Archive for June, 2012

Only in America… #7

June 27th, 2012

(Final Transcription of 7 news paper articles dated March 1940)

Kidnappers Nearly Freeze to Death

Also Crowd That Gathers to See “Movie Queen” Scene

The cast of “Movie Queen” pulled off the so-called kidnapping of the leading lady, Miss Ruth M. Shaw, this afternoon and almost froze to death in the bargain. Fur parkas and a dog sled would have been more in keeping with the weather than the antiquated touring car used by the “bad men”. Of course, Miss Shaw was rescued by the hero, Curtin Reinhardt, Jr., all for the benefit of the camera and the American Legion Auxiliary show which will present the film next week.

A large crowd was on hand along Main Street to see the fun but dwindled rapidly as soon as the cold northwest wind started to whip around corners. However, the amateur cast of badmen, armed to the teeth which chattered like machine guns, hero, heroine and assembled extras, ran through the script in farcical manner.
To read the final Movie Queen post: Only in America… extra

Only in America…#6

June 26th, 2012

To recap:
In March, 1940 the American Legion of Willimantic, CT staged a benefit featuring the town’s businesses and religious and civic organizations. The local paper ran daily articles leading up to the performances advising the public to what was happening and calling for participants. There was a plot and a leading lady and leading man. These 7 entries are transcriptions of those articles found in my Mother’s scrap book. Sorry, but there was no mention of the paper or journalist. [It seems that “the director, young and fetching Miss Showalter” directed a number of “Movie Queens” throughout NE.]

Curtin Reinhardt is my father. My mother, Miss Ruth Shaw, was the Movie Queen. My parents first kiss is recorded in this film as he rescues the “Movie Queen”.

Elaborate Kidnap Plot Discovered

Action Will Take Place in Business Section Tomorrow

A bit of sleuthing today revealed an elaborate kidnap plot planned to take place here tomorrow afternoon in broad daylight at 1:30 o’clock in the center of the Main Street business section. Little alarm was felt, however, when the plot was discovered for the police department has full details and the so-called criminals are well known and substantial citizens will turn gangsters for the fun of it with the camera filming the last act of “Movie Queen,” the big show to be produced next week in St. Mary’s Hall under the auspices of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Miss Ruth M. Shaw, leading lady of the show, is the purported victim and the plot is staged in the fashion of a real old-time “melodrama” with the bad men swooping down on the unsuspecting citizenry in a high powered car, vintage of other years, with six-shooter guns and masks very much in evidence.

The story is that Ann Baronosky, who plays the part of Marlena Slarbo, a Russian actress in the show, gets jealous of the movie queen, a newcomer to the screen, who tops her in success and hires a gang to kidnap the queen. The latter, Miss Shaw, will be rescued by her leading man, Curtin Reinhardt, Jr. For lack of other conveyance Mr. Reinhardt grabs a bicycle from a bewildered youngster and chases the gangsters. He finally succeeds in catching the gang in their hideout, knocking all out single handed and of course, Mr. Reinhardt, running away with the queen. Mr. Jimmy Clair in the show, will be assisted in the rescue by Mayor Laramee and the local police. The gangsters will be locked safely in jail until they admit that crime doesn’t pay.

Shooting of the film will start around 1:30 o’clock and continue for about one hour. Some of the scenes will be taken on main Street and those wishing to witness it will see gangsters as they ride up and down looking for the queen and be able to track them to their hideout which, believe it or not, is within a stone’s throw of the police station. All of the plot pictures are to be filmed and crowds on the street also. This is the last plot picture to be shot and completes the filming of the 50-minute movie reel. The show is to be given at St. Mary’s Hall on March 28th and 29th for the performances, and a matinee Thursday for children and evening performances both Thursday and Friday evening. A three-act local talent stage show will be presented first.

