The Film Daily (1929)

THE 16 ■2£1 DAILY Foreign Markets By JAMES P. CUNNINGHAM RUMANIA SHOWMEN WANT TAX COT; PLAN SHUT DOWN Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Following lengthy negotiations and numerous meetings, Rumanian exhibitors have decided to close their theaters if the Ministry of Finance does not comply with their request for tax reductions, advises a report to the M. P. Division of the Dept. of Commerce. Rumanian exhibitors, it is reported, are compelled to pay a 26 per cent admission tax even when his receipts show a deficit. Their demands to the Ministry of Finance now are for the taxes to be charged on the average receipts of each theater during a week or a month. Poland's Sound Plans Depend Upon Bank Loans Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Due to economic conditions, the abnormally high cost of money in Poland and the difficulty in securing loans, exhibitors are in a quandry as to the advisability of equipping their bouse with sound, states a report to the M. P. Division of the Dept. of Commerce. There are approximately 50 who contemplate sound as soon as conditions improve. Smith Secures Melotone Rights for British Isles London — S. W. Smith has acquired for World Wide Talking Pictures Ltd. exclusive distribution in United Kingdom of the Melotone sound reproducer. Melotone is supplied with both sound-on-disc and sound-on-film devices. There are at present, it is stated, 192 theaters in United States and 66 in Canada equipped with the apparatus. Richmount 723 7th Avenue Inc. Pictures New York City D. J. MOUNTAN, Prcs. EXCLUSIVE foreign representatives for Rayart Pictures Corporation and other leading independent producersand distributors Cable Address: RICHPICSOC, Paris Cable Address: DEEJAY, London Cable Address: RICH PIC, N. Y. Exporting only the best in Motion Pictures DUTCH EXHIBITORS BATTLE CENSORS; 2 HOUSES CLOSED Washington Bureau, of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Two theaters were closed in Maastricht and Sittard, Holland, by order of the local censor board for exhibiting an immoral picture, advises a report to the M. P. Division of the Dept. of Commerce. The picture had passed the central censor board at Amsterdam, and, as a result the Dutch Exhibitors' Ass'n has decided to close all houses in the above mentioned cities. The action of the association already has extended to other cities and, it is reported, that if the situation is not settled soon, it will result in losses to the various municipalities from entertainment taxes. Presentations By HERBERT S. BERG, Austrian Market for Sound Not Promising Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The prospects for sound pictures in Austria are not very promising due to the fact that the country has few first class theaters, states a report to the M. P. Division of the Dept. of Commerce. It is estimated that even the five largest houses could not afford to pay more than $3,000 to $4,000 for complete sound equipment and installation. While at present no houses are wired, it is planned to equip the Schwedenkino in Vienna. The house seats 648. Associated British Chain Securing Theaters Rapidly London — The rapid expansion of Associated British Cinemas is causing considerable discussion in the trade here. Recent acquisition, according to John Maxwell, chairman of the company, include the Regent, Yarmouth and Regent at Norwich. The company also recently acquired the Robin Hood circuit, the Grand at Falkirk, the new 1,760 seater under construction at Liverpool and other houses at Blackpool. French Tobis Talker Set Paris — Frank Clifford, head of the French Tobis company, announces the company's first feature talker to be made at the Tobis studio near here will be "The Shark" instead of "Coulisses," as anounced. M. Henri Chomette will direct. German Production Declines Berlin — Further falling off of business in the industry for June is reported here by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce. The producton of features showed a considerable decrease while the difficulty of marketing German pictures abroad is growing. PAUL ASH GETS HIS SHOW OVERMPARAMOUNT Nothing very novel at the Paramount, but the lineup was pleasing, with Paul Ash getting the show over nicely as seasonable summer fare that the audience seemed to like. Jimmy Dunn opens with a comedy police bit being chased across stage as the melody pirate, the offering being called "Pirates of Melody," a Frank Cambria production. The Gamby Girls aided in this, with Ash and his band taking it up. Chinese baritone, Ju Fong, singing two songs in other dialects with pleasing voice, scored strong as novelty. Good band number "Ain't Misbehavin' " with one of the boys doing the vocalizing with a megaphone, also scored with the femmes. Then Ash tied the show up with its title in a series of popular sciigs contrasted with standard selections to show similarity. Smith and Hadley, eccentric steppers and knockabout clowning with some good acrobatic highlights, clicked about as strong as anything on the bill. Ash and his band finished with selections from the old masters. ROXY STAGES A LIGHT SHOW FOR CURRENT WEEK The Ponce Sisters at the Roxy did seme good duo harmonizing seated on the organ and the novelty clicked strong. A jungle dance by the Roxyettes in appropriate costumes was colorful, and they pepped it up with their marvelous precision movements. There was a stage bit picturing Alfred Noyes' poem, "A Victory Ball," a rather gruesome thing, with spirit scldiers gaping down upon the drunken revellers on the stage below. Made a lot of sensitive people squirm. Then on the scrim was flashed the usual marching line of soldiers. Leonide Massine and Patricia Bowman did their classical dancing, the current offering being "The Ballet Master and Ballerina." Then there was a harem seme for contrast, with the Roxy ballet employed, and the chorus singing "The Song of India." Rather light for the Roxy, in comparison with previous weeks. Standard VAUDEVILLE for Motion Picture Presentation The FALLY MARKUS VAUDEVILLE AGENCY Lackawanna 7876 1531 BROADWAY, NEW YORK CITY ARTHUR KNORR PUTS ON CLASS jAPITOL SHOW Very colorful show at the Capitol staged by Arthur Knorr called "Sins of 1929." The book theme was light and summery, and was carried through without any trouble with the aid of some fine specialty numbers that fitted into the a'tmosphere Opened with the Chester Hale Girls singing and stepping in green ensembles that was an eye smash. Then the Pearl Twins were on for a neat vocal and stepping number. The set showed a bandstand in vivid blue, with the skyline of the city in the rear. Then Dave Schooler introduced the girls, each representing some individual sin of the current year such as "Speakeasies," "Traffic Regulations," "Syncopation," etc. A real novelty beautifully handled that went over big. Al Samuels and brothers did some fast tap work, followed by Roy Evans seated at a baby piano in a silver setting and croons some songs that had the gals all hot and bothered. Then the featured specialists, Dare and Wahl, did some remarkable burlesque acrobatics, taking some tough falls with the comedy angle worked up strong. The finale had the girls on in gorgeous feather costumes of white and pink, with the sin girls also showing to advantage on a raised platform. St. Louis M. C.'s Switched St. Louis — Skouras-Warner Friday returned Ed Lowry as master of ceremonies at the Ambassador. Harry Rose, who substituted for Ed, has already returned to the Missouri, and Frankie Masters is back at the Granada after handling the Missouri stage shows in the absence of Rose. Lowry is about to set a record as a master of ceremonies at the Ambassador. He put in his appearance at the Skouras on Sept. 7, 1927, when he arrived to succeed Herbert Rawlinson. Since that time Lowry has completed approximately 2,700 stage performances at the Ambassador. AMALGAMATED VAUDEVILLE AGENCY Attractions for Picture Theatres Standard Vaudeville Acts 1600 Broadway, New York Cit> Phone Penn. 3SSO