The Film Daily (1928)

i THE Monday, August 6, 192:1 ^ ■i: BRITISH EXPORTS SHOW DROP FIRST HAL FOF YEAR IVashington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — British imports of fihns during the first six months of 1928 totaled 37.688.655 linear feet, valued at $529,874, compared with 52.157.870 linear feet valued at $614,948 during the same period of 1927. a decline of approximately 14,500,000 linear feet this year, according to a report to the Department of Commerce today. However, it was stated, this year's imports were 15.500,000 linear feet larger than in 1926. Compared with the first half of 1927. British imports this year of blank film decreased by 11.500,000 linear feet, positives by 2,000.000 linear feet and negatives by 1,000,000 linear feet, but contrasted with 1926 practically the only movement was in blank films, which showed a rise this vear of rather more than 15,000,000 linear feet. Imports of blank film the first half of this year were 27,076.492 linear feet of positive film, 7.288.716 linear feet and of negative film, 3,323,447 linear feet. Curtain Control Machine for Sound Films Offered Akron. O. — Syncon-Trol has been placed on the market by Vallen Electrical Co., and is designed especially for use with sound pictures. This curtain control machine has a control and indicating circuit. The latter advises the operator of the position of the curtain at all times through colored indicators in the booth, enabling synchronization of curtain, film and sound. 50 to 100 Vocafilms to Be Made Weekly Is Claim Manufacturing plans of the Vocafilm Corp. of America call for turning out from 50 to 100 complete devices weekly. David R. Hochreich. president, declared in confirming deal of Lee and J. Schubert, A. H. Woods and William A. Brady for control of the company. The legitimate producers purchased stock of Harry Williams, who is retiring from the company. Every theater which signs a Vocafilm contract for equipment and productions can play the pictures by making arrangements with the roadshow department. Houses which wish bookings before being wired permanently, may secure a roadshow booking, with roadshow apparatus brought in for the run. Tryouts for "Motherhood" Dav and date tryouts Aug. 14 for "Motherhood" are planned at the Strand, Poughkcepsie and the Cameo, Xewburgh, marking first showings of the picture in New York. States Cinema is roadshowing the production. "U" Buys "Sutter's Gold" Universal has purchased "Soitter's Gold" as a vehicle for Jean Hersholt. The Broadway Parade LILAC TIME" opened for a long run at the Central Friday, with the Rivoli and Rialto showing "The Perfect Crime" and "The Loves of an Actress" respectively. The latter was moved to the Rialto after a week at the Paramount. Picture Distributor Theater Opening Date "Wings" Paramount Criterion Aug. 12. 1927 "Tempest" United Artists. . . Embassy May 17, 1928 "The Lion and the Mouse" Warners Warners June 15 "The Red Dance" Fox Globe June 25 "Lost in the Arctic" . . . Fox Gaiety July 25 "White Shadows in South Seas" M-G-M Astor July 31 "Lilac Time" First National. . . Central Aug. 3 "The Perfect Crime" . . .FBO Rivoli Aug. 6 "Loves of an Actress" . Paramount Rialto Aug. 6 Police Deny Plot in St. Louis Music Fight St. Louis — Depositions of Police Commissioner Frank Magoon and former Commissioner Arthur P'reund were taken before a special commissioner in the $40,000 damage suit brought by Emil P. Bafunno, a union musician, against the Board of Police Commissioners and the owners of the Senate for alleged unlawful arrest and prosecution. Bafunno and eight others were arrested last May while distributing circulars in front of the Senate calling the public's attention to the fact that the theater was using mechanical music instead of an orchestra composed of union musicians. Bafunno and the others were charged with littering the streets with paper, but were later discharged in police court. Magoon and Freund denied they or any other member of the police board had conspired with Jake and Frank Leventhal and Charles Goldman, owners of the theater, to 'nave Bafunno and the others arrested. Depositions of the theater owners. Chief of Police Gerk and Assistant Chief Glasco will be taken on Sept. 11. The Senate always has used a mechanical organ instead of a regular orchestra. The Rainbow and Astor under the same management also use mechancal organs. Several years ago they used orchestras. Cutting Nut at Indianapolis Indianapolis — Second run features and a modified stage show have been restorted to at the Fountain Square to "cut the nut" this summer. The master of ceremonies and dancing ensemble have been released. Photographing "Asphalt" Berlin — Gunther Rittau, who did the camerawork on "Metropolis," will photograph "Asphalt," third Erich Pommer production for Ufa. Joe May will direct. Film of Kohler City