The Film Daily (1929)

Woodhull Starts Phonofilm Expansion] Program iTHE ^NEWSPAPER o/'FILMDOM ULTHE NEWS ALL THE TIME VOL. XLIX No. 57 Friday, September 6, 1929 Price 5 Cents Well! Where? IT was in a certain office yesterday. The president of a company which is to remain unnamed was chewing furiously on his cigar. He had a problem to solve and didn't know how to do it. Not because he was in doubt about his course, but because the available manpower from which to make a selection for a big post was startlingly limited. And so once again, as in the past, there comes to light another incident revolving around this highly essential and as yet unmet question for the industry is slipping rapidly ahead of the number of properly equipped men to handle it. An Accepted Fact No guess work here. The operator of any large circuit, the helmsman of any big company will readily admit to you that this is fact. This condition prevailed before sound crashed all precedents. If you will think back the truth of this statement will remain unchallenged. But with sound the solution becomes more difficult to find. Excitement The franchise plan has TiffanyStahl sailing along in a brisk breeze. But further than that, excitement supreme reigns around the T-S office and the reason may be traced to a telegram received from Grant L. Cook. In it is a promise of big things from "The Lost Zeppelin," "Woman to Woman," "Mister Antonio," "Troopers Three" and "Peacock Alley." Of course, we shall see what there is to see but, if you'll pardon repetition, let us say again that good pictures help no matter who makes them. The Demon Salesman It was a nice day. We breezed up the street and ran squarely into Edgar Moss. The Philadelphia zoiv needs no introduction. Neither do a lot of sales managers, for many of them have made efforts, stalwart and regular, to ease Moss away from Fox. It simply cannot be doir; Moss has been a Fox sales ace for so long it has become habit. Every year he rolls up a new record in Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern Jersey. One of Jim Grainger's crackerjacks and, by virtue of what : the record shows, a real wow. KANN Still Battling? Although various reports are in circulation to the effect that the ParamountWarner deal is set, principals are still dickering over details, it is understood. Proposed plan of exchange of stock is said to be two shares of stock in a new holding corporation for each one share of Paramount, and one and one-half shares in the new firm for each share of Warners. It is the proposed basis of exchange which is declared to be proving a point of contention in the negotiations. INDIANA UNIT CONTINUES OUT OF ARBITRATION