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Home , Benay Venuta, Betty Hutton, Cedric Gibbons, Clayton Farlow, Clinton Sundberg, Conrad Salinger

VOICE Journal of the Alex Film Society Vol. 14, No. 2 April 26, 2008, 2 pm & 8 pm 04/08 of theTHEATRE George Sidney’s AnnieAnnie GetGet YourYour GunGun

Annie: From Darke County To Silver Screen Unlike the stormy, competitive relationship between the pair in By Miles Kreuger the musical, and Frank wed in 1876, when she was just es, Virginia, there really sixteen, and the two remained was an . happily married for the next fifty YAlthough her life has years. At first, Frank went on evolved over the years into touring, while Annie stayed at near legend, Phoebe Ann Moses home to continue her education; was born on August 13, 1860, but in 1882, when his partner on a small Quaker farm in became ill, Annie joined the act rural Darke County, Ohio. After and took the stage name Oakley her father’s premature death, to commemorate the place where Annie (as she was known) soon they had first met. learned to shoot his muzzle- loading rifle so skillfully that The couple joined the celebrated she could kill grouse, quail, and “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West” show rabbits with a single shot. in 1885. Annie, petite, attractive, and surprisingly shy, soon Twice a week, her stepfather became the star of the show. She would tote the girl’s quarry would shoot a cigarette from to town, where shopkeeper Frank’s mouth or hit a dime in Charles Katzenberger would his fingers. In rifle competition, exchange it for groceries. she hit 943 out of 1000 glass Katzenberger, in turn, sold the balls tossed into the air. Her The Little Sure Shot, Annie Oakley (1899) game to hotels in nearby cities, appearance at Queen Victoria’s where diners were delighted not Golden Jubilee in 1887 brought to find buckshot in their food. her international acclaim. During a tour through Europe in 1889, she was When Annie traveled to Cincinnati to visit a sister, showered with medals and gifts from the bedazzled Jack Frost, manager of the Bevis Hotel, arranged European royalty. a shooting match between Annie and a dashing Irishman, Frank Butler, one of a trio of vaudeville Following the 1901 season, Annie was severely marksmen appearing at a local theatre. The match, injured in a train wreck and temporarily lost the use which Annie won, took place in a patch of countryside of her shooting hand. After a partial recovery, she called Oakley. Continued on Page 2

