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

58 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 15, 1928 LETTERS From Readers A forum at which the exhibitor is invited to express his opinion on matters of current interest. Brevity adds forcefulness to any statement. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Again, Chain Managers Several weeks ago I read that an independent chain in New York city had cut managers' salaries and, in some instances, replaced managers at a lower scale. I read again in your last issue of another chain that had cut salaries to as low as $5 per day. How interesting! Are theatres in business to save money, like banking institutions, or are they in business to make money. Whenever I hear of this sort of retrenchment policy I think of people trying to prune a tree at the roots. Managers at $5 a day are clerks. Managers cannot be standardized like elevator operators or post office clerks. Brains that are properly utilized will always seek the field that provides adequate compensation. Good management and profits go hand in hand. An exhibitor that sinks a fortune in a theatre and then tries to save money by economizing on his staff ought to go in the vending machine business. It is quite true that there is such a thing as over-paying and under-paying. It is results that should be the determining factor. If a house is not paying and the manager is weak, get a new manager, even if his salary is to be greater. This chain store policy of running theatres will be fine when the cashier sells film by the foot, and wraps it up for the customer to take home. It would be interesting to read an article by you on the subject, for the benefit of the thousands of hardworking producing managers who are numbered among your readers.— Yours for an Even Break. — A MANAGER. Be Sure to Let Us Know TIFFIN, O.— To the Editor : In your Herald-World, dated November 10, and on page 50, there is published "The Spirit of Thanksgiving," which I am going to use, and I think it is fine. I wish we could get more for other holidays. Will you let me know how it goes over? — Otto J. Motry, Lyric theatre, Tiffin, O. Junkin Sells Theatre VAIL, IA. — To the Editor: Will beg to advise you that I have sold my theatre, "The Cozy Corner," to Mr. Ed W. Phillips, who will run the same high class pictures which have always been run at the Cozy Corner theatre. Will say that I certainly appreciate the Exhibitors Herald-World which has been a big help in running my theatre. — R. M. Junkin, Vail, la. 22 All-Talking Films Coming from Paramount (Continued from page 33) Gicrsdorf Sisters, musical comedy singing stars, sing some song hits in the other. "The fourth unit comprises 'Night Club,' with a cast including Fannie Brice, Ann Pennington, Bobl>e Arnst, Pat Rooney, and Pat Rooney, Jr., and many others of equal prominence on the legitimate stage; 'The Pusher-inthe-Facc,' two-reel comedy adapted from the story of F. Scott Fitzgerald, with Kstellc Taylor, Lester Allen, Raymond Hitchcock and other Broadway stars directed by Rol>ert Florcy; and The Bishop's Candlesticks,' a novelty short feature based on Victor Hugo's 'Les Miserables.' Walter Huston plays the featured role. "We are putting forth these units to demonstrate again Paramount's ability to produce a 'Whole Show' program. "In addition to the foregoing we will produce 17 all-star, all-talking feature length productions as follows : "The Canary Murder Case," Malcolm St-. Clair production, mystery melodrama by S. S. Van Dine. The cast: William Powell, Louise Brooks, James Hall, Jean Arthur and others. There also will be a silent version. "The Wolf of Wall Street," starring George Bancroft with Baclanova and Nancy Carroll. Rowland V. Lee, producer, has also made a silent version. "The Dummy," all-talking comedy melodrama from the stage play by Harvey O'Higgins and Harriet Ford. Ruth Chatterton, Frederic March, John Cromwell, ZaSu Pitts, Jack Oakie, Fred Kohler, and Mickey Bennett appear, directed by Robert Milton. * • * "A Genius Is Born," drama directed by Louise Gasnier and Edwin Knopf and featuring O. P. Heggie. "The Hole in the Wall," picturization of the play by Fred Jackson. Claudette Colbert and Edward Robinson head the cast, directed by Robert Florey. "Close Harmony," starring Charles Rogers. A story of show business written by Elsie Janis and Gene Markey and directed by Edward Sutherland. "Nothing but the Truth," first Richard Dix alltalkie picture. Picturization of the comedy stage play in which William Collier starred. "The Studio Murder," a mystery melodrama from the Edingtons story in Photoplay. "Gentlemen of the Press," adaptation of the stage play now playing a Broadway run. Walter Huston has the star role, supervised by Monta Bell. "The Woman Who Needed Killing," with Baclanova featured. Adaptation of the Cosmoplitan story by Margaret Lawrence. "Through the Night," adventure romance of the railroad. All-star cast. "The Tong War," first all-talking appearance of Wallace Beery and Florence Vidor. Samuel Ornitz wrote this story, directed by William Wellman. A silent version will be produced. * * * "The Wild Party." Clara Bow's first all-talking picture. Warner Fabian wrote this story and