The Film Daily (1928)

z^m DAILV Sunday, August 5, 1928 \\ NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FAST GROWING FIELD OF SYNCHRONIZATION SOUND Actor* s Equity Plans Code to Govern Performances in Sound By ARTH A code of regulations covering employment of its members in sound pictures is numbered among the plans of Actor's E(|uity Ass'n. An official of the organization has recently returned from the Coast with the report that producers are busy lining up stage actors and actresses for apIiearances in sound pictures. Witli the advent of legitimate stage producers in New York into sound production, new warnings have been issued to Equity members not to sign contracts until the association looks further into the matter. The first indication of the association's stand on talking pictures came to light in the latest issue of "Equity" official bulletin of the .\.E..A.. when the argument was advanced that appearances in talking pictures are likely to interfere with the future career of a player more than his playing in a silent picture would. "It is not altogether beyond the range of anticipation." the article declares, "that an actor may find, in going on the road, that he will be in opposition to himself just across the street, or around the corner; and if he has done the straight motion picture work, he may be appearing to the |)eople of that place in three roles simultaneously." Intimation of the association's stand is gleaned from the following: "Equity does believe that in view of the handicaps imposed upon its members by the conditions which enter into the making and showing of its form of contract they ought to stand out for a more equitable arrangement in pay." Complaint from jjroducers is anticipated by Equity which declares "there always is when the actors ask f<jr what is fair and due." Continuing: "If these actors will stand out for what Equity believes to be a fair request, in view of the disabilities connected with the case and — if they are pressed too hard — if they will call upon their Association to negotiate these points for them. Equity believes that they will receive the pay to which they are entitled. "It is a point and a situation in which Equity is greatly interested. Let the actors make these demands firmly and stick U) them and the problem will be solved before it becomes serious. "The development of talking motion pictures has proved conclusively the fundamental error cf)mmitted by the group of important and influential motion picture actors who, just a year ago, blocked Equity's organization of the motion picture field and the establishment of an Equity Shop. Thorough Hollywood The Film Daily New York City Gentlemen: The Sound Picture Edition of The Film Daily covers the subject very thoroughly indeed. The edition is an encyclopedia on the' subject and Film Daily is to be congratulated on its foresight in devoting a special edition to this subject. Sincerely, HAROLD B. FRANKLIN, President, West Coast Theaters, Inc. KUE-GRAPH, NEW DEVICE, APPEARS IN SOUTHWEST Dallas — Kue-(iraph, synchronization device based on the stock disc record idea, is being sold in the Southwest by Herbert Bros. & Wolf. The device embraces a speciallyconstructed amplifier, with a specially-designed horn and it plays standard 10 and 12 inch records. Its specifications, as outlined by the dealers, follow : special electrically driven turn with control switches for speed stop, start, and master "play" THREE BROADWAY PLAYS' TALKING RIGHTS SOLD Under the new talking rights contract just completed by the Authors' League, right to reproduce the dialogue of three Broadway plays in connection with pictures have been sold. Universal has acquired the talking rights to "Broadway," having previously bought the screen rights, Warner Brothers have purchased these rights in connection with "The Desert Song" and United •A-rtists for "Nightstick." Negotiations are now under way for the sale of dialogue rights to four more Broadway productions. A clause in the new contract provides that a film producer may alter the dialogue of a play with the approval of its author. When such a revision is made there must be an explanation to the effect that the talking is "adapted from the dialogue" of the author. As in the sale of screen rights, producing managers and authors will split 50-50 in most cases when talking rights are sold. 1. Two table units regulation, switch. 2. Two electric pick-ups making possible perfect cuing of picture, without intermission. i. Special amplification unit, designed by radio experts especially for theinstrument. 