Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

32 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD January 26, 1929 w THE STUDIO R K O Dolls Up; New Name and New Faces; Next Is New Stages Gillstrom's First Audien is "Melancholy Dame" ; Leni to Direct "Bargain at Kremlin' By DOUGLAS HODGES HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 22. — F B O changed its name this week and immediately announced it had also determined to change its makeup and character. Not only will we know it as Radio Keith Orpheum but we will know it as a studio with a million dollar dress on. Benny Rubin to Make Sound Series for "U" (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Jan. 22. — Benny Rubin, recently master of ceremonies of the Colony theatre here, has arrived in California to commence production of a series of sound shorts called "Hysterical History." The first of the series will be titled "The Pilgrim Papas." THE stages are to be fixed up with new equipment and modern fixtures. Sound stages will soon be under way. Three new projection rooms are included in the project. One of the present stages is already being proved for sound. Sound recording apparatus is in transit from Joseph Schnitzer's New York office. Waring's Pennsylvanians will christen the all sound projection rooms next week. The number these former presentation charmers appear in was made by Robert Kane. It is called "Syncopation." * * * Gillstrom May Point with Pride The name of it is "The Melancholy Dame." It's the first and therefore we may look at it years hence with amusing criticism. But it's the first and therefore we will also look back at it proudly because it is a pioneer of its kind. It's an Octavus Roy Cohen story about Florian Slappey and his Alabama friends. Cabaret theme. Short. Comedy as humorous as Cohen's writing. Some romance in it. Much typically negro dialect and typical domestic complications between Permanent William and Jonquil, his wife. The voices of colored singers are either more suitable to synchronization than the voices of whites or Gillstrom, the director, chose good voices for his cast. Although I dare say I believe colored folk record more perfectly than whites on Movietone or Vitaphone, I also hope that the statement will not be confusing to casting directors. I should dislike to see the Barrymores and Chaneys replaced with the less Nordic type of film star. But getting back to the subject, Arvid Gillstrom's work for the Christie Brothers is an achievement. He has learned many tricks and turns in his recent visit to the Western Electric Company's Eastern laboratories. He has already produced a thing that is a pride for the Christies and he is signed to direct a series of the Cohen stories. Incidentally, a lot of credit is due, as is usually due, Alfred A. Cohn, scenarist who prepared the script for Gillstrom's work. * * * Broadway Sends a Crusader From the Great White Way has come Rheba Crawford, the "The Angel of Broadway," to introduce to Hollywood the gospel of the Congregational church. She is a go-getting gal who Christian ized a lot of tough ones in Gotham from her pulpit in the Gaiety theatre. She is a full fledged Salvation Army sister who hopes to find equally as great success in Hollywood among picture people as she did among Eastern theatrical people. Before reaching here she employed this town's most astute and competent publicity director. * * * Grant L. Cook, secretary and treasurer of the Tiffany-Stahl company, arrived here this week to attend the company's sales convention. He is also in a series of conferences with John M. Stahl and M. H. Hoffman. * * * Schrock in East to View "Stagies" Raymond Schrock has abandoned us for a few weeks to look over stage plays in New York. Which reminds me that the term, stage play, has a great number of characteristics similar to the terms suggested for audiens. Has the public that wishes to use the word "talkies" ever dubbed stage plays "stagies"? If that public has overlooked something .perhaps this is its opportunity to shorten something — and to describe stage plays more characteristically. Anyhow, Mr. Schrock is expected back from his visit next week with dialogue rights and screen rights for several "stagies." * * * Leni to Direct "Bargain in Kremlin" Paul Leni will direct "The Bargain in the Kremlin" for Universal. It was originally planned as an Edward Sloman production; but Sloman withdrew from the lot a few days ago. Leni is the director of "The Man Who Laughs." * * * Dave Epstein Not Only Suggests But Uses It Dave Epstein, competent publicist — if there is one — has modestly laid down his suggestion on the copy desk and walked silently away. He suggests a new word for the replacement of "talkie." It is "audition." It's usable, say we. He has used it in copy regarding Lucien Littlefield not only to say that Lucien has appeared in several "Auditions" but also to say that Littlefield has moved to the Fox lot following the Goldwyn decision not to add "audition" to "Childs Fifth Avenue." Income of Those Who Work Extra Cut One-Seventh (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 23.— The earnings of Hollywood's film extras slumped more than a third of a million dollars during 1928 and only two of the approximntely 15,000 registered extras here averaged as much as five days a week or more throughout the year. These and other facts concerning employment conditions among the "atmosphere people" are revealed in figures made public today by the Central Casting Corporation, operated by the studios as a clearing house for extra taient. Average Wage Higher Although the aggregate sum earned by extras during 1928 was only $2,469,711, as compared with $2,838,136 earned in 1927 (a decrease of $368,425 for the year,) the average wage of those who worked at all was 35 cents a day higher than in 1927. The 1928 average was $8.94 against an average of $8.59 for the previous year. Total daily placements through Central Casting last year was 276,155 a slump of 54,242 from the 1927 total of 330,397. The daily average of placements was 756, as against a daily average of 905 during 1927. Men in the Majority Most of the extras placed were men. Women got only 32 per cent of the work and children accounted for 3 per cent. Altogether there were 469 men and women who averaged at least two days work per week for the year. The rest of the 15,000 got along as well as they could. The 469 extras who worked at least two days a week, it was explained by Casting Manager Dave Allen, were by no means ordinary mob talent. Talking pictures generally are blamed for the reduced employment of film extras. Most of the dialogue films so far produced have been made with small casts and few crowd scenes calling for extras. Later, as talking picture productions become more elaborate, the average number of extras per picture may increase. Ennis Succeeds Schader HOLLYWOOD. — Bert Ennis has succeeded Freddie Schader as chairman of the publicity committee of the Catholic Motion Picture Guild of America, and as editor of The Guild News, according to The Reverend Michael J. Mullins, chaplain. Schader has gone East to accept a post with Motion Picture News.