Bert Greene
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Messages
- 1,060
Love all the pictures! Those Dixie premiums were a rather popular collectible about 30 or 40 years ago. I ran across a good number of older folks collecting them. But they gradually seemed to fall by the wayside, with movie-memorabilia collectors zeroing in more on things like lobby cards, stills, and one-sheets, as the years went by. I only have three of those Dixie premiums myself, but one is of Roy Rogers. It must be from 1940, as it's touting "Dark Command" (1940) on the backside. The others I have are of George O'Brien, and one of The Three Mesquiteers (the Bob Steele, Bob Livingston, Rufe Davis configuration). One thing I always liked about these is the inclusion of the various studios' individual logos on the sides.
I did recently watch a Roy Rogers film, although one in which he just had a brief guest-star role. It was Republic's A-level musical production "Lake Placid Serenade" (1944). Roy popped in and sang "Walking in a Winter Wonderland." Of course, the movie was primarily a big, splashy introductory showcase for Vera Ralston. It was a generally pleasant affair. I know, we always need to grade Ralston on a curve, but she was perfectly adequate. Ralston indeed gets a lot of flak nowadays, but oddly enough, when I used to hear her mentioned by older hometown-type folks who recalled her films new and first-run, her name always seemed to generate some genuine and nostalgic affection. It always surprised me a bit. Oh, I like her well enough (although Monogram's skating star Belita already stole my heart first, when it comes to the ice-rink milieu).
As for "Lake Placid Serenade" (1944), it sported some nice bits of photography (no wonder, it was shot by John Alton, of all people). The leading man was Bob Livingston, who'd left behind that John Paul Revere series started with Eddie Dew, and was transitioning away from westerns at this time. For some groansome cornball yuks, we get the trio of Walter Catlett, Vera Vague, and William Frawley, all doing their thing. We also get Republic regular Stephanie Bachelor here, but somehow she doesn't get around to killing anyone. Perhaps if the running-time had been a little longer she might have had time to off someone. Preferably Catlett. The delightful Ruth Terry is always welcome, and here played one of Vera's cousins, but it was a pretty minor role. We don't even get a song from her. Eugene Pallette, Lloyd Corrigan, and John Litel all adeptly doing character parts, and we also get several specialty acts. I was glad to see Ray Noble and his Orchestra. I think he was probably still with the Edgar Bergen radio show at the time. I have several Noble CDs, encompassing both his earlier band in Britain, as well as his American one after he came here in the mid-1930s. That latter band was initially organized by Glenn Miller, before he hit it big himself. But enough rambling trivia. Anyway, I rather wish we could have gotten "Lake Placid Serenade" on blu, back around the time Olive put out "Brazil" (1944-Rep), with its similar Roy Rogers guest spot. Not that "Placid" is really anything all that special, but it's pleasant and easy-going fare.
I did recently watch a Roy Rogers film, although one in which he just had a brief guest-star role. It was Republic's A-level musical production "Lake Placid Serenade" (1944). Roy popped in and sang "Walking in a Winter Wonderland." Of course, the movie was primarily a big, splashy introductory showcase for Vera Ralston. It was a generally pleasant affair. I know, we always need to grade Ralston on a curve, but she was perfectly adequate. Ralston indeed gets a lot of flak nowadays, but oddly enough, when I used to hear her mentioned by older hometown-type folks who recalled her films new and first-run, her name always seemed to generate some genuine and nostalgic affection. It always surprised me a bit. Oh, I like her well enough (although Monogram's skating star Belita already stole my heart first, when it comes to the ice-rink milieu).
As for "Lake Placid Serenade" (1944), it sported some nice bits of photography (no wonder, it was shot by John Alton, of all people). The leading man was Bob Livingston, who'd left behind that John Paul Revere series started with Eddie Dew, and was transitioning away from westerns at this time. For some groansome cornball yuks, we get the trio of Walter Catlett, Vera Vague, and William Frawley, all doing their thing. We also get Republic regular Stephanie Bachelor here, but somehow she doesn't get around to killing anyone. Perhaps if the running-time had been a little longer she might have had time to off someone. Preferably Catlett. The delightful Ruth Terry is always welcome, and here played one of Vera's cousins, but it was a pretty minor role. We don't even get a song from her. Eugene Pallette, Lloyd Corrigan, and John Litel all adeptly doing character parts, and we also get several specialty acts. I was glad to see Ray Noble and his Orchestra. I think he was probably still with the Edgar Bergen radio show at the time. I have several Noble CDs, encompassing both his earlier band in Britain, as well as his American one after he came here in the mid-1930s. That latter band was initially organized by Glenn Miller, before he hit it big himself. But enough rambling trivia. Anyway, I rather wish we could have gotten "Lake Placid Serenade" on blu, back around the time Olive put out "Brazil" (1944-Rep), with its similar Roy Rogers guest spot. Not that "Placid" is really anything all that special, but it's pleasant and easy-going fare.
