GINGER ROGERS AND RAY
MILLAND IN GAY COMEDY
NEXT AT THEATRES HERE
Shakespeare said something a
bout it being a wise father who
knew his own child, but the en
chanting comedy scheduled for the
feature bill on next week’s theatre
programs here called “The Major
and the Minor,” is based upon
complications which arise when a
young military man doesn’t even
know a child when he sees one.
Ginger Rogers, a beauty old
enough to be married, dashes into
the stateroom on a Westbound
train ocupied by handsome Ray
Milland, a Major in the Army.
The Major thinks Ginger is a lit
tle girl of 12, and agrees to keep
her in his stateroom all night so
the conductor won’t find her. Gin
ger is riding on a half-fare ticket;
a railroad man saw her smoking
a cigarette, is convinced she is
old enough to pay full fare —
and he is determined to collect.
Now Ginger hasn’t any more
money and as her small home
, town is ’way off in Iowa she’s
simply got to stay on that train.
The sympathizing major there
fore tells precious Ginger to take
the lower berth and he’ll climb
into the upper.
We irmstn’t forget to tell von—
for the sake of your morals, and
mine and the major’s — that Gin
ger is wearing socks, short skirt,
also pigtails. She bedecked her
self in this fashion so that she
could ride home on a half-fare
ticket.
Events so shape themselves that
|. Gniger finds herself at a military
academy in Indiana posing as the
major’s niece. She had quit New
York, where she was an honest
working girl, because of the nasty
men who kept trying to paw her.
Imagine Ginger’s surprise when
she discovers that the boys at the
school have the same barnyard in
clinations!
But no more of the plot. Suffice
it to say the story is told in a
smart, sparkling manner, without
any learning, and we mark “The
Major and the Minor” one of the
gayest comedies of recent months.
Ginger Rogers steps up another
notch as a versatile actress with
her portrayal of Sue. Ray Milland
makes a nimble and charming
hero.
The film fills a one-day engage
ment at the Peoples Sunday, then
moves to the Imperial for its
showing on Monday and Tuesday.
Hi Hi * * * *
Damon Runyon’s hugely humor
ous Broadway dialogue gets full
play once more in “The Big
Street,” which comes to the Peo
ples for their Monday-Tuesday bill
on next week.
And another collection of the
author’s strangely-named touts,
gamblers and hoodlums move
through the plot which has mostly
to do with the love of a sacrificial
bus boy for a glittering Broadway
night club queen.
A selfish mean little person is
Lucille Ball until a Broadway gent
treets her roughly, crippling her
for life. Her helpless state gives
the bus boy, Henry Fonda, the
chance to step in and care for the
woman he adores. When Lucille
insists on going to Florida, the boy
pushes her all the way there in
a wheel chair. He even risks ar
rest and disgrace to gratify one
of her whims.
Henry Fonda gives an especially
i fine characterization as the boy
who falls in love with the grasp
ing, scheming singer. Lucille Ball
gives further proof that she is
an able actress by her work as
conniving “queen” who becomes a
disillusioned cripple.
i ***** *
"Syncopation,” which comes to
' the Peoples on Wednesday-Thurs
day of next week, should score an
! instant hit with the lovers of jazz
music, as it contains, more or less,
a complete history of that art.
In it, Adolphe Menjou, the prin
ik
cipal character of the story, por
trays a typical New Orleans gen
eltman at the turn of the century,
makes a dramatic speech which is
supposed to set the mood and in
still an appreciation of what the
city represented at the time.
There is a Negro church meet
ing, a couple of good numbers by
the Hall Johnson Choir and the
introduction to a Negro boy who
has the spark of talent — a sense
of music which cannot be taught,
When Menjou and his daughter,
Peggy McIntyre, move to Chicago
their Negro servant, Jessie Gray
son, mother of this boy, leaves
him behind so that he may con
tinue his development under the
tutelage of a band leader.
The scene then shifts to 1916
Menjou’s daughter is grown up—
Bonita Granville takes the part —
and she meets Jackie Cooper
leader of a little swing grouj
which has its ups and downs. She
eventually marries him but thej
separate when he sacrifices hi£
talent for a good job with a sweet
music outfit. There are manj
complications and a series ot
events which don’t amount tc
much, but through Miss Granville’s
faith and confidence in his ability
and her knowledge of music, Coop
er finally makes the grade and
there is a big scene devoted to hi£
opening night in New York, with
a song thrown in by Connee Bos
well.
* * * * * *
Michael Shayne is “at it again”
in the new feature, “Just Off
Broadway,” which will be shown
on Friday-only of next week at the
Peoples. This time Shayne, por
trayed by Llyod Nolan, goes on
the prowl in behalf of a gal or
trial for murder. He believes the
lady is innocent, so he sets out
to find the guilty party. He ex
ecutes the job neatly and with
dispatch in a manner that makes
for considerable excitement and
suspense, and should please all
former patrons of this popular ser
ies of detective stories.
5 State Hiways
In Vicinity Are
Limited 8 Tons
Patching On 301 From
Halifax — State Line
Completed Dec. 15th
Motorists, particularly truckers,
are warned by the State Highway
and Public Works Commission
that the load limits on several
state highways in this immediate
section is still restricted to 8 tons,
in order to avoid excessive dam
age to the roads. It is unlawful
to exceed these limitations.
