality-
sweet, pitch- high, design-perfect, excel-
lent for home use," was the clever an-
nouncement by John Winn, western distrib-
utor for 0. D. Jennings' Magic Music, of a
new addition to the Winn family.
A small round circle, folded double, in
pink and blue, and looking a good deal
like a replica of a phonograph record the
inner fold also bore this data: "Reco~ded
-2 a.m., Dec. 6, 1940, at Community Hos-
pital. Title: Joanna Brook Winn. Volume-
6 lbs., 11 ounces. Sponsors-Mr. and · Mrs.
John Winn. Come in for a hearing."
♦
•
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"Is Jinks careless with his money?"
"Is he? I've known him to buy bread
when he didn't have a drop of gasoline in
the tank!"
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