The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

18 THE BIOSCOPE August 19, 1931 Scrap for Australian Monopoly Circuit Builders Out for Supreme Power (By Our Australian Correspondent, Lindsay Endean ) Despite the prevailing parlous conditions, theatre developments are at an interesting stage. Union Theatres and Hoyts have held unchallenged leadership in the circuit field for years. Now Sir Benjamin Fuller has emerged with a statement which portends tremendous expansion. Already a company has been floated on a capital of £200,000, with the acquisition of suburban cinemas, the building of new city and country houses and the increase of the circuit’s film buying power as the main objects. For financial reasons, both Union and Hoyts are film buyers under a co-operative arrangement, and this has decided Fullers that now is the time for a strong “ second factor ” to rear a head. Obviously, a difficulty in securing adequate supplies has determined Fullers that a battle is necessary. Sir Ben states that “ no great circuit has ever been allowed to monopolize the Australian entertainment business.” From the early days the Fullers have been generals in the strategy of show-world battles, and possibly they will not be found wanting in the present situation. " Atlantide,” which made the fame of Jacques Feyder about ten years ago, and which was an enormous success, is to be remade as a sound and talking production, with versions in French, German, and probably English. Romain Pines, director of the Societe des Films Artistiques Sofar, is organising this new production. G. W. Pabst has been invited to produce the film. “ Atlantide ” will be made on the spot, that is to say, the Hoggar, in the Sahara desert ; and interiors probably in Berlin. Big Haik Theatre in Property Deal There is a well-founded report that the great bank, Societe Generale, has taken up its option on the block of buildings in the Boulevard des Capucines, in the midst of which is situated the cinema Olympia. This hall, was bought some two years ago and transformed into a 2,000 seater by the Ingram’s New Star Rex Ingram has selected an unknown girl to play the leading woman’s part in " Baroud,” the newly-launched £100,000 production which he is making for Mr. Mansfield Markham, the English producer. Her name is Rosita Garcia-Iniguez Enamorado — to be called Rosita Garcia for short. She is the daughter of General Calexto Garcia-Iniguez Enamorado, the Cuban Consul-General of this country. She is signing a five-year contract with Mansfield Markham, who is financing " Baroud.” Hoyts have already joined issue with them, and at present both are in the bidding for an important suburban circuit in Sydney. Union will probably take no part in the affair, staff cuts, salary reductions and other considerations being sufficient to confine this giant circuit’s activities to matters of a purely domestic nature. * * * Stage Shows Reviving In Sydney and Melbourne a strong revival of vaudeville and revue is apparent, the public reaction being such that film house managements are again giving thought to the flesh-and-blood element in a big way. Orchestras are gradually coming back and most of the A grade weekly change and extended season houses are offering something in the way of a stage show. The elaborate spectacle presentation of other days does not seem to be wanted, the most success being scored by individual song, dance and novelty numbers. Etablissements Jacques Haik, which spent a considerable sum on its embellishment and installation. The purchase by the Societe Generale is said to represent a sum of about one hundred and thirty million francs. The loss of Olympia to the Haik concern will be compensated by several million francs, which sum will probably be applied to the new Boulevard hall under construction, hater, it is rumoured, a new, and third, Olympia may be constructed. It is officially announced here in Paris, that Warner Bros. -First National (American concern) has acquired important studios in London and will produce, for the French market, one French-speaking film per month, beginning with the first film immediately, and presenting it in Paris at the end of September. This news is confirmed in a Warner advertisement in the French Trade Press. Talkies for Hoover To supplement the installation of " The Voice of Action ” at the White House, a Western Electric portable equipment has been set up at President Hoover’s fishing camp at Rapidan. This installation enables President Hoover to see the news reels which he is interested in regardless of whether he is in town or at the camp. “AIR PATROL” AT DOMINION Equity British have arranged a premier West End presentation of “ The Air Patrol,” featuring Kenneth Harlan, Charles Delaney and Josephine Dunn, at the Dominion Theatre, for a season commencing on Monday (August 24th). W.E. Sales Stimulus E. S. Gregg Donates Trophy In order to stimulate and further encourage the recent challenge issued from the combined sales forces of the distributors of Western Electric apparatus throughout Continental Europe, the Near East and India, The Gregg Trophy, a prize much competed for ty Western Electric Salesmen to the sales organisation in the British Isles, as to who would sign up the greatest number of theatres during the current year, E. S. Gregg, before leaving for the United States on August 28th, has donated a trophy to be competed for by these two groups. The trophy, known as the “ GreggTrophy,” is in the form of a Silver Shield Relief Map of Continental Europe and the United Kingdom, with an inset of India. There is keen interest in all the sales forces of the distributors of “The Voice of Action,” especially in London, who at the moment are slightly in the lead. T. P. Drew, sales manager of the British organisation, and his enterprising salesmen, state that they would much appreciate exhibitors helping them to keep the “ Gregg Trophy ” in England ! “The Yellow Ticket” Started Elissa Landi’s Next for Fox Now that Elissa Landi has completed “ Wicked,” work has started on her new Fox production " The Yellow Ticket,” with Raoul Walsh directing. Edward Crandall, a young Broadway actor recently brought to Hollywood under contract to Fox, has the principal male role in this dramatic story of Russia. Lionel Barrymore, Walter Byron, Rita La Roy, Sarah Padden and Arnold Korfl are the other principal players. Feyder Masterpiece to be Remade Pabst May Direct “Atlantide” (From Our French Correspondent, Georges Clarriere)