The Film Daily (1928)

'^^'m^m^. iTHE :Sfe NEWSPAPER o/'FILMDOM De Forest Moves to Halt Movietone in Canada ULTHE NEWS ALLTHE TIME VOL. XLV No. 67 Tuesday, September 18, 1928 Price 5 Cents Barely a Year THERE he sat, nattilydressed in light gray and blue. As he spoke, he revealed many of the mannerisms and much of that dynamic something which make Al Jolson what he is. He didn't know it, but we watched and as his interesting personality unfolded itself, suddenly it occurred to us that just about a year ago it was that his "The Jazz Singer" meteored its way across the film horizon. The evening of October 6th, 1927 in New York, and the countless evenings that followed all over the country, impressed themselves permanently on the escutcheon of the business. To what ends the path cleaved by Jolson's first talking picture will reach is as easy to figure as what tomorrow will bring. Certain it is that the road thus laid open is as wide and as fruitful as those who trod it have the good judgment to make it. A New Business Think of what has transpired in less than a year! An industry so changed and changing that to term it a new business is no exaggeration. The entire frenzy over sound in all of its many aspects can be traced to one personality and one picture: Jolson and "The Jazz Singer." What business that you know of reacts so quickly and so sensitively to the new and the novel? Progress and double-stepping to maintain a place at the head of the j march are as necessary as they are commendable. We would temper this observation with one piece of advice and that is, the necessity for caution and the exercise of good business sense to the end that the objective is not defeated by well-intentioned but over-zealous effort. You will get what we mean, of course. At Home When we ducked out of things a few weeks ago, the Motion Picture Club was assuming form. Yesterday we visited, inspected and lunched there and agreeable proceedings they were. The trade in New York has a home at last. A long time coming perhaps, but the results well warrant the wait. A club of which the industrv might well be proud. K A N N WARNER-FIRST NATIONAL POOL HINGING ON DL4L FOR K-A-0 N.W.WI1limilOIIIID nicsjiii WDiv Minneapolis — Arbitration in this territory, which has charted a rocky course since the Northwest exhibitor associations refused to permit its members to sit on cases involving United Artists, will be resumed Sept. 21. The muddle which resulted from the deadlock recently was cleared up by C. C. Pettijohn of Film Boards of Trade and W. A. Steffes, head of the Northwest exhibitor unit. All cases tried by the "outlaw" board, will be retried in every case where members of the exhibitor unit make such request. HORRICANEDiTROYS 125 MATERS IN PORTO RICO Overbuying Hit Dallas — Campaign against overbuying by exhibitors is under way in this territory, following a number of arbitration cases which emphasize the extent of the practice. PRICE CUTTING WARNING IS Every picture theater in Porto Rico was destroyed by the hurricane which swept across the island a few days ago, according to a cable received yesterday by N. L. Manheim, Universal's foreign manager (Continued on Page 2) Building Race Expected By Philadelphia Firms Philadelphia — What is expected to cause a building race between Stanley and William Freihofer is contained in announcement that Stanley is go (Continued on Page 2) Chicago — Warning against price cutting, which he says will result in elimination of smaller circuits and individual operators, has been sounded by Jack Miller, head of the Chi(Continued on Page 2) SOiD CRAZEPUTS CRIMP , INTO DETROIT BUYING Detroit — Sound pictures have put a crimp into buying in this territory. The hysteria over talkers 'is '♦•esulting in a "hand to mouth" plan of buying. There is great uncertainty among theater owners, who are "on the fence," with respect to sound installations. Hoboken Theaters Bought Protection, Manager Says Trenton, N. J. — Eight Hoboken theaters paid monthly sums ranging from $50 to $100 each to the license {Continued on Page 2) Injunction to Restrain Movietone Showings at Montreal is Asked Montreal — Effort will be made by DeForest Phonofilm of Canada, Ltd., to prevent showing of Movietone pictures throughout the Dominion, it is demonstrated in a suit for an injunction restraining presentation of Movietone pictures at the Palace. Famous Players Canadian Corp., Ltd., which operates the house, has until tomorrow to file its answer to the action, which also includes a claim for $25,000 damages. The action alleges that De Forest patents are being infringed upon by the showing, which started Sept. 1. The Palace is the first house in Canada to show Movietone. The American De Forest company has pending an infringement suit against the FoxCase Corp., sponsor of Movietone. If Former Nabs Circuit, F. N. Directors Will Join With negotiations for purchase of the control of Keith-Albee-Orpheum still being carried on, Warners are working toward a pooling of interests with First National franchise holders, it is understood. Despite the repeated denials which have been made since Jack W^arner announced on the Coast that deal for purchase of First National was near consummation, it is understood that the proposed deal has not been dropped. The Keith-Albee-Orpheum deal must await return to New York of J. J. Murdock, Joseph P. Kennedy and Pat Casey, before any final decision is made. They are slated to return from Europe at an early date, when papers are expected to be signed. When and if the K-A-O deal materializes, Warners, it is said, wmH invite First National franchise holders to join with them in a pooling of interests. Under such conditions, the franchise holders, it is said, are willing to make a deal. Warners Complete Deal for Radio Hook-up Warners has contracted with Station WOR and the Columbia broadcasting chain for a radio hook-up each Monday from 9:30 to .10:00 P. M., to advertise Vitaphone pictures. The first program was given last night when Al Jolson was on the air. He was introduced by H. M. Warner. Arthur Loew Named Vice President of M. P. Club Arthur Loew yesterday was unanimouslv elected vice president of the M.' P. Club of New York, to fill the vacancy caused by resignation of Elmer R. Pearson. The latter resigned because of his continued ab(Continued on Page 2) Publix Heads Discuss Sound Picture Problem Sound pictures is the chief topic of discussions at meetings of Publix division managers now under way in New York.