The Film Daily (1929)

Universal Continues Complete Service Plan 7>fe NEWSPAPER p/FILMDOM ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME VOL. XLIX 10 Friday, July 12, 1929 Price S Cents The Profit THE thousands of small accounts dotting the country represent the theaters from which the big distributors draw their profits. They make up much of the spinal column of distribution and it is consequently essential that they remain in business. Sales managers know it and intend taking no chances playing along without them. Sound has made everybody slightly dizzy and some well-grounded truths have been shunted off the main line. Not for much longer, however. The small man is in for a new deal, one which will allow him to keep his cranium above the water line and permit the distributor to meet his additional sound burdens. Much chatter is flying footloose about the ozone, but turn back to the beginning of this little say and keep it in mind before you draw wrong conclusions. Recognition To those who have utilized the extensive facilities of the Motion Picture Section in Washington, word that this Governmental agency has been advanced into the class of commodity divisions will prove gratifying. In the parlance of the Department of Commerce, this promotion means that motion pictures are now considered on a parity with steel and foodstuffs, not an unimportant recognition for this industry. The Motion Picture Section, and now Division, contacts with commercial attaches throughout the world and makes available for those who are interested authentic and exhaustive data on film conditions in every country. Its scope is being extended ?ently to include the domestic indus:ry. A valuable service indeed, maintained capably by Clarence J. North md his assistant chief, Nate C. Golden. This is Box-Office Sound may be the big guy in the iond today, but listen to this account }f a silent subject that outstrips most sound subjects we have seen for audinice interest. John D. Rockefeller submitted to a Fox News camera the )ther day. The result is about 300 eet of absorbing shots showing the (.Continued on Page 2) Papers Drawn Contracts between F. and R. and Publix have been drawn and will be signed momentarily in a deal which will give the latter 100 per cent ownership and, therefore, operation of the extensive Northwest Theater Circuit. About 150 houses in Minnesota principally, but likewise in the Dakotas and Wisconsin are involved. DISTRIBUTORS TO DISCUSS SOUND PROBLEMS TODAY S. R. Kent (Paramount), James R. Grainger (Fox), Claude Ezell (Warners) and Phil Reisman (Pathe), representing distributors, will meet in New York today and discuss a plan of procedure to meet the problems facing the small exhibitor as a result of increased overhead brought on by sound. Their program will be dis(Continued on Page 7) World Wide Gets First Sennett Feature Talker World Wide Pictures will handle in the United States and Canada "Midnight Daddies," first all-talking feature produced by Mack Sennett. Physical distribution will be through Educational. Harry Gribbon and (Continued on Page 7) Union Gets 2 Big Houses at Sydney and Melbourne Union Theaters has taken over the St. James, Sydney, and the Princess, Melbourne, which it is said are the two largest legitimate houses in the (Continued on Page 7) STRIKE NOT ORDERED YET, GILLMORE SAYS TWO NEW CHICAGO LOOP i HOUSES SEEN PROBABLE Chicago — One and possibly two new loop theaters looms for Chicago, as a result of the report that PublixBalaban & Katz is to operate the 5,000-seat theater in a proposed 35story building on Wacker Drive between State and Dearborn Sts. The project would cost $16,000,000, it is (Continued on Page 7) TO THREE FILMS NEXT YEAR West Coast Bur. THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — THE FILM DAILY was given an ovation by the Columbia sales force, when advertising values of various trade papers were discussed. Hollywood — Decisions to roadshow three of the ten pictures heretofore slated as specials, appointment of Hal Hodes, advertising and publicity director, to chief of sales promotion, and decision to establish an exploitation force of six field men, were highlights of concluding (Continued on Page 7) Sound and Silents Offered in Complete Service for '29-30 Acoustic Products Being Reorganized by Bankers Reorganization of Acoustic Products Co., parent company of SonoraBristolphone and the Sonora Phonograph and radio companies is under way following resumption of control by banking interests previously identified with the company. Eugene P. Herrman automobile manufacturer and merchandiser has succeeded P. L. Deutsch as president of the company. Complete service contract of Universal will be continued for the 192930 season, with both silent and sound pictures available for booking under this plan. Included among features available are three Laura La ^lante vehicles; Joseph Schildkraut's chree, two John Boles films; two Reginald Denny s; four starring Mary Nolan; three Tryon Kennedy features, and two George Barbara Kent pictures. In adthese starring series Equity Walkout Not Called Despite Rumors, States Ass'n President West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — No walkout of Equity has been called, spite the many rumors of a strike order, states Frank Gillmore, president of Actors' Equity Ass'n, who adds he knows nothing of any developments along that line "at the moment." Deadline of the Equity ban on members appearing as extras in talkers employing non-member casts passed yesterday, but producers seem unworried by the development. Sixty-three girls, members of the Chorus Equity, who have quit production since the Equity mandate, were cheered at Equity's latest meeting. They were described by Gillmore as shock troops. Equity claims that RKO has offered Equity girls all terms of the association's con (Continued on Page 7) "SOUND GIVES U. K. BIC yy Lewisdition, to (Continued on Page 7) London — In an interview here, Dr. A. H. Giannini, chairman of the Bank of America, brought a new promise and a new message of hope for the British industry. "It appears to me," said Giannini, "that your industry is capable of being settled upon the worthy and stable footing it deserves. This must be done by the elimination of the flyby-night companies that damage the prestige of your trade. We went through the same process ia i'he (Continued on Page 7) President Asked to Aid "Blue" Drive at Capital Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — President Hoover has been asked by a delegation of "reformers" to lend his support to the move to pass a "blue" law for the District of Columbia. Under the plan, announced some time ago when the Lankford bill was introduced, the District measure would be used as a model and entering wedge for closing the various states on Sunday.