by Laurel | January 23rd, 2013
It Happened in Leominster — Edwin cooper produced film from the 1930’s
The press release printed below was for a film to be made in Holyoke, with a call for auditions at the Suffolk theater. Anyone ever hear of “It Happened in Holyoke?” I’ve had some trouble finding anything else about it, so I am not really sure the film was actually ever made.
That said, Edwin Cooper the producer / director of this film apparently did a number of similar films in various cities and using the same format, with the same Hollywood “leading lady” — Ava Thomas — in the starring role. One surviving example is “It Happened in Leominster” which can be accessed via archive.org and appears to have been supported by the Leominster Chamber of Commerce. There are at least two other similar films that have survived one for Mayfair and the other for Norristown.
Anyone ever hear of the proposed Holyoke film? Would be really interesting to know if it did survive. A link to the Leominster version is via the image above … the Leominster film has an interesting tale of survival..
28 January 1939
Holyoke, Jan. 27 — “It Happened in Holyoke,” an all-talking picture will start production February 2 and be shown at the Suffolk theater shortly afterwards.
“Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Holyoke” are going into the moves in a picture to be made in this city with a Hollywood leading lady as the star, and a cast selected by actual screen tests of local talent, it was announced by Paul Kessler, manager of the Suffolk theater Screen tests will take place Thursday night, February 2.
Fifty young men, 50 young women, 200 children, and a few older people are wanted for the principal and extra parts in the film, and the director, Edwin Cooper, formerly of Paramount, Fox and Warner Brothers will be at the theater each night from 5 to 6 to interview applicants.
Such scenes as Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Business & Professional Women’s clubs, Quota, veteran organizations, churches, school, aerial views, street scenes, police and fire departments, industrial plants and employees leaving social organizations, and many others will be filmed without cost to any organization.
All Heads of civic, social and veterans organizations are requested to get in touch with Mr. Cooper at the Suffolk theater to arrange for their scenes.
Adapted from The Springfield Republican.