Kohler, Wis. — Activities of residents of this industrial city sponsored by the Kohler Co., which manufactures emergency lighting plants for theaters, as well as many other products, are to be pictured in a film now being made here. Foreclosure Causes Dropping Credit Body Chicago — Creditors' committee named by creditors of National Theaters Corp., (Cooney Bros.) has ceased to function and will be discontinued. This action is due to the proceedings brought against the company by Guaranty Trust Co., of New York, which resulted in appointment of a receivership. Chicago Title and Trust Co., is receiver named by the court. Joe Leo of Fox is operating the theaters for the receiver. The suit was foreclosure proceedings brought to satisfy mortgage of $2,500,000. Church Cooperates with Theater on Sunday Shows Conway, la. — This town has solved the Sunday show question very effectively. Church services are held •each Sunday night in an open air theater. The services end promptly at 8:30 p. m., and are followed by a feature and some short subjects. The congregation may see the show by paying the admission price. Both the church people and the exhibitor are satisfied with this arrangement. Attendance at church services and the theater have increased. O'Toole Goes to Milwaukee St. Louis — Jack O'Toole has resigned as local manager for Play Golf to take over management of the Tif?any-Stahl exchange at Milwaukee. Three of Series Ready Three of the comedy series, "Embarrassing Moments," announced a short time ago by Weiss Brothers' Artclass Pictures Corp. are now completed and ready for release, according to Max Weiss. Artclass will produce 26 of these single reel comedies based on ideas submitted by theater patrons. Reisenfeld to Coast Having completed the sound score for "Two Lovers" and "Tempest," both on the United Artists program, Hugo Riesenfeld leaves for the Coast Tuesday. He has been working at the Camden, N. J. plant of the Victor Talking Machine Co. Fl IS fORMED AT TORONTt t Toronto — Gaumont British Cori of Canada, Ltd., with headquarterfcn here has been incorporated as an all<i> filiation with Gaumont Film Co. c England. The purposes of th Canadian company include the pre ducing, distributing and presentatioii of pictures in the Dominion, ^m Canadian Federal charter has bee**'' obtained, enabling the new compan to operate in all Provinces. Arrangements have been made fotji/ the early release of Gaumont*"* "Mademoiselle of Armentieres" ii the Dominion through Regal Film; Toronto. Regal is associated witl Famous Players Canadian Corp., an. the Gaumont feature is scheduled ti play the Famous Players' houses ii Canada. Jack Arthur, musical super visor of Famous Players, has pre pared the theme song. Church Continues Films Being Supplied by FB( Pipestone, Minn. — Despite the re cent fire which destroyed severa reels of film, the Presbyterian churc] here is continuing its policy of pre senting pictures. Contracts havi been closed for the new season'; FBO product. That company ha been serving the church for si: months, in spite of protests from L V. Feldman, who operates the Or pheum here. The church, he says has no exits, fireproof film cases oi any other safeguards. Coast Critics Like AllSound Warner Picturi West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILl Los Angeles — "Lights of New York," first all-talker to play the coast, was received favorably by Lo! Angeles critics when it opened a1 the Warner theater. They said: EXPRESS—* * ♦ Within the greatly lim ited field of vision its "eye" sweeps v enacted a tale of unwilling lawlessness, youth ful romance and mysterious murder, with i denouement that may carry a surprise. * * ' Consonants still bother the recording tech< nicians. and the hair-line between volumil t and naturalness seems to have stumped tin boys who work the reproducing amplifiers * * * HERALD—* * * If there were any doul. that the talking picture has the quality " permanence, this film settles it. I don' mean that "Lights of New York" is a gre.ii story superbly acted. I do not mean it i interesting not only from the point of view of novelty, but for itself. RECORD—* * * Hugh Herbert and Mur ray Roth, the authors, and Bryan Foy. the director of "Lights of New York," brokt new ground when they made this picture which history will probably place aloagsidi Edison's first phonograph. TIMES—* * * There isn't a sin'jle im portant character that doesn't speak at son.' time. The voices vary in the satisfactii" that they aflord. The dialogue at times i undoubtedly "hammy." But the sum tnlj is interesting. It is interesting even in spii' of a slow and rather stilted timing of soniof the conversations. * * • Reviving "Waxworks" London — "Waxworks." Paul Leni's latest directorial effort before going to America, is being revived here after six years. Emil Jannings and Conrad Veidt are in the cast.