The Laugh Parade heads to your Theatre
with this comedy smash hit on the screen!
THHS- 1S ONE OF THE
JOHNNIE ‘SCAT’ DAVIS - JANE BRYAN
EDDIE ALBERT * RONALD REAGAN * JANE WYMAN
HENRY O’NEILL ° Directed by WILLIAM KEIGHLEY
Presented by WARNER BROS.
Screen Play by Richard Macaulay and Jerry Wald - From the Play by
JOHN MONKS, Jr. and FRED F. FINKLEHOFFE + A First National Picture
Yea, Brother Rat*... you're playing the sen-
sational laugh and love show of American
youth. id , It panicked ’em from New York
to a) de Kansas (population 10 537)
- joyous record-making stage show
engagements and 2 continuous years on
ares —s Yes sir, you’re steppin’
of care-free Brother Rats enlediug-taimete
(Scat) getey Eddie — Ronald —— -and
ever given a show...and
you'll have fun watch-
My,
\ alt
Sn
WV
Y
oe sty Wt
ERR mY Why, ay we Ate Ze,
NN; a Nagy eG] BA
S rae pth EL ar 6
We’re excited about “Brother Rat” because it has
all the angles theatre men want, to put over a picture.
When we Say all the angles...... we mean EVERYTHING!
9 practical easy working stunts to use for BALLYHOO . .. on page 4
Advance builder-upper with a 6-day CONTEST ...on page 5 .
ll suggestions for activity in your LOBBY & FRONT < ek =
"13 flashes for tie-ups with RADIO & NEWSPAPERS... on page 7
12 items in NOVELTIES & NATIONAL TIE-UPS . . . on pages 8 and 9
Extra action scene art for local PICTURE PAGES ...on page 10
6 pages of space-getting PUBLICITY . . . on pages 11 thu 16
Big line of display ACCESSORIES & POSTERS on pages 17 thru 19 =
Special section of over 20 ready-to-use ticket selling ADS -
Country of origin U. S. A.
Copyright 1938 Vitagrap ie lie:
All rights reserved. Copyri
is wai °
newspapers,
THEY’LL LOVE A PARADE
You're planning a parade
oe of course. And if there
“fis a Military Academy
in the neighborhood it
VF should be an easy mat-
ter to arrange for the
CADET — MIDDIE — “RAT”
Street bally that is al-
ways good for a laugh.
Three men, one dressed in
West Point costume, an-
other in Annapolis rega- ~
lia, and the third in V.M.-
WHEN SKIRT
MEETS FLIRT
AC WEST POINT
cadets to parade to
your theatre with bands
blaring and banners and
flags waving. This might
be followed by a special matinee or supper show. No Military
Academy? Well, how about the R.O.T.C. groups, Army Corps, the
American Legion, the Veteran Organizations — any military group
|. outfit, parade through
the busier streets in town.
Sign on cadet reads:
"When Skirt Meets Flirt
at West Point, It's 'Howdy Cadet!’ "'. Sign on middie reads: When
Frail Meets Male at Annapolis, It's ‘Ahoy Middie!'"'. Sign on V.M.I.
man: "But When Gal Meets Guy at V.M.I., It's 'H'ya Brother Rat.’
with a band and flashy uniforms.
MUSIC MAESTRO, PLEASE
Bands from local Military Academies, Army
Posts, etc., should be enilsted to blow their
own horns. Invite bands to march to theatre,
in full parade regalia; give short concert in
front of theatre and attend showing of
"Brother Rat." Perhaps you can arrange to
have bands on program.
“V.M.I. DAY" IN TOWN
November 11th is the 99th birthday
of V.M.I. If you're playing "Brother
Rat" on or about this date, arrange
to have your Mayor officially declare
a "V.M.I. Day" in your town. News-
papers, radio stations, local dealers
can all be enlisted for support. Activi-
ties of the day include parades,
drills, and various other fanfares in-
cluded on this page.
MAN-ON-THE-STREET
Inquiring reporter interviews passers-
by with such questions as ''What does
V.M.I. stand for?", ''Where is it
located?", and follows up with "What
is a ‘Brother Rat'?"'. Most people will
be stumped by this one, whereupon
reporter explains meaning of term
and works in plug for your show.
P.S. ‘Brother Rat' starts Thursday at the Strand Theatre."
SAY ‘“‘HI BROTHER RAT”
""Hi Brother Rat''' — should replace "Hi
Pal’ as a greeting. Make it your town's
newest catch phrase in this manner:
Instruct entire service staff to address their
friends with: "Hi Brother Rat"
Enlist the aid of local columnists in popular-
izing the term. Walter Winchell explained
recently in his column that "Brother Rat’ is
a greeting customarily used by cadets at
V.M.l. Has the same meaning as pal, chum.
Make use of your contacts on college
campus, and get them to use the phrase.
Hand out buttons advertised on page 8.
Print up small cards with following copy and
distribute at strategic points: ''When Friends
Meet, It's "Hi Brother Rat'—the comedy
smash hit now at the Strand Theatre.
STREAMLINED STREET BALLY
A nod to George Lewis of the Rialto Theatre, Illinois for
this streamlined trailer bally. Girls dressed in cadet uniform
distribute heralds on busy street corners. Art can be picked
up from the one-sheet (see page 19). Float will be especially
effective at night if flooded with colored lights.
(4)
STAGE DRILL CONTEST
We
"There's something about a soldier that is
fine fine fine... '' Take a hint and stage a
few drill contests. Rival academies compete
for prizes contributed by local merchants.
If you're confined to only one unit, drill con-
test may be held between different platoons
of same school. Have reporters and photog-
raphers on hand for possible "breaks."
CADETS SIGNAL
An oldie but always sure to attract
a crowd is this one. Cadet Signal
Corps conducts demonstration of
Army signals by various methods:
flags, lights, heliograph etc. One
Cadet on marquee and another
across the street signal to each other
then unfurl banner advertising show.
NOVELTY GIVEAWAY
An easy and inexpensive way to give
the title wide circulation is to dis-
tribute the special novelty button
made available for this picture. For
price and illusrtation see page 8. The
copy on this button, "When skirt
meets flirt — It's Hya BROTHER
RAT" — should encourage use of
the catchphrase.
Ty Thés (2s C ONTE
Because of the increasing popularity of the
"quiz" contest on the radio and in leading
magazines, your local newspaper should wel-
come this contest which combines the "quiz"
idea with comedy scenes from "Brother Rat."
Each day paper prints one scene from the
picture, which contains a problem to be
By § J
On 2 CUers
solved. Question pertaining to the problem
appears under each picture together with a
list of answers, only one of which correctly
answers the question. Contestants check
the correct answer to each question. Cor-
rect solutions to the complete set of five
problems receive guest tickets to your show.
(First Day) (Second Day )
WHAT IS THE NAME
OF THE GROUP OF7
: STARS IN HEAVEN
THAT RESEMBLES:
s AKITCHEN UTENSIL?
WHY DID YOU TAKE OFF
_ YOUR GLASSES, HONEY?
BROTHER RAT, YOURE *
GOIN' TO PASS YOUR |
ASTRONOMY EXAM IF
| HAVE TO SHOVE THE
ANSWERS DOWN
YOUR THROAT!
ICAUSE "BROTHER RATS
NEVER MAKE PASSES AT |
GIRLS WHO WEAR GLASSES.
WHO SAID "MEN NEVER MAKE PASSES AT GIRLS WHO
WEAR GLASSES"?.... . ‘ te oes acl
WHAT IS THE CORRECT ANSWER TO "BROTHER RAT'S"
GUESTION? < 263 Pe. 20)) BARS 5 aed ge a gccnees
Check the correct answer in the following list: Check the correct answer in the following list:
Spider Grater Ogden Nash Horace Walpole
Strainer Colander Margaret Mitchell Dorothy Parker
Skillet Dipper William Shakespeare Edna St. Vincent Millay
(Third Day)
ay ourth ae
WHAT ARE YOu READING,
BROTHER RAT?
BROTHER RAT,I'M
GOIN‘ TO PADDLE You
TWICE FOR EACH §
CLASS THAT HASBEEN
8 GRADUATED FROM
; V.M.l.
A STORY ABOUT TWO KIDS.
| WHO LOOK SO MUCH ALIKE
| THAT THEY BOTH ALMOST
GET CROWNED FOR IT.
fF TOMORROW STATION
KFI WILL BROADCAST }
THE 991# GRADUATION
CEREMONY OF VIRGINIA §
MILITARY INSTITUTE ¢
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE BOOK "BROTHER RAT" IS
HOW MANY TIMES WILL "BROTHER RAT" GET PADDLED? BEADING? \... «' .e.04 BR ; a Ed tae
Check the correct answer in the following list: Check the correct answer in the following list:
Gone With the Wind
The Prisoner of Zenda
Penrod and Sam
One hundred and ninety-six
One hundred and eighty
One hundred and two
Two hundred and four
Three hundred and ten
One hundred and ninety-eight
Rover Boys in Mexico
Anthony Adverse
The Prince and the Pauper
(Fifth Day)
| PROPOSE TO FIGHT IT OUT ON THIS
LINE IF IT TAKES ALL SUMMER.
Correct Answers
ONT YOU EVER |
GET TIRED OF
First Day:
ANDING ME THE ‘ree ay
Dipper
SAME LINE?
Second Day: — Dorothy Parker
One hundred and ninety-six
This one’s a catch — Since the 99th class
hasn’t graduated yet, the answer is twice 98.
Third Day:
Fourth Day:
"The Prince and the Pauper"
Fifth Day: Ulysses S. Grant
Check the correct answer in the following list:
Robert E. Lee
Charles Wolfe
Ulysses S. Grant
Stonewall Jackson
William T. Sherman
Philip Sheridan
Order set of contest mats BR 502B — 75c from Warner Bros. Campaign Plan Editor
{5]
Vis
poBB>
PRAISE FOR PRISCILLA
Priscilla Lane received high praise from
movie critics throughout the country for
her performance in "Four Daughters,"
many predicting stardom. Use these
quotes as part of display in lobby. Copy
under large blowups of Priscilla Lane:
Remember her as Ann Lempe in ‘Four
Daughters'? — now see her as Wayne
Morris’ girl friend in the year's laugh-sen-
sation, ‘Brother Rat,’ coming to this thea-
tre beginning Friday."
V.M.I. COLOR MOTIF
Colors of Virginia Military Institute are
USE THIS 1-SHEET DISPLAY
DRESS UP YOUR STAFF
Uniform of average service staff has
great similarity to those of Military
Academy. Supply your doorman, ticket-
takers and ushers with the special Cadet
cap available for ‘Brother Rat,’ (See
Page 9) add an imprinted sash plugging
title and playdates and you have a swell
boost for the picture.
AW, CUT IT OUT!
One glance at the 24-sheet illustrated on
inside back cover and you'll think of ways
to make use of the 6 foot high heads of
Priscilla Lane and Wayne Morris which
red, yellow and white. We suggest
that your artist use that color scheme
in lobby and front decorations.
TRAILER TOURS.
Arrange to have a
group of pretty girls
dressed in abbreviated
cadet uniforms stationed
in hotel lobbies, railroad
station, and in similar
busy centers with a port-
able projector and the trailer on "Brother Rat.'' The projectionist
Wt Big Laff ot— Some Fon!
