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

18 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD November 3, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD afii MOVING PICTURE WORLD Martin J. Quigley, Publisherc^ Editor Incorporating Exhibitoss HraU), founded in 1915; Movihg PictVMs Wotsjt, founded in 1907; Motography, founded in 1909: and The Film Index, founded in 1909 Published Every Wednesday by QuiCLEY Publishing Company Publication Office: 407 So. Dearborn St.. CHICAGO, U. S. A. Mastih J. QniGLET, President Edwim S. Cliffoso, Secretary Gborgi Clifford, Asst. Treasurer liember Audit Bureau of Circulations Copyright, 1928, by Quigley Publishing Company All editorial and business correspondence should be addressed to the Chicago office Other Publications: The Chicagoah and Polo, class journals; and the following motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors HsBALD and Movihg Pictitre World: Better Theatres, every fourth week, and The Buyers Index, published semi-annually. Whole Vol. 93, No. 5 (Vol. 35, No. 8) November 3, 1928 The Field Is Open DURING the past week the atmosphere of doubt and unoertainty which has surrounded the question of interchangeahility among the various sound devices has been cleared away. The situation has been made plain and definite in a plain and definite statement issued by Mr. J. E. Otterson, president of the Electrical Research Products, Inc. Mr. Otterson's statement, printed in full in last week's issue of the HeraldWorld, contributes mightily towards relieving what has been a trying and perplexing situation. The way has been cleared for full and complete understanding of the facts throughout the trade, to the end of not oidy relieving the apprehension that has existed but also stimulating the progress and the use of the sound picture. In his statement Mr. Otterson makes no reference to the possible legal questions involved. It is asserted that under the various contracts which have been negotiated by the Electrical Research Products, Inc., which is a subsidiary of the Western Electric Company, the manufacturer of the equipment has retained all rights necessary to enable it to dictate the conditions under which the equipment may be used. Both studio and theatre equipment are similarly protected. In the absence of court adjudication there is necessarily some question as to just what conditions may be imposed and just how far these conditions may be carried. But Mr. Otterson, in his outline of the existing situation, does not address himself to any of the possible legal questions involved. He discusses interchangeahility plainly and simply as a matter of practicability. With reference to claims of interchangeahility advanced by manufacturers of various devices, Mr. Otterson says significantly: "We have not denied and we do not deny these various claims. . . ." He then proceeds to lay stress on the main thought of his statement, which is that the question of interchange ability is to be determined only by practical test of the apparatus offered under normal working conditions. "When such devices in significant numbers have been installed and maintained in successful commercial operation over a reasonable time, the facts will determine themselves without any statement on our part," he said. A paragraph of Mr. Otterson's statement which is of very great interest and importance to several thousand of the smaller theatres reads as follows: "We have definitely in mind the problem of the small theatre. For such our company has available music and sound amplifying equipments which will satisfactorily fill present needs, and which later on may be adapted to pictures synchronized with sound." He then adds, rather strangely, that, "when small theatre owners want to investigate this problem, we are ready to discuss it with them." As a matter of fact, if there is anything in the world which the small theatre owner does want, now and immediately, to investigate it is exactly what Mr. Otterson here mentions. The fact that Mr. Otterson now places the whole matter of interchangeahility on the hasis of practicability is interesting and important. This means, apparently, that the whole field is wide open for any device that will work. And this leaves the question in a way which will be hailed in many quarters with greatest satisfaction. Stageshow Passing REPORTS are accumulating from various points throughout the country of the abandonment of the stageshow policy. During the past week several large and important houses which have featured stageshows for a considerable period have discontinued the non-fiJm attraction, retaining only presentation acts that count. There are reasons for believing — aside from these developments— that the stageshow is on its way out. In fact, indications have been pointing in that direction for some time. The stageshow was always an economic hazard and, at the best, its attraction value was subject to severe questioning. The sound picture has, of course, been the outstanding factor in. bringing about the changes where they have taken place. In this way the sound picture is a double benefaction: It brings to the theatre a new and great attraction and it shows the theatre the way out of a difficult situation. Without something of the calibre and character of the sound picture the abandonment of the stageshow would have been something most difficult to maneuver. ONE of the most interesting rumors of recent date which has been abroad on Broadway is that S. L. Rothafel — Roxy — is considering plans for the building of the largest theatre, a house to contain a few hundred seats more than the present Rox}\ Roxy is of a restless temperament, and while it would seem that with the Roxy still a young theatre there would be sufficient size — and sufficient of everything else — to accommodate the ambition and tax the energies of one who is even as ambitious and as energetic as Roxy. * « « ACTUAL figures are pushing the "infancy era" further behind. In November Pathe News will celebrate the eighteenth anniversary of the birth of this newsreel. Incidentally, the anniversary will be celebrated with the issuance of the first Pathe Sound News. Under the capable editorship of Mr. Ray Hall we expect to see the Pathe Sound News carry on worthily the traditions of the pioneer news-on-the-8creen film. —MARTIN J. QUIGLEY.