The Film Daily (1928)

THE 'unday, August 12, 1928 -.%g^ DAILY Foreign Markets By JAMES P. CUNNINGHAM as mm DAILY HOUSES HAVE 820,000 SEATS ashington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY , Washington — German picture jouses which operate daily now have n aggregate seating capacity of |20,000, according to a report to the LP. Section of the Dept. of Comlerce. There are only six theaters 1 the country with capacities beween 2,000 and 2,500. The number f other theaters giving regular perirniances are as follows: with seats fom 1,500 to 2,000, 17; from 1,000 to ',500 seats, 106; from 750 to 1,000 leats, 137; from 500 to 750 seats, 473; Uth less than 500 seats, 1,207. \ustralian Companies Increase Their Capital Sydney — Indicating an expansion rogram. Union Theaters, Ltd., has icreased its capital from $1,500,000 0 $3,000,000 by issuance of 300,000 jiew shares at $5 each. 1 General Film Co. of Australasia, Ltd., has increased its capital from •;;750,000 to $3,500,000 by issuing ,50,000 additional ordinary shares at i5 each. Eight from German Firm Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY \ Washington — Program of Albopilm-Gesellschaft, German firm, for '928-29 provides eight features, four )f which are German and iour foreign, states the Dept. of Commerce. The company's lineup also includes '0 shorts. U. S. Leads in Italy Rome — United States led in the ilms imported into Italy during 1927. Each country is credited as follows: United States, 1,266,000 meters; France, 386,000 meters; Great Britlin, 350,000 meters. Dupont Making "Piccadilly" London — "Piccadilly" is the title 3f A. E. Dupont's new picture for 'British International. Anna May Wong plays one of the leads. Richniount Pictures 723 7th Avenue Inc. New York City D. J. MOUNTAN, Pres. EXCLUSIVE foreign representatives for Rayart Pictures Corporation and other leading independent producers and distributors Cable Address: RICHPICSOC, Paris Cable Address: DEEJAY, London Cable Address: RICHPIC. N. Y. Exporting only the best in Motion Rctures NEW FRENCH PHOTOPttONE HAS $1,250,000 STOCK Paris — Photophone interests have launched French Photophone, Ltd., controlling Photophone patents and production in France. Capital will be $1,250,000, of which $750,000 will be offered to the public at $1.25 a share. A. George Smith, of P.D.C., who is managing director of British Photophone, Clayton Hutton, director of the British firm and Max Lopez, managing director of French Brunswick, Ltd., comprise the directorate. The French Brunswick has power to appoint further directors to the board. A sound picture studio will be erected. Central Censorship to Be Urged for India Calcutta — Centralization of censorship powers, withi the incidental abolition of the present system of censorship in each province, is expected to be recommended by XhrIndian Film Commission, which has been investigating conditions in the home industry. D'Arcy in Stock Company London — Alexander D'Arcy, latest addition to the British International stock company, has been cast opposite Betty Balfour in "The Daughter of the Regiment," which is being made with exteriors shot at Paris, Berlin and Barcelonia. $8,000 For Sydney Acts Sydney — Six principal Sydney houses are paying an aggregate of $8,000 per week for presentations, this figure not including orchestra costs. Tivoli to P. C. T. in Fall London — P. C. T. which recently purchased the Tivoli from Metro takes possession of the theater in the fall. This will give the chain two theaters in the fashionable West End of London, the other being the New Gallery. P. C. T. is now conducting a $7,500,000 theater building program. Standing in Lead London — Wyndham Standing has the leading male role in "Widdicombe Fair," which British Internatioiial is making with Norman \\'alk er as director. Expect Paramount Release London — It is possible the WelshPearson-Elder film "A Girl of Today," featuring Dorothy Boyd and Pat Ahearne, will be released in America through Paramount. War on Title Changes Sydney — Censors are on the warpath for fly-by-night exhibitors who are showing certain pictures under sensational titles that differ from the ones under which they are registered. Heavy penalties are threatened