Above illustration shows how to use the one-sheet in your
lobby week before picture opens. Your artist can make a
giant cutout of "Brother Rat" giving the "Hi" sign.
THE TOWN
your artist can easily cut out and mount
on compoboard. We can see it on the
marquee now.
STAGE A MILITARY WEDDING
A military wedding with
invitations to the public
has never failed to arcuse
great interest. It's been
tried before with big re-
sults and so we recom-
mend it for your "Brother
Rat" campaign. A little
is dressed in uniform and is in command of the squad. Under his
direction the girls march in with snappy military precision, set up
the projector, hold a screen and run off the trailer for the benefit
of onlookers. Novelty of this stunt should make a hit, and make
prearrangement with spots to be visited easy.
WELCOME “BROTHER RATS”’
Alumni members are invited to attend per-
formance. If any are prominent local figures,
get them to say a few words on the great
traditions of V.M.I.
Wires or letters referring to picture and
written by local boys now attending V.M.I.
are mounted on display board in lobby.
Giant postcard displayed in lobby is ad-
dressed to V.M.I. cadets from your town. It
voices civic pride in having representatives
at V.M.I. Patrons are invited to add their
names to the testimonial.
Florist displays special carnation named
Brother Rat Carnation."' Arrange to give
one to every mother and sister of a V.M.I.
student who attends.
investigating on your part among Military school graduates, Army
Posts, American Legion, etc. and you may have the wedding set
up waiting for a tie in. On the other hand you can always stage
a "Mock Wedding" with all the military embellishments. Affair is
rehearsed and put on as part of regular program.
FIRE! FIRE! ON MARQUEE
COR NW Mlle cy
EE RotHER BAT i Berm
509000000008
Credit Irv Windisch, N. Y. Strand exploiteer
with this marquee stunt that went over with
a bang. On eve of opening twenty-one shots,
but LOUD, were fired from papier mache
cannon. Giant firecrackers were used.
Couple of attendants dressed as cadets,
looking over marquee with hands over their
ears, adds a comic touch.
(6)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Group of pictures of famous Army generals
—graduates of V.M.I. (Stonewall Jackson et
al) are placed alongside exhibit of stills
of Wayne Morris, Johnnie Davis, Ronald
Reagan, Eddie Albert and Gordon Oliver
all in V.M.I. uniform. Copy: "Brother Rats
today. ..Generals tomorrow!"
WHAT’S A “BROTHER RAT”’
This copy displayed in lobby will put across
the correct meaning of the picture's title.
"At West Point, it's ‘Cadet’; "At Anna-
polis, it's 'Middie'''; (Under stil BR 75 —
showing a V.M.I. plebe being initiated) "At
V.M.L., it's ‘Brother Rat’...
film of the year. On our screen Thursday."
Now the funniest
THANKS TO THE CRITICS
This is how the P.A. for ''Brother Rat" stage
companies handled the reviews. Newspaper
ads thank the critics for their raves with this
copy: ''We like the critics so much we've
decided to make them "BROTHER RATS".
They like us too. Read: (follow this with
quotes from local reviews).
TELL ’EM ABOUT STAGE
On the stage, "Brother Rat" played in every principal city
during its two year run. If your city was included in the tour
be sure to take advantage of this swell advance build-up
by sending letters to legitimate theatre groups, dramatic
critics, etc. Blow up quotes from the reviews local critics
gave the stage play and use as lobby and front display.
SO HIS PARENTS SHIPPED
HIM TO VIRGINIA MILITARY
INSTITUTE WHERE THE
BOYS CALLED EACH OTHER
BROTHER RAT BUT STILL
CALLED WILLIAM ‘Dopey’
ALL THE NEIGHBOURS
SAID WILLIAM WAS
A FINE FELLOW, BUT
ALL THE OTHER BOYS
CALLED HIM ‘DOPEY’
“BLIND DATE’’ CONTEST
"Blind Date" experiences always make amus-
ing stories. Essay contests can be worked
in cooperation with local paper using such
topics as Should Girls Accept Blind Dates?";
“| Married My Blind Date and Why"; "My
Most Amusing Experience With a Blind
Date", etc. Award prizes for best ones.
HIT
HOW A FINE FELLOW BECAME A “BROTHER RAT”
AND HOW TO RING
SOUTHERN DOOR-
BELLES AND OH,
LOTS OF OTHER INT—
ERESTING THINGS
THERE THE BOYS SHOWED
WILLIAM HOW TO STRENG-
THEN ALL HIS MUSCLES
NEWSPAPERS AND RADIO
SYNONYMS FOR ‘‘RAT’’
Picture's title can be made clearer to the
average layman by running a contest in
which readers are asked to coin other words
or expressions to be substituted for "Brother
Rat''. It should be explained at the outset
that the title is an expression used by seniors
at V.M.I. to greet each other.
SPECIAL FEATURE STORIES
lf there are any Confederate veterans in town who served
under "Stonewall" Jackson, you might arrange to have
them supply local newspaper with feature story material
on reminiscences of the days when General Jackson, former
instructor at V.M.I. led cadets into battle. Feature writer
also writes about local V.M.I. graduates who made good.
Hilarious highlights from Warner’ Bros.
“Brother Rat” starring Priscilla Lane and
Wayne Morris coming to the Strand Friday.
ONE DAY, THE BOYS SAID
‘WILLIAM, NOW YOU ARE
A BROTHER RAT!” AND
WILLIAM WAS TICKLED TO
DEATH ALTHO HE DID'NT
KNOW WHAT IT MEANT TO
BUT HE FOUND OUT,
AND HE WAS A BRO-
THER RAT FOR THE
REST OF HIS LIFE AND
HAD LOTS OF FUN
BE A BROTHER RAT
The above cartoon strip can be planted in local newspaper either as a feature
or contest. If you use the contest angle, invite readers to make up their own cap-
tions for each cartoon. Order mat 501B — 75c from Campaign Plan Editor.
HOW TO COVER THE CAMPUS
Although the story is laid in a Military Institute the incidents are
typical of all college life. And so these campus capers should help
your campaign:
MOST TYPICAL FRESHMEN: In cooperation with local schools
and newspaper, conduct a city-wide search for "Miss Typical
Freshman’ and "Mr. Typical Freshman.'' Each school selects its
most typical boy and girl first-year students. Committee made up
of newspapermen and city officials select winning pair at your
theatre night picture opens.
TACK CARDS: Make up special cards along the following lines
for distribution among frat houses, school cafeteria, library etc.
Copy: "Need some new ideas on how to initiate pledgees? —
See ‘Brother Rat' at the Strand Theatre Thursday." "If you think
hazing has been abolished see ‘Brother Rat.’ Starts Thursday at the
Strand Theatre,'' etc.
FOOTBALL COVERAGE: Distribute heralds and special football
badges with college imprint (see page 8) at big local games.
CONSENSUS can be taken from first year men in local high schools
and colleges to find out whether they'd rather be called freshmen,
"Brother Rats,’ or some other name — and why.
COLLEGE PAPERS: Inform student bodies by means of special!
ads and publicity in college and high school papers and magazines.
{7}
FOR YOUR RADIO CAMPAIGN
MILITARY SONGS: If you have an ‘in' with the local radio station
get them to put on a special program dedicated to Virginia
Military Institute. Songs suggested are: "The Spirit of V.M.I., Army
Blue, Victory March, Spirit of Old West Point etc. A plug for your
showing before and after program? But definitely.
DEBATE can be arranged over local radio station on the question
"Are secret marriages excusable?", in which arguments pro and
con on the complications arising from such marriages should be
given. Prizes can also be awarded for the most amusing letter
concerning a secret marriage sent in to radio station.
(one minute spot)
ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, attention! (sound of rolling drums and
marching feet). Mark time to the marching feet of those dashing, devil-may-
care "Brother Rats" as they storm the screen with their hilarious escapades
and romantic adventures. West Point has its cadets, Annapolis has its mid-
shipmen, but only Virginia Military Institute has the "Brother Rats." You'll be
cheering for them in Warner Bros. banner production of the 2-year Broadway
stage hit, "Brother Rat'' coming to the Strand Theatre on Friday. The large
cast includes Priscilla Lane (‘heroine of "Four Daughters") as the sweetheart
of V.M.I. who can make any student forget rules and regulations; Wayne
Morris who is always ready for action, but usually heading for trouble; and a
host of comedy favorites including Eddie Albert, Jane Bryan, Ronald Reagan,
Jane Wyman, and Johnnie Davis. It's the grand laugh and love show of
American Youth, so be sure to step out with Priscilla Lane, Wayne Morris,
and the stalwart cadets of V.M.I. in the season's Big Parade of entertainment,
"Brother Rat," at the Strand Theatre Friday.
NOVELTIES
Special! New Low Prices For the Lapel
LEFT: Standee is 10" high made of
lightweight colored cardboard. Price
including imprint: 1M—$5.50; 2M—
$5.25 per M; 3M—$5.00 per M; 5M
—$4.75 per M; 10M—$4.50 per M.
When Skirt Meets Flirt
at West Point, it’s
“HOWDY CADET!”
bese Frail Meets a le
t Annapolis, it’
RIGHT: Giveaway for football games “HOY, MIDDIE!”
3" x 534" on carboard stock. Prices But When Gal Mente Guy
ingpee theatre imprint and_ local “BROTHER RAT’
school imprint on football, Prices
same as for standee. PRISCILLA LANE
WAYNE MORRIS
All prices F.O.B. eat N. ¥: cc A First National Picture
Order from:
UNEEDOUR PRINTING SERVICE Inc
; RINT
424—438 West 33rd Street [THEATRE “is! |
New York City eae ee eee
BUTTON! BUTTON!
Put this little fella to work for you by
placing him on the lapels of all the guys
and gals in town. It will put over the
title in fine manner and at low cost to
p you. Actual size of button is 7 of an
Pe. Cy inch. Made up with regular stick pin
When Gal cou Guy here...it’s: back and printed in blue on heavy
iya
BROTHER a F | | cofeloe.
PRISCILLA LANE - WAYNE MORRIS
“JOHNNIE DAVIS «JANE BRYAN - EDDIE ALBERT
"BROTHER RAT".
Broadway's sensational 2-year comedy
smash starring: that. two man army
PRISCILLA LANE
and
WAYNE MORRIS
A First National Picture Order from:
. |TH EATRE IMPRIN | ABOVE: Paper doily with embossed floral design size 1600 Clinton A N
i. _ «xi 8"' x 12". Prices include imprint; $6.50 per M; 2M—$6.25 On ee
- ._ . ce i per M; 3M—$6.00 per M; 5M—$5.75 per M. Rochester, N. Y.
Price per thousand — $8.75
f.o.b Rochester, N. Y.
- [THEATRE IMPRINT) |
Decorating Your Lobby and Front
VALANCE—on rental basis: 39" wide: length to fit your marquee; made of transparent silkolene. Rental
price quoted on request. Send your marquee size.
PENNANTS — these vari-
colored pennants will add
that flag-waving at-
TIRE COVER — Heavy durable cardboard. eanere 46 ue
Prices: singly, 45c; 10 to 49, 40c each; 50 and marquee.
over, 35c each. Add $2.50 for imprinting up
to 100; over 100, imprinting free.
