Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

54 BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF November 23, 1929 The Poorest Show needs the loudest "barker" And the loudest "barker" rarely hesitates in the size of his claims — Buyers of equipment are shrewd. Value needs no "barker." Performance is earned thru years rather than words. Popularity is won rather than awarded. Watch "TRANSVERTER" It is its own best salesman. It wins and holds more friends each year. Its sheer merit lies in its almost endless years of satisfactory and economical performance. Sold ip the U. S. A. by The National Theatre Supply Co. Canadian Distributors Perkins Electric, Ltd. THE HERTNER ELECTRIC COMPANY 1 12700 Elm wood Avenue Cleveland, Ohio, U. S. A. Exclusive Manufacturers of the Transverter f \ a "BEST" fi \ The leading Mazda adapter for the small theatre, school or lodge. '"Bess" Maada Adapter $13.50 BEST DEVICES CO. 200 Film Bldg. Cleveland, 0. MAIL YOUR TRIAL ORDER TODAY for HAND PAINTED Each on heary poster paper in 5 or more attractire colors and artistically airbrushed any size up to S6"xl0 ft. Write for prices on other sizes on paper-muslin and cards. One Day Prices Do Not Service Include Postage Get the Best They Cost Less H. DRYFHOUT 736 $0. WABASH AVE . CHICAGO ILL more than $2,000 to $4,000 for complete sound equipment and installation. No cinema in Austria had yet been wired for sound films, but it is planned to equip a small theatre in Vienna at an early date. The Filmton Ges. claims that it has Austrian patents on a sound film system similar to an American system which can be fitted to any type of apparatus with practically no difficulty or loss of time. The Marconi-Gefra system was recently presented in Vienna; the prices of this device ranges from $1,500 to $4,000. Austrian interest in sound films has increased enormously within the past few months. Already one company (Astra Film A. G. near Vienna) has begun the manufacture of sound films on an American system, using the disc method. Another company has recently been formed (Filmton Ges. i. G.), and production is expected to start during the next 12 months. Back of the Filmton Ges. i. G. are "Gefra," the leading radio concern of Vienna, and the Marconi people. Reproduction sets are at present made by Astra Film A. G.» while Gefra, which is interested in Filmton Ges. i. G, claims that it is already making recording apparatus. Hungary Hungary has approximately 450 motion picture houses, 93 of which are located in Budapest. Only five houses in the entire country are capable of accommodating over 750 people, the average seating capacity being about 300. Plans are under way in Budapest to equip the three largest theatres in that city with reproduction sets. With . the exception of the UFA theatre, which will have a Tobis installation, the others will be wired with American equipment. With the scarcity of large houses, the prevailing limitations for the immediate installation of sound equipment in Hungary is very evident. Important as this feature may be, it is not the only obstacle in the way of sound pictures in Hungary. The Hungarian language is the only one spoken in this country, and this, quite naturally, would eliminate talking pictures unless produced in the native tongue. Sound-accompanied pictures may find a market in Hungary after installations are made in theatres with reproducing apparatus, and leaders in the Hungarian industry feel that sound synchronized pictures will prove popular. At the present time, none of the Hungarian studios are equipped for the production of sound films ; neither has Hungary manufactured any type of recording or reproduction apparatus. Owing to the scarcity of capital, it is doubtful whether the necessary funds could be obtained at this time to acquire or manufacture recording apparatus in Hungary. Spain The development of sound motion pictures for _ the present is not very promising in Spain. English-speaking films will naturally be barred because they would not be understood by the Spaniards. But synchronized pictures, such as those reproducing musical scores and sound effects, will have a future in this country. It is suggested that as theatres in Spanish-speaking countries are adapted to sound films, there might be an opportunity for Spanish producers to supply Spanish-speaking films to those markets. _ Equipment now offered in Spain is considered to be expensive, running as high as $18,000; it is felt by those in the trade that if these prices were brought down within reach of the Spanish exhibitors, there would probably be room for five installations in Madrid this year, three in Barcelona, and possibly one_ each in Bilgao, Zaragonza, Valencia, and Seville. Spain with more than 2,000 theatres, has nearly 300 with a seating capacity over 1,000; 600 seating from 750 to 1,000 ; and 450 with a seating capacity of from 500 to 750, which should lend themselves to sound reproduction installations. So far, only one theatre is wired for the reproduction of sound films, but two others will be wired in the near future. None of the Spanish studios are as1 yet