Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

10 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN' MERRITT CRAWFORD {Continued from page 5) As to the potentials of television as a competitor of the motion picture, except as the radio has been, they are apparently only negligible within any time that can be reasonably forecast at present. The progress of television in England, Germany and Russia, where it has made great strides during the past twelve months, has stimulated activity here. It has been reliably reported that the Radio Corporation of America, which holds a dominant position in the television field, although there are a host of lesser companies and experimental stations, has had under consideration the manufacture of television sets for home use on a production scale, some say as many as 50,000, for the New York territory alone, to be in readiness for the standardization of equipment, which must come before "home" television on a really commercial basis can be achieved. But as each of these sets would have to be sold at from $700 to $900 at present manufacturing costs, the idea has been shelved until further progress is made. To attempt to enumerate, much less discuss, the various "ifs" and obstacles, which will hold up commercial television more or less indefinitely, is impracticable within the limits of this department this week. They range from the limited size of the image televised, which can be looked at by only two or three individuals at a time, and then only by close attention and with an effort not required when listening to a radio broadcast, to the problem of tremendous costs involved for producing adequate television programs. As a novelty, only, television would probably be popular for a comparatively short period, which could not possibly warrant the tremendously costly erection and construction of the stations necessary to broadcast the programs. A radius of five miles is now about the limit for satisfactory television broadcasting, and the number of these stations can thus be roughly estimated for any given territory. This brings in the question of the "co-axial" cable about which we have recently heard something from which these programs would have to be fed to these stations. As the American Telephone and Telegraph is now discussing with Uncle Sam whether this cable should or should not be open to others, before it will consent to construct it, the question of future television broadcasting simmers down to one of government supervision or control, or of private monopoly. This adds a political problem to the technical and commercial and economic problems already indicated, which must be solved before "home" television can become a reality. Personally, the writer feels that the exhibitor need have no fear about it interfering with his business — at least this year. "Not a dark house in more than 20 years of film delivery service!" NEW JERSEY MESSENGER SERVICE Member National Film Carriers' Ass'n 250 N. JUNIPER STREET, PHILA. LOCust 4181 RACE 4600 FILM BULLETIN ADVERTISERS ARE AMONG THE LEADERS IN THEIR FIELDS PATRONIZE THEM! Howard Hughes New Air Speed Champ Howard Hughes, youthful producer of "Hell's Angels", "Scarface" and other outstanding films, broke into the headlines Tuesday by completing the fastest transcontinental airplane flight on record, making the route from Burbank, California to Newark, New Jersey in 9 hours, 27 minutes and 10 seconds. This shattered the previous record by more than half an hour. Sennwald, 'Times' Movie Critic, Dead Andre Sennwald, film critic on the New York Times, died in a gas explosion in his penthouse apartment in Manhattan Sunday afternoon. It was not determined whether his death was accidental or suicidal. He was 28 years old and one of the most highly regarded movie critics in the country. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS Ten cents per word, including initials, address, or box number. Minimum insertion 1 5 words. Cash or money order with each copy. Yearly contract rates are lower. Send for contract scale. Address communications to FILM BULLETIN, 1313 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pa. DECORATORS Decorate your theatre attractively and economically by Paramount Decorating Co., 311 North Thirteenth Street, Phila., Pa. DEODORANTS Silveray perfumed crystals eliminate unpleasant odors in your theatre. Flavor Products Co., 54 N. Fifth Street, Phila., Pa. INSURANCE All forms of special insurance applying to theatre operation handled on minimum rates. Representative will be sent on request. Box FB 107. JANITORS' SUPPLIES Cups, towels, toilet paper, bulbs, disinfectants, soaps, etc., Krankel's Sanitary Supplies, 305 S. 40th Street, Phila., Pa., FREmont 0127. UNIFORMS Ushers' and doormen's uniforms attractively made to measure. American Uniform Co., 134 South Eleventh Street, Phila., Pa. John Gilbert Dies Hollywood . — The "great lover" of silent picture days, John Gilbert, died here last Thursday, after an illness of several weeks. The death of the 3 8 year old actor was attributed to heart failure. Gilbert first achieved great fame in "The Big Parade" and he was one of the highest paid screen players until the advent of sound. His voice recorded poorly and his popularity waned rapidly. In the past five years he appeared in only a few pictures, none of which brought much response at the boxoffices. Everything in Equipment NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 13 15 VINE STREET, PHILA. SPRuce 6156