BUMPER STRIP—44" x 4'4" heavy cardboard. SPECIAL LOW
Prices without imprinting: single, 18¢ each; 10 PRICE — $1.25 per
to 49, 17c¢ each; 50 and over, 15¢ each; one Sree eee
. ° 4° . eas-
dollar exten for imprinting up to 100; over FLAG—on rental basis: double faced, sunfast, ures 20" x 30".
100, imprinting free. weather-proof fabric, 9' by 15'. Rental price on
request.
All Prices F.O.B, New York City. Order from: All prices F.O.B. New York City. Order from:
CLUFF FABRIC PRODUCTS, Inc. ART cBEAGeEINC:
300 West 19th Street, New York City 449 West 42nd Street, New York City
a
(8)
STUDIO STYLES FEATURES
TWO “BROTHER RAT” DRESSES
Studio Styles will feature two "Brother Rat"
dresses, inspired by the V.M.I. uniforms worn in
the picture. One has a tiny upstanding collar,
stiffened bodice front with side closing, and a
silver plaque buckle with a design of crossed guns.
Another, a softer version of the military style, has
braid-trimmed neck and shoulder line, bloused
bodice, and a wide belt buckle of military inspira-
tion. Both dresses are available in deep blue, as
well as a variety of other high fashion shades.
Contact your local dealer and work with him
ona timely “Brother Rat" promotion to help your
showing. He will have display material.
For further information and list of local dealers contact:
MR. MARK JACOBSON, L. &. D. Beilinson
1400 Broadway @ New York City
“BROTHER RAT’S” MILITARY CAP
A realistic military cap, in academy gray, high
quality material with gold buttons and shield im-
printed in gold on black leather.
Ideal novelty for ushers, newsboys, parades,
prizes, etc. Price—25c each F.O.B. New York City.
Specify sizes desired when ordering.
Order from:
BERNARD R. KAHN
KAY ADVERTISING CAP CO.
33 West 3rd Street, New York City
Order These Stills of Priscilla Lane Holding
“Brother Rat" Doll from Campaign Plan Editor.
BR 54, BR Pub A40, BR Pub A42, BR Pub A43, BR Pub A46
INTERESTING ACTION SCENES FOR PICTURE PAGES
Wayne Morris Shows Director Keighley How He Makes Love to Priscilla Lane
(Mat 401-B—60c. Order from Campaign Plan Editor )
(Left)—
SWEETHEARTS ON PARADE—
Ronald Reagan, Jane Wyman,
Priscilla Lane and Wayne
Morris link arms and_ hearts
as they stroll along V.M.I.'s
Lovers Lane in "Brother Rat",
the grand laugh and love hit
coming to the Strand.
Mat 201—30c
(Right)—
HONOR GUARD! Wayne
Morris and Priscilla Lane under
an arbor of cadet sabres in
“Brother Rat,’ the riotous
comedy of military school life,
which comes to the Strand.
Mat 213—30c
LOVE'S THE THING when
Priscilla Lane and Wayne
Morri t togeth th
shaseimianlie, greelimects HOW IT’S DONE IN THE MOVIES
of "Brother Rat," screen
version of Broadway's sen- You've probably wondered how movies are made of people
sational two-year comedy walking straight toward you on the screen. The lowdown
smash, coming to the Strand. is—the camera is mounted on a truck called a "dolly",
le Jeenik, and a big reflector is placed above the camera to reflect
the proper lighting. The ‘dolly is wheeled backwards as
the actors walk toward it, stopping whenever directed for
"close-ups". When you see the scene on the screen it
looks exactly as the shot of Johnny Davis, Priscilla Lane
comedy hit now showing at the Strand. Mat 302 — 45¢
"WE NOW PRONOUNCE YOU ‘BROTHER RAT'" says Wayne Morris, as
he wields the broom. One of the hilarious scenes in "Brother Rat,'' the comedy
hit now on the screen at the Strand. Mat 202 — 30c
(10)
Mat 211—30c
THEY PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE to each other! Priscilla Lane and Wayne Morris,
co-starred in “Brother Rat," hilarious movie version of the Broadway stage hit,
which will have its first local showing at the Strand Theatre on Friday.
(Lead )
"Brother Rat” Smash Comedy
Film Based on Broadway Hit
Priscilla Lane and Wayne Morris
Co-starred in Strand’s New Show
“Brother Rat,” the gay comedy
of life in a military school, which
ran on a Broadway stage for
eighteen consecutive months and
had three road companies suc-
cessfully touring the country at
the same time, is now a picture
and will have its first local show-
ing next Friday at the Strand
Theatre.
It is a Warner Bros. produc-
tion and stars Wayne Morris and
Priscilla Lane, two young stars
who already have had several
sensational successes. A consid-
erable portion of the picture was
made on the grounds of the Vir-
ginia Military Institute at Lex-
ington, Va., and the entire cadet
corps of that famous and historic
school, 700 strong, took part.
V.M.I. has long been known
as the “West Point of the South.”
It was the training place of that
great Confederate general,
“Stonewall” Jackson. The Insti-
tute authorities gave complete
co-operation to the producers
and to Director William Keighley.
Due to the limitless scope of
the camera, “Brother Rat” as a
picture is said to surpass the
stage version. The drills and
sports and dormitory life of the
cadets are really shown in all
their picturesqueness instead of
merely being suggested, as was
the case behind the footlights.
A “Rat” in V.M.I. parlance is
a freshman, or “plebe” as they
are called at West Point. Those
who go through the four years
training together are called
“Brother Rats.” Hence the title.
They are loyal to each other
through thick and thin.
This story—scenarized by Rich-
ard Macauley and Jerry Wald
from the original play by John
Monks, Jr. and Fred F. Finkle-
hoffe—revolves around the mis-
haps of one of the lads who has
disobeyed a rule of the Institute
and has secretly taken himself
a bride. Not only that, but he’s
about to become a father. His
pals stick to him and get him
out of his jam.
Eddie Albert, recruited from
the New York stage play, has
this part. Lovely little Jane
Bryan is the girl he marries.
Wayne Morris and Priscilla
Lane have a sweet, idyllic boy-
and-girl romance, though of
course they can’t marry until
the cadets have been graduated.
Others in the splendid cast in-
clude Johnnie ‘Scat’ Davis, Jane
Wyman, Ronald Reagan, Gordon
Oliver, Henry O’Neill, Olin How-
land, Jessie Busley, Louise Bea-
vers and Isabel Withers. Captain
Frank McCarthy of V.M.I. was
technical adviser. William Keigh-
ley directed.
YOUTH IS SERVED
IN ‘BROTHER RAT’
A new cycle of youth pictures
may be on its way from Holly-
wood, with Warner Bros.’
“Brother Rat” leading the par-
ade. Next Friday at the Strand
Theatre will see the local pre-
miere of this comedy.
Certainly youth is well served
in this romance of Virginia Mil-
itary Institute, which proved so
successful on the stage. More
than 1000 players appear in the
production, and the average age
of the lot hovers just above the
20 mark.
Hollywood and Virginia have
divided honors in this wholesale
contribution of youth. The film
city has provided a hand picked
east of principals and Virginia
is supporting them with the en-
tire V.M.I. cadet corps.
There are no 80-year old
“eollegians” and “collegiennes”
in “Brother Rat” much to the
relief of the make-up department.
Warner Bros. did right by the
Cadets and their girl friends.
Taken as a group, the leading
players of the picture are no
older than the supporting boy
soldiers from V.M.I.
For instance, Wayne Morris,
at the ripe old age of just 24, is
younger than many men of the
Virginia Military Institute grad-
uating classes. And Priscilla
Lane, at 21, is the ideal “prom
trotter type.”
WHAT IS A
“BROTHER RAT”?
Rats at Virginia Military
Institute are fourth classmen
—or freshmen. For them priv-
ileges are’ few, rules many.
For instance, they are not al-
lowed to converse with strang-
ers. They must always run up
the barracks steps, even when
there’s no particular hurry. At
the whim of upper classmen
they are also required to “tell
themselves off” before a mir-
ror. Running errands for up-
per classmen is a traditional
Rat duty, of course.
These and other regulations
were memorized by the cast
of “Brother Rat,” the screen
comedy based on the recent
Broadway success, and com-
ing to the Strand on Friday.
Priscilla Lane and Wayne
Morris head the cast.
‘Brother Rat’ Is In
Movie Quiz Contest
“Who owns the saber that
Wayne Morris pawns to cover
his bets on the baseball game in
“Brother Rat”?
That’s one of the questions in
the $250,000 Movie Quiz Contest,
and you’ll find out the answer
when you see “Brother Rat,”
starring Wayne Morris and
Priscilla Lane, coming to the
Strand Theatre on Friday.
“Brother Rat” is the movie
version of the comedy which
rocked Broadway with laughs
for over two years. The story is
laid at the Virginia Military In-
stitute and deals with the ups
and downs in the lives of three
of its students and their respec-
tive girl friends, with the em-
phasis on the comic side of their
many predicaments.
Webster defines Brother Rat as:
A YV.M.I. senior who has gone
through four years of training with
the same pals. A Rat is a fresh-
man or plebe, and it takes him
four years to become an honest-
to-goodness Brother Rat.
~—
If you haven’t already entered
the Movie Quiz Contest, you can
start by answering the “Brother
Rat” question, and still be eligi-
ble to win first prize of $50,000,
or one of the other big cash
prizes being awarded.
‘BROTHER RAT’
FOR LAFFS ONLY
No Football Games
No Dance Routines
In New College Hit
They flew in the teeth of sacred
tradition at Warner Bros. Studio
by making a college picture with-
out a football game, a single
song and dance routine or a soli-
tary dumb professor.
“Brother Rat” is the name of
this formula flaunting produc-
tion. Wayne Morris and Priscilla
Lane head the cast and William
Keighley was the director. It
will be shown next Friday at the
Strand Theatre.
Like the stage hit upon which
it is based, the picture is a story
of life at the Virginia Military
Institute, one of the country’s
more aristocratic colleges. All
the action takes place on the
campus and in the college town.
There the resemblance to formu-
la films of undergraduate capers
ends.
“Brother Rat” does have a
baseball game. But the hero
doesn’t hit a home run in the
ninth inning to save the day for
V.M.I. He’s locked up in his room
under arrest, and doesn’t even
get to see the few flashes of
the game that audiences will
be shown. His pal, the V.M.I.
pitcher, gets knocked out of the
box. And to complete the rout
of formula, the home team loses.
The song and dance routines
and the dumb professors, stock
ingredients of the formula flick-
ers, don’t come even that close
to getting recognition. There’s
not so much as a burst of bar-
racks room harmony to slow up
the story action of “Brother
Rat,” or a harried prof. to act
as straight man for the cadets.
“Brother Rat’ depends upon
cadet reviews and parades for
its spectacle thrills. Discipline
defying escapades of the upper
class cadets and the hazing of
the lowly Rats (freshmen) pro-
vides the laughs. Priscilla Lane,
Wayne Morris, Ronald Reagan,
Jane Wyman, Eddie Albert and
Jane Bryan provide the romance.
