Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

2b EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD November 16, 1929 Sono Art-World Wide at Bait James Cruze O. E. Goebel George W. Weeks Sono Art— W orld Wide in Flying Start With Talkers in Premier Qroup Eighteen American All-Dialog Productions Already Listed As Well As Several From British International (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 12.— The newly merged Sono ArtWorld Wide Pictures, Inc., is all set for a flying start with a "Premier Group" of eighteen American all-talkers as well as several all-dialog productions from British International Studios. The "Premier Group" is to be made by James Cruze, Inc., with James Cruze as director-in-chief, and Sono Art Productions, Inc., with O. E. Goebel in charge of production. Sono Art-World Wide is headed by George W. Weeks, executive vice president, formerly Paramount's general manager of distribution. TAMES CRUZE, INC., is financially sponJ sored by Henry D. Meyer and Nat Cordish, San Francisco capitalists. This company was brought into the new distributing organization by Samuel Zierler and Harry H. Thomas, New York producers and distributors who control the world rights to the Cruze product. Sono-Art Productions, Inc., has O. E. Goebel, veteran producer, as president, and George W. Weeks, vice president. S. Aronson and Joseph S. Skirboll of the former World Wide Company remain as foreign representative and sales manager respectively. Sono Art-World Wide, according to Weeks, is starting with no special policy or plan for favor other than its purpose to make pictures with an eye on the box office and sell them at fair prices. The company neither owns nor operates theatres. Physical distribution will be through Educational exchanges. The company will maintain its own sales and publicity departments. Following is a list of product to date: JAMES CRUZE, INC., PRODUCTIONS The Great Gabbo, the recent release, directed by James Cruze. Starring Erich von Stroheim, with Betty Compson and Margie Kane. From the story by Ben Hecht. Circus Parade, from the novel by Jim Tully, personally directed by James Cruze. The Big Fight, from the Belasco stage play by Max Marcin and Milton Grooper. Personally directed by James Cruze. Clipped Wings, a modern youth picture from the story in the Delineator by Rita Lambert, supervised by James Cruze, directed by Walter Lang. Once a Gentleman, from the humorous novelette by George Worts in the Argosy. Directed by Walter Lang. Supervised by James Cruze. Ann Boyd, from the novel by Will N. Harben. Supervised by James Cruze, directed by Walter Lang. Soul of the Tango, a sophisticated present day Argentine story with music. Supervised by James Cruze. Illustrated by Walter Lang. Two James Cruze productions as yet untitled. SONO-ART PRODUCTIONS, INC. Blaze O'Glory, starring Eddie Dowling. with Betty Compson, Frankie Darrow, Henry B. Walthall and big cast. Present day drama with music and songs by Eddie Dowling and James F. Hanley. From the screen play by Renaud Hoffman, from the short story "The Long Shot" by Thomas A. Boyd ; codirected by Renaud Hoffman and George J. Crone. A second Eddie Dowling starring vehicle as yet untitled. Sawdust and Satin, a human interest circus story with Jacqueline Logan, Frankie Darrow and an outstanding cast in support. Directed by T. Haynes Hunter. Reno, starring Ruth Roland in her talking debut. From the sensational story of the Reno divorce colony by Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., as published nationally in the Hearst newspapers and magazines. Heart Strings, a romance of old California with singing stars Joe Bohr and Lola Wendrell. A good bad-man story of the most thrilling era of the Old West. Encore, modern music drama based on the present success. "Symphony in Two Flats," with Sir Harry Woods' London Symphony Orchestra and Jack Hilton's Kit Kat Klub Jazz Band. To be produced under the personal supervision of George W. Weeks. Dramatic direction by Victor Saville. A Sono ArtGainsborough production. They All Want Something, starring Reginald Denny. A comedy drama from the stage play by Courtney Savage. The story of the lover who masquerades as a tramp to win a society girl. Lavish production. Swanee River, a love story on the order of "Show Boat" with a sensational breaking-of-dam and flood climax. A charming musical background of the Old South. Vaudeville, to be directed by Gundry, starring Constance Carpenter, former star of "Yankee of King