Annie Get Your Gun...... 1 Short Subjects...... 6 Feature Credits...... 4 Photo Gallery...... 7 Photo Gallery ...... 5 Society News...... 8 Perspective: George Crittenden...... 6 Calendar...... 8 ANNIE OAKLEY Cont’d from page 1 returned to Buffalo Bill, toured to begin work, but three days Although Judy and the cast did in the melodrama “The later collapsed on Park Avenue. record the entire score, and a few Girl,” and lived a comparatively He died on November 11th. scenes were shot under the direction private life until her death on of , it quickly became November 3, 1926. Frank followed To replace Kern, a songwriter of apparent that she was neither her less than a month later. equal stature was required. Dick physically nor emotionally up to and Oscar suggested , the challenge of the role. Under As the hottest stage who always wrote his own lyrics. the skilled direction of George musical since Dorothy agreed simply to co-author Sidney, who replaced Berkeley, Betty the book with Herbert. Because Hutton, borrowed from Paramount, “Oklahoma!.” Berlin felt that their script inspired gave the best performance of her “Annie Get Your him to compose his finest stage career. Closer to Annie’s real age Gun” was sold to score, he insisted that he and the than the earlier stars, Hutton truly M-G-M as an Arthur siblings should have equal royalties suggests a spunky, backwoods and billing, even though he had urchin, who matures into a wise, Freed production to been offered a larger share. assured woman of the world. star There is no better demonstration The film was staged and edited with of Berlin’s protean talents than such vigor that when this writer Annie appeared before the primitive Annie’s collection of love, character, cut school to see the first New Edison Kinetoscope movie camera comedy, and production numbers, York screening on the morning of on November 1, 1894 and in all spun in a vernacular, bucolic Wednesday, May 17, 1950, at the 1935 became the subject of a idiom, hardly natural to someone Loew’s State, the entire audience romanticized RKO film biography born in Russia and raised on the spontaneously broke into applause starring Barbara Stanwyck, with lower east side of Manhattan. after every musical number, as if Preston Foster as Frank, his name they were watching a stage play. curiously changed to Toby Walker. Starring and Ray This phenomenon has been repeated Middleton, “Annie Get Your at every screening I have seen The film’s story was co-written by Gun” opened to rave reviews on since that day and is likely to be , soon to become a May 16, 1946, at the Imperial repeated today. With almost all of major Broadway playwright (“My Theatre, where it continued the Broadway songs retained, the Sister Eileen,” “Junior Miss,” “The to run for 1,147 performances film ofAnnie Get Your Gun is a Doughgirls”) in partnership with and finally closed February 12, prime example of studio-system , who not long ago 1949. helmed the film-making at its finest. recalled that Fields once suggested national tour that began in 1947. to his younger sister Dorothy that © 2008 by Miles Kreuger the saga of Annie Oakley might As the hottest stage musical since March 26, 2008 make an exciting musical. “Oklahoma!,” Annie was sold to M-G-M as an A major lyricist since the late production to star Judy Garland, 1920’s, and the co-author with with 6’4” , fresh her brother of four hit Broadway from his triumphant London musicals, Dorothy envisioned that engagement in “Oklahoma!,” Ethel Merman would be the perfect in his first American film. The Annie in a lavish stage musical. screenplay by Oscar-winning (for instantly The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer) agreed to produce the show and Sidney Sheldon skillfully followed suggested , whom the Broadway original, but opened Rodgers idolized, as composer. up the scenes to provide excellent Kern arrived in from frames for the Berlin songs. Hollywood on November 2, 1945, Miles Kreuger and his Hirschfeld honor. www.AlexFilmSociety.org –  – Vol. 14, No. 2 April 26, 2008 ^ AnnieAnnie GetGet YourYour GunGun 6

Judy Garland’s troubles were clearly evident in early wardrobe tests. After two months of work, Garland was suspended and soon ended her career at M-G-M. Only two production numbers were completed with Garland: “Doin’ What Comes Naturally” and “I’m an Indian Too” and these were released to the public for the first in the 1990s in That’s Entertainment III (M-G-M).

for more information, contact: Miles Kreuger, President The Institute of the American Musical, Inc 121 North Street Betty Hutton Los Angeles, 90036-2915