Wayne Morris introduced the fly-
ing tackle as a weapon of movie ro-
mance with devastating effect for a
scene of "Brother Rat,'’ Warner Bros.
comedy coming to the Strand. Priscilla
Lane was the girl who got tackled.
The setting was a divan in a spacious
living room. Miss Lane sat on the
sofa, Morris stood five feet behind it.
At the command of Director Wil-
WAYNE TACKLES LANE!
Mat 207—30c
liam Keighley, Wayne launched his
flying tackle. He cleared the back of
the divan and nailed his girl with as
neat a diving clinch as anyone could
wish. "First down,'' called Director
Keighley. "And it looks as though you
might need the full three more. What
happened to your lines, Priscilla?"
"He tackled me so hard," retorted
the actress, "| dropped them."
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Joyce Winfree....PRISCILLA LANE
Billy Randolph... WAYNE MORRIS
A. Furman Townsend, Jre.........
JOHNNIE DAVIS
Kate Rice................. JANE BRYAN
‘Bing’ Edwards....... EDDIE ALBERT
Dan Crawford ..............005
RONALD REAGAN
Claire Adams JANE WYMAN
Colonel Ramm....HENRY O'NEILL
Capt. ‘Lacedrawers' Rogers........
GORDON OLIVER
Harley Harrington...
LARRY WILLIAMS
Misto Bottome ..................
WILLIAM TRACEY
Brooks... JESSIE BUSLEY
.......OLIN HOWLAND
..LOUISE BEAVERS
ISABEL WITHERS
Mrs.
Slim........
Jenny ....
PRODUCTION STAFF
Directed by, WILLIAM KEIGHLEY
Screen Play by,
RICHARD MACAULAY
and JERRY WALD
From the Play by
JOHN MONKS, Jr.
and FRED F. FINKLEHOFFE
Produced by GEORGE ABBOTT
Photography by,
ERNIE HALLER, A.S.C.
Art Director..............MAX PARKER
Sound by,
OLIVER S. GARRETSON
Film Editor....WILLIAM HOLMES
Gowns by........ MILO ANDERSON
Technical Advisor,
FRANK McCARTHY
Musical Director,
LEO F. FORBSTEIN
STORY SYNOPSIS
(Not for publication) — Wayne
Morris, Eddie Albert and Ronald
Reagan, playing First Classmen at
Virginia Military Institute, get into
plenty of trouble when their girls,
played by Priscilla Lane, Jane
Bryan and Jane Wyman come to
town for the big baseball game
and prom. Albert, secretly wed to
Jane Bryan, comes in for most of
the headaches,
that he is going to be a father.
His "Brother Rats,”
Reagan stick by and help him out,
although they break nearly all the
V.M.I. rules in doing it. But three
beautiful romances are the result,
when he _ learns
Morris and
in an ending that strikes a new
high in hilarity.
ADVANCE PUBLICITY
Mat 212—30c¢
THAT LANE GIRL'S HERE AGAIN—Blonde and blithesome Priscilla Lane is
the sweetheart of V.M.I. in "Brother Rat," the strictly-for-laughs comedy, based
on the recent Broadway hit, and coming to the Strand Theatre on Friday.
Priscilla Lane Has Quick
Rise to Fame and Fortune
Just about a year ago Priscilla
Lane, the youngest of five Mulli-
can sisters, formerly of Indian-
ola, Iowa, made her first bow on
the screen. She was a tap dan-
cer and she sang a few songs
and was cute and pretty, just
as she had been during several
years of stage and radio work
with Fred Waring’s Pennsyl-
vanians.,
Priscilla was 14 when Waring
heard her sing with her sister
Rosemary in the offices of a New
York music publishing firm and
offered them both a job. She is
21 now and during the past year
has cut her wisdom teeth, phy-
sically as well as professionally.
After her first screen appear-
ance as a dancer in “Varsity
Show,” for which she went to
Hollywood with Waring’s band,
Warner Bros. signed both Rose-
mary and Priscilla to long term
contracts. Priscilla has pro-
gressed to comedy leads and,
more recently, to straight dra-
matic roles. Her work in the pic-
ture “Four Daughters” is her
best to date and critics all over
the world have hailed her as a
full fledged star on the basis of
her work in it.
She has gone from “taps to
tears” in one short year. The
tears have been seen recently in
the picture “Four Daughters” in
which two other Lane girls and
an outsider, Gale Page, play the
title roles with her.
The tears were real. Priscilla
“talks herself into them.” Per-
haps she remembers some child-
hood tragedy, such as the burial
of her favorite cat or of the sad
plight of Little Eva in the tent
showing of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”
in Indianola. In any event the
tears come and that is no small
accomplishment in any actress.
Even more difficult was the
situation she faced in her latest
picture, “Brother Rat,’”’ soon to
show at the Strand Theatre. In
that she plays the romantic lead
opposite Wayne Morris, the young
man she once seemed destined
to marry. There were many love
scenes, long and involved ones
that required many kisses and
much apparently honest love-
making. People on the set, watch-
ing the girl and the boy in those
scenes, thought that a reconcili-
ation might result. They didn't
know that Priscilla was only
proving —to herself as well as
to the others—what a good
trouper she could be.
Priscilla is the baby Lane, the
blonde Lane and the battling
Lane when her usual cheerful
calm is too much ruffled. She
lives with her mother — who has
taken the name of Lane also —
and Rosemary in a house sur-
rounded by a white fence which
she helped to paint. Her father,
formerly a dentist in Indianola,
died within the year that Pris-
cilla made her bid for fame.
To a great extent Priscilla has
trained herself since coming to
Hollywood, fitting herself for
dramatic roles by a close study
of others on the screen.
“As soon as I got over the
first excitement of Hollywood I
realized that to stay here one
really has to work.
“T want to stay. I’m working.”
With young love out of the
way, temporarily at least, Pris-
cilla seems destined to out-dis-
tance all her sisters in her screen
career. But she still finds time to
enjoy life, to raise cats and rab-
bits and tomatoes. She eats what
she pleases, never worrying
about diets or stomach-aches.
She is a healthy young animal
who scarcely knows what it is
to be sick or tired.
She makes screen love like a
veteran. She rides a horse like
a professional cowgirl. She cooks
just as one would expect, which
is very badly.
She’ll make a fine and talented
wife for someone, some day, but
just now she is more interested
in her carrer. No one can blame
her. It’s one of the most promis-
ing in Hollywood.
Trained On Air
Exemplifying the importance
which radio has achieved as a
training school for screen talent,
three former favorites of the air
lanes are appearing together in
the cast of Warner’ Bros.’
“Brother Rat,” the comedy which
opens Friday at the Strand
Theatre.
They’re Priscilla Lane, who
has the romantic lead opposite
Wayne Morris in the picture,
Johnnie “Scat” Davis, Ronald
Reagan and Eddie Albert.
"TWAS JUST A
HOLLYWOOD HOAX
For ten terrible minutes re-
cently, Priscilla Lane was
afraid she’d poisoned Wayne
Morris, Director William
Keighley and other members
of Warner Bros. “Brother
Rat” company. This is the
comedy that opens Friday at
the Strand Theatre.
Miss Lane brought an angel
food cake to the set. She baked
it herself on a dare and it was
her very first effort. It looked
good and she was proud of it.
Morris ate a large slice. So
did Keighley and Ronald Rea-
gan. Five minutes later, they
were writhing in agony.
So well did they play their
roles that Miss Lane was fran-
tically urging the assistant di-
rector to call a doctor before
she discovered that she had
been made the victim of an
elaborate hoax.
Mat 107—15c
THE PRANKS ARE COMING — and
(top to bottom) Wayne Morris, Pris-
cilla Lane and Johnny Davis are the
guys and gal who bring them in
"Brother Rat,'' the love and laugh hit
coming to the Strand Friday.
Love, Love And Love
Three romantic teams, instead
of the customary one, provide the
love interest in the Warner Bros.
comedy, “Brother Rat,” which
comes to the Strand Theatre on
Friday.
Wayne Morris and Priscilla
Lane, Ronald Reagan and Jane
Wyman and Eddie Albert and
Jane Bryan are the picture’s
triple heart threat. Morris and
Miss Lane comprise the number
one team but they get keen com-
petition from the other two com-
binations. The Virginia Military
Institute at Lexington, Va., is
the locale of the triple romance.
Has Lucky Bean
Eddie Albert, who is playing
his original Broadway stage role
in Warner Bros. “Brother Rat,”
wears his hair cut short in Dutch
pompadour style. Everyone in
the cast rubs his head for luck.
The show opens Friday at the
Strand Theatre.
(12)
Wayne Morris Has His Own
Plan for Social Security
Wayne Morris of the films is
just entering the third year
phase of a five-year plan.
Morris evolved the rough out-
lines of the plan immediately
after he was first signed to a
screen acting contract by War-
ner Bros. He has since filled in
the details, realized some of the
objectives, and decided definite-
ly upon the remaining goals.
In its original form, the plan
called for attainment of reason-
able financial security, steady
progress as an actor, and a long
range program of preparation
for the future.
At the end of two years,
Wayne finds his financial pro-
gram ahead of expectations. He
has just paid off one $10,000 an-
nuity and is carrying four more
of equal value.
Before he decided to become
an actor, Morris did considerable
haphazard adventuring and dab-
bled in a wide variety of activ-
ities. He served a hitch on an
ocean liner as a waiter. He
worked as forest ranger, ice man
and apple picker. He also took
intensive courses at a Citizen’s
Military Camp from which he
emerged with a second lieuten-
ant’s commission in the reserve
but with no hankering for an
active army career.
That aimless knocking about
taught him the need of objective
planning. At 20, he wanted to
settle on a profession and pre-
pare himself for it. He was still
groping a bit when he began to
study at the Pasadena Commu-
nity School of the Theatre. After
he had got a taste of acting he
knew where he meant his future
to lie.
And when the road to oppor-
tunity in pictures opened with
the Warner Bros. contract, he
charted his course with all the
care that an engineer employs in
surveying a highway.
For example, he wanted that
role of the young fighter in “Kid
Galahad” as he had never be-
fore coveted anything. He took
boxing lessons from profession-
als and haunted sets where more
experienced players were work-
ing, studying their acting tech-
nique. When he was given the
minor role of a fighter in anoth-
er picture he strained every
nerve to make a good impres-
sion. Maybe it would lead to the
big chance in “Kid Galahad.” It
did.
Morris wanted his present
role of Billy Randolph in
“Brother Rat” just as badly. He
brushed up on his military tech-
nique, because Billy Randolph is
a Virginia Military Institute
cadet. He also got a copy of the
play and studied Billy Randolph
until he knew him better than
a roommate could. Then he
asked for the part, and got it.
He will be seen in it at the
Strand Theatre next Friday.
Because he masks his serious-
ness with an ever ready smile
and the exhuberant enthusiasm
of youth it isn’t apparent to the
casual observer. First impres-
sions of the lad are apt to be
that of a big, good-looking, hap-
py kid who gets such a kick out
of today that he couldn’t spare
a thought for tomorrow.
The happy kid impression is
correct. But Morris is also a kid
who knows where he is going
and how to get there.