the dialogue was prepared by John F. Weaver. A silent version will be produced. "Darkened Rooms," Cosmopolitan magazine 6erial story by Sir Phillip Gibbs, directed by Josef von Sternberg. William Powell heads cast. "Here Comes the Band Wagon," starring Gary Cooper and Fay Wray in a drama of circus life. H. L. Gates wrote the original, running serially in a popular magaine. A silent version will also be produced. "The Saturday Night Kid," Clara Bow. Title and story are tentative. Will also have a silent version. An Adolphe Menjou starring picture. Will also be made in silent form. Second all-talking picture starring George Bancroft which will also have a silent version. "The seventeen talking and singing feature productions all will be made with silent versions. They are: Anne Nichols' "Abie's Irish Rose," with talking, singing and music score. "The Shopworn Angel," with Gary Cooper and Nancy Carroll, directed by Richard Wallace; containing one reel of dialogue and vocal numbers by Nancy Carroll. "Innocents of Paris," first American picture starring Chevalier; talking sequence and songs by Chevalier. "The Carnation Kid," Al Christie production starring Douglas MacLe'an. Directed by E. Mason Hopper with talking all the way through. "Redskin," starring Richard Dix in a Victor Schertzinger production. Synchronized music 6Core and technicolor through most of the picture. "Wolf Song," featuring Gary Cooper, Lupe Velez and Louis Wolheim. Victor Fleming production based on novel by Harvey Fergusson. Lupe Velez sings and a special music score has been arranged. "Behind the German Lines," official picture of the World war from the German side filmed by Ufa. Produced with sound effects and music score. "Black Eagles," drama of the Russian revolution starring George Bancroft. Synchronized with music score and sound effects. "River Boat," story of love and adventure starring P F L's Astoria Studios To Turn Out One a Month (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Dec. 11.— With Paramount's announcement that 22 all-star all-talking pictures will be completed and released by July 1 of next year, it is understood that the Astoria Studios on Long Island will turn out about one picture a month of this group. Next Week in LETTERS From Readers OSCULATION Charles Rogers. Produced with music score and effects. "Homecoming," Ufa production with Dita Parlo and Einar Hanson made by Erich Pommer. Synchronized music score and effects. "Two Shall Meet," adaptation of Owen Davis play with Charles Rogers in starring role. Special music score effects. "Looping the Loop," sensation in Europe. Werner Krauss featured. Music score and sound effects. "The Man I Love," story by Herman Mankiewicz with Richard Arlen and Nancy Carroll in leading roles. Produced with sound sequences and music score. "Ellis Island," epic of the immigrant starring Emil Jannings. Produced with music score ana sound effects. Title and story may be changed. Richard Dix will make a second story with music score and effects. Douglas MacLean is also scheduled to make another production probably with talking in major sequences. "There will be but three completely silent pictures. 'Marquis Preferred,' starring Adolphe Menjou, is the first, and the others will be based on Zane Grey stories. "The Christie Film Company will produce 13 two-reel short features with sound sequences and special music scores. "There will be 28 Paramount talking acts comprising IS two-reel and 13 one-reel subjects. Stars of the calibre of Eddie Cantor, Ruth Etting and Walter Huston, and producers and directors in the class of George Abbott will appear in and produce these short features. "Alfred Weiss will make six song cartoons and James A. Fitzpatrick Productions will produce a series of one-reel musical numbers under the brand name, 'Famous Composers.' "Last but not by any means least Paramount News will come to the exhibitor in sound as well as in silent form starting in the very near future. The sound trucks and staff are ready and soon will function." Business Men Ask Chain For Sound Installation (Special to the Herald-World) PARIS, TEXAS, Dec. 11.— Discussion of plans for the installation of sound equipment the Plaza theatre, between W. E. Paschall, general manager of Dent theatres, Milton Overman, Paris manager, other officials and a representative group of Paris business men and chamber of commerce attaches, resnltcd from a request from the Chamber of Commerce that the Dent organization bring sound films to Paris. Equipment will be installed as soon as possible provided the people manifest sufficient interest, it was decided. The scheme of offering theatre coupon books for sale to gauge the interest of patrons, will be used. Benton's Campaign for Sunday Shows Wins 2-1 (Special to the HeraldWorld) MECHANICVILLE, N. Y., Dec. 11.— Opponents to Sunday shows were badly routed last week in a special election, in which 1,534 voted in favor of Sunday entertainment, against 638 who opposed. The question of allowing Sunday shows has been up in the city for any number of times, but this time William Benton, owner of the only theatre in Mechanicville, marshalled his forces in a way that swept the proposition to a decisive victory.