Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

40 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD February 9, 1929 Notes COLUMBIA is in a fever of activity. Six new exchanges in the South. New offices in New York. A snappy deal with Victor. Big smiles on everybody and lunches at the Astor. Tommy Meighan receives at the SavoyPlaza. Amazement on his face at the number of young ladies who write about pictures. Or, at any rate, the number of young ladies who come to parties for people who write about pictures. Symon Gould doesn't believe his own slogans. "Supreme and Silent" he says of his new Film Guild Cinema on Eighth Street. But at the opening performance he shouted so many instructions and in so loud a voice that you couldn't see the picture. Tut, tut, Symon. Quiet, please. * * * FIRST NATIONAL is sitting very pretty. A few months ago things were considerably upset, to say the least, but concentration on the job and a little hard work has put First National close to the top of the heap. Exhibitors who want sound have something to choose from at First National, all ready and set for delivery. Bob Sherwood is free-lancing now that "Life" has been eased for him. He still does his column on motion pictures for the Bell Syndicate and it's still at the top of the heap. The newspapers are falling all over each other to tell the world how Paramount profits are getting bigger and better. And "Redskin" isn't going to harm the treasury any. * * * THE opening Big Bertha of the RKO advertising campaign is something to look at. Spend a moment or two over fly Daab's idea of what an insert should look like. The Dinner of the Silver Screen brought out several who are generally content with the Luncheon of the Single Arm. Harry Reichenbach is understood to be considering an offer to play on a river boat in the Ohio next summer. Or is it a houseboat on the sound? Donald Henderson Clarke, which is none other than Don Clarke, has written a swell book called "In the Reign of Rothstein." This is something of a thriller, with names and places instead of imagination. Don't miss it. * * * ACTIVITY in the trade paper field. Red Kami has finally come out from under the Film Daily Year Book. Art James has done a Munsey on the Daily Review and Motion Pictures Today, retaining the best features of each. Winfield Sheehan has been commuting between New York and Los Angeles. Phil Reisman has been doing a great job for Pathe on "Strange Cargo" and "The Godless Girl." "Strange Cargo" goes into the Paramount this month. * * * THE Fox deals for New York theatres have not yet been signed, sealed and delivered. Final accountings are still being made. But so far, despite rumors, there hasn't been a serious hitch. Carl Laemmle just celebrated his twentythird anniversary in the motion picture industry. Here's how the critics voted the best pictures of 1928: "The Patriot," "Sorrel and Son," "The Last Command," "Four Sons," "Street Angel," "The Circus," "Sunrise," "The Crowd," "The King of Kings," and "Sadie Thompson." PETER VISCHER. Speaking Briefly of Comedy TS old-fashioned slapstick to vanish? Are we to lose our taste for custard pies on the -L screen? Certainly, the advent of sound has brought a new kind of comedy — the sketch and farce heretofore exclusive to the stage. Here are scenes that indicate the new order. They are from the first short audien comedies produced at Paramount's Long Island studio. Their casts are made up of leading stage comedians. Above: Florence Moore, James B. C arson and Maurice Underwood in "Apartment Hunting." Right: Charles Dale, Joseph Smith and Harry Short in "The False Alarm Fire Company." Above: Joseph Smith and Charles Dale in a scene taken from "Knights in Venice." Below: Believe it or not, but styles voere\once like those in this scene taken from "Now and Then."