>
Military Advice
Acting on assignment of Ma-
jor General Charles E. Kil-
bourne, Superintendent of Vir-
ginia Military Institute, First
Lieutenant Frank McCarthy
served as technical advisor for
the Warner Bros. production of
“Brother Rat.” This romantic
comedy, featuring a cast headed
by Wayne Morris and Priscilla
Lane, deals with cadet life at
the famed Southern military
school. It opens next Friday at
the Strand Theatre. McCarthy,
was a graduate of V.M.I.in 1933.
Mat 203—30c
HE'S A BROTHER RAT NOW—Wayne Morris, Hollywood's one-man success
story, is a one-man army in “Brother Rat,'' the military school comedy that
had Broadway in stitches for two years, coming to the Strand on Friday.
ADVANCE PUBLICITY
Military School Adopts
New ‘Brother Rat’ Film GINGHES NOW
Among the introductory titles
of most motion pictures is a line
to the effect that the situations
and characters portrayed are en-
tirely fictional. It’s meant, of
course, to forestall possible law-
suits and slander complaints.
That title isn’t needed for
Warner Bros.’ “Brother Rat,”
the comedy which comes to the
Strand Theatre next Friday. On
the contrary, there is a preface
to the picture announcing that
it was made with the consent
and co-operation of Virginia Mil-
itary Institute, famous school in
the Blue Ridge Mountains.
And V.M.I. alone could object
to “Brother Rat.” The play joshes
its discipline, pokes fun at its
officers and on occasion lampoons
sacred tradition.
Nevertheless V.M.I. loves
“Brother Rat” and has adopted
it for its very own. There’s a
good reason why the college
which is proudly known as the
West Point of the South can
“take it” so gracefully,
Asa stage production, “Brother
Rat” proved the best press agent
V.M.I. ever had. Except for the
fact that the enrollment is arbi-
trarily limited to 750 cadets, the
Institute could have one of the
largest student bodies in the
world today. Thousands of young
fellows from all sections of the
country are anxious to endure
the rigors and have the fun de-
picted in “Brother Rat.”
When Warner Bros. decided
to film the play with Wayne
Morris and Priscilla Lane in
leading roles, V.M.I. authorities
offered every aid. They allowed
a location crew to shoot as many
scenes as they wished on the
college campus at Lexington,
Virginia. They staged reviews
and parades for the express
benefit of the cameras and pro-
vided uniforms and regulation
Uniforms Get 'Em
Smart in the garb of Virginia
Military Institute cadets, Wayne
Morris and Ronald Reagan were
rehearsing a scene of Warner
Bros. newly launched comedy,
“Brother Rat,” opening Friday
at the Strand ‘Theatre. A number
of spectators were on hand and
most of them were feminine.
“I knew it,” remarked Direc-
tor William Keighley. “We'll
have every secretary and script
clerk on the lot visiting this set.
Somebody must have told ’em
about the uniforms.”
Trained For Role
When Wayne Morris was
packing a rifle and doing squads
right in the R.O.T.C. at Los
Angeles High School and later
at a Citizen’s Military Training
Camp he wasn’t sure just what
he was preparing himself for.
Now he knows. He’s to be seen
in the role of a Virginia Military
Institute cadet in the Warner
Bros. romantic comedy, “Brother
Rat,” which comes to the Strand
Theatre next Friday.
equipment. for the Hollywood
cast to use in the picture.
Residents of Lexington are as
enthusiastic about the play as
the college authorities and ca-
dets. The business men like it
because it directs national atten-
tion to their beautiful little city.
Others swear by it because it
was written by John Monks, Jr.,
and Fred F. Finklehoffe, who
were graduated from V.M.I. with
with the class of 1982. And that
proves historic Lexington can
foster playwrights as well as
soldiers and statesmen.
Perhaps the most enthusiastic |
booster of allis Slim, the Lexing-
ton taxi driver. Slim appears in
the play under his true name.
And just to prove that he liked
it, he offered to drive his taxi all
the way to Hollywood to play
himself in the picture.
Mat 103—15c
JOHNNY ('SCAT') DAVIS—dimpled
king of hi-de-ho, leaves off swingin’
long enough to play straight comedy
in "Brother Rat,"' coming Friday.
JOHNNY DAVIS
GETS HIS LAUGHS
WITHOUT CORNET
For the first time in his career,
Johnnie (Scat) Davis is sep-
arated from his trumpet.
That almost amounts to a
major Hollywood divorce, as for
years Davis and his trusty horn
have been considered as insep-
arable as Siamese twins. It was
a case of wherever Johnnie goes,
his trumpet was sure to blow.
Warner Bros. decreed the sep-
aration, which probably will be
temporary, by putting Davis
into a straight comedy role in
“Brother Rat,” the comedy that
opens next Friday at the Strand
Theatre. He’s cast as one of
Wayne Morris’ Virginia Military
Institute classmates and while
he gets plenty of opportunity to
steal scenes, he doesn’t so much
as tootle a blast on a guard-room
bugle.
At first, Davis felt lost. About
as lost as Corrigan would feel,
separated from his “old crate,”
or Edgar Bergen might without
Charlie McCarthy.
That feeling didn’t last. He
realized the role gave him the
best acting opportunity of his
career and offered an ideal op-
portunity to escape being typed
as a horn player. Besides, where-
ever there’s fun to be had and
laughs to be created, Johnnie
Davis couldn’t possibly feel lost
long.
Comedy comes as natural to
Davis as trumpeting, Back in
Brazil, Indiana, his home town,
they still recall how he pepped
up Sunday school and grade
school concerts with his sun-
burst grin and clowning antics.
It was more for his comedy
talent than his trumpeting skill
that Warners signed him and
in his screen roles he was given
a steady acting “buildup.” That
campaign has reached its peak in
“Brother Rat.”
CLINCHES ARE
Screen love is being made easier
for young players in Hollywood
these days. Ten years ago
screen lovers had to put up with
many hardships and inconven-
iences during their romantic
sequences. Since then many of
the unpleasant angles of camera
love have been eliminated.
Summer sets on which love
scenes are to be photographed,
are now air cooled. Priscilla Lane
and Wayne Morris spent two
days during the filming of
Warner Bros.’ comedy ‘Brother
Rat,” in cool comfort in each
other’s arms, thanks to a huge,
perambulating air conditioner
that was wheeled to the set dur-
ing the unusually hot weather to
help keep the lovers cool. The
scene will be noticed when the
picture opens next Friday at the
Strand Theatre.
Standins, used now for the
featured players as well as for
the stars, have taken a load off
the lovers’ feet. They no longer
have to “hold that clinch” while
cameras are focussed and lights
adjusted.
Makeup departments, under
the direction of the various
Westmore brothers and others,
have developed a lipstick that
doesn’t crack off on the leading
man’s face during each embrace.
This is even more of a boon to
the young players than it may
eventually be to the tired busi-
ness man.
In every way studios try to
smooth the road for young love
and youthful lovers in pictures.
Right On The Nose!
Eddie Albert is threatening to
turn picket and carry a sign
reading: “Movies unfair to com-
edians.” He got kissed nine times
by Jane Bryan in one of their
scenes for Warner Bros.’ ‘‘Broth-
er Rat,” now at the Strand Thea-
tre. But being in a comedy part,
he had to take the kisses on his
nose, instead of his lips.
Mat 214—30¢
WHEN GAL MEETS GUY AT V.M.I.—Wayne Morris and Priscilla Lane are
lovers again in "Brother Rat," riotous military school comedy adapted from
the Broadway stage hit. "Brother Rat’ comes to the Strand Theatre on Friday.
If Lovers Are
=
Wayne Morris was doing just
what the director ordered. He,
was “going to town” in the big.
love scene with Priscilla Lane in
the Warner Bros. comedy
“Brother Rat.”
“You'll have to forget your-
selves,” Director William Keigh-
ley had warned them. “This is
a trouper’s job for both of you
and personal inclination don’t
count. You are a couple of young
people in love and alone. Just
act the parts and forget every-
thing else.”
So a casual visitor to the set
would have been somewhat sur-
prised, no doubt, to walk in be-
hind the cameras and find the
much publicized broken romance
between this pair apparently in
full bloom again. Priscilla was
seated on a couch and Wayne’s
long form was stretched full
length there, his shoulders in her
lap and his face close to hers.
Occasionally he appeared to
crush her with a vehement kiss
and according to the damage
SMUGGLING — NOT SNUGGLING!
Motion pictures are as noted for
establishing precedents as they are
for setting fashions.
One that may appeal greatly to
the cadets of Virginia Military Insti-
tute but which the authorities can
scarcely be expected to encourage is
introduced in Warner Bros.’ ‘Brother
Rat,"" the comedy opening Friday at
the Strand Theatre. It involves the
{13}
Mat 206—30c
smuggling of pretty girls into a room
of the V. M. I. barracks to help the
cadets prepare for a chemistry exam,
believe it or not! The movie scene was
filmed on a setting representing the
exterior of the barracks. Wayne Morris,
Ronald Reagan and Eddie Albert had
to push Priscilla Lane and Jane Wyman
in through the windows and the result
is stand-out comedy.
Kisses Must Be Real Even
on the Outs
4 done to both makeups in each
“take” the kiss was genuine.
Everybody knows that youth
* ‘takes love very seriously. It is
no easy thing to be on the outs
in love and have to do a love
scene. Director Keighley know-
ing this had gone to the pains
to discuss the situation freely
with Wayne and Priscilla before
starting the difficult scene.
Both had agreed to forget
themselves and to think only of
the good of the picture. If Wayne
was a little more willing to do
this than Priscilla, no one com-
mented about it. Priscilla was
a good enough sport, at least, to
play her part as though she en-
joyed it. Both of them seemed
to understand what was expected.
Between ‘‘takes” Priscilla sat
on the couch and let the hair-
dresser and makeup man repair
the kiss and clinch damage. She
didn’t look unhappy, even then.
Wayne stood up each time and
wiped his own face free of lip-
stick and unbuttoned his collar.
“T told them I didn’t want
them to cheat the kisses,” ex-
plained Director Keighley. “The
love scenes are important and
the camera is close. Any cheat-
ing would show.”
“Once more,” said Keighley in
a low voice and Wayne ap-
proached from the sidelines. He
stepped gingerly onto the far
end of the couch, collapsed easily
to his knees and then snuggled
comfortably into Priscilla’s arms.
Intentionally or otherwise, the
camera crew found it necessary
to reload so that Wayne kept
his position for several minutes.
He talked to Priscilla in a low
voice and Priscilla patted the
back of his head and fumbled
with the lobe of his ear. If they
were playing parts—as_ both
later insisted they were — they
were doing a very convincing job.
Audiences will be able to judge
about this when they see “Brother
Rat”? which comes to the Strand
Theatre next Friday.
Broadway In Hollywood
Three members of the orig-
inal stage cast of “Brother
Rat” are appearing in Warner
Bros. film version of the Vir-
ginia Military Institute com-
edy, which opens Friday at the
Strand Theatre. They’re Eddie
Albert, William Tracey and
Robert Scott.
‘BROTHER RAT
OPENS TODAY
With Wayne Morris and Pris- ©
cilla Lane as its stars, ‘“‘Brother
Rat,” which is proclaimed as the
best comedy ever made, opens at
the Strand Theatre today. This
is the Warner Bros. picturiza-
tion of the famed stage comedy
that took Broadway by storm
and ran for two years there with
three road-show companies tour-
ing the country.
