Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Oct-Dec 1928)

October 20, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 31 Shoots Graf Zeppelin Flight for M G M News (Special to the Her aidWorld) NEW YORK, Oct. 16.— The screen story of the transatlantic Sight of the Graf Zeppelin will be told by M G M News, the only cameraman making the trip being Robert Hartman of the Hearst staff assigned to the M G M newsreel division. Hartman has been shooting the trial flights of the huge dirigible in Germany for the past four weeks, some of the shots having been already incorporated in recent issues. He has been stationed by Hearst in Berlin for many years. Hartman returned only a few weeks ago from Spitzbergen, after having covered the Nobile flight to the North Pole and the subsequent rescues. Organist Is Hero as Talkie Goes Haywire (Special to the Herald-World) DES MOINES, Oct. 16.— The Capitol theatre promised its first sound program for the week ending October 12. But patrons were non-plussed at the character of the "talkies" that greeted them. Strange sounds beat upon the collective tympanum of the surprised patrons. All because, at a critical instant, one of the new machines refused to function. But the audience sat through the long drawn out program with admirable good humor. In the midst of the embarrassing situation, Herbie Koch, popular young organist, slipped out of the dark on to the organ bench and played, "We Won't Go Home Until Morning" in his best syncopated style. The audience took it up joyfully and clapped the rhythm. It was something to do — and it worked. Starr Reports Jolson a Hit at London Premiere (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 16.— Herman Starr, Warner Brothers executive, who returned to New York last week after two months on business in Europe, says that Vitaphone has become an international sensation following its first exhibition outside the United States. This took place under Starr's supervision at the Piccadilly in London, which Warner Brothers now own. Al Jolson in "The Jazz Singer" was the first Vitaphone picture to be shown there. Jolson was at the premiere. The production received an overwhelming ovation from the first-night audience, consisting of 550 exhibitors and several hundred critics, according to Starr. Minister Predicts Films Will Replace Stage Play (Special to the Herald-World) DES MOINES, Oct. 16.— A visit to Hollywood was the theme of a speech made to the congregation of the First Unitarian church here last week, by Rev. Rupert Holloway of Bloomington, 111. The minister won a national competition with a review of "Skyrocket," held by Cosmopolitan Magazine, and as a guest of the publishers, he went through the studios. "It is my opinion," he said, "that the 'movies' will entirely replace legitimate theatres. The cinema is an art created by science. It is an art which we may have three times a day and it is the most democratic movement that art has ever known. It shows that art is taking the same trends as industry. The cinema is the chain store in art." They're fovAl and Sign Shows a ''Dry" Elephant; It Goes (Special to the Herald-World) KANSAS CITY, Oct. 16,— The Globe theatre, first-run downtown house, has taken down its elephant sign. Politics? Well, for years that theatre has had a huge electric sign which depicts an elephant drinking water out of a tub, then throwing the water over his back. Louis Oppenstein of Oppenstein Brothers, owners of the house, is chairman of the Republican Committee of Jackson County. The Flynn Brothers, William and Nugent, who lease and operate the theatre, are Democrats and strong supporters of Governor Smith. The big elephant, which seemed to be G. O. P. Jumbo himself having his official 1928 drink, was taken down. The electrical apparatus which made the elephant perform was out, of order, the Flynn Brothers said. But they have had a difficult time making newspapers and a host of friends believe it. In Kansas City, Kan., the Electric theatre, the largest house, has used an announcement preceding the news reels which reads, "This theatre's policy is absolutely non-partisan concerning the presidential campaign, and various views and events shown concerning the two candidates are shown merely as news." Such a policy has caused the Electric to receive much favorable comment from both newspapers and patrons. R C A to Have Studios In Hollywood Is Report; White May Be Producer (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 16.— The Radio Corporation of America plans to have its own talking and sound studio in Hollywood, and to finance independent producers in the making of talking pictures, is the rumor following the return from New York of Jack White, comedy director general of Educational. White is expected to make pictures for RCA. White denied any definite agreement with R C A to this efifect, but admitted that while in New York he had discussed sound and voice reproduction devices with officials of the Radio Corporation. White's contract with Educational does not expire until early in 1929, it is known, so that it would be impossible for him to consider new affiliations before that time. It is understood that White held extended conferences with E. W. Hammons, president of Educational, while in New York, but whether a new contract was discussed is not as yet known. According to White's present plans. Educational studios here are going into production immediately on sound and talking comedies. Exhibitors of 3 Dixie States to Organize Exhibitors of Tennessee, Mississivpi and Arkansas will meet at Memphis, October 28 and 29, for the purpose of organizing the Tri State Exhibitors' Association, according to J. F. Norman of Arkansas, who visited the home office of Exhibitors HeraldWorld Monday. Following the Toronto convention Norman and M. A. Lightman, also of Arkansas, will go to New York and from there to Memphis with R. F. WoodhuU, who will aid in the work of organization. UFA Film forMGM Release on Graf Zeppelin (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 16.— The first motion picture ever sent across the ocean by air, a print of the Ufa production, "Spies," which will be distributed in this country by MetroGoldwyn-Mayer, was part of the cargo of the Graf Zeppelin. "Spies" was placed aboard the German dirigible by Ludwig Lawrence, M G M Central European representative. It was directed by Fritz Lang, who made "Metropolis." First National Making "Show Girl" a Girl Show ( special to the Herald-World) BURBANK, Oct. 16.— First National's "Show Girl," is to be a musical comedy in some of its sequences, in which it is expected to resemble the big girl shows of the stage. Two songs have been composed to be sung by Alice White. "She's One Sweet Show Girl" is one, the other is "Buy, Buy for Baby, or Baby Bye, Bye You." Alan Hale to Work on Sound Sequences of 2 (Special to the Herald-World) ' HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 16.— During the filming of "The Leathernecks" Alan Hale will work alternate nights on the audible sequences for "The Spieler" and "Sal of Singapore." Walsh May Lose Eye (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 16.— Raoul Walsh's condition remains serious. It is stated that the loss of his left eye is probable. The injury is the result of an auto accident on location. Albany Exchanges Report Bookings Heavy; Exhibitors Expect Big Year (Special to the Herald-World) ALBANY, Oct. 16. — A visit to all of the film exchanges here the past week revealed that not only were exhibitors booking heavily of the new product, but that some of the exchanges had already closed 90 per cent of their territory. Few complaints were registered by exchange managers. Some exchanges are open far into the evenings in order to keep up with the bookings and inquiries. Practically all exchange managers in Albany declared last week that everything indicates a better year's business than last, despite the fact that booking got an extremely slow start this summer. Many of the exhibitors held off booking for several weeks in the hopes of seeing a drop in quoted prices, while a few held off in order to watch the progress of sound pictures. Exhibitors in Albany report business at their theatres as being ahead of a year ago, while some go so far as to declare that unless the unexpected happens, the year's business will exceed any in the history of their houses. First run theatres in Albany and Troy are showing the biggest pictures obtainable, at the present . time rather than hold them for cooler weather.