Vol. 14, No. 2 April 26, 2008 –  – VOICE of the THEATRE George Sidney’s ^ Annie Get Your Gun Cast 6 Betty Hutton...... Annie Oakley Technicolor – 1950 – 107 minutes Howard Keel...... Frank Butler An M-G-M Production Louis Calhern...... Col. Buffalo Bill Cody J. Carrol Naish...... Chief Sitting Bull Print Courtesy of Warner Bros Classics Edward Arnold...... Pawnee Bill Keenan Wynn...... Charlie Davenport Directed By...... George Sidney Benay Venuta...... Dolly Tate Book Written By...... & Clinton Sundberg...... Foster Wilson Screenplay By...... Sidney Sheldon Produced By...... Arthur Freed Dorothy Abbott...... Carriage Woman* Stage Production By...... Oscar Hammerstein II Bette Arlen...... Carriage Woman* Evelyn Beresford...... Queen Victoria* Associate Producer ...... Roger Edens* Eleanor Brown...... Minnie Oakley* Bridget Carr...... Carriage Woman* André Charlot...... French President Loubet* Director Of Photography...... Charles Rosher Mae Clarke...... Mrs. Adams, Party Guest* Technicolor Color Consultants.... James Gooch & Henri Jaffa Diane Dick...... Nellie Oakley* Edited By...... James E. Newcom Helen Dickson...... Sour-Faced Wife* Montage ...... Peter Ballbusch* Phil Dunham...... Cynical Man* Art Directors...... Cedric Gibbons & Paul Groesse Edward Earle...... Footman* Set Decorator...... Edwin B. Willis Herbert Evans...... Dignitary with Queen Victoria* Associate Set Decorator...... Richard Pefferle Budd Fine...... Immigration Officer* Production Manager...... Edward Woehler* Elizabeth Flournoy...... Helen* Assistant Directors...... Al Jennings & George Rhein* Lee Tung Foo...... Chinese Cook on Train* Men’s Costumes...... Walter Plunkett William Hall...... Tall Cowboy Boarding Boat* Women’s Costumes...... John Hamilton...... Ship captain* Makeup Artists ...... James Harrison...... Mac* Ben Lane* Dell Henderson...... Hotel guest in hammock* Hair Stylists...... Sydney Guilaroff Tom Humphries...... Indian warrior* Martha Acker* Nolan Leary...... Immigration Officer* Sound Supervisor...... Douglas Shearer Robert Malcolm...... Train conductor* Sound...... Norwood A. Fenton* Charles Mauu...... Indian warrior* Special Effects ...... A. Arnold Gillespie Brad Morrow...... Little Jake Oakley* Warren Newcombe John Mylong...... Kaiser Wilhelm II* Camera Operator ...... John M. Nickolaus Jr.* Susan Odin...... Jessie Oakley* Still Photographer...... Ed Hubbell* Anne O’Neal...... Miss Willoughby* Gaffer...... M.D. Cline* Nino Pipitone...... King Victor Emmanuel* Grip...... Leo Monlon* Charles Regan...... Barker* Choreographer ...... Al Rhein...... Barker* Musical Director ...... Carl Sepulveda...... Cowboy* Original Music By...... Roger Edens* Dorothy Skyeagle...... Mrs. Little Horse* Orchestrators ...... Alexander Courage* Sandra Spence...... Carriage Woman* Maurice De Packh* Shooting Star...... Indian warrior* Robert Franklyn* Riley Sunrise...... Indian warrior* Paul Marquardt* Chief Tahachee...... Indian* Conrad Salinger* Tony Taylor...... Little Boy Holding Poster* Vocal Supervisor ...... Robert Tucker* Ellinor Vanderveer...... Sour-faced party guest* Assistant Choreographer...... Alex Romero* John War Eagle...... Indian brave* Script Supervisor...... Jack Aldworth* Frank Wilcox...... Mr. Clay, Party Guest* Marjorie Wood...... Constance* ® Chief Yowlachie...... Little Horse* Bold: Nominated Stunts...... Donna Hall* Red: Won credits from * (uncredited) Internet Movie Database: IMDB.com www.AlexFilmSociety.org –  – Vol. 14, No. 2 April 26, 2008 Photo Gallery

Special thanks to AFS member Sue Heim for framing the Annie Poster on view in the Lobby.

Specializing in framing your collectibles Hollywoodposterframes.com 818-709-6557

Stills from the Institute of the American Musical collection, courtesy of Miles Kreuger.

Vol. 14, No. 2 April 26, 2008 –  – VOICE of the THEATRE By Pamela Ellis & Andrea Humberger

events, including classic and silent The AFS Board and our members screenings. His long career at the cannot thank George enough for Alex and intimate knowledge of his service to the organization. the theatre has made Crittenden an We can understand his reasons invaluable resource in chronicling for retiring, but that doesn’t mean the history of the Alex. A plaque, that he won’t be sorely missed. acknowledging Crittenden as “Projectionist Emeritus” of Thank you George for all that the Alex Theatre, was recently you do for the AFS family! installed in the projection booth. George ounding Board member George Crittenden has decided Fto retire from active service. Joining the Film Society Board when founded in 1994, George became projectionist and valuable historical resource for cartoons, shorts and feature films. His contributions included not only projecting films, but also pickup/deliveries and preparation of prints, fixing and adjusting the equipment and countless Board meetings. Since the Film Society’s first event, George George in the Alex projection booth 2008 has projected over 200 screenings at 82 actual events. He has donated in excess of 4,000 volunteer hours. Including Short Subjects A lifelong Glendale resident, George Straight Shooters first worked at the Alex as an usher beginning in 1944. Following A Walt Disney Cartoon, Technicolor – 1947 – 7 minutes graduation from Glendale High Print courtesy of Walt Disney Studios School, he earned a projectionist license and worked at various Produced by...... Walt Disney theatres and began at the Alex Directed by...... Jack Hannah in 1950. While working full time in film distribution from 1960 to Story by ...... Jack Huber 1983, Crittenden continued to fill Macdonald MacPherson in as projectionist at the Alex when Layouts by...... Yale Gracey needed. Following his retirement Backgrounds by...... Thelma Witmer from film distribution, Crittenden Animation by...... Bill Justice, Volus Jones became Chief Projectionist at the Fred Jones, Justice Whitaker Alex in 1985 where he worked Voices...... Clarence ‘Ducky’ Nash full time until regular film Music...... presentations ended in 1991. Donald tries to cheat his nephews Huey, Dewey & Louie Since the Alex reopened in at a carnival shooting gallery and mayhem ensues. 1993, Crittenden has served as projectionist for many special film Research on short subjects courtesy of the Cine-Loa Archives.