It’s a play about college life,
yes—but it isn’t that sort of col-
lege play where the lads and the
co-eds team up and break into
choruses and dances every so
often, generally without any ex-
cuse whatever. As a matter of
fact, “Brother Rat” is laid in
and about the Virginia Military
Institute, which is by no means
co-educational, and the photoplay
has nary a song nor a tap-step
in it.
It deals with the difficulties
into which one of the cadets gets
himself by entering upon a secret
marriage, a business distinctly
against all rules and regulations.
Not only that, but he faces par-
enthood—and instant dismissal
from V.M.I. if the authorities
get wise to him.
The indiscreet cadet is played
by Eddie Albert, who carried the
role in the original Broadway
company. Little Jane Bryan is
the bride who has to be hidden
away.
“Rat” is the name for a fresh-
man at V.M.I. and “Brother
Rats” are classmen who go to- ~
gether through the four-year
course. They’re like fraternity
brothers, and “Bing” Edwards,
has need of the loyalty and in-
genuity of all his Brother Rats
before he gets out of his fix.
Other notables in the cast,
besides the stars, Wayne and
Priscilla, and Eddie Albert and
Jane Bryan, include Johnnie
‘Scat’ Davis, Jane Wyman, Ron-
ald Reagan, Henry O’Neill, Gor-
don Oliver, Jessie Busley, William
Tracey, Olin Howland and Lou-
ise Beavers.
William Keighley was the di-
rector, working from a script
adapted by Richard Macauley
and Jerry Wald from the origi-
nal stage play by John Monks,
Jr. and Fred F. Finklehoffe,
these latters being themselves
graduates of historic V.M.I.
Reg'lar Guy, ‘Scat’
Johnnie “Scat” Davis did his
own standing in on the “Brother
Rat” set at Warner Bros. re-
cently. Tim McLaughlin, his reg-
ular stand-in, got married and
Davis told him to take a couple
of days off for a honeymoon.
McLaughlin took advantage of
a day Davis had free from the
set to elope to Yuma, Arizona,
with his bride, the former Billie
Sorenson. He reported back for
work at once but Davis, upon
hearing of the wedding, sent him
home.
“Brother Rat,” which has
Davis as top comedian, opens
today at the Strand Theatre.
Faithful Gothamite
Olin Howland has been in
Hollywood eight years and under
contract to Warner Bros. since
1935, but he says he still lives in
New York and “commutes” to
work. He is seen currently in
“Brother Rat,” which opens to-
day at the Strand Theatre.
NLA On
CURRENT PUBLICITY
Mat 301—45¢
SWORN TO BE TRUE "BROTHER RATS''—(left to right) Larry Williams, Johnny Davis, Wayne Morris, Ronald Reagan
and Eddie Albert stick together through all the hilarious vicissitudes of their military school life in "Brother Rat,"’
the grand laugh and love hit, based on the recent Broadway success, which opens today at the Strand Theatre.
(Review )
Brother Rat,’ Rollicking Comedy, Stars
Priscilla Lane and Wayne Morris
A gay blithesome comedy is
“Brother Rat,” the screenplay
which rollicked into the Strand
yesterday afternoon. A “behind-
the-scenes” revelation of life in
one of the country’s oldest mili-
tary schools, “Brother Rat” com-
bines the
Sapeleg yl trot
youth and ro-
mance with
the color and
dash of the
Virginia Mil-
itary Insti-
tute’s cadet
corps, and
emerges as
one of the
Mat 112—15e screen’s best
Priscilla Lane of the year.
Winsome Wayne Morris and
Priscilla Lane, fresh from her
success in “Four Daughters”
carry off the lead roles as a
young romantic pair, while John-
nie ‘Scat’ Davis, Jane Wyman,
Ronald Reagan, Jane Bryan, and
Eddie Albert, all combine to
make the film version every bit
the success the original stage
play, which ran two years on
Broadway, was.
In case you didn’t know,
“Brother Rat” is concerned with
the antics of three roommates
who get themselves into a neat
little fix.
Eddie Albert who appeared in
the original stage play, has vio-
lated all rules of V.M.I. by con-
tracting a secret marriage with
Jane Bryan. He will be dismissed
from school if this is ever found
out. He has to keep his secret,
by hook or crook, until he gets
his diploma, and this is none too
easy, because the young bride is
going to have a baby.
Here’s where the “Brother
Rats” come in, It should be ex-
plained that a “Rat” at Vir-
ginia Military Institute is a
freshman, just as a “plebe” is
at West Point. And “Brother
Rats” are classmates who go
through the four-year course to-
gether. They’re as closely bound
as fraternity brothers and are
pledged to do everything in their
power for each other.
Wayne Morris as a Brother
Rat, and others of the clan, in-
cluding Johnnie ‘Scat’ Davis,
Ronald Reagan, Larry Williams,
Olin Howland and William Tra-
cey, manage to get Eddie Albert
out of his fix, but not until after
he and they have gone through
a hundred thrilling and laugh-
bringing situ-
ations. But
all’s well; he
gets his di-
ploma — and
the baby is a
boy!
Others in
the cast in-
clude Henry
O’Neill, Gor-
don Oliver,
Jane Wyman,
Jessie Busley,
Louise Beavers and Isabel
Withers. William Keighley does
a fine job of directing. The screen
play, by Richard Macauley and
Jerry Wald, was adapted from
the original stage play by John
Monks, Jr. and Fred F. Fingle-
hoffe, V.M.I. graduates.
Mat 110—15¢
Wayne Morris
WAYNE MORRIS A
SHOWER WARBLER
Wayne Morris tells us that:
Half the summer grouches
that develop with the “dog days”
of late July and August could be
avoided if everyone developed
the habit of singing in the
shower.
“T’ve always been a bathroom
warbler,” said the husky young
Warner Bros. star, now appear-
ing in “Brother Rat” at the
Strand Theatre. ‘Perhaps that’s
because I’ve received no great
encouragement to sing anywhere
else.
“At any rate, I’m mighty
grateful for the habit. It’s the
best early morning gloom chaser
I’ve been able to discover. No
matter how tired and grouchy I
may feel when I answer the last
dying gasp of my alarm clock, I
begin to snap out of it when I
start singing in the shower.
“The more noise I make, the
happier I feel. And by the time
I finish my concert I’m starting
the day in a swell mood.
“Of course shower room con-
certs may be a bit wearing on
other members of a family.”
PRISCILLA LANE ON
A ‘KIT-DOWN’ STRIKE
Priscilla Lane has found a
sure method of getting homes
for stray cats. She worked it
recently on the “Brother Rat’’
set at Warner Bros.
Miss Lane’s cat, Dally, had
six kittens. The actress could-
n’t give them away to friends,
all of whom had pets of their
own. So she packed them in a
basket and brought them to
the studio set with her.
Placing the basket right in
front of the camera, she
opened it. The kittens jumped
out. Then Miss Lane delivered
an ultimatum. No work until
all the kittens were adopted.
It took just three minutes
to accomplish what she had
been trying as many days to
do. Director William Keighley
took two of the kittens. Mem-
bers of the crew snapped up
the others.
Has 99th Birthday
Virginia Military Institute,
the “West Point of the South,”
celebrates the 99th anniversary
of its founding on November 11
of this year. The famous military
school is the scene of the hit
comedy, “Brother Rat’ which
has its first local showing at the
Strand Theatre today.
(14)
V.M.1. 1S SCENE
OF ‘BROTHER RAT’
Things not generally known
about the Virginia Military In-
stitute until it got onto the stage
and into a movie called “Brother
Rat,” which is coming to the
Strand Theatre today:
It is the only military college
in America whose cadets partici-
pated in a major battle as a unit.
The conflict was the battle of
New Market, Va., fought in May
of 1864, during the Civil War.
“Stonewall” Jackson was a
V.M.I. instructor before the Civil
War. He taught industrial chem-
istry.
V.M.I. freshmen are called
“Rats.”’ Hence the title “Brother
Rat” for the stage play that pan-
icked Broadway for 18 months
and the picture you soon will
see at the Strand Theatre.
Graduates of the Institute
automatically receive a commis-
sion in the United States Army
reserve.
General Pershing once called
it the West Point of the South.
Down in Virginia, they change
the order and call West Point
the V.M.I. of the North.
PRISCILLA LANE
IN COMEDY HIT
People used to say Priscilla
Lane was a cute little trick. That
was when she was 14 and just
breaking in with Fred Waring’s
Pennsylvanians in song and
comedy bits. Then they began
calling her clever, and mentioned
her budding beauty.
Today, they’re still calling her
clever and making complimen-
tary remarks about her appear-
ance. They’re also saying she is
a grand actress and destined to
go a long way as a screen star.
That’s because she has turned
in one neat performance after
another in Warner Bros. pictures
and at the moment has movie-
goers all over the world talk-
ing about her work in “Four
Daughters.”
After finishing “Four Daugh-
ters,” in which she shares laurels
with the sensational “new finds,”
John Garfield and Jeffrey Lynn,
Miss Lane went into the roman-
tic lead opposite Wayne Morris
in Warner Bros.’ picturization
of the stage hit, “Brother Rat,”
the comedy which comes to the
Strand Theatre today.
She plays a college prom trotter
in this comedy of life at Virginia
Military Institute. It’s a new ex-
perience—being a prom trotter.
and she likes it. For the screen
only, however.
As a real life social butterfly,
Miss Lane admits she’s a rank
amateur. And she doesn’t intend
to lose her amateur standing.
Parties have little attraction
for her. She attended too many
of them in her role of profes-
sional entertainer. The same
thing goes for night clubs. She
had enough of them when she
was trouping with Waring’s
band to last her a life time.
Her main interest in life right
now is her acting career. She
studies like the dickens and the
little time she isn’t studying, she
spends trying to “catch up” on
enjoying a normal home life.
Undress Rehearsal
Dress rehearsals have long been
a tradition of the show business
but it remained for Wayne Mor-
ris to introduce the undress re-
hearsal recently.
He did it for a lemonade spill-
ing scene of the Warner Bros.
picture, “Brother Rat,” now at
the Strand Theatre. The trick
was to douse the liquid content
of a large pitcher of the drink
on his own white military uni-
form without showering Priscilla
Lane, Jane Wyman and Ronald
Reagan, other principals in the
scene.
It was a feat requiring a neat
combination of juggling and
marksmanship. And Morris’ sup-
ply of uniforms was limited.
To solve the problem, Director
William Keighley had the actor
go behind a bit of scenery, strip
to his shorts, and practice. Ten
pitchers of lemonade later, Mor-
ris was so accurate he could hit
a dime at five paces.
Just A Blower-Upper
It was one of the opening
scenes of the Warner Bros. com-
edy, “Brother Rat,” now at the
Strand Theatre, and Johnnie
“Scat” Davis was having trou-
ble with his lines. After he had
muffed the third “take” he turned
sadly to Director Williams
Keighley.
“It must be the trumpet player
in me,” he apologized. “I just
can’t keep from blowing.”
oe
PPP PPP nen eee
CURRENT PUBLICITY
Eddie Albert's Unusual
Among Hollywood Stars
In “Brother Rat,” the play
that brought Eddie Albert stage
recognition, there’s a favorite
recurring line. It’s “this is very
unorthodox.”