for violation of law. Presentations By JACK HARROWER; JAZZY, FAST SHOW AT T The fornuila doesn't vary much at the Paramount. The boys in the band get themselves bedecked in Northwest Mounted police outfits this time and the dancing girls in Indian outfits; the music takes on an Indian air and you get a concoction known as "Pow Wow". However, despite weak spots, the show generally is fast-moving, is marked by the zip that the clientele flocking to the Paramount seem to want and there you are. "Prelude", the overture is followed by the news reel. Then Henrj' Murtagh at the organ and the presentation extravaganza with Paul Ash serving as the big muck-a-muck. There are eight numbers. First is "In the Land of the Sky-Blue Water"; then "The Legend of the Evening Star", "Get Your Man", a burlesque on the N.W. mounted, isifourth, and holds up pretty well. Horton Spurr then does a dance specialty that is very clever. Ginger Rogers, a new cutie at the Paramount, does some cutish business with Ash and gets over very nicely. She's a nifty little gal, who stays on just a little bit too long. As it was, we felt ourselves fast reaching the point where we"d have to throttle her or fall out of the lodge in desperation. A totem plot dance by the Sorel girls was one of those things. Anyway, they were followed by Ed and Morton Beck who sang a little nonsense about massaging w'indows that was very funny. But the boys had to turn dramatic, ending their turn with "Laugh, Clown, Laugh." What we thought of it doesn't reflect any great credit upon them, but the audience went into rapture. Therefore, we're just plumb wrong. Paul Keast, followed with an Indian dance that was a wow. The finale had a forest fire, burning trees, a lot of noise from the band and so on. New Center for Bookers The new skyscraper to be erected in Times Square on the site of the old Fitzgerald Bldg., will be newheadquarters for many New York booking agents. Joe Leblang made the purchase for $5,000,000 and will sponsor the new building. Quitting Presentations for "Vaude" King and King, the original Four Aristocrats and other acts long in picture houses, are bolting in favor of big time vaudeville. Standard VAUDEVI LLE for Motiou Picture Presentation The FALLY MARKUS VAUDEVILLE AGENCY Lackawanna 7876 1531 BROADWA>» NEW YORK CITY "WINTER SPORTS" CUCKS ON PROGRAM AT CAPFIOL In addition to its cooling system the Capitol served its patrons with "Wmter Sports," a Bbris Petroff production which had a lot of audience appeal although lacking any particular application with pastimes of that season. The show ran the entire entertainment gamut and ran well. Walt Roesner's Capitolians, togged out in white sweaters and toques, were spotted in a snowy and icy set. A snowball battle inaugurated the excitement with the Juvenile Steppers participating and then going into some fast movements. Joseph Regan, tenor, looking somewhat out of atmosphere in his tuxedo, came out and sang "Mary Ann" and '"Was It a Dream," following with "When Irish Eyes Are Smilling" as a muchdemanded encore. Eccentric dance steps were contributed by Steve Savage, who got over nicely. Frank Stever turned out a flock of acrobatic steps which stopped the show. A _ highlight of the program was provided by the Alexander Ouniausky Girls, who were seen in a duel dance. Dressed in silvery suits, with red and blue capes, they made a colorful picture as they went through the motions. The Capitolians always click with their musicniakmg and naturally put "In My Bouquet of Memories" over big. Additional effectiveness was given the number by the use of small colored lights which resembled flowers. Besides the feature. "The Myssterious Lady," the bill embraced the newsreel. The overture was "Slavonic Rhapsody," by Friedemann. Orpheum Stands Change Dates Rockford, 111. — Palace theater, a junior Orpheum house, has changed to Sunday and Thursday, instead of Sunday and Wednesday. The change has also been made at the New Orpheum, Madison, Wis. Booked Over Loevir Time Entire Loew route will be played by Rome and Gaut, who commence their run in Brooklyn. AMALGAMATED VAUDEVILLE AGENCY Attractions for Picture Theatres Standard Vaudeville Acts 1600 Broadway, New York City Phone Penn. 3580