The Film Daily (1930)

DAILy Thursday, January 16, 1930; Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion —€)— Sound Films Influencing Better Music, Rapee Says THE talking picture is going to be the most important influence in American music within the next few years, he stated crisply. Even today, after a bare year of awkward experimentation, it is certainly the most powerful influence in popular American music. It even surpasses the radio in widespread influence, and the practice of creating original material for every picture has started this new form of art out on a path that will inevitably lead it into e.xperimental channels that will bring out and exploit every new musical idea that grows out of the American people. I can see beyond this experimental thing we now call the "talkie" the influence that will crystallize American music in one medium and form a melting pot for musical ideas that will eventually take the form of an American school of music. Emo Rapee in New York "Telegram" * * * Pictures a Big Factor In Debunking the Country THROUGH the potent medium of the movies Broadway's influence is now being exerted in every Main Street in the land, and Broadway's hard-boiled philosophy is rapidly becoming a national religion. This strange development is not attributable entirely to the use of dialogue on the screen. It had started some time before the Vitaphone and Movietone came into being. These noisy devices have only served to hasten its progress to a startling extent What gave it the initial impetus was the craze for debunking which followed the war. Robert E. Sherwood in New York "Evening Post" • THEIR FIRST JOBS J. HAROLD MURRAY Passing Show of 1921 Along The Rialto with PhilM. Daly, Jr. HARRY TIERNEY, who is a member of the Coast film colony, is represented on Broadway by "Son O' Guns," musical hit, the music of which he composed. Harry, now with Radio, wrote tuneful pieces for such successes as "Irene," "Rio Rita" and "Kid Boots." Birth of Vitaphone and its development will be discussed by Albert S. Howson, Warner scenario editor, at a meeting of the Women's Club of Bronxville tonight * ♦ * ♦ Sam Datlowe, writing in behalf of Mike Mindlin, avows that 112 barrels of beer (near) and 138 pounds of pretzels have been consumed by Fifth Ave. Playhouse customers who have come in to see "The Royal Box," Warner all-talking feature in German dialogue. The opus soon enters its fifth week Charley Giegerich is happy over the treatment given "Wild Waves," Celebrity cartoon, at the premiere of "Hit the Deck" the other night at the Earl Carroll * * * ♦ Joseph M. Schenck, on his return trip from dear ol' Lunnou, occupied the same suite aboard the He de France that was used by Mayor Jimmy Walker on his famous jaunt over there Samuel Goldwyn, who with Mrs. Goldvvyn (Frances Howard of "The Best People") was with the Schenck party, has been over and back so many times that the trans-Atlantic vessels are beginning to look like ferry boats to him. In spite of this, Goldwyn says he's always glad to get back here * * * * Vera Steadman also is among those just returned from abroad — in her case it was Paris And among those who excursioned down the bay to greet the various arrivals were Warren Nolan, Lynn Farnol and William Keefe Lawrence Schwab is taking the longest way 'round to California, being scheduled to sail on Jan. 25 for Los Angeles to help talkify "Follow Thru" for Paramount 4i * * « William James Craft, directing George Sidney and Charlie Murray in "The Cohens and Kellys in Scotland," has been capitalizing on the constant rains in Californy by incorporating some of the atmosphere in the picture and calling "Scotch mist." * * * » Marie Prevost, who is seen as a "whoopee queen'' in Tiffany's "Party Girl" now raking them in at the Gaiety, N. Y., began her cinema career as a bathing beauty, same as Gloria Swanson, Phyllis Haver and others Emo Rapee, joining Warners as musical director, will be the guest of honor at today's luncheon tendered him at Sardi's "Good Medicine," Educational-Coronet talker comedy, was the first short selected for the opening of the bill at the L. A. Orpheum upon adoption of its sound policy * * * * Complete list of all fireproof screens will be found in the BUYING GUIDE of the 1930 FILM DAILY YEAR BOOK JANUARY 16-NANY HAPPY RETURNS Best wishes and congratulations are extended by THE FILM DAILY to the foHowing members of the industry, who are celebrating their birthdays today: Lawford Davidson Harry Carey Arthur Kay -AND THAT'S THAT By PHIL M. DALY A PRODUCTION that runs o the screen for less than five min utes, took two years to line up, am features in his first talking role th richest man who ever appeared be fore a camera, is by way of being , real achievement, you will admit. C E. Engelbrecht of the Fox-Hears Corp. takes credit for the achieve ment, and the actor in question i no less than John D. Rockefeller If you were a producer and had t( pay this notable personality wha his time is worth per minute, you'<^ probably go in the red for the en| tire season. Referring to that hill in Congress to take the bounty off killing bale eagles, why not put it on reformer; and other fillum meddlers? Ever their relatives would go out gunninf for them. at neighborhood Overheard house: Little Boy: "Oh, dad, why does that man clutch the lady around the neck?" Dad (an absent-minded jewelry salesman) : "He's just measuring her for a pearl necklace, my boy." Nursery Chimes Sing a song of sixpence, A pocketful of rye, The indie producers Have gone bye-bye. * ♦ * Modern Fairy Tales The president of a sound equipment concern admitted that a rivai company had a good product, too. TEN YEARS AGO TO-DAVl Zukor denies Famous building theaters; says Wall St. does not control company. * * + First National members have 75 theaters under construction in various sections of the country. * ♦ * Alan Dwan reported leaving Mayflower. * * * Col. Levy seeks to rid features of scenes containing commercial advertising.