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

October 20, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 37 w SOUND PICTURES As her, Small, Rogers Join Gotham to Make Films on Bristolphone (Special to the Herald World) NEW YORK, Oct. 16.— Asher, Small and Rogers are among the latest producers to go into sound production. A corporation has been formed between this company and Sam Sax and Budd Rogers of Gotham Photoplays Corporation to distribute and service installations of Bristolphone synchronizing disc device and to produce features and short subjects synchronized with Bristolphone. These two organizations are forming the Gotham Bristolphone Photoplays Corporation, which will distribute pictures under two brands — a series of Ascher, Small and Rogers productions and a series of Gotham productions. "Times Square," which has just been completed with dialogue and sound effects, will be the initial offering in the firm's new program, with release set at November L Montreal Can't Get Enough of Sound (Special to the Herald-World) MONTREAL, Oct 16.— For the fourth time since sound pictures were introduced at the Palace Theatre, Montreal, on September 1, Manager George Rotsky held over a synchronized bill when he repeated "Mother Knows Best" for the week of October 8, this being followed by "The Air Circus." Rotsky has even staged extra midnight performances in order to take care of the tremendous crowds and there is now even a bargain shoppers' matinee at 10:30 each morning except Sunday. The only thing that Rotsky has not done has been to adopt a 24-hour continuous schedule but the shows have extended from 10 :30 a. m. until 1 :30 the following morning. Capitol Breaks Record (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 16.— Close to sixty thousand people attended the Capitol theatre Saturday and Sunday (October 6 and 7), thereby shattering all previous week end records for this theatre, according to Major Edward Bowes. This was the Capitol's first sound program and includes "Our Dancing Daughters," a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer synchronized production. Film Exhibit Draws (Special to the Herald-World) CLEVELAND, Oct. 16.— The Cleveland Public Library, co-operating with the film industry', has on display books referring to the history' of the moving picture, and samples of Movietone and Photophone film and a Vitaphone disc. The display has been given quite a prominent place and has attracted manv visitors. Paramount Begins Production in East; Lasky Announces Product (Special to the Herald-World) NE\T 10RX. Oct. 16.— Big feature length pictures with complete dialogue accompaniment, utilizing the acting talent and trained voices of leading Broadway stage stars, will go into production at Paramount'* Long Island sound studio at Astoria immediately, according to Jesse L. Lasky. first vice-president. Experimental work has served its purpose, the installation i>f sound recording equipment has been finished and now the organization is geared for an ambitious program. "Actual camera work began Monday on 'The Letter,' an all-dialogue version oi last year's stage hit, with Jeanne Eagles in the leading role," said Lasky. "Following up that production and probably coming along about six weeks later will be, 'The Four Cocoanuts,' popular vehicle of the Four Marx Brothers, featuring the famous comedians. Next in line will come the 'Birth of the Blues' and then the current newspaper play, 'Gentlemen of the Press.' Each of these productions will have distinguished stage-trained casts, casts which can talk, and will be all-dialogtie, with absolutely no stint on quality of production. "Our first all-dialogue picture, 'Interference,' is to follow 'Wings' into the Criterion theatre very soon, and I never felt greater optimism about any picture in my life. 'Interference' has the benefit of a great cast, headed by Evelyn Brent, Give Brook, Doris Kenyon and William Powell, all of them having had considerable experience upon the speaking stage. I was deeply impressed by the advantages which such players have in sound pictures over those who are untrained in speech. 'Interference' has a cast which can talk. I want to repeat that phrase, for it will become a slogan in our pictures — casts which can talk. "This experience will guide us in casting for productions at the Long Island studio. For example, in 'The Letter' Miss Eagles will be supported by such players as O. P. Heggie, one of the favorite actors of the legitimate stage. Reginald Owen, now playing Richelieu in 'The Three Musketeers' and Herbert Marshall, now playing in Frederick Lonsdale's comedy, "The High Road.' Tests are in progress now to obtain other actors of equal calibre." The stage play, "The Letter," written by Griffith Has New Trick: Introduces Sound Fadeout (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 16.— D. W. Griffith, who gave to silent Elms the closeup and fadeout, is up to new tricks, it seems. He is said now to have a sour.d dissolve and sound fadeout. These effects will be presented in "The Love Song." in which William Boyd, Jetta Goudal and Lupe Velez appear. Lupe Velez sings seven times during the picture, it is reported. W. Somerset Maugham, has been adapted for the screen by Garett Fort. It will be directed by Jean de Limur, under the personal supervision of Monta Bell, production executive at the studio. TheLong Island studio was reopened last Tune for the purpose cf sound-picture production, but the intervening months have been spent in careful preparation for the production which Paramount just now is launching. Three stages are now ready for sound production, with all equipment installed and tried out by actual use. The staff has been carefully selected. A variety of complete short productions have been made in addition to films designed solely for experiment and tests. Two productions of the "Great Star and Author Series" have been completed at the studio with 100 per cent dialogue. They are, "Night Club," based on the short story by Katherine Brash with a collection of stage stars in the cast, and "The Pusher In the Face."' with a cast including Lestern Allen, Carroll McComas, Estelle Taylor and others. 1 1 tap hone Scores Great Triumph in London Premiere (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 16.— Herman Starr. Warner Brothers executive, who returned to New York last week from a two months' business trip abroad, says that Vitaphone has become an international sensation following its first exhibition outside the United States. This took place under Starr's supervision when Warner Brothers recently opened the Piccadilly theatre in London, which they now own. Al Jolson in "The Jazz Singer" was chosen as the first Vitaphone picture to be shown there, the star being present in person at the premiere. The production received an overwhelming ovation from the first-night audience, consisting of 550 exhibitors and several hundred critics. Many of the theatre owners came as far as 600 miles to attend the first performance. There were also present representatives of every big theatre chain in Europe. Many of the critics, too, came from continental capitals to cover the event for their papers, according to Starr.