Substitute “he” for “this” and
you have a description of Albert.
Hollywood, at any rate, is find-
ing young Mr. Albert very un-
orthodox indeed.
He has been a member of the
film colony for several months
and he hasn’t purchased a
streamlined
automobile, a
boat ora
mountain -top
estate. He
doesn’t even
own an auto-
mobile,
streamlined
or otherwise,
and he isn’t
he ae interested in
Eddie Albert eae ae
He believes that directors, not
actors, are the brains of picture
making. Hollywood women im-
press him as being very beauti-
ful but not too exciting. He
doesn’t make the rounds of the
night spots and the publicity
boys at Warner Bros. Studio
haven’t been able to engineer
him into a romance.
He has yet to give out an in-
terview saying how fascinating
he finds picture acting. And he
He's Got Something
Clothes may not make the
man, but they can help an awful
lot when he’s playing a movie
love scene.
Wayne Morris discovered this
when he had to whisper endear-
ments into Priscilla Lane’s ear
for Warner Bros.’ “Brother
Rat”’—riotous comedy of mili-
tary school life now showing at
the Strand Theatre—while wear-
ing an apron in lieu of trousers.
“Think of the Highlanders,”
encouraged Director William
Keighley. “They went over the
top wearing outfits like that.”
“Yeah,” came back Morris.
“But they didn’t have to make
love to the Germans!”
has carefully avoided the other
orthodox extreme of knocking
Hollywood and boasting of his
undying devotion to the stage.
To cap it all, from a Chamber
of Commerce point of view, Al-
bert doesn’t care for the Holly-
wood climate. It’s all right for
loafing, he thinks, but not good
for working.
In appearance, Albert is as
unorthodox as he is in his actions
and views. Until you saw him
at work with Wayne Morris,
Priscilla Lane and others in
“Brother Rat,” the picture for
which he is doing his original
Broadway stage role, you
wouldn’t think he looked like an
actor. Size him up when you see
the comedy now showing at the
Strand Theatre.
Orthodox or not, however, Al-
bert has been spotted by Holly-
wood as a coming star, a rating
already bestowed upon him by
Broadway. Warner Bros. have
him sewed up with a long term
contract.
A native of Rock Island, [lh-
nois, Albert spent his boyhood
in Minneapolis, Minnesota and
received his education there.
Singing over the radio while he
was at the University of Minne-
sota got him interested in enter-
taining. “Brother Rat” was his
first big stage role, and it seems
to have been a lucky one for the
very unorthodox young man.
VERY Personal
RONALD REAGAN had to sleep
in his car when he confused his
dates and arrived at Palm
Springs for a houseparty before
his host left Hollywood.
x o£ *
JOHNNY DAVIS has installed a
complete filling station on his
Encino ranch.
* * *
WAYNE MORRIS has chal-
lenged Johnnie Davis to a 125-
mile golf game. Winner will be
the one who drives a ball in the
fewest strokes from Hollywood
to San Diego.
* * *
DIRECTOR WILLIAM KEIGH-
LEY and actress Genevieve Tobin
announce their engagement.
ear leh He
OLIN HOWLAND corresponds
regularly with Slim Keffer, talk-
ative Lexington, Va., cab driver
he portrays in “Brother Rat.”
* * *
PRISCILLA LANE gets strict
orders from the studio not to
suntan. Camera no like!
Mat 204—30c
THERE'S TROUBLE AHEAD when Eddie Albert (center) confesses to Ronald
Reagan and Wayne Morris that he's about to become a father, in a riotous
scene from "Brother Rat,'' based on Broadway's recent hit comedy of military
school life, which is now showing at the Strand.
PRISCILLA LANE
HAS SOME STYLE
TIPS FOR CO-EDS
School girls from twelve to
twenty are a fashion group set
apart from the rest of the world.
That’s the conclusion of Priscilla
Lane, who has just finished a
leading role in “Brother Rat,”
the comedy now showing at the
Strand. Priscilla has made a col-
lection of approved campus fads
and herewith hands out co-ed
suggestions.
“Knot your triangular necker-
chief in front now,” says the
youngest Lane. “California co-
eds are doing it; but they are
wearing their cardigans back-
ward, buttoned up snugly, too.
All sweater sleeves, of course,
are pushed up above the elbow.
And those pearls are still the
proper sweater accent.
“Collect autographs on jackets
and shoes. To get into the spirit
of the thing we all wore white
bush jackets and white saddle
Mat 106—15c
PRISCILLA LANE — youthful blonde
charmer who is currently co-starring
with Wayne Morris in "Brother Rat,"'
the comedy now showing at the Strand.
shoes to the set of ‘Brother Rat’
and got thoroughly autographed.
They are something everyone
will want to save.
“Make detachable chatelaine
pockets. Bags are such a nuis-
ance to carry that Hollywood
High School girls have begun to
wear little pouchy ‘miser’ bags
suspended from their belts. They
make these themselves, either of
soft suede or their skirt fabric.
“Be sure to stretch the clothes
budget for a _ reversible coat.
They are smart as well as
thrifty. I have one that’s colorful
plaid tweed on one side and black
gabardine on the other, which
makes it perfect for any kind of
weather.
“Put all the gadgets you wore
in your lapel last year in your
hair this season. But not all at
once. Little shoes, grinning
clown clips, yarn dolls... all of
them go to the head these days.
And when your long bob isn’t
decked with ex-lapel gadgets,
put a bowknot barrette or ribbon
bows of many different colors
yooy eres
Acts Her Age
Priscilla Lane is having her
first opportunity to “act her age”’
in Warner Bros.’ “Brother Rat,”
now at the Strand Theatre. In
her past pictures, she has played
girls either considerably older or
younger than she actually is. In
“Brother Rat,” she plays a 20-
year-old college “prom trotter.”’
She’s really 21.
Veteran Is Shaky
_ For all his years of stage and
screen experience, Henry O’Neill
always gets as nervous as a
novice when he starts a new pic-
ture. O’Neill, incidentally, served
in the Navy during the World
War but he’s playing an Army
officer in “Brother Rat,” now
showing at the Strand.
(15)
Mat 205—30¢
THIS ISN'T A PINCH—Wayne Morris and Priscilla Lane take Jane Wyman
(center) along as an unwilling chaperone when they set out to break some
V.M.I. rules in ‘Brother Rat," the comedy about life at Virginia Military
Institute, which is now showing at the Strand Theatre.
History Repeats Itself
In Military School Film
Room 111 in the Virginia Mili-
tary Institute barracks didn’t
have to break into movies to
become famous.
Long before there was a Holly-
wood, or even a motion picture
camera, it had a distinguished
history.
Away back in the eighteen fif-
ties, Major Tom Jackson taught
industrial chemistry in Room
111. And in May of 1868, he
came back. Only he wasn’t Major
Jackson then, but the immortal
General ‘Stonewall’ Jackson. And
it was just his body that re-
turned to V.M.I. For three days
it lay in state in Room 111.
Now they’ve put Room 111 in
a movie. Warner Bros. has
Wayne Morris, Ronald Reagan
and Eddie Albert occupying the
quarters sacred to “Stonewall”
Jackson.
As cadets of “Brother Rat,”
which is now showing at the
Strand Theatre, they’re talking
of dates, cooking up deviltry and
keeping a weather eye open for
the officer of the day, as V.M.I.
men before them have done for
99 years.
And there is more than the
“Stonewall” Jackson tradition
to the history of Room 111. John
Monks, Jr. and Fred F. Finkle-
hoffe lived in it through four
turbulent years. You won’t find
the names of Monks and Finkle-
hoffe in text book histories. But
in the past two years they’ve
made a bit of theatrical history.
Monks and Finklehoffe wrote
“Brother Rat.” They wrote it
while confined to Room 111 for
breaking rules by slipping out
after taps to keep dates with
pretty girls.
When you see the picture,
you'll observe that Wayne Morris
and Ronald Reagan are placed
under arrest and confined to
Room 111 for slipping out after
taps to date Priscilla Lane and
Jane Wyman. Monks and Finkle-
hoffe weren’t just dreaming one
up when they wrote that situation.
V.M.I. authorities will tell you,
however, that the authors were
giving wide scope to their imag-
inations when they wrote the
situation which, in the picture,
will have Morris and Reagan
smuggling Miss Lane and Miss
Wyman into Room 111. In all the
history of the Institute, they’ll
tell you a woman never has been
smuggled into the barracks, let
alone the room where “Stone-
wall” Jackson once taught.
As a matter of fact, when
“Brother Rat” was being readied
for production as a stage play,
there was grave debate as to
whether this violation of tradi-
tion should be countenanced.
Having senses of humor, the
college authorities let it pass.
Only, however, because it was
made sufficiently clear that the
girls were being smuggled in for
the laudable purpose of coaching
a cadet for his final examination.
Perhaps it wasn’t just coinci-
dence the the subject in which
the cadet received his coaching
was chemistry. You can be sure
that Monks and Finklehoffe
knew “Stonewall” Jackson taught
chemistry in Room 111.
COUNT ’EM, “SCAT”!
Johnnie “Scat” Davis will
do no more bragging about
his home_ raised chickens.
He’ll have no more chickens
about which to brag.
Davis made the mistake of
doing his boasting on the
“Brother Rat’ set at Warner
Bros. Before he realized just
how it happened he found
himself trapped into inviting
the cast and crew to a chicken
dinner. And the_ invitation
carried the stipulation that
only his home grown fowl
would be served.
He then faced the realiza-
tion that 38 people had
accepted his dinner invitation.
And he had only 24 chickens.
He had to buy the rest.
JANE BRYAN GLAD
SHE’S 1938 GIRL
At least once each day, Jane
Bryan found time to leave the
set of “Brother Rat,” in which
she is playing the second femi-
nine lead, to make a brief visit
to the set of “The Sisters” where
Bette Davis and Anita Louise
were wearing old fashioned cor-
sets and suffering nobly but not
silently for their “art.”
Jane wore
the corsets
too, for..a
brief time, as
the youngest
of the three
sisters in the
Bette Davis—
Errol Flynn
picture, which
is a story set
in the first
decade of the
century, but
finished her role ahead of the
others and breathed naturally
afterward.
“IT come back from that set
feeling so comfortable and con-
tented”, explained Jane. “The
weather has complicated the
problem with Bette and Anita.
Anita will be ‘out of the corsets’
by Friday but poor Bette must
carry on to the last scene.”
“Brother Rat,” hilarious com-
edy of military school life, based
on the recent Broadway stage
hit, is now showing at the Strand
Theatre.
Mat 109—15c
Jane Bryan
WAYNE MORRIS DOES
A CORRIGAN ON SET
On the “Brother Rat”’ set at
Warner Bros. Wayne Morris
got confused and drew Direc-
tor William Keighley’s ire for
making the wrong exit from
a scene.
“What's the big idea?’’ de-
manded Keighley. “I tell you
to go right and you go left.
Don’t you know your direc-
tions ?”’
“It’s a funny world,”’ mused
Morris. “I walk the wrong di-
rection and get bawled out.
Corrigan flies the wrong way
and becomes a hero.”
