When Bill Frawley wasn’t drinking, going to the fights or ball game, or grousing on the set of I Love Lucy, he was adding to his income starring in industrial films.
We talked about one for Jam Handy in this post and another in this post. But reader Jason Merrick has discovered another Frawley short which, of course, we have to pass along to you.
How About Me? was made by the Calvin Company out of Kansas City. Some of its films leaned toward satire. This one is a little more straight-forward, with a one-gag comic opening/closing, and a good portion of the rest of it showing Mr. Smith (Frawley) at a desk either in close or medium shot.
The plot’s straight-forward, too. Mr. Smith manages a complaint department. During a lunch break, he complains to a service station operator (ie., the camera) about ways they should be doing business that would add to their profits.
Business Screen Magazine existed to review films like this, but How About Me? slipped past them. It is mentioned in a list of “recent films” by Calvin in its February 1957 issue. “Recent” goes back into 1956 so this short was made in either of those two years. The only credit (other than to Calvin) says “Presented through the courtesy of Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation Automotive Products Div.” Frawley receives no screen credit, nor do the other actors.
The background music at the start is furnished from the Capitol Hi-Q Library. The opening theme is L-1147 Animation Movement. At 3:30 is L-1158 Animation Comedy, both by Spencer Moore. At 3:48, you fans of Yogi Bear will surely recognise C-3 Domestic Children by Bill Loose and John Seely. The later cues sound as if they’re from an earlier, English library.
Spot the ’54 Ford at 4:01 near the pumps that sell (chuckle) $2 worth of gas.
Thanks Yowp, Really enjoyed the industrial film. Harkens back to the day when the “ Gas Station Attendant “ would ask my parents if he can check the oil, tire pressure, water, ask about the Anti freeze, and yes, clean that windshield. Frawley was a curmudgeon. Perfect for these type roles, though. Those later cues did sound like something you would find in the old KPM, or JW Media Archive series libraries.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't recognise the cues but they have that sound.
DeleteEvidently, the other music library used here is Chappell. The ending music is Robert Farnon's "Willie the Whistler" from that library.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Evan. You would know.
DeleteThere are times I recognise a cue but can't name it.
I'd like to know what library Sid Davis used.