The Film Daily (1935)

THE SEE REVIVALS CURBING NEW SEASON'S OUTPUT Continued from Page 1) portations likewise are looked upon as taking up increased playing time. Estimate is made that from 10 to 15 per cent fewer pictures will probably show in the final 1935-36 release totals. Elaborate Film Displays At RKO Convention Hall Chicago — Elaborate displays on features and short subjects, topping anything in the history of RKO Radio conventions, met the delegates' eyes when they gathered at the Drake Hotel, yesterday, for the three-day sales gathering which opens today. Among the various eye-fillers are 12 art 24-sheets encircling the balcony of the grand ballroom. These are punctuated by glittering columns and 6-sheet size sales messages. Around the floor are 24 five-foot star cut-out heads in full color. Short-subject series are represented by 40 x 60 layouts in easel frames. The decorative plan for the Drake ballroom and its surrounding corridors was conceived and directed by Leon J. Bamberger, sales promotion manager for RKO Radio, and were executed by American Display from sketches by the RKO Radio art department under David J. Strumpf. ^or.tuguese Films Lewis MaiselJ, who recently organized Ultrantares Films, with headquarters in"'v'the Paramount Building, will produce a series of Portuguese language feature films for world distribution. The first has been temporarily titled "Despojos Do Mar" ("Spoils of the Sea") and will be directed by George Terwilliger. David Strong of Criterion Films will handle distribution in the U. S. and Portuguese speaking countries. Maissell leaves for New Bedford, Mass., on Wednesday to make arrangements for casting and location. Leff Finishes Jewish Film Abraham Leff, president of Lefco Productions and theater circuit owner, has completed a new Jewish talkie, "The Eternal Jew," starring the boy Cantor, Louis Waldman, supported by Morris B. Samuylow, Rubin Wendorf, and also Baby Celina Breene. This picture will have its premiere showing at the Clinton theater starting Friday. Tully Marshall's Farewell West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — After finishing his part in "A Talc of Two Cities" at M-G-M. Tully Marshall will retire permanently from the screen. He is 71 years old and had been on the stage for 45 years before entering pictures. ■%ti DAILY Monday, June 17, 19: AL MALT • • • PICTURES THAT Made History consider the case of "The Singing Fool" back tin 1928 "The Jazz Singer" had preceded it in 1927 but Talkies definitely arrived with the Fool" this pix took Jolson out of the class of mere entertainer and made him an Actor. * * * • • • IT WAS decided by Warners to take over the Winter Garden for the initial showing they made the deal with the Shuberts taking over of this house marked the last gasp of the big legit theaters on Broadway so in a sense "The Singing Fool" symbolized the ascendency of the Motion Picture over the Legit * * * • • • A COMMITTEE of four decided the policy for the run they were Harry Charnas, Sol De Bries, treasurer of the Garden, "Dad" Warner, father of the Warner boys, and A. P. Waxman, then advertising director of Warners they decided to charge $3.30 for the run the highest previous price was $2.20 on a two-a-day they took a chance Jolson, in all due modesty, couldn't see the public paying such a price it started off the first week with 50 grand and averaged 35 grand over the run this one Broadway showing paid for the entire cost of the pix. * * * • • • THE ADVERTISING bill just for the Winter Garden showing was $59,000 over the 29 weeks the pix grossed $959,000 at this house for the first time in history of the two-a-days, 17 shows were given weekly with an extra supper and midnite show on Saturday, and a supper show on Sunday * * * • • • IT'S INTERESTING to note that the deal was made with the Shuberts to take over the Winter Garden for the run of the pix the Shuberts share on that engagement was enough to pay the dividends on the entire Shubert Theatrical Corporation stock issue, operating legit theaters from coast to coast the Shuberts anticipated only 20 grand a week top the speculators got rich * * * • • • MOST FOLKS overlook the fact that the First all-talking pix was a quickie, "Lights of New York," made by Bryan Foy it was crude, and kept talkies in the Doubtful Class then "The Singing Fool" smashed over and removed all doubts the Revolution was on * * * • • • INTERESTING SIDELIGHT the Warners wanted the block front on Broadway that the Winter Garden would give them for the biggest theater sign in the world so Waxman had the three small signs ripped down and one massive sign made covering the entire Broadway block front then it was decided to take advantage of the Seventh Avenue side and make an entrance of the stage entrance they had a tuff time buying up the Greek fruit vender's lease but the overflow from the Roxy which was then THE Show Place was too good to miss they paid the fruit vendor handsomely, and the receipts from the Seventh Ave. side in three months paid for the new marquee, the box office and what they paid the Greek * * * • • • NOW IT seems that Warners are putting out a new Dick Powell pix titled "Broadway Gondolier" a Talkie, of course and this Columnist rises to remark that he has had the rights to the Silent Version for years hell, they pinched it from the head of this kolyum they can't kid us GULF EXHIBS OPPOSF A VOLUNTARY Cut (Continued from Page 1) this to be best for the small theatt man. Henry McLeod, G.S.T.OJ president, who might favor a volui tary code, says, "I think that as a industry we should make up ov. minds whether or not we want cod* of wages and hours, as other indus tries are doing." He feels that ke independents and circuits would ac cept a voluntary code, and plans t\ call a meeting early this week o the matter. New Fox Met. Plan Expected Ready Tuesda: (Continued from Page 1) will be brought before the Fox Mel noteholders, it was said Saturday b; Harold Aron, attorney for Stern Aron said he expected the new plai to be "sounder and more attractive' to noteholders than the Weisman Schenck reorganization plan. Stern announced his proposed re organization plan at the last hear ing on the Weisman-Schenck plai before Federal Judge Mack. He sai< at that time that he had no produc lined up but that he believed h< could obtain product. m « « » » » Chicago Chat Chicago — This city is to be th< permanent headquarters for E. T Gomersall, western sales managei for Universal. Henry Herbel, branch manager here, has added Bill Baker formerly in the Detroit Universal office, to the local sales force. Signing of a product deal by James E. Coston, head of the Warner theaters here, with M-G-M is looked upon as ending the plans of Loew to build houses in this area. Warner's Capitol and Avalon theaters have dropped Saturday and Sunday vaudeville for the summer Hearing on the inquest into the death of Clyde Osterberg, slain head of an independent motion picture operators union, has been continued to June 26 at the request of the police. With the installation of four ultramodern air conditioning systems completed in the Alba and LaGrange theaters, the Balaban & Katz Circuit is 100 per cent air-conditioned. Jack Schwartz, country salesman for Republic Pictures, is taking a two-week honeymoon vacation in Bermuda. He was married June 9. The Chicago Amusement Publicists Association will hold a frolic in the Joseph Urban Room of the Congress Hotel, June 29. 500th Role for Tom RicketK. West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAI\, Hollywood — Assignment of Ton." Ricketts to M-G-M's "A Tale of Two Cities" will mark his 500th role in pictures. Ricketts has been a screen actor for 22 years. ■^M