Next: Installment 7-“Kidnappers Nearly Freeze to Death”

Only in America…#5

June 25th, 2012

(Transcriptions of 7 news paper articles dated March 1940)

Style Show Will be Feature of Play

Movie Queen to be presented Thursday and Friday

An interesting feature of “Movie Queen”, musical comedy stage and screen show to be presented in St. Mary’s Hall Thursday and Friday for the benefit of the American Legion Auxiliary, will be an elaborate style show. The latest in spring fashions are to be shown on the stage by leading merchants and Milady will have the opportunity to see a real Easter parade. Dresses shown will include something suitable for every occasion. Mannikins are to model everything from active sports wear, spectator sports, suits, street dresses, afternoon dresses and evening gowns. Dresses for all sizes will be displayed.

The style show is to be presented by the Boston Store, Tubridy’s and Butleman’s. Models selected are the Misses Maria Wheeler, Lucille Kelly, Margaret Riodan, Geraldine Lowell, Pauline Haskell, Dorothy Martini, Evangeline Czelesnick, Evelyn Breault, Corrine Bolisjolie, Brenda Maine, Charlotte Laramee, Audrey Maass, Charlotte Maxwell and Vivian Washburn.

The mannikins are to be introduced in the first act of the show by Michael Selavka, Monsieur Flowers, a Parisian dress designer in the show, in order for the “Movie Queen” to select her wardrobe for her debut into Hollywood society.

[The following seems to be a clipping from another paper.]

Legion Show

As a special feature for “Movie Queen” American Legion Auxiliary show in St. Mary’s Hall Thursday and Friday of this week, motion pictures of the tournament basketball game between Windham High and Bassick High School of Bridgeport will be shown. There will be a matinee performance on the first afternoon.

Next: Installment #6-“Elaborate Kidnap Plot Discovered”

Only in America… #4

June 24th, 2012

(Transcriptions of 7 news paper articles dated March 1940)

“Movie Queen” is Now Being Rehearsed

Movie Scenes Are Taken Daily Throughout City

While a local cast of some 65 people are rehearsing both afternoon and night for the American Legion Auxiliary benefit production, “Movie Queen”, the first three acts of which are in the form of a stage show, movie cameras are on the street daily, photographing scenes to be shown in the fourth act which will comprise a 50-minute local movie reel. Miss Ruth M. Shaw, the “Movie Queen” is featured in all the moving pictures. From now on until the end of the week she will be photographed shopping in the business district, visiting the schools and various plot pictures. Sunday church-goers were “shot” as they left various houses of worship. Every school in town will be shown in the movies. The Windham High School basketball team and several grade schools have already been photographed. Many unsuspecting Easter shoppers will be caught unawares and put in the movies.

One of the interest features of the stage show will be the snappy song and dance numbers in which the high school girls take part. Besides the chorus numbers, specialty dances and song numbers are to be interspersed into the show. The most flashy routine features 16 girls in a military tap. Other numbers include a ballet tap routine, fast tap numbers and toe tap. Some of the girls taking part are: Barbara LaBarre, Helen Pappas, Bernice Olsen, Agnes Haddad, Theresa Dion, Katerine Harold, Jean Blair, June Mastin, Jacquline Nelson, Mary King, Beverly Swanson, and Marjorie Selavaka. Mrs. Arthur Fontaine is pianist and is accompanied by Yelande Leiss, violinist.

“Movie Queen” is something entirely new and different in the line of entertainment in that it combines a three act stage show with a fifty-minute local moving picture. It will be shown on Thursday and Friday, March 28th and 29th in St. Mary’s Hall.

Next: installment 5-“Style Show Will be Feature of Play”

Only in America…#3

June 23rd, 2012

(Transcriptions of 7 news paper articles dated March 1940)
Ruth Marion Shaw married her leading man and is my mother.

