Campus Rhythm (Monogram) (1943)

Fine Cast Registers Hit In Tuneful Musical Film (Review) Thanks to extremely funny situations arising from life on a college campus, Monogram’s “Campus Rhythm,” fast moving comedy now showing at the Theatre, rates special recommendation as an escape film for the en tire family to enjoy. Producer Lindsley Parsons and¥ Arthur Dreifuss, able director of the film, insured the success of their picture when they selected a proven group of favorites that includes Gale Storm, Johnny Downs, Robert Lowery, Doug Leavitt, Herbert Heyes, Marie Blake, Claudia Drake, Ge-Ge Pearson, Johnny Duncan and Candy Candido, formerly of the team of Candy and Coco. The result is a highly entertaining light comedy, designed to make the theatregoer forget his troubles. Principal acting honors are shared by Gale Storm, who has no superiors in giving out with a song, and capable Johnny Downs. Miss Storm, appearing as a professional singer who tires of public life and takes an assumed name so that she can go back to college, has the opportunity to introduce four new songs that are as refreshing as their beeautiful sponsor. Downs is her orchestra-leading boy friend. The strictly comical department is well attended by veteran actor Doug Leavitt, Miss Storm’s uncle, who has an uncanny ability for getting into involved predicaments, Ge-Ge Pearson, a new novelty singer recruited from radio who introduces the other two songs of the picture, and Candy Candido, who supplies many of the laugh provoking moments in the film with his voice that goes away up there, right here and away down there. Music was supervised by Eddie Kay, and photography handled by Mack Stengler, both of whom deserve special praise for their work in the picture. Songs Fill Gay College Film One of the hardy perennials of the motion picture screen is the comedy of college life, which vies in popularity with the more robust “western” and the musical film of theatrical backstage activities. Even before the advent of motion pictures, George Ade’s stage comedy, “The College Widow,” and many others with a similar setting, set a vogue and established a pattern. The latest college picture to reach the screen is “Campus Rhythm,” the Monogram comedy which comes to the theatre on with Gale Storm, Johnny Downs and Robert Lowery in the featured roles. Lilting songs are a _ prominent part of this gay comedy, and four are sung by Gale Storm, willowy young brunette from Texas, who is said to have few equals in the rendition of popular ditties. Robert Lowery sings, too, and Johnny Downs leads a band, and _ still further songs are contributed by Ge-Ge Pearson, who has been heard on many coast-to-coast radio broadcasts. And the ultimate mark in vocal acrobatics is registered by Candy Candido, the _ split-voiced comedian who switches from soprano to the deepest bass without batting an eye. GADGETEER Johnny Downs is one of Hollywood’s most persistent producers of so-called “gadgets,” and his home is a veritable museum of self-closing doors, trick lights and similar triumphs of the boondoggler’s art. Downs comes to the .......... theatre on in “Campus Rhythm,” Monogram’s gay musical film in which he is featured with Gale Storm and Robert Lowery. SWITCH The earliest childhood ambition of Gale Storm was to be a choir singer, but as a young woman she became one of the screen’s most fascinating young singers of catchy, popular songs. Miss Storm is heard in four numbers of this description in “Campus Rhythm,’ Monogram’s gay musical film which comes to the THESE “ON. «scores 3 with Gale, Johnny Downs and Robert Lowery in featured roles. OSs ®. os Joc 8re Jitterbuggers Enliven Film The fine art of jitterbugging is displayed in all its characteristic abandon in “Campus Rhythm,” the Monogram musical picture which comes to the theatre on Bebe c alt veh stars with Gale Storm ,Johnny Downs and Robert Lowery in featured roles. Since the story is told against the background of college life, the foibles of the jazz-loving younger generation are a logical part of the proceedings. Johnny Duncan and Genevieve Grazis, outstanding among California rug-cutters, are the film’s principal exponents of the St. Vitus type of dance, and go through a routine which is literally hair-raising. “Campus Rhythm” was directed by Arthur Dreifuss under the supervision of producer Lindsley Parsons, and the cast also includes GeGe Pearson, Doug Leavitt, Claudia Drake and amazing splitvoiced comedian, Ca Candido. COLLEGE ROMANCE | Gale Storm is the cuddlesome cutie who starts a heat wave on Fraternity Row in “Campus Rhythm” at the Theatre. Robert Lowery plays one of the collegiate Casanovas on her trail. It’s a delightful musical hit. One Col. Scene Mat No. 2 ETHER ARTIST GeGe Pearson has acted and sung on many nationally broadcast radio programs originating in Hollywood, and has been heard by literally millions of people who did not know her name. Miss Pearson comes to (DOK RS Ser alonceretanic DNCALTEWONM ca teat ce < « in “Campus Rhythm,’ the Monogram musical college film which features Gale Storm, Johnny Downs and Robert Lowery. ogram’s “Campus Rhythm” opening so-called “awkward age.” DOWNSACOMES COMUNE: Saree. oe eas theatre on “Campus Rhythm,’ Monogram’s gay musical college film in which he is featured with Gale Storm and Robert Lowery. A short time after Johnny