Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

November 23, 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 53 EVENHEETERS Keep Your Pipe Organ in Perfect Condition always IF your pipe organ "goes flat" with the coming of cold weather, it needs I Evenheeters. Cold and dampness can be driven out of your organ chambers, at surprisingly low cost, by the installation of these widely used and popular units . . . Prepare your pipe organ for the coming busy season. Give your organist new incentive to exercise his skill on an organ always in tune. Evenheeters will remove the cause of flat, off pitch tones and "sticky" stops by maintaining the proper temperature in your organ chambers. Ask your maintenance man about them. Our engineering staff will be pleased to recommend the proper wattage for your equipment. Just send us a blue print or sketch giving full dimensions of the chambers and outside wall exposure and we will immediately send you our recommendations. Do it today. T T IA4E-C-STA CONTROLS CCMPANy ELKHART, INDIANA Successor to: Absolute Con-Tac-Tor Corporation Timc-O-Stat Corporation Leachwood Company Cramblet Engineering Corporation "Manufacturers of Automatic Controls for Oil Burners — Gas Burners — Coal Burners — Electric Refrigerators — Furnace Fans — Mechanical Sto\ers — In' dustrial Ovens — Ice Machines — Unit Heaters — Water Heaters . . . also of Sign Flashers — Mercury Switches — Electric Heaters — Corrugated Metal Bellows. ENERGY ALL States at present, in proportion to the population or to the number of theatres. The majority of French exhibitors are either too conservative to try out this invention before their public advises them to do so, or else the investment looks larger to them than it really is. As regards the potentiality of reproducing equipment sales, it is believed by those well versed in French film circles that the wiring of a great many houses other than the socalled first-runs, will depend upon the supply of French dialog films. Foreign "talkies," either in part or in full, or the straightaway sound-synchronized films, will not induce the owners of these neighborhood and small town cinemas to invest in expensive house wiring. Exhibition leaders in France are outspoken in their claims that the provincial cinema-going public generally will not tolerate the substitution of synchronized sound for orchestral music; nor will they be expected to absorb foreign dialog films. American superproductions, however, with short dialog sequences and box office names, or strictly sound synchronized in manufacture, will continue for a long while to attract capacity audiences in French first-runs. At the present time there are about ten theatres in France wired for showing sound pictures, and it is estimated that there are close to 350 theatres in France with a seating capacity over 1,000 and 1,300 theatres with a capacity from 500 to 1,000, which are potential "talkie" houses. There are at present but two French studios equipped to record sound films. These are the Menchen studio at Epinay (just outside Paris), which is controlled by Les Films Sonores Tobis, the French subsidiary of the Tonbild Syndikat of Germany (Tobis), and the Gaumont studio in Paris. Although it is said that plans are under way to equip for sound film purposes the studios at Billancourt and at Neuilly (immediately adjacent to Paris), the information, however, is not authentic. While no American recording equipments have been delivered in France to date, it is felt certain that with the settlement of the French film controversy and the resumption of trade activities of American interests, several orders for recording equipment will be placed with American companies. The only equipment announced as available for purchase in France is Tobis-Klangfilm. This recording apparatus is installed at the Menchen studio, but so far nothing from this studio has been exhibited. The PetersenPoulsen System, a Scandinavian invention, which is being fostered in France by the Gaumont Company, has been used more extensively for short films; one feature is also known to have been released. In this system, sound is recorded on a second film, similar to that of British Acoustics. The results have not been satisfactory, according to this trade, and little hope is held that the system will he much in favor. The Cinevox process is being sponsored by a well-known French producer and distributor, but little is said about this system, except that it is sound-onfilm ; it should offer no real competition for American outfits. In view of the unsatisfactory credit conditions in film circles, and the heavy demands made on sales of recording equipments, it is probable that only the few larger producers will be able to contract for the expensive American installations. So far as the numerous smaller producers are concerned, they will either be obliged to rent space in equipped studios, or to confine their activities to silent film production as in the past. Several American companies and representatives of Tobis, Petersen-Poulsen Cinevox and Melovox are in the French market for sales or reproduction equipment. The Thomson-Houston Company is advertising a nonsynchronous reproduction device ; companies selling the Bona apparatus, Ampliphonaubert, Survox, Erkaphototone and Synchrophone are reported to be in the formative stage. Italy Sound and talking "movies" have been introduced into this market, and with the exception of the language difficulties, have been well received. Italy with more than 2,000 theatres, 155 of which have a seating capacity of 750, should offer a very fertile field for American sound installations. Production in Italy is limited. The Ente Nazionale, a concern aided by the government, and the Pittaluga Company are the chief producers. The Ente, which has adopted British Talking Picture apparatus, has already taken the exterior sets of their first Italian talking picture. The making of this film has aroused considerable interest in Italy, since it marks the government's entry into a new field. Of all Italian producers, Pittaluga has announced the most ambitious production schedule. Six features with sound are scheduled, and 26 sound shorts are under contemplation. The progress that has been made in the United States in the development of sound pictures has prompted various persons in the moving picture industry in Italy to consider the possibility of utilizing them for the production of Italian grand opera. In the making of the silent picture, Italy has had little success but sound pictures should offer Italy an opportunity in this regard. Austria The prospects for sound films in Austria are not very promising, owing to the number of small theatres. There are but 19 theatres with a seating capacity over 750, and 53 with seating capacities between 500 and 750. which may lend themselves to sound installations. But it is estimated that even the five largest cinemas in Austria could not afford to pay