The Silver Screen Oasis

I am so looking forward to seeing Blondie Johnson some day. How's Joanie on the big screen?

She's fantastic as a down on her luck young woman who ends up running a big crime gang. Chester Morris is her partner in crime and though it takes awhile, her partner in love as well.

Allen Jenkins, Earle Fox, Mae Busch, Claire Dodd all supply terrific support but Blondell carries the movie. No one was better at snappy one-liners in the 1930s than Joan.

Well, Precode Hollywood came to an end last night with a wild
double bill of THE BLACK CAT and KONGO. Both are exceptionally
vivid horror films and the fans ate 'em up! This series, I'm happy to
say, has been the most successful yet, even surpassing the noir
shows of late--really amazing. Every night was packed and our week-
end matinee screenings were as well.
THE BLACK CAT
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KONGO
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Tuesday night, as mentioned, we showed Joan Blondell in the
wonderful BLONDIE JOHNSON and Sylvia Sidney in LADIES OF
THE BIG HOUSE. Joan's always a big draw and her fans were
out in legion that night. Sylvia Sidney was a revelation to the
crowd; her films aren't nearly as well-known to audiences as many
of the other precode stars. Her luminous beauty was in sharp
contrast with the harsh, unforgiving nature of the film. Quite a
night!
On Wednesday we had our biggest weekday night of all--a potent
pairing of THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE and CALL HER SAVAGE.
The place was totally packed and the audience went nuts for these,
especially CALL HER SAVAGE. Wild (but respectful) cheering all the
way through. Enormous ovation at the end. In all my years at the
Roxie this has to be one of the greatest nights ever.
A harrowing scene from THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE with
Miriam Hopkins and Jack LaRue.
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Two absolutely astonishing sequences from CALL HER SAVAGE
starring Clara Bow:
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Congrats, Dewmeister, on another successful run!!!! Someday........

Congratulatios Elliot, I am happy to read about the success of the Pre Code Festival...I wish something like this could be done someday in Santiago de Chile. Best, Fernando

That's wonderful to read that the people responded so strongly to your films, Elliot. I hope you'll soon be able to put together another noir and pre-code festival--but make it a traveling road show, could ya?

P.S. I keep hoping there will be a Sylvia Sidney renaissance soon. Maybe you are the person to start this?

moirafinnie wrote:P.S. I keep hoping there will be a Sylvia Sidney renaissance soon. Maybe you are the person to start this?

Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Hey there Dewey. I've been reading the exploits of the Premiere Programmer of the West. CONGRATULATIONS! Packed houses! New discoveries!!! Word of Mouth! I'm so happy to hear that your pre-codes were a rousing success. It sounds like fun was had by all.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Sorry, I only just discovered this thread.

What fantastic pairings, Dewey! I especially wish I had been there for The Black Cat and Kongo!

I almost cried with joy reading about how the audiences responded to Call Her Savage. Keep up the GREAT work, programming genius!