was born in Brooklyn, his father, a naval lieutenant, was transferred to the naval base at San Diego. It was in that city that the youngster later made his stage debut in an amateur night show at the Coloniail theatre, surprising his own family as well as the cash customers. He displayed so much latent ability that his mother soon afterward took him to Hollywood, feeling that his talent might assure his entry into motion pictures. After a series of screen tests at the Hal Roach studios, Johnny was duly signed as a regular member of the cast of “Our Gang” comedies, then at the height of their popularity. Johnny remained for several years with this precocious group, and later appeared in Winkler comedies, as well as in the hilarious two-reelers which starred Charley Chase, Glenn Tryon and other comedians. After he had appeared in a number of feature-length pictures, Johnny toured the country in vaudeville, and later appeared on New York’s Broadway in such plays as “Strike Me Pink” and “Growing Pains.” In 1935 he returned to Hollywood, resuming his screen career where he had left off, and acquiring a firm standing as a young leading man. The cast supporting Downs, Miss Storm and Lowery in “Campus Rhythm” includes GeGe Pearson, Herbert Heyes, Claudia Drake, Doug Leavitt and Candy Candido, and was directed for producer Lindsley Parsons by Arthur Dreifuss. Charles R. Marion wrote the screenplay. FORBEARS Gale Storm’s great-great uncle, W. E. Cottle, was one of the heroes killed in the Mexican attack on the Alamo, and the Cottles were one of ‘the first seven white families to settle in Texas when that territory was a wilderness. Gale comes to INC Bev sake aes theatre on in “Campus Rhythm,” the sprightly Monogram college filmusical in which she is featured with Johnny Downs and Robert Lowery. in ey YOUTHFUL STARS IN MUSICAL HIT Johnny Downs, Robert Lowery and Gale Storm Two Column Scene Mat No. 20 Youthful Veteran Began Acting Career as Child Though a young man in years, Johnny Downs is a real veteran of Hollywood motion pictures. He is one of the few child prodigies who successfully bridged the gap between childhood and young manhood, and was not impeded by the Tuneful Songs In Screenmusical Six new songs form an important part of “Campus Rhythm,” the Monogram college musical film WiNiGh ecOMnles tO tNGs .. eeaien cine GHeaAtresONe ss... , and some of them, it is claimed, are definitely headed for the Hit Parade. The four numbers sung by Gale Storm, who plays the leading feminine role in the picture, are “Swingin’ My Way Through College,” “I Wish I Were a College Girl,’ and “Walkin’ a Chalk Line,’ words and music for all of which were written Lou Herscher, and “But Not You,” by Edward Cherokee and Edward Kay. The two songs of GeGe Pearson, radio actress and singer, are “You Character!” and “It’s Mutiny,” both written by Cherkose and Kay. The latter was musical director of the picture. Principal male roles opposite Miss Storm in “Campus Rhythm” are played by Johnny Downs and Robert Lowery, and the cast also includes Herbert Hayes, Claudia Drake, Doug Leavitt, Johnny Duncan, Marie Blake and the splitvoiced comedian, Candy Candino. Arthur Dreifuss directed for producer Lindsley Parsons. ATHLETE. An outstanding athletic record was established by Robert Lowery when he attended the Paseo High School in Kansas City, since he starred in football, baseball, basketball, boxing, swimming and tennis. Lowery comes to the.......... theatre On oy dace: , featured with Gale Storm and Johnny Downs in the gay Monogram musical comedy, “Campus Rhythm.” (at the microphone) head a zestful cast of singin’, dancin’ and romancin’ youngsters in Mon At athe see Ae oo ae Theatre. Here’s The Zesttul Story (Not For Publication) Joan Abbott, singing on the radio for a cereal manufacturer, and known as the “CrunchyWunchy Thrush,” does not want to renew her contract with the sponsor because she wishes to go to college. Her Uncle Willie, however, signs it for her, as she is under age. Joan, taking the name and credentials of Susie Smith, secretary to Hartman, her employer, disappears and enters Rawley College. There she. meets Buzz, leader of the college band, and Scoop, head of the college paper, who induces her to become a reporter. The Crunchy -Wunchy people institute a search for Joan through a publicity stunt, and Scoop commissions Joan to write an editorial on this bad kind of publicity. The Abernathy Products Co. institute a nationwide college band contest which Buzz and the boys enter, and Babs, the soloist for the band, is coached by Joan. Cynthia, girl friend of Buzz, is jealous of Joan, and believes the latter to be the missing Crunchy-Wunchy Thrush. Joan’s Uncle Willie comes to look for her after receiving a letter from Cynthia, but gets himself into difficulties, and Joan makes him promise not to reveal her identity. The night of the band contest, Babs is taken ill and cannot sing. Joan replaces her, and as her voice comes over a nationwide hookup her employer realizes he has found her. Reporters and publicity people descend on the college. In the meantime Buzz and his band have won the contest, and are signed by Abernathy Products. Scoop has fallen in love with Joan. but thinks the whole thing is a “gag” and denounces her. However, the situation is straightened out and Joan goes back to her radio job.