Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

44 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD March 30, 1929 Audiens Will Draw More Patrons, Manager of U Chain Believes (Special to the Herald-World) MILWAUKEE, March 26. — Sound pictures have come to stay, according to Fred Flader, general manager of the Universal chain theatres throughout the country, who was in Milwaukee last week inspecting the Milwaukee Theatre Circuit, Inc., which is owned by Universal. Lure of Audiens Makes Ruffo Desert Opera (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, March 26.—Titta Ruffo, basso for the Metropolitan Opera company, announced that he will devote most of his time to audien pictures. He has signed contracts for ten short subjects that will bring him about $350,000. He sailed last week for Italy on the Augustus and before sailing told the press that all his connections with the opera company were broken. "The public is sold on sound, although there may be a few people who object to it just for the sake of uttering protests," stated Flader. "We have wired over 60 houses and in every instance have found that the public has patronized the houses better. It seems to me that the sound comedy and short subjects in sound are sometimes taking glory away from the main feature sound productions. There is no doubt but what a good comedy sound picture will make a hit with almost every audience. The sound pictures have boosted comedy from the slapstick kind to the witty kind and people are looking upon comedy shorts as the chief attractions at many houses." According to Flader, sound will develop a great deal in the future. It has a certain harmonizing influence as well as "humanizing" influence that the black and white pictures lacked. He believes that sound will draw a larger number of people to the theatres than silent pictures ever did. In the operation of chain theatres, Flader said that it was very important to permit the managers to use much of their own initiative in managing. In this way better results will be obtained all the way around. In too many chains in all fields the tendency has been to have a manager who took all his orders from a main office. In successful chain theatre operation a high class manager must be maintained in every house, one who can act right IRVING HAMLIN Mtmufmmtmrmrt 2406 Jackson Ave., Evanston, III. when the call for emergencies comes, and who can contact with people and make them realize that the chain theatre is doing everything possible to give them the best possible type of entertainment. "If a chain theatre manager will fraternalize with people in his locality, he is a valuable asset to the organization," declared Flader. LeBaron Buys Two New Stories as R K O Specials (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, March 26.— William LeBaron announces the purchase of two stories for audiens, "High River" an unproduced play by Gwendolyn Ranger Wormser and "Tanned Legs" by George Hull. "High River" is planned to be one of the really big, important pictures of R K O and is a melodrama dealing with the life of river folks who come in conflict with the new ideas of this jazzy generation. "Tanned Legs" deals with our hectic youth and the troubles that follow too free love making among the children of the rich. House Records Broken When Sound Policy Opens CSpecial to the Herald-World) PORTLAND, ORE., March 26.— Walter Tebbetts, manager of the Oriental theatre, states that the opening of sound with "The Speiler," all house records were broken for the week of March 14. This is the last of the big first-run houses to be sound equipped here. Western Electric apparatus was installed. The Ritz theatre in Spokane has been equipped with Phototone, opening to good business with "The House of Shame." Bristolphone Engineer On Big Service Tour (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, March 26.— M. Millen, supervising engineer of the consolidated Bristolphone corporation, has been sent on a service inspection tour which will cover every city in which Bristolphone equipment has been installed. This inspection tour is part of Bristolphone' s service plan. Chatterton Plays with Jannings in "Concert" (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, March 26.— Ruth Chatterton has been awarded the feminine lead in Emil Jannings' next Paramount picture, to be called "The Concert." The picture will be an alltalking picture. Plays Sound with Vaude ( Special to the Herald-World) SOUTH BEND, IND., March 26.— The Indiana theatre here has announced a change of policy effective March 13. The new policy will include sound pictures and three big time vaudeville acts. Vitaphone equipment has been installed. First Talmadge Audien Directed by Milestone (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, March 26.— Lewis Milestone will direct Norma Talmadge in her first alltalking picture. Gilbert Roland will appear in this picture but not as the hero but heavy. This will also be Rolands first audien and he and Miss Talmadge are under voice training of Laura Hope Crews, stage actress. No title or story details will be announced until Milestone and Furthman have completed their script. The story is modern in background and theme. Sound Begun, Orchestra Discontinued as Feature (Special to the Herald-World) OTTAWA, ONT., March 26.— The Imperial theatre got under way as the fourth wired house in Ottawa with the presentation of "The Wolf of Wall Street" during the week of March 18. Ray Tubman is the manager. Adult prices were raised 10 and 15 cents, while Orville Johnston's concert orchestra was discontinued as a house feature. Marcel DeSano Signs to Direct Paramount Films (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, March 26.— Marcel De Sano, world war aviator, was signed recently to a contract as a Paramount director. His first assignment will be to direct Maurice Chevalier's next picture. Harry Green to Appear In Moron and Mack Film (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK March 26.— Harry Green, vaudeville and stage star who came to Hollywood for a vacation, has been signed by Paramount to appear in the next Moran and Mack picture. Chevalier and Wallace Return to West Coast (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, March 26.— Maurice Chevalier, famous entertainer, and Richard Wallace, director, returned to Hollywood last week. Wallace directed Chevalier in his first talking film for Paramount called, "Innocents of Paris." The picture will be released next month. Photophone in Topeka (Special to the Herald-World) TOPEKA, KAN, March 26.— About 1,500 persons attended the preview of an RCA Photophone program at the Novelty theatre last week. The installation is said to be the first between Chicago and the Rocky Mountains. SOUND PROOF PARTITIONS and DOORS For Movie-Talkies, Studios and Theatres. HAMLIN'S sound tight doors and folding partitions have proved their efficiency in hundreds of installations in Broadcasting Stations, Hospitals, Schools of Music, Libraries and Office Buildings. Also such companies as Metro Goldwyn, Radiophone, Famous Players, have been equipped. Sand ymr tmamlft. carton* mr writ* fmr