Vitaphone Pictorial Revue

Vitaphone Pictorial Revue (sometimes spelled “Review”) was a series of 9-11 minute newsreel oriented (documentary) film shorts produced by Vitaphone and Warner Brothers.

Overview

Mostly edited in New York at the Vitaphone studio, but a few also made in California with Gordon Hollingshead producing, these were human-interest newsreels that resembled such rival series like “Pathé Audio Review”, distributed by RKO Pictures, and Paramount Pictures “Paramount Pictorial”. Each film is divided into three or four separate segments. In a couple, a segment was presented in Cinecolor.

The series lasted just two years in the 1930s and was mostly forgotten until Turner Classic Movies started showing a few as filler between feature presentations, sometimes with the color segments missing.

Listing of films

Title (identified by number)Vitaphone #release dateNarratorsSubjects covered & additional notes
Hollywood Fashion Parade1967June 1936Roy Saunders & Joseph BoltonPilot film features a Canadian baby contest, a female alligator tamer and the title sequence in color
No. 12233September 12, 1936Howard ClaneyAll titles called Vitaphone Pictorial Revue: covers tap dancing, ski techniques, lamb stew preparation, modeling fur coats (in color)
No. 22234October 10, 1936John Youngmovie stardom methods, steak cooking lesson, household gadgets invented by women, fashion models (in color)
No. 32235November 21, 1936Paul Douglasfalse eyelashes, a female football team and knitted fashion
No. 42236December 23, 1936Howard Claneymachine testing of consumer products, testing balance & coordination, snow swimming, Southern fashions (in color); aired on TCM
No. 52237February 13, 1937Paul Douglastuna fishing, Arthur Treacher's dill sauce, strange animal friends, cruise ships
No. 62238March 20, 1937Kelvin Keechswimming lessons, cosmetics, racing trotters, Swiss wood carving.
No. 72239April 10, 1937Basil Ruysdaelfishing, recording techniques, women's polo, lipstick manufacturing (in color)
No. 82240April 10, 1937Paul Douglasmelon bowling, latest coiffures, shoe fashion, the use of cotton in paving streets
No. 92241May 1, 1937Howard Claneyodd gadgets, home accidents, men's hats and beachwear fashions (color)
No. 102242May 24, 1937Basil Ruysdaelwater dancing, hotel dishwashers, angora rabbits, Moroccan crafts
No. 112243June 19, 1937Alan Kentthe US Postal Service, smart dogs, milk, oriental rugs
No. 122244July 17, 1937Howard Claneyan expert child golfer, piano manufacturing, a baby genius, mural painting by Dean Cornwell (in “Naturalcolor”)
No. 132245August 28, 1937Paul Douglasgood driving skills, book publishing, reducing weight, mink coats
No. 2-1 (or #B)51BSeptember 18, 1937Basil Ruysdael & Clem McCarthya racetrack opening with Hollywood stars (Bing Crosby included), wrestling rehearsels, gruyere cheese in Switzerland
No. 2-2 (or #C)52BOctober 16, 1937Alan Kent & Clem McCarthyBilly and Bobby Mauch, Margaret Lindsay, table tennis, autumn fashions (color)
No. 2-3 (or #D)53BNovember 13, 1937Howard Claney & Clem McCarthyHighlights: champion retrievers, a Hollywood rodeo, plastics
No. 2-4 (or #14)54BDecember 11, 1937Alan Kent & Clem McCarthya handicapped artist, fighters in training, the making of rubber dolls
No. 2-5 (or #15)55BJanuary 1, 1938Howard Claney & Clem McCarthymaking ice cream, jockeys, glamorous women's outfits for the home (color)
No. 2-6 (or #E)56BFebruary 5, 1938Alan Kent & Clem McCarthyArabian horses, ice hockey, shoe manufacture, stars Ronald Reagan and Marie Wilson; aired on TCM
No. 2-7 (or #16)57BFebruary 19, 1938Basil Ruysdael & Clem McCarthymore dogs, a billiard champion.
No. 2-8 (or #F)58BApril 2, 1938Howard Claney & Clem McCarthysongwriters Johnny Mercer & Harry Warren, bowling, rubber bathing suits
No. 2-9 (or #17)59BApril 30, 1938Alan Kent & Clem McCarthysilver-smith, ice boating, model trains
No. 2-10 (or #18)60BJune 4, 1938Maida Severn, Clem McCarthy & Ben Grauerbeavers, polo, wool manufacture; aired on TCM
No. 2-11 (or #19)61BJuly 9, 1938Maida Severn, Clem McCarthy & Ben Grauerplastics, greyhounds, perfume manufacturing; aired on TCM
No. 2-12 (or #20)62BAugust 13, 1938Maida Severn, Clem McCarthy & Ben GrauerGordon Hollingshead (producer); Lloyd French (director); Hollywood glamour girl, racing shells & fur coats (parts in “Naturalcolor”)

See also

References

  • Liebman, Roy (2003). Vitaphone Films – A Catalogue of the Features and Shorts. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786412792. (features Vitaphone numbers and brief descriptions)
  • Motion Pictures 1912-1939 Catalog of Copyright Entries 1951 Library of Congress
  • BoxOffice back issue scans (release date and topic information reprinted in multiple issues)
  • Complete Index To World Film listing
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