“Movie Queen” is Ruth Marion Shaw

Movie Cameras grind, Paraders March Despite Snow

With all the fanfare incident to the arrival of a true Hollywood movie queen, the leading lady of the play “Movie Queen” to be presented under the auspices of the American Legion Auxiliary March 28th and 29th, arrived at the local railroad station aboard the 2:21 bus this afternoon. Upon arrival of the bus it was revealed that the “queen” was none other than Miss Ruth Marian Shaw, of 190 Prospect Street, niece of Rev. C. S. Johnson.

A crowd of over 500 braved the snow, that presented a setting more in keeping with the arrival of “Our Nell” in “Old Homestead” than that presupposing the homecoming of a film great. The Legion bugle and drum corps provided the necessary musical touch and spectators became “extras” as movie cameras ground out recording the scene.

A delegation of “Willimantic’s finest” was on hand to keep order, and mayor P. J. Laramee headed the welcoming committee. Miss Shaw was bundled into an open car which headed the parade up Main Street to the town hall where the mayor courteously, if gingerly bared his head to the elements and presented her with the key to the city and a large bouquet.

Ruth Marion Shaw as the Movie Queen

Ruth Marian Shaw as “Movie Queen”

The official party was transported in the latest model automobiles supplied by local dealers, which was followed by delegations of Boy and Girl Scouts and anyone else who wished to join in the parade.

Movies taken of today’s proceedings will be part of the last act of the presentation by local talent in St. Mary’s Hall two weeks hence.

Next: Installment 4-“Movie Queen” is Now Being Rehearsed

Only in America…#2

June 22nd, 2012

(Transcriptions of 7 news paper articles dated March 1940)

Plans Complete for Parade Tomorrow

Identity of Local “Movie Queen” Will be disclosed

Mrs. Frank Marschat announced today that all arrangements have been made for the American Legion Auxiliary parade tomorrow afternoon in honor of the leading lady who plays the title role in the “Movie Queen” in the stage and movie production of that name to be given March 28th and 29th. The identity of the queen has been kept in secret so far. She has been chosen for beauty, popularity and acting ability and is a local girl. In the stage show “Miss Movie Queen” plays the part of a small town girl who wins a free trip to Hollywood for writing an essay on her petunia garden for a magazine. The three act stage show reveals her trials and tribulations as she skyrocketed to movie fame and glory by over-zealous producers and press agents. At the end of the stage show she decides to bring her new found friends back to her home town, Willimantic, for a vacation. The plot of the 50 minute movie reel, all of which will be shot locally, is wound around the various events which happen during the vacation. The first of the movie will be shots taken of the parade tomorrow.

Over 50 entries have already been received for the parade. All entries are to assemble at the railroad station at 2 p.m. The queen will arrive on the 2:21 bus and greeted by an official committee headed by Mayor P. J. Laramee. At the depot she will be presented with a large bouquet of flowers. The parade will then proceed to the steps of the town building where the mayor is to present her with the key to the city. Legion Post Commander, Levi G. Gross is to serve as marshal for the parade. The entries will consist of the American Legion bugle and drum corps, Boy Scouts, drill team, official cars, trucks and floats representing the various business firms in the city.

One of the most interesting units of the parade will be that of the auto dealers in which every make and style of new car is displayed. There will be three official cars in which the cast of the show will ride. Moving pictures are to be shot at the railroad station, the entire parade on Main Street will be photographed as well as the ceremonies at the town hall and crowds on the street. Any business firm or children wishing to ride bicycles in the parade or to bring their pets and dolls may enter merely by appearing at the depot at 2 o’clock tomorrow. Everyone there or on the street will be “shot” by the candid camera and have the opportunity to see themselves on the screen as a part of the fourth act of “Movie Queen”. During the following week the movie camera will be on the streets photographing places of interest in the city, shopping scenes, school children, etc. Many people will be photographed unknown to themselves.

An excellent cast has been chosen for the show and rehearsals are being held every afternoon at 4 o’clock for the chorus in the American Legion Home and at 7:30 in the evening for the cast.

Next: Installment 3, Who will be the “Movie Queen”?

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