The state highways upon which
these restrictions will be enforced
until further notice include No. 4,
South of Airlie; No. 447, from Ro
anoke Rapids to the Junction of
U. S. Highway No. 301; No. 48
from Littleton to Airlie; No. 122
from Hobgood to the Junction of
U. S. No. 258, and No. 125 from
Scotland Neck to Williamston.
In their detour bulletin issued
Nov. 1st, the Highway Commission
stated that concrete patching on
U. S. Highway No. 301, from Hali
fax to the Virginia state line, was
estimated to be completed about
Dec. 15th, and that traffic was be
ing maintained over short stretch
es of one-way pavement. The
Commission urges caution on the
part of all motorists in traveling
this stretch of highway.
Miss Sara Crawford Towe of
Raleigh spent the week end here
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs,
R. L. Towe.
Roy Wright of Washington,
D. C., visited his father, J. L.
Wright, for the weekN end .
Mrs. Fleming Bobbitt and chil
dren of Vienna, Va., are spending
several weeks with Miss Bessie
Bobbitt and other relatives.
Lee Riggan of Suffolk, Va., spent
some time with his family last
week.
W. T. Threewitts of Raleigh was
home for the week end.
Mr. and Mrs. Benie Wolfe have
been transferred from this town.
C. C. Abernathy of Jackson spent
the week end here at his home.
Mr. and Mrs. Sol B. Bobbitt at
tended the funeral of Mrs. Bob
bitt’s uncle, T. P. Hudson of South
Hill, Va., last Friday.
Mrs. J. G. Reid of Alexandria,
Va., spent last week end with Mrs
Sol B. Bobbitt.
Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Wright of
Washington, D. C., is spending
this week end with relatives.
Bobby Jones of Wake Forest
College spent last week end here
at his home.
Miss Doris Hayes of Raleigh
was the guest of her sister, Mrs
Dennis Rose, for the week end.
Paul Little of Newport News
spent last week end with his par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. George Little
Mrs. J .A. Butts returned to her
home in South Hill, Va., after a
few days visit with her mother
Mrs. E. C. Bobbitt.
I oqKo i ni I !,«*»•
■.-JV/kja-a v/ a wj
Postal Employee,
Now In Atlantic
Corp. Leslie Collier, son of Mr
and Mrs. James B. Collier ol
Northampton County, is serving
with the Wqr Department some
where in the Atlantic. He was
an employee of the Roanoke Rap
ids Post Office prior to his in
duction into the army at Fort
Bragg, October 6. 1941.
His present address is:
Corn. Leslie Collier
ASN34171591
B Battery — 244th C. A.
U. S. Army
APO 860. Care Postmaster
New York, N. Y.
Miss Blount Will
Instruct Canteen
Class At Jackson
Miss Virginia Blount of this
city, home economist of the Vir
ginia Electric and Power Com
pany, is instructing a canteen
course for civilians in emergency
feeding, which started Wednesday
in Jackson.
Mrs. Gertrude Orr Finch, North
ampton County Home Demonstra
tion Agent, stated the course was
sponsored jointly by the Red Cross
and the local Civilian Defense or
ganization, and the classes are
open to anyone desiring to attend.
Only those women who have com
pleted the course in nutrition will
receive certificates upon finishing
the canteen course, however, Mrs.
r 11 i G11
Classes will be held in the agri
cultural building on November 4,
11 and 18. They will begin at 10
a. m. and continue until 4 p. m.
with lunch being served each day
by the home economics class of
the Jackson school, at a minimum
charge for meals.
A number of other speakers
have been secured, both local and
out-of-county people. Among them
will be Miss Naomi Shank, dis
trict home economist of the Vir
ginia Electric and Power Com
pany, of Richmond, Va.
The canteen course was organ
ized by Mrs. Finch.
Mrs. J. C. Gaylord visited her
daughter, Mrs. J. H. Kennemur,
in Norfolk Saturday and Sunday.
PEOPLES
| SUNDAY
Ginger Rogers Ray Milland
J THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR
• 1
MONDAY-TUESDAY
Lucille Ball Henry Fonda
THE BIG STREET
WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY
Bonita Granville Jackie Cooper
i Adolphe Menjou
SYNCOPATION
FRIDAY
Lloyd Nolan Marjorie Weaver
JUST OFF BROADWAY
SATURDAY
Don “Red” Barry
OUTLAWS OF PINE RIDGE
ADDED: Jr. G. Men of the Air
IMPECMAC.
SUNDAY
Joan Fontaine Tyrone Power
THIS ABOVE ALL
MONDAY-TUESDAY
Ginger Rossers Ray Milland
THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR
WEDNESDAY *
Ona Munson Stuart Erwip |
DRUMS OF THE CONGO I
THURSDAY-FRIDAY '
Judy Canova Joe E. Brown !j
JOAN OF OZARK
SATURDAY j|
Johnny Mack Brown i!
LITTLE JOE, THE WRANGLER
Added: GANG BUSTERS 1
ROANOKE RAPIDS THEATRES - - “ON THE AIR”
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