Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

22 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 1 May 3, 1930 Universal Sales Force All Set on First 15 of Twenty Specials International Convention , Addressed by Carl Laemmle and Will Hays , W/inds Up with Plans All Made for Record Season (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, April 29. — The first fifteen of Universal’s twenty productions for 1930-31, under the policy of making only specials, and only an even score of them at that, were announced by Carl Laemmle at Universal’s first international sales convention, held at the Savoy-Plaza starting Saturday and closing tonight. THE conventioners, including home office executives, a Coast delegation headed by Laemmle and Carl, Jr., general manager of Universal studios, and sales representatives from Europe, South America, Australia, and all territories in the United States and Canada, heard addresses by Will H. Hays, J. E. Otterson and Whitford Drake, president and vice president of Electrical Research, S. L. Rothafel (Roxy), and George F. McLelland, vice president and general manager of National Broadcasting Company, from which comes Graham McNamee, chief broadcaster, as Talking Reporter of the Universal Newsreel. Detailed analysis of product and sales policies was given by R. H. Cochrane, vice president, and Lou B. Metzgar, general manager. See Films and Stage Play On the afternoon of the opening day they saw “Czar of Broadway’’ and “White Hell of Pitz Palu” in the projection rooms of the home office, and at night attended the stage performance of “Strictly Dishonorable,” which has been purchased by Universal as a starring vehicle probably for John Boles. After the opening day they settled down to the business of sales plans. From the Coast, besides the Laemmles, came John Wray, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Fleckles, Ivan St. John, assistant to Carl Laemmle, Jr., Jerry Horwin, and Jack Ross, secretary to Carl Laemmle. The Laemmles were to pass upon three of the five pictures now in negotiation before returning to the Coast. The fifteen already decided upon are: “Outside the Law.” Underworld melodrama written and directed by Tod Browning, who created the original silent picture of the same name, one of Universal’s biggest successes. The cast of the all-talking version will be headed by Mary Nolan and Edward G. Robinson. “Little Accident.” Stage success of Floyd Dell and Thomas Mitchell. All-star cast. Director, William James Craft. “Boudoir Diplomat.” Play by Rudolph Lothar and Fritz Gottwald. “East Is West.” Play by Samuel Shipman and John B. Hymer, which ran three years on Broadway. Lupe Velez will be starred in the screen version, which will have Technicolor sequences. A. E. Thomas, playwright, will write the adaptation and continuity. “Sincerity,” John Erskine’s novel, to be directed by John M. Stahl. “Strictly Dishonorable,” by Preston Sturges, stage hit. John Boles will probably be starred and it will have a musical background. “Saint Johnson,” by W. R. Burnett, author of “Little Caesar” and “Iron Man.” This Western novel will be made an outdoor epic co-featuring Lewis Ayres and John Wray, of “All Quiet on the Western Front.” The picture will be released simultaneously with the publication of the book by Lincoln MacVeagh next fall. William Wyler will direct. “Ourang,” dramatic story which will be filmed in dialog in the wolds of Borneo. A complete expedition, headed by Harry Garson and Julius Bernheim, .has been sent from the Universal studios to Borneo. Dorothy Janis will have the feminine lead. Sequel to “All Quiet on the Western Front,” by Erich Maria Remarque. His new novel will be picturized by Universal as a super-production. It will be published serially in Collier’s. “The Love Cavalier,” operetta with John Boles and Jeanette Loff. To be directed by John S. Robertson. “Gypsy Love Song,” original story by Konrad Bercovici, with songs and music by the author. John Boles, Jeanette Loff and Lupe Velez will appear in this operetta. Two John Murray Anderson Productions. These will be musical plays by the creator and director of “King of Jazz.” “Cohens and Kellys in Ireland.” Fifth of the series. A musical comedy-drama, with sequences in Technicolor. “The Oregon Trail,” outdoor picture with all-star cast. Edward Laemmle will direct. “All Quiet" Opening Is One of Season ’s Outstanding Events ( Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, April 29. — The New York opening of Universal’s, “All Quiet on the Western Front” here tonight at the Central theatre was one of the outstanding events of the season. Thousands thronged Broadway and motion picture executives, their families, important guests, and members of the trade and local press attended the picture premiere of one of the greatest of all war novels. The opening climaxed Universal’s sales convention of the past four days and the conventioners, headed by Carl Laemmle, attended the theatre in a body. “All Quiet on the Western Front” will not be shown in any other theatre in New York for the rest of the season. Petition Brings Special Vote Over Sunday Shows (Special to the Herald-World) GAINESVILLE, FLA., April 29.— Acting on a petition of 500 residents of Gainesville the city commission has issued a call for a special election to be held Tuesday, May 20, for the purpose of determining whether or not moving picture shows and other theatrical productions may be permitted to operate on Sundays. Austin Company Gets Technicolor Contract (Special to the Herald-World) CLEVELAND, O., April 29.— The Technicolor Motionpicture corporation of Hollywood, Cal., has awarded the Austin company of California the contract for the design and construction of a camera maintenance and repair building. Whitbeck Again Scores on Coast The first issue of “Screen Mirror,” combining both fan magazine and house organ (or program), has just been issued by West Coast theatres under the supervision of Frank Whitbeck, director of advertising and publicity. This initial issue, which has all the ingredients of a successful publication, will be sold first in the lobbies of Grauman’s Chinese, Fox Carthay Circle and other important Los Angeles theatres, with expansion of distribution to all West Coast houses on the Coast probable. A four page form in contrasting color, and bound in the center of each issue, announces the advance program at the theatre through which distribution is made. “Screen Mirror” is a worthy sister ( or brother, whichever you choose to call it) to “Now,” the institutional publication issued weekly by the Whitbeck staff.— J. M. S. T elevision in Home Now Likely , But Won’t Affect Theatre, Schnitzer Holds (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, April 29. — Joseph I. Schnitzer, president of Radio Pictures, in speaking of television, says: “I think television in the home is a probability. I have seen enough of television experiments to be really impressed. We could put a machine in the Ziegfeld theatre and audiences all over the country could see it, or instead of making hundreds of prints, we could simply televise a master print. We might, for instance, charge a dollar a week for j. I. Schnitzer each machine, and if there were twentyfive million of them, we could easily afford a big program. “In my opinion, television will not affect the theatre. People will always go to the theatre to see real people on the stage from time to time and there is no reason for the exhibitor to worry.” Sylvia Moses to Wed Eugene Picker in June (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, April 29. — The marriage ceremony of Sylvia Moses, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Moses, 490 West End avenue, New York City, and Eugene Picker, son of Mrs. Celia C. Picker and the late David V. Picker, 1125 Fifth avenue, New York City, will take place on Tune 12th, 6 p. m., at the Temple Emanuel, 65th St. and Fifth avenue, New York City, with dinner and dance to follow at the Astor Hotel. Miss Moses attended the Jennie Hunter School and Columbia Lhiiversity. Mr. Picker attended New York University and is assistant to David L. Loew, vice-president of Loew’s, Inc. Kansas Board Head Dies (Special to the Herald-World) GIRARD, KAN., April 29. — Miss Emma Viets, chairman of the Kansas State Board of Review, died here today after an illness of some time.