The Film Daily (1928)

/ \ \Cotnplete Interchangeability Claimed by RCA iTHE ;9f^ NEWSPAPER o/'f\lhtt>OM ALL THE NEW5 ALLTHE TIME VOL. XLV No. 33 Wednesday, August 8, 1928 Price 5 Cent? AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCT A CONCERN TO BALTIMORE Baltimore — Operators of residential houses are concerned over availaijility of product, now that the Stanley has been become part of the Loew chain here. The Parkway, a second run Loew house, ordinarily follows ihe Century and Valencia, both first runs but will now follow the Stanley as well. Heretofore, the Parkway has run pictures somewhere within 30 days after the first runs, but it is believed now that no definite playdates are to be spotted in for the house. Thus, neighborhood operators feel there is no way of learning how soon after the first run picture will {Continued on Page 6) BRISTOLPHONESOONTO BE PLACED ON MARKET Waterbury, Conn. — Marketing of the Bristolphone sound projection system, employing the disc method of reproduction and selling at $3,500 is planned within a few months by the Bristol Talking Movie Co., being formed by William H. Bristol, inventor of the device. Bristol, who heads the Bristol (Continued on Page 6) German Busy Improving Radio-Cable Television Berlin — Professor Karolus, Leipzig inventor, who asserts he has perfected a television system which carries motion pictures over radio or cable, is at work on perfection of the light cell, the basis of his device. His objective is to speed the mechanism up to 12,000 light points per second in place of the 8,000 now attainable. As soon as this is done, he states, the jerkiness which now prevails in transmission of motion pictures will be eliminated. Exhibitors Fight Back in Sunday Closing Row Martins Ferry, O. — Several theater owners have been arrested here for keeping open on Sunday in violation of the law. To retaliate, the theater owners made reformers close everything else in the town, including gasoline filling stations, drug stores, confectioners and whatever merchants had opened. Efforts at reconciliation are being made by city officials. B'WAY DIZZY OVER REPORT OF SOUND PICTURE COMBINATION No Equipment Change Needed to Interchange, Sarnoff Says Boyd Expanding Philadelphia — It is common talk in Easton exhibition circles that Al Boyd, former buyer for Stanley and now on his own in the theater field, will acquire a partnership interest or complete ownership of the new 2,000-seat theater being built in that town by Clayton Busse. The house opens in November. FOX, SET IN CLEVELAND, NOT TO BUILD THEATER Cleveland — Fox has sold its product 100 per cent to the local Keith theaters. With this comes further announcement that Fox will not build a first run house in Cleveland as has been reported. Attorney in Ohio "Trust" Suit Backed for Senator Cleveland — Local and state exhibitor organizations have endorsed Joseph N. Ackerman for state senator. Ackerman helped defeat the five per cent tax proposed on theater grosses. He is now handling the case of George Schade against the Film Board of Trade and its members, charging restraint of trade and conspiracy. A temporary injunction was granted Schade restraining distributors from enforcing the deposit clause of the standard contract. A permanent injunction is being sought. The case will come up when Federal Judge Paul Jones returns from his vacation. "The Patriot" Opens N. Y. Run at Rialto Aug. 16 A new marquee and a general refurnishing is planned for the Rialto preparatory to the New York open(Continiied on Page 2) Change of the Photophone sound track to the 80 mil width, to conform to the Movietone sound track has achieved complete interchangeability of the two process, according to a statement issued by David Sarnoff, president of RCA-Photophone. No change in equipment or of the operating procedure is necessary in interchangeable use of the two systems, he claims. "As a convenience to exhibitors and with a view of obtaining comiContinued on Page 6) "WINCS" ROUNDING OUT A YEAR ON BROADWAY Bringing to five the pictures which have rounded out runs of one year on Broadway, "Wings" is to celebrate its first anniversary Aug. 12. The week commencing on that date is to be known as "Wings" Anniversary Week, with outstanding figures in aviation to be invited to the various showings. The other four pictures which have played a year on Broadway are: "The Ten Com(Continued on Page 2) India Rejects Preference Plan for British Films London — India cannot afford to risk offending America, from which it receives 80 per cent of its imported pictures, through preferential treatment to films made within the British Empire, particularly because the country now absorbs practically all British pictures produced. This was the finding of the special committee named by the government to survey the domestic industry, with a rejection of the invitation of the Imperial Conference of 1926, that special preference be given British fihns. Development of the domestic industry, through establishment of a film bureau, is recommended, financed by a five per cent increase of the import duty on films, a tax on films shown and government contributions. Rumor Starts As Cyclom And Ends As Gentle Zephyr Warner Bros. "A" continuing its sen sational stock advance to a new higl of 79yz, provided Broadway with i thrill yesterday and Harry Warnei with a busier day than Al Jolson evei had singing "Mammy." It was like this. It seemed sev eral companies — the report persistet in revolving around Paramount an( Fox — were hot after W'arners in or der to secure control of Vitaphone So hot, in fact that the bidding start ed at $10,000,000 and ended at $15, 000,000 with the Warners, seeing evervbody so anxious, holding ou for $20,000,000 or no sale. Thus th. yarn ran until several telephone call spiked it. Adolph Zukor voted ai emphatic thumbs down. Warner, a the other end of a big cigar, said \v wasn't interested in selling — at an; {Continued on Page 2) Test Case on Censoring Sound in Ohio Planne( Columbus, O. — Legality of tin state attorney general's ruling tha dialogue or other vocal effects usee in sound pictures are censorable wil be tested, it is understood. L.A. Mayor Proclaims Greater Movie Seasoi West Coast Bureau, THE FILM BAIL Los Angeles — Alayor Cryer of Lo Angeles has issued a proclamatioi calling upon citizens here to aid iobservance of Greater Movie Season to be put over in all its houses b; West Coast Theaters. New Zealand Considers Quota Favorable to U. K Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILI W'ashington — A quota bill for Nev Zealand has had its first reading ii the New Zealand House. Its term would make it compulsory for thea ters there to increase the percentage of British films shown on each pro gram. In Australia, exhibitors hav been sidestepping a similar law b; exhibiting more British films in th form of newsrecls with the resul that regular dramatic subjects hav not suffered. ,