Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

December 20, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 29 // CHIC" CHATS NEW YORK. PHE New York Times, in the "Topics of -*■ the Times" column on the editorial page, not long ago ran a comment concerning the motion picture industry in general, saying in part, "The honorable tradition of the theatre has no counterpart in the movies." The occasion for the article was a dinner given in honor of Daniel Frohman, one of the grand old men of the legitimate stage who since, by the way, has had the unfortunate experience of having been struck by an automobile suffering severe injuries from which he is lecovering. The comment goes on to say : "He has made no superproductions. He is not paying fabulous salaries to a handful of blondes and men's fashion models for yodeling into a recording machine. He is not even blessed with a famous brother or sister in the movies to make his name known. He had an advantage, which it would probably not occur to Hollywood to point out, of the personal touch. "Some day Hollywood may offer similar homage to a beloved leader, but it is difficult to imagine such genuine sentiment evoked by a megaphone and a reel of celluloid." The writer of that criticism, whoever he may be, seems obviously to have been laboring under some sort of mental strain in respect to the motion picture art. How many laymen, entirely dissociated with the stage, know Daniel Frohman? Of course, he is known and loved, and rightly, within stage circles. But how does the writer of the above comment know that such respect and homage are not paid to many a figure, director or producer, in filmdom's Hollywood. Furthermore, he seems to overlook the fact that no matter how many super-productions are made, no matter how many blondes and "fashion models" are seen in pictures, the motion picture industry has accomplished a great thing in the world in its ability to supply lively entertainment, or finely played drama, or anything the stage has yet been able to offer the public, and at an admission rate which brings it within the reach of everv man and woman, no matter what their circumstances. The legitimate stage has been in active operation for centuries, the motion picture for only a few decades. Traditions are not established and developed over night, and yet the screen has its fair share, and more, of names which will live in the industry and the minds of the public long after their owners are dead. AAA George Arliss has pointed out one essential difference between acting on the legitimate stage and before the camera. In the former case, when a new individual appears on the scene as the play progresses, it is necessary for the actor to pause in order to enable the audience to shift its attention to the new arrival, accommodate itself to his person on the stage, and then return to the center of the stage for the continuation of the scene. In the making of a film, however, the action on the part of the actor is more rapid, since, due to the perspective, so to speak, from which the motion picture audience is viewing the play, they are able to take in the appearance of new individuals on the scene without a definite shift of attention to the wings and back to the center. AAA Colin Clive, who played so well in "Journey's End," Tiffany picture, as the nervous" Englishman, Captain Stanhope, is about to open Broadway in a new stage play, in which he portrays the part of a German officer. AAA "Shipwreck" Kelly has given up his lease on the apartment at the top of the Paramount Hotel flagpole. Probably he was dissatisfied with the heating service. "CHIC" AARONSON. exclusive first-run showing in Portland of Paramount and First National pictures, and will continue to show at the Fox Broadway both Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer features. 20 Millions Figure in Leasing Of Seven Publix Houses by Fox Expect Paramount Theatre at Portland Will Become Ace House of West Coast Circuit, with Fanchon & Marco Ideas and 12 -Piece Orchestra — Seven Theatres in Four Cities in Deal [By Special Correspondent to the Herald-World] PORTLAND, ORE., Dec. 18. — -Properties of a value estimated to approximate twenty millions are represented in the deal whereby Fox West Coast has acquired 20-year leases on the Publix theatres now being operated by Publix in Portland, Seattle and San Francisco. The deal, announced in the HeraldWorld last week, was confirmed here by Floyd S. Maxwell, Oregon division manager for Fox West Coast, and includes seven theatres, one of them under construction. The transaction is one of the most important consummated on the Pacific Coast, and brings into the Fox West Coast fold the Paramount and Rialto theatres in Portland, the Paramount theatre in Seattle and the Paramount, St. Francis and California theatres in San Francisco. The new $2,000,000 theatre under construction by Publix theatres in Oakland also is included in the deal. Paramount Seats 3,028 In Portland, the properties involved are estimated at more than $3,000,000; in fact, the Paramount theatre, which was built here two and a half years ago, represents an investment of nearly that amount, with furnishings and equipment $1,700,000. The interior furnishings and equipment are of the latest in beauty and luxury. The theatre opened to the public in May, 1927, and is the largest theatre in the Far Northwest, with a capacity of 3,028 seats. The Rialto theatre, included in the deal, was acquired by Publix theatres from the Helig Theatre company nearly two years ago, and is one of the oldest theatrical landmarks in the Pacific Northwest. It was completely renovated and refurnished when taken over. Paramount to be Ace House The policies to be pursued by Fox West Coast theatres in the operation of the two newly acquired theatres here will be announced by Oscar S. Oldknow, head of Fox West Coast Theatres, upon his return to Los Angeles. It is practically assured, however, that the Paramount theatre will be known as the ace house in the West Coast theatre operation, and doubtless will house the Fanchon & Marco Stage Ideas and a 12-picce orchestra, as features of the program, while the Fox Broadway will revert to straight picture programs and the Fox Hollywood will continue as a subsequent run house. These changes would become effective on January 1. The Fox organization also has acquired the Davis Petitions Court to Reverse Decision on RCA (Special to the Herald-World) PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 18.— It is understood that James W. Davis, Democratic candidate for president in 1924, and also counsel for RCA, has petitioned the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals of Delaware to reverse a decision by the U. S. District Court that his client violated the Clayton anti-trust law in acquiring a dominant control of the radio tube business by a pooling of its patents with those of General Electric, Westinghouse and nearly a score of other companies. The case is said to involve several millions of dollars and is expected to carry to the Supreme Court. Lucky It Wasn't One of Tom's Bullets (Special to the Herald-World) ST. LOUIS, Dec. 18.— Tom Mix and the St. Louis theatre have settled out of court the $25,000 damage suit hied against them about two years ago by Mrs. Fern Webb. The amount paid to Mrs. Webb has not been revealed, but her attorney, Robert J. Callahan, said the settlement was "for a substantial amount." Mrs. Webb based her damage suit on injuries she alleged to have sustained about two and a half years ago while attending a performance at the St. Louis theatre. She claimed that a fragment of a target at which Mix was shooting Hew off and struck her right eye. Mix was appearing in a vaudeville act at the theatre at the time of the mishap. Columbia Opens New Mexico City Office; A. L. Kalh Manager (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Dec. 18.— Following its plan for an enlarged international distributing organization, Columbia Pictures has opened an office in Mexico City, to be known as Columbia Pictures Sociedad Anonymas. Lou Goldstein, newly appointed sales manager for Latin American countries, and Harry Brunet, manager of exchange operations, are at present in Mexico City in connection with the establishment of the new branch. Goldstein will supervise the sales end and Brunet will install an accounting and distributing system similar to that used in this country. A. L. Kalb, formerly associated with M G M in the territory, has been appointed sales manager of the new office. Dallas Arcadia Theatre Is Being " Acousticized" (Special to the Herald-World) DALLAS, Dec. 18. — Work of reconditioning its walls and ceiling with acoustical treatment that will make its sound qualities as near perfection as possible is now under way at the Arcadia theatre and installation is expected to be completed within two weeks, it was announced by Walter Akin, manager of the theatre. The inception of sound and its adoption as the prime factor in modern cinema entertainment has revolutionized the construction problem of theatre builders, Mr. Akin pointed out.