www.AlexFilmSociety.org –  – Vol. 14, No. 2 April 26, 2008 Photo Gallery

THOSE M-G-M MUSICALS

A durable leading man, Howard Keel would cap his career with a ten year stint (1981- 91) as Clayton Farlow on the hit CBS drama “Dallas”, but it was his wonderful singing voice in a series of M-G-M productions that left his mark on film history.

Kismet (1955) Jupiter’s Daughter (1955) Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954) Rose Marie (1954) Kiss Me Kate (1953) (1953) (1951) (1950)

Vol. 14, No. 2 April 26, 2008 –  – VOICE of the THEATRE www.AlexFilmSociety.org Society News Tickets: 818.243.2539

Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 1 pm and 7 pm Best Picture of the Year and Winner of 7 Academy Awards® LAWRENCE OF ARABIA David Lean’s 1962 film, based on T.E. Lawrence’s autobiography, “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom”, is one of the greatest epic films ever made. Shot for nearly two years on location, the film introduced us to newcomers Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif. Freddie Young’s cinematography raised the bar for all films to follow. Lawrence of Arabia won seven Oscars® and is listed seventh on the American Film Institute’s top 100 films of all time. The Alex Film Society will screen the restored original cut in 35mm. (Columbia 1962) Before our March 2008 meeting, a group of current and former board members sat for a picture in front of the Saturday, September 20 at 8 pm only Alex. Current Board members are Italicized. Five 5 Live Acts of Music, Magic and Mayhem plus a classic comedy on screen! 9th Annual VAUDEVILLE EXTRAVAGANZA Front (l-r) Frank Gladstone, Connie Humberger, Andrea For the 9th time, the grand tradition of Vaudeville returns Humberger, George Crittenden, Pamela Ellis, Brian Ellis the Alex Theatre to its roots when we present 5 live Rear (l-r) Mark Wojan, Pam Elyea, Ron Bonk, Jim Elyea, acts of period music, magic and mayhem. With much Beth Werling, Randy Carter. Current Board members who anticipation, we welcome back Ian Whitcomb and his were unable to attend the photo session include Bungalow Boys with their classic brand of Vaudeville Linda Harris, Daryl Maxwell and Dean Briggs. period music. Our evening will be capped off by a cartoon and two comedy classics on the Big Screen: one from membership application 08_04 (title tba) and a Technicolor short, The Royal Rodeo (Vitaphone 1939). mail with check to: Alex Film Society A family program not to be missed, come see what it’s all about! P. O. Box 4807, Glendale, CA 91222-0807 Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 2 and 8 pm The Most Awesome Thriller Of All Time! Carl Denham Presents KING KONG The classic monster picture that spawned the rest is not simply a cinematic relic. King Kong was created to grip and thrill like no movie before, and these basic principles hold surprisingly true today. From Willis O’Brien’s amazing technical effects to ’s score, the details add up to more than the pieces. King Kong has been remade, but never made better. As is usual, our Halloween show will be sure to delight both fans and families.

Voice of the Theatre Published by and for members of the Alex Film Society P. O. Box 4807 • Glendale, CA 91222 • 818.754.8250 [email protected] $3 (mailed free with membership) editor randy carter design/layout brian ellis distribution andrea humberger printer alco, glendale ©2008 AFS, all rights reserved