Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

36 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD November 15, 1930 15 Years of Technicolor's Progress Completed on November 19 Organization Formed by Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus Has Grown to be Important Factor in Industry — "Whoopee" Outstanding (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 13.— On November 19, 1915, a group of Boston scientists, headed by Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, began the exhaustive research experiments which have led to the position that the Technicolor corporation now holds in the motion picture industry. The laboratories of the company today seem far removed from those days, 15 years ago, when a number of men had only an idea born of inventive genius. E'LEVEN ' able to years ago, Technicolor was give satisfactory theatre ex pictures in natural Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus hibitions of motion colors which were photographed under favorable conditions and printed on small laboratory scale. The most difficult hurdle, however, in the production of pictures in natural color was not that of demonstrating with negative produced under favorable conditions and with prints made on a small scale, but rather the transition from that to a full fledged commercial scale. First Color Feature in 1921 The first feature length picture made by Technicolor under normal studio conditions was "Toll of the Sea," with Anna May Wong and released by Metro in 1921. Five years ago, Paramount produced Zane Grey's "Wanderer of the Wasteland," with Jack Holt and Billie Dove, completely in Technicolor, and two years later Douglas Fairbanks gave color another impetus by making "The Black Pirate." However, it remained for sound to bring about Technicolor's present success. After Warner Brothers made "On With the Show," an all-talking, singing and dancing picture in color, its success caused the company to sign a contract with Technicolor for more than 40 pictures to be photographed and printed for Warner Brothers and First National. Following this came "Gold Diggers of Broadway," which, it is Marion Davies Hostess At Party for War Veterans (Special to the Herald-World) LOS ANGELES, Nov. 13.— Marion Davies gave one of the largest parties ever staged for war veterans here, when she sponsored a banquet for more than 2,000 ex-servicemen in the Biltmore hotel on the evening of Armistice Day. The number of invited guests was limited only by the capacity of the hotel. Miss Davies planned the event to cheer many who may be depressed by economic conditions, it is stated. A dinner, dance and notable entertainment were among the features of the evening's program. Details were planned by representatives of 15 divisions that served in the A. E. F. Invitations were sent out by telegraphic night letter. Miss Davies is an honorary colonel of the Twenty-sixth Infantry, United States Army. understood, has grossed upwards of $4,000,000 to date. Expands 700 Per Cent in Year Following this, other studios began to seek Technicolor treatment with the result that the corporation had to increase its output 700 per cent in the space of a year. This meant the construction of new laboratories, manufacture of patented cameras and specialized machinery for use in the developing and printing process. Extensive research was needed to keep pace with sound reproduction and hundreds of technical men had to be trained in the operation of the intricate processes. When "On With the Show" was produced, there were only eight technicolor cameras in the world. Now there are 50, representing an equipment value of $400,000. "Whoopee" Called Best Effort "Whoopee," the Florenz Ziegfeld-Samuel Goldwyn comedy, starring Eddie Cantor, and distributed by United Artists, and photographed entirely in color, is said to be one of the finest examples of Technicolor photography. There has also been some discussion that the excellence of the sound in the picture was enhanced by the special manner in which technicolor films are printed. Some of the Technicolor pictures now being shown or soon to be released include "The Life of the Party," "Viennese Nights," "Kiss Me Again," "Woman Hungry" and "Fifty Million Frenchmen." Clinton Wunder Revises Speaking Dates of Tour For Academy in Midwest (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 13.— The revised schedule of Clinton Wunder, executive manager of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for the speaking tour in the Midwest, has been arranged as follows: St. Louis, Nov. 18; Memphis, Nov. 19; Washington University, St. Louis, Nov. 20; Omaha, Nov. 21; Minneapolis, Nov. 23-24; Milwaukee, Nov. 25. The purpose of Wunder's speaking tour is to inform the public of the Academy's work and other "inside workings" in Hollywood. He will address civic clubs, colleges, women's clubs, educators, film boards of trade and exhibitors. it Viennese Nights" Goes Into N. Y. Warner Nov. 26 (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 13.— "Viennese Nights," the Warner special in Technicolor, is billed to replace "Outward Bound" at the Warner Brothers theatre November 26. This will be the world premiere of the film. The picture portrays Vienna as it was before the World war. The original story was written by Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein Know Your Exchange Managers The exchange manager is the direct contact between exhibitor and distributor, and therefore it is to their mutual advantage to know each other. The Herald-World presents a series of brief sketches of exchange managers and their outstanding activities in the motion picture field. V. M. Skorey A dentist is what V. M. Skorey, Fox manager at Calgary, Canada, started out to be, after having taught school for two years. But he decided that pulling contract signatures off exhibitors' pens was more interesting than yanking bicuspids, so he became shipper and booker for Educational at Calgary in 1923. The next year he joined United Artists as booker but in three months he was back with Educational as manager. Then he tried a year in the retail business at Seattle but returned to Calgary in 1926 and now is Fox branch manager. Twenty years ago F. C. Hensler, M G M manager at Kansas City, was a theatre man. From 1910 to 1914 he was assistant manager of the Butterfly theatre and manager of the Climax, Atlas and Jackson theatres at Milwaukee. The next two years he was salesman for George Kleine, K-E-S-E Corporation, Minneapolis, and when Kleine was taken over by General Film Company Hensler represented General Film in Milwaukee. When General Film went out of business he managed state rights offices in and around Milwaukee until 1919. Barney Pitkin, New Haven manager for R K O, is only 30 years old but he has had thirteen years of experience in the film business, starting in 1917 as shipping clerk with Gordon and Mayer Company, owned by Nathan Gordon, who controlled a number of New England theatres, and by Louis B. Mayer, now production chief of M GM. When Gordon and Mayer Company was absorbed by First National, Pitkin went into the employ of Universal, remaining until 1924. Next he was with Federated Film Exchange, and then with R K O. F. C. Hensler Barney Pitkin