The Film Daily (1929)

THE IMonday, September 9, 1929 -%t! DAILY RKO TAKING OVER MANY HOUSES WITHIN 2 WEEKS Taking over of numerous recentlyacquired houses is planned by RKO for this month. Changes of policy will be effected in some theaters. Six Pantages houses all come un der RKO jurisd:ction during the two weeks. RKO Orpheum, forme |y the Pantages house in San Francisco joined the chain rcccn.lv v. I the new RKO Orpheum in San 1 opens in a few daj -.. At Spokan the RKO Orpheum affiliates S pi 13 and those on Tacoma and 1 land the following day. The RK< Orpheum in Salt Lake City open Sept. 11. All former Pantages house; will be renamed RKO Orpheum with the exception of the Tacoma house which will be known as the RKO Pantages. At Milwaukee the Orpheum adopts big time vaudeville Saturday. A re cently acquired house at Oil City Pa., has adopted a sound picture and vaudeville policy. The Riversid New York, opened with vaudeville Saturday. On the same date the Hillstreet, Los Angeles; Golden (.ate San Francisco and B. F. Keith's Coston, all change to a p *■«"•« ntat;or policy with pictures featured. At Denver the Orpheum adopts a rest rved seat policy Sept. 26. The Prospect, Brooklyn, reopened Saturdi\ with a combination policy. All ,.e\\ York houses will increase their orchestras for the coming season. Nathanson Returning Toronto — N. L. Nathanson, managing director of Famous Players Canadian Corp., who has been holidaying in Europe for several months, is scheduled to return to Toronto early this month, following the close of a most successful fiscal year of the corporation. Important announcements are expected at the annual meeting in the fall. Court Returns House to Dallach LaGrange, 111. — The La Grange theater has been taken from management of Gregory & Bernasek and returned to its owner, A. C. Dallach, as a result of a court decision. Last year court declared a receivership for the house. This was raised temporarily pending operation by a stockholders' committee, which asked the local court to withhold receivership and return the building to Dallach, who is now negotiating with an Illinois chain. Mertz Heads Film Board Cleveland — Al Mertz (RKO) is new president of the Cleveland Film Board succeeding Frank Drew (MG-M). Ward Scott (Fox) is new vice president and William Weiss (Fischer Film), treasurer. Mrs. Georgia Moffett is secretary of the board. Improve Branford at Newark Newark, N. J. — Improvements totaling $75,000 have been made in the Branford, a Warner-Fabian theater. SOUND By I HARLES F. HYNES Canadian Independents Squawk on Slow Wiring ral independent theiter owners in var.dus parts of Canare complaining because of the rdiness on the part of sound picture equipment agencies in speeding installations on which a substantial deposit lias been paid. Several cases been reported where scheduled [ates for wiring have long since passed and the deposits have not been returned when demanded. The exlibitors are further restless because rival houses, fully equipped, have been enjoying phenomenal business during the summer months. Large equipment companies have accomplished wonders in the matter of installations in big theaters throughout the country, more than 200 key houses having already been equipped. British Talker Policy Edmonton, Alta. — Manager William J. Long of the Rialto, has adopted a policy of British talking pictures for his house, the first presentation being "Piccadilly," followed by "Kitty." Features with casts wdiich are largely British but produced in the United States, are also being booked. Sharon House Gets Wonderphone Cleveland — Wonderphone sound reproducer, manufactured locally by Film Sound Corp., has been installed in the New Luna, Sharon, Pa. Handling De Forest Shorts Chicago — Sales and distribution of 15 De Forest short subjects is being handled here by Greiver Prod. Midwest Film Co. will distribute the subjects in the Indianapolis territory. La Junta House Wired La Junta, Cal. — The Rourke has been wired, the first show under the new policy being Fox "Movietone Follies." Wire Embassy at Yonkers Yonkers, N. Y. — Irving Steiner, manager of the Empress, has signed contracts for wiring the house. It is owned by Bratter & Pollock. New Gilmer Opens With De Forest Texarkana, Tex. — The New Crystal, has opened at Gilmer with De Forest Phonofilm equipment. Messner, at Attica, Goes Sound Attica, Ind. — Talkiephone p^uipment has been installed at the Messner, now reopened after building changes for correction of acoustics. Utah Theater Changing to Sound Salt Lake Citv — Sound equipment is being installed as part of a complete remodeling plant at the Ange lus. Hoffberg Gets Foreign Rights to Radiotone Foreign distribution of the Pathe Radiotone, disc synchronizer, has been obtained by J. H. Hoffberg Co., New York. Sales will be handled through the company's foreign offices, agencies and local distributors. The synchronous equipment sells for $2,000. "U" Professor Surveys Acoustics Montreal — The United Amusements, Ltd., operating 14 houses in Montreal and vicinity, has called in a university professor to make a scientific calculation of acoustics for sound installation at its latest theater at Girouard and Monkland Ave lie is Prof. H. E. Reilly of the department of physics, McGill University, who is associated with Daniel J. Crighton, architect, during the construction period. The new United theater is scheduled to open nexl January. It will cost $350,000 and will seat 1,500. DeForest at Rose Theater Colfax, Wash. — The Rose is now playing talkers, using De Forest Phonofilm. FITZPATRICK PRODUCT FOR STANDARD IN CLEVELAND Cleveland — Standard Film Service Co. will release in Ohio, Michigan and western Pennsylvania 48 Fitzpatrick single reelers. In addition, Standard Film will release during the coming season four silent action features, namely, "For the Term of His Natural Life," "Black Cargo of the South Seas," "Ranges of Doom" and "The Haunted Underworld." With this newly acquired product Standard will reissue "Miracles of the Jungle," serial made by Warner Brothers about eight years ago; and reissues of 200 others. Latta Transferred Memphis, Tenn. — J. H. Latta has been transferred from manager of Loew's State to manage the Palace, succeeding E. F. Barnes, promoted to assistant to E. L. Delaney, Loew's publicity director at New York. Barnes came here last winter from theater and newspaper work in Houston. Cecil Vogel is new manager of the State. Royster Managing Two Statesville, N. C— N. L. Royster is now manager of the Crescent and Broadway at Statesville, N. C. These theaters are owned by V. C. Schley. DO YOU NEED A CRACKERJACK EXPLOITEER? His services are immediately available to producers, distributors and theatre operators. He is one of the best-known press-agents in the motion picture industry. He has personally directed the advertising, publicity and exploitation campaigns for hundreds of first-run pictures on Broadway and in key-cities throughout the United States. He is young, energetic, ambitious and a hard worker. Apply Box A-151 Film Daily 1650 Broadway, N. Y.