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By ARMY ARCHERD, Mon., Apr.
25, 2005, 3:55pm PT
When I started my first column for Daily Variety the office was in the heart of Hollywood at 6311 Yucca St. Joe Schoenfeld was editor. He hired me to replace Sheilah Graham who, of course, was the second great love of F. Scott Fitzgerald's life. Before that, two men named Thomas played a role in the seemingly pre-destined career I've had at Variety. The first, Bob Thomas, made me his assistant at the Associated Press Hollywood Bureau. I was 23 years old and just out of the Navy. The other Thomas was Danny Thomas. In his act in Las Vegas he complained that reading the morning newspaper, with so much bad news, was depressing. He asked, "Why doesn't the headline ever say, 'GOOD MORNING?" I told Danny if I ever got my own column I would start with "Good Morning." I've done so for 52 years. Thanks Danny. I then worked at the Herald-Express as Harrison Carroll's "leg man," which led Richard Burton some decades later, when he presented me with the Publicists' Guild Newsman Award, to remark, "I didn't know what a 'leg man' was until I met Army's wife, Selma." After five years there, I came to Variety, my home. And 52 years ago Wednesday, I started my first column with: "Here's the answer to the public's question to the future of 3-D: Of the hundreds we queried at the Hollywood Paramount, nine out of 10 want to see more 3-Ds. With glasses raised high, patrons toasted the presentation. Even the kids said they'd be willing to spend a buck to buy better-fitting permanent glasses. Teenagers want bigger and better gimmicks. Most adults admit 'House of Wax' is the first film they've seen in months. Three-D and the exploitation dragged them in and they say they'll be back." And on the front page of Daily Variety that very day UI announced a campaign for its first 3-D film, 'It Came From Outer Space'."FADE IN to 2005 and last month's ShoWest report in Variety where George Lucas said he's eager to release all six films in the "Star Wars" saga -- in digital 3-D. More with me and Just for Variety -- then and now -- to come during this centennial celebration.
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