Here's Novel Show
Most unique college comedy to
come along in years is “Brother
Rat,” a story of life at Virginia
Military Institute, now showing
at the Strand. There’s no danc-
ing, no singing, and in the one
athletic contest shown, a base-
ball game, V.M.I. loses badly.
The humor is all in the witty dia-
logue and the highly amusing
situations,
ROSY CHEEKS
Twenty years from now, Wil-
liam Tracey will be properly
grateful to the rosy complexion
that makes him look much
younger than he actually is.
There are times when he is
grateful now. Such times, for
example, as when he recalls that
without it he’d never have landed
the role of the meek “Rat,” Mis-
to Bottome, who spends all his
time at the beck and call of
Wayne Morris and Ronald Rea-
gan in Warner Bros. “Brother
Rat.”
Being 21, however, Tracy finds
it difficult to keep remembering.
Most of the time, he’d like to dis-
card that rosy flush of youth as
he did the Clarence his parents
tacked onto the front of his
name. He thinks it’s sissified.
He’d like to be rough and
rugged like Wayne Morris.
Perhaps that’s because he’s
had to be meek and downtrodden,
and speak in a scared treble
voice for so long as the Virginia
Military Institute freshman of
“Brother Rat,” the comedy now
showing at the Strand Theatre.
He played the role on the stage
for months before he started do-
ing it for the screen.
CURRENT PUBLICITY
GLASSES NO HANDICAP
(This mat may be cut apart for single cols. Mat 210—30c)
Jane Wyman has received letters
from more than 300 girls who wear
glasses since she started her present
role in Warner Bros. "Brother Rat,"
which comes to the Strand Theatre
Friday. They've learned she wears
glasses in the picture. And they want
her to become their champion in a
campaign to prove that Dorothy
Parker was wrong when she wrote,
"men seldom make passes at girls
wearing glasses."'
If all be-spectacled girls will watch
Jane Wyman closely in "Brother Rat'’
they'll get more than a few hints as
to how one should dress and arrange
her hair so as to reduce the glasses
handicap to a minimum. Hair should
be smooth at the top and away from
the forehead. Be partial to a long
bob with curls at the neck and near
the shoulders. Simple "'Pull-on" hats,
or vagabonds are the best to wear,
with soft, flattering brims.
Parenthood Scene Gets
Laughs in
The doctor said Jane Bryan
really was too ill to receive visi-
tors.
So they barred the hall door
to her hospital room and left
only half a hundred electricians,
grips, prop men, actors and as-
sistant directors to watch the
patient suffer, for a scene in
“Brother Rat,” now showing at
the Strand.
Miss Bryan appeared to be
bearing up very well, consider-
ing her “delicate” condition. She
buried her face in the huge bou-
quet of red roses Eddie Albert
had brought direct from the
Warner Bros. prop room, touched
up her makeup and called for a
soda.
Albert, as is supposed to be
customary with expectant
fathers, seemed much more ner-
vous. He prowled about the set,
stumbled over chairs and lighted
one cigarette after another.
He’d only been through the
same experience a few hundred
‘Brother Rat’
times while playing “Brother
Rat” on the Broadway stage. But
the prospect of doing the scene
for the screen seemed to bother
him.
“Get yourself together, Eddie,”
said Director William Keighley,
“and we'll take it.”
Miss Bryan sighed audibly. It
was a hot day and even the crisp
white sheets seemed to steam.
The prop man brought Albert
a fresh bouquet of roses and
handed him a cardboard box. Al-
bert straightened his shoulders
and at Keighley’s command
marched into the room.
He got the flowers into Miss
Bryan’s arms but didn’t get as
far as kissing her. A fly did a
six point landing on his nose and
he swiped at it viciously, drop-
ping the cardboard box.
On the second take, Albert did
better. He made a convincing job
of the kiss, got the box open and
with a proud, “look, I’ve brought
something for the baby,’ held
up a V.M.I. uniform—size five!
WON “MISTO”
FILM CAREER
Mat 209—30c
GENERALS IN THE MAKING—(left to right) Wayne Morris, William Tracey,
and Johnny Davis in a scene from the Strand's comedy hit, "Brother Rat."
(16)
CLAY MODELS END
ACTRESS’ JITTERS
Jane Wyman stuck a pin in
Wayne Morris’ right eye. Then
she threw ‘a lump of clay in his
face.
Morris didn’t mind. It hap-
pened to be a clay model of his
head that was taking the punish-
ment.
“This,” said Miss Wyman, as
she attacked the model with a
wicked looking knife, “is the most
satisfying hobby I’ve ever taken
up. And it certainly beats knit-
ting between scenes.”
She was sit-
ting on a
sound stage
at Warner
Bros. Studio.
Around her,
Morris, Pris-
cilla Lane,
Jane Bryan
and other
members of
the “Brother
Rateirvecast
were reading
Mat 113—15¢
Jane Wyman
or chatting.
“T’ve never been able to relax
between scenes,” Miss Wyman
continued, “I’ve tried knitting.
Most everyone does. No go. I also
tried writing but couldn’t con-
centrate. Then I started dabbling
with clay and found I could do
some pretty good likenesses with
it. And now, am I having fun!
“And it’s such a grand release
for pent up emotions! For ex-
ample, I made a mess of that
last scene. I know I did, even if
Director William Keighley was
a gentleman and told me it was
okay.
“So I’m taking it out on
Wayne. That’s sort of mean be-
cause he’s a grand guy and it
wasn’t his fault I muffed that
scene. But he happens to be my
subject today, so he’ll have to
take the raps.”
Made Her Own Break
Most movie stars attribute
their first “break” to anything
from divine Providence to a good
luck charm, but Jane Wyman,
young Missourian who is getting
bigger and better movie “breaks”
all the time, simply accounts for
her first one by saying: “I had a
hunch that I might make good,
saw an agent and got a job.”
Jane is currently featured in
“Brother Rat,” hilarious comedy
of military school life, now at
the Strand.
Hank's Anniversary
Henry O’Neill celebrated his
birthday recently by completing
his role in Warner Bros.’
“Brother Rat” and starting upon
a golf vacation. He intended to
play 36 holes each day for the
next two weeks. “Brother Rat”
is the Warner Bros. comedy at
the Strand Theatre.
Gains in Fame
Virginia Military Institute,
often called “the West Point of
the South,” has always been a
popular school, but since “Broth-
er Rat,” a comedy of life at
V.M.I., written by two of its
graduates, John Monks, Jr., and
Fred F. Finklehoffe, became a
national stage hit, the applica-
tion rate has increased two hun-
dred per cent. “Brother Rat,” in
its movie version, is now show-
ing at the Strand Theatre.
Mat 101—15c
WAYNE MORRIS-—sensational young
star whose latest success is in the
hilarious comedy of military school
life, "Brother Rat," at the Strand.
FilmShows Fashions
For Prom-Trotters
With Fall well started, and
winter just around the corner,
all the young femmes are looking
forward to the winter hops at
various military academies, West
Point and Annapolis. Every
“kay-det” is looking forward to
seeing his “drag,” and knows his
particular femme is going to be
the best of ’em all.
One look at Priscilla Lane, co-
starring with Wayne Morris in
“Brother Rat,” the Warner Bros.
comedy at the Strand Theatre,
will settle once and for all what
the young college deb will want
to look like when “hop” time
draws near.
Priscilla’s youthful coiffure is
something that should be copied
by every girl. Her naturally-
curly blonde hair is arranged in
soft curls at the nape of the
neck, with clusters of ringlets
around her temples and fore-
head. The new “hair-raising”
angle is ultra-sophisticated, and
isn’t suitable for the college
dance or military “hop.” Conse-
quently, Priscilla clings to the
youthful long soft bob.
“Maybe if I were going to the
Ritz, or something,” says Pixie
Priscilla, “I’d pile my hair on top
of my head. But somehow, I
think my ‘Brother Rat’ hair-
dress is just right for a prom.”
Another prom coiffure sugges-
tion that Priscilla offers is fresh
flowers for the hair. But she
suggests that instead of clinging
to the conventional roses and
gardenias, the college deb should
consider violets, daisies and
bachelor buttons.
Mat 111—156
RONALD REAGAN AND JANE
WYMAN-—are currently romancing in
“Brother Rat," hilarious comedy of
military life, now showing at the Strand,
am |
ACCESSORIE
30'x 30"
STANDEE
This compelling new accessory is made in
beautiful colors on sunfast, heavy stock, and is
easily adaptable to use both in and outside
your theatre.
Order from your Vitagraph Exchange;
Price—$1.25 each.
40'x 54°
BANNERETTE
In color on rich satin material, com-
plete with cord, stick, tassel, and
fringe, this bannerette makes a first
class accessory.
Order from your Vitagraph
Exchange; Price—$1.75.
8 x 10
COLOR GLOS
Set of Ten
(only three shown)
Rental: 9% each
COLORED
ll x 14's
Set of Eight
(only three shown)
Rental: 35c
22 «28's
Rental: 20c¢ each
INSERT CARD
Rental: 12¢ each
40 x 60 Full Color
PHOTO GELATIN
Rental: 75¢
(17)
Q”’ x 12”
Full Color
HERALD
(
Age
x8 yg hat awe mad OTe
«we |
comedy ae share’
GRAENDER. Preset are
oo ote het sy)
u x ‘7:
Herald Open — q
Herald Your Showing!
Here's 9
about! Conta
gaiety to put yo
yet inexpensive:
g" by 12" when Ope
e free for
5 at right, and
nter spread.
imprint.
‘tis 9 bY eo
n to full ce
Reverse sid cooperative
$3.25 per M—5oM and over:
er M—less than 5M
RS
aes NEW!
PHOTO-
ART
SPECIAL
New eye-catching
display --° with
stills . + + catch-lines
’ three-in-one
40 x 60.
FAN FOTOS
$5.50 per Mi
$3.00 for 500;
$1.50 for 250.
ses ee Write for details to:
AMERICAN DISPLAY CO., Inc.
525 WEST 43rd STREET NEW YORK CITY
24" x 60"
(18)
Nn of the finished
©adily recognized,
+25. $2.40 Each @
>». $2.00 Each
ete te By
25 and Over . . $1.75 Each
nike. ‘Each
tal 24c Eac
EET — Ren
THREE-SH
| h
Rental 48¢ Eac
SIX-SHEE
Y PRIC ES
(for Posting or sniping)
ONE-SHEETS THREE-SHEETS SIX-SHEETS
100 & over 9¢ each 50 0 99. 32¢ each 25 to 49. 80c each
50 099. Ile each 100 & over. 28¢ each ae. ee © each
P 100 & over” 60c each
REGULAR WINDOW CARDS JUMBO WINDOW CARDS
2 ee 1x saa, 2 eee 10¢ each
ae 50 to Soa ae each
50 to ee 6c each 100 to ae ete 7c each
Bie SIhe each 200 & over
FS iegee
blhe each
WARNER BROS. made
“Brother Rat another
box office treat.....
MOVIE QUIZ
et
armen.
4
ee —— PO eee ee ON —
Scanned from the United Artists collection at the
Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research,
with support from Richard Koszarski.
WISCONSIN CENTER
FOR FILM & THEATER RESEARCH
http://wcftr.commarts.wisc.edu
MEDIA
HISTORY
DIGITAL LIBRARY
www.mediahistoryproject.org
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11