Arthur's Court," with Nic Adam. A Sono ArtGainsborough production, personally supervised by George W. Weeks. The Talk of Hollywood, the first talking, singing, dancing, laughing expose of talkie-making, starring Nat Carr with Miss Fay Marbe. Samuel Zierler and Harry H. Thomas present this Mark Sandrich production. WORLD WIDE WINNERS Blackmail, the picture (just released) which secured praise from New York critics during its Broadway run. Hate Ship, one of the first talking sea pictures. Something like "The Blood Ship." From the novel by Bruce Graeme, scenario by Eliot Stannard, with dialog by Monckton Hoffe. Director, Captain Norman Walker. Atlantic, A. E. Dupont's big, powerful drama, based on the sinking of the Titanic. Adapted from "The Berg" — the play by Ernest Raymond. In both English and German language versions. Tambourine, adapted from the story by Pauline Firmin-Haumont. A music-drama introducing Continental stars of the musical comedy stage. Carnival, the novel by Compton Mackenzie, in which the dialog will be written by the author. A romance of Venice and London, to be lavishly produced. Harmony Heaven, musical-all dialog, singing and dancing spectacle, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Musical scores and lyrics by Eddie Pola and Edward Brandt. The Plaything, directed by Carleton Knight, featur Sunday Shows Win Six of Seven Cases; Grand Jury Acquits 2 Sunday show proponents were victorious in six out of seven cases last week, two of them being in Colorado, the others in Ohio. Monte Vista, Col, adopted an amendment permitting Sunday showings, and Boulder repealed its blue laws. At Portsmouth, Ohio, it took a petit jury in the common pleas court only 20 minutes to acquit Robert C. Risley and Francis P. McDonald, managers of Schine theatres, after they had been fined time after time during the past year and the opponents of Sunday exhibitions had tried in vain to indict Municipal ludge W. R. Sprague. Sunday exhibitions are a possibility at Hillsboro because the council failed to enact an ordinance specifically prohibiting them. At Westerville, a referendum vote was favorable by 685 to 473. Re-election of Mayor Smith assures Coshocton that theatres will run on Sunday. The opposition won at Ashland by 250 ballots. Jackter Leads Columbia Goldberg Drive, Second Place to Ben Rosenberg (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 12.— The fifth week of the Joe Goldberg $2,000,000 testimonial sales drive being conducted by Columbia throughout the country, saw Rube Jackter's group in the lead. lackter's group, comprising the Western and middle states divisions, has 118.43 per cent of its quota already sold. Ben Rosenberg's group, consisting of the Eastern, New England and Greater New York divisions, maintained second place with a percentage of 112.09. The Midwestern, Southern and Southwestern divisions, under the supervision of Hal Hodes, showed 90.17 per cent of its quota sold. Among the contracts secured during the week were the Knoel, Western, Ario and Cozy theatres in Los Angeles ; Granada, Norton, Kan. ; Rex, Caliente, Nev. ; and Virginia, Los Angeles. 74, Dies at Theatre Feting Her Golden Wedding Year (Special to the Herald-World) OTTAWA, Nov. 12.— With dramatic suddenness, the death of Mrs. Duncan McMillan, aged 74 years, who was celebrating her golden wedding, took place in B. F. Keith's theatre, during a performance of "The Greene Murder Case." Her husband and daughter-in-law, who had accompanied the lady for the wedding anniversary treat, saw her collapse in the theatre seat. The physician who was called stated that Mrs. McMillan had expired immediately. The occurrence was noticed by but few in the audience and the performance was not interrupted. Returns to Silent Films (Special to the Herald-World) VACAVILLE, CAL, Nov. 12.— The Clark theatre has returned to silent films, after having given audien productions a trial for four months'. Returns from sound productions were no greater than for silent films, while operating costs were much higher. ing Estelle Brody. Heather Thatcher. Nigel Barrie and Marguerite Allen. Adapted from the play, "Life's Pretty Much the Same." Mary Was Love, adapted from the novel by Guy Fletcher, directed by Manning Haynes. Featuring William Freshman and Blanche Adele. Compulsory Husband, directed by Harry Lachman, starring Lillian Manton. A story of modern matrimony. Up the Congo, all talking travelog, presented by Alice M. O'Brien, one of two American women who crossed the dark continent.