Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

74 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD November 2, 1929 CHICAGO PERSONALITIES By JOE FISHER HUNDREDS representing the film trade, the press and the social and civic life of the town cheered R K O's scintillant production, "Rio Rita," at a gay, colorful preview arranged for invited guests at the Woods Friday night, October 25. The showing, which served also to inaugurate the Woods as an R K O house, was in a large sense a personal triumph for Jack Hess of the R K O publicity department, who had charge of the preparations. To Herbert Washburn, manager of the RKO exchange, also goes credit for the way in which "Rio Rita" was started on its Chicago run. The picture proved a production of high entertainment value. Based on the Ziegfeld stage success' of the same title, it presents Bebe Daniels in a serious role in which she adds to the laurels she has won as a comedienne. John Boles' sterling voice and dramatic talent makes him well suited for the masculine lead. Sets are lavish, and the music and dancing are truly Ziegfeldian. Last Friday night there was an intermission, and the audience returned to find the rest of the picture entirely in natural colors. By eight o'clock, Randolph Street was witnessing the sight, none too frequent in recent years, of an eager crowd storming the gates of the Woods. Searchlights played upon marquise and people, from above and from across the street. There was an unexplainable wait. But there was also the warming atmosphere of welcome. And a rose for the ladies. "Rio Rita" was preceded by a reel of Pathe Sound News and an R K O sound short, "St. Louis Blues." * # * Another successful preview was conducted by Columbia at the Studebaker Wednesday night, October 23. The picture was "Flight," and it made a decided hit with the members of the film trade and the press who were present. Cecil Maberry, district manager for Columbia, arranged the entertainment in a manner which was a delight to his guests. A considerable portion of the success of the event was also due to the efforts of Dan Roche, who acted as director of advertising. * * * It happened. It had to happen. The bears had watched the lambs accumulate, and the result, zoologically speaking, was a bull market. It is of last week's frenzied stock market, in both Chicago and New York, of which we speak, and ever since Film Row has been reflecting on the inevitabilities named at the beginning of this sad little report. ^ # # La Grange citizens won the right to have Sunday motion pictures at a special election October 25. The Blue law was defeated by a majority of 155 votes, the vote being 1,809 to 1,654. The election followed a campaign in which churches and civic clubs joined in opposition to Sunday shows. The combined groups went under the name of the La Grange Association Opposed to Sunday Movies, headed by Rev. Clifford Newham. Banners of protest were carried by school children, and automobiles carried signs reading, "Why did you move to La Grange? Cicero has Sunday Movies." Sunday pictures were barred in La Grange three years ago by a vote of two to one. * * * Henry Herbel, manager of the local Universal exchange, is a happy man these days having fought vigorously to bring Chicago in first in a recent Universal sales drive. Sharing honors with Chicago for first place was the Winnipeg exchange. The two exchanges will split a $500 prize given by Carl Laemmle. * ^ * Saul Bragin, booker for Educational the past seven years, has resigned to accept a position as booker of short subjects for Balaban & Katz. Bragin's resignation was a surprise to the Row. Succeeding Bragin will be Harry Goldman and Saul Goldman, the latter having served as booker for Educational four years ago. Harry started with Educational three years ago as poster boy. He rapidly rose to his present position. * * * Louie Rudolph is having sound equipment installed in his Emmett theatre. * * * Eddie Alger, owner of a circuit of houses, has taken over the Clohill theatre, Urbana, 111. The house was formerly operated by Abe McCullin. % ^ Eddie Brunnel is installing Dramaphone in his Metropole theatre. % % % Fox is losing an employe who has long been in its service. Jean Goldfork is leaving, bound for Hollywood. * * * Eddie Rosecan, RKO salesman, struck snow on his trip through Indiana last week. And it's a dry state, too ! % % % Phil Reisman, general sales manager for Says Film Business Is Follow-the-Leader Game (Special to the Herald-World) NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 29.— A follow-the-leader policy in production is handicapping the motion picture industry, says an editorial in the Times-Picayune. "Now that the 'talkies' have come," says the writer, "the £rst big success, namely Al Jolson's 'Jazz Singer,' set a precedent for a mixture of sentiment and song that still holds and which, we are inclined to believe, has stood in the way of the best development of the speaking screen's possibilities. "We might have thought that by this time sentiment with incidental solos would have served their time, but the latest 'talkie' item is none other than John McCormack has signed on to lead in a talking film on the theme of a singing blacksmith, in which the Irish tenor will sing eight romantic incidental songs." Jimmy Abrose, recently appointed manager of Tiffany-Stahl, and Henri Ellman, district manager. Both gentlemen are working hard these days on the Franchise. (Herald-World photo.) Pathe, spent a few days with Harry Lorch last week. * * * "Rio Rita" Comes to Town Hank Salkin enjoyed the show from the projection room, his second home. ?K sjs # Sam Gorelick, Herb Washburn's assistant, doubled as head usher. * * * Poor Eddie Phelps had to sit on a soap box and view the show. Some unexpected guest showed up and he willingly offered his seat. Noble fellow is Eddie. Len Ullrich was there and how. So was his big smile. * ♦ ♦ Tommy Greenwood of Pathe shook hands with more people, by actual count, than Hoover did on the day of his inauguration. Of course, said handshakes were for the new arrival at the Greenwood home. Dan Roche cordially greeted all he knew. And he knows everybody. * # * Irving Mandel also among these present. * * * We noted Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Grossman in conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Tom Gilliam. i{c % sf; Universal was well represented. Henry Herbel was there. * * * A distinguished guest was Cecil Maberry, district sales manager for Columbia. Tiffany-Stahl had her colors out. Charlie Lindau, office manager; Harold Wise, booker; and Jimmy Abrose, manager, were present. $ $ $ Not to forget the nine (count 'em) representatives of the Herald-World who were present. * * # Charlie Guise, Kinograms and Uniyersal cameraman, glittered the place up with a sparkling necktie. * * * Bill Brumberg and Al Hoffman enjoyed the show immensely, they said, and privately announced that "The Great Gabbo" will follow "Rio Rita" at the Woods. * * * And we can't say any more because there were so many there whom we either did not know or did not have a chance to see. That's our tough luck.