4. Latest type loud si>eaker unit. 5. Specially designed horn. (). Volume control, from Ijarely audible to sufficient volume for a large auditorium. Kue-Graph was developed and tested, over a period of one year by expert radio men who had had many years' experience in their field, liuilt one of the first radio broadcasting stations in the United States, are the patentees of electrical equipment outstanding am..ng which are the "stop" and "go" trafiic signals, according to Ernest P. Herber. ^ "The object in mind in developing the Kue-Graph was to get the best results in clearness of tone, natural reproduction, volume without distortions, elementation of surface noise from records, static," he said. The tone is due to a special amplifier constructed for this instrument, and also due to a specially designed horn attached to a loud -peaker. Other than that. Kue-Graph is sim i'ar to other makes of this type, playing the standard 10 inch and 12 inch records from a magnetic pick-up and double turntable arrangement permitting cuing of the picture. The special case is equipped with record magazine holding 16 twelve inch records and 24 ten inch records, jjlaced just Ijennul a.K. above the turntables so that the music for a particular picture can be selected, arranged, and played with ease. The left side cabinet can hold over 100 records, while the amplifier is in the right cabinet, with ventilators for heat from power amplifier. MEISTERTONE IS NEW SOUND-ON-riLM DEVICII London — Meistertone, new souni'^' on-film device which is being demij onstrated here, will cost exhibitorijr about $1,000, according to its spon*' sors. It is the invention of H. J Kuchenmeister. Associated with bin in the project are Sir Walter di Frece, Sir Alan Burgoyne, Righ Hon. and A. C. McCurdie. Competition on Sound |. Under Way at Omahiii Omaha — Competition betwee " sound picture houses is looming hen »' with return of the World to a soun!" Dolicy. and wiring of the Rivienp The Strand for some time has bee playing sound pictures. The latte two are Blank-Publix houses, whilht the World is operated by Worlb Realty Corp., which has a chain ( fee Nebraska houses. i, Morrison Lining Up Talent J. C. Nugent. Edgar .Mien Woolf, Ray Perkins and Harry Archer are among the composers and authors who have engaged Leo Morri.son to handle their activities in sound pictures. Morrison has acted as agent for a number of well known players who have already appeared in Fox Movietone Entertainments, among them Chic Sale. Beatrice Lillie, Joe Cook and Clark and McCullough. Paramount Releasing 3 Sound Features, Comedies Three of the five features and three Christie comedies, of the eight shorts scheduled for release in August by Paramount will have sound effects. Music score, sound eilfects and, in some cases, dialogue, are included. "Warming Up," first Paramount feature utilizing sound, which is playmg the Rivoli, New York, and 25 nre-release runs, is to be followed by a silent picture, "Forgotten Faces." "Love's of an Actress," with sound accompaniment and "The First Kiss," without sound, are next on the schedule. "Sawdust Paradise," with sound, also is scheduled. The three Christie sound comedies are "Dizzy Diver," "Hot Scotch" and "Stop Kidding." One Sound House in Country Wastnngton Bureau of THE FILM DAILi Washington— One house in Czechoslavakia has sound picture equipment states a report to the M. P. Section of the Dept. of Commerce. Sound Films Make Debulat Memphis Theate Memphis, Tenn. — Sound picture; have made their debut here ita hoc-w's Palace with Vitaphone an*"' Movietone accompaniment. '' Installation of sound equipment a Loew's State is being arranged an probably will be ready early in thj fall, and with the opening of thto Strand next month, three Memphi ^i theaters will be equipped for soun' "{ pictures. " JB "Noah's Ark" Completed t at Warner Bros. Studif After months of preparation anjfc' work, "Noah's Ark," most ambitioulCi' production undertaking ever attemplif* ed by Warner Bros., was finished thijj^" week. The last Vitaphone sequenceif'' are done and the thousands of fee' of film taken by Director Michae Curtiz have gone to the cutting roor for the final stage of production. ^Hl Sound for Loew Atlanta House Atlanta — Installation of sound pi( ture apparatus is progressing rapidl| at Loew's Grand. Fox Movietonj will make its debut at the house Auf! 6. One week before Loew's Gran' gets under way with sound pictureLoew's Palace, Memphis, and LoewL Vendome, Nashville, will have inatW" gurated Movietone. Vitaphone at Nashville Nashville, Tenn.— "The Lion and th Mouse" Aug. 6 will introduce Vit: phone pictures at the Vendom Loew's Nashville house, August ' On the same bill there will be heari ,., the Kentucky Jubilee Choir, Fd |; Movietone News and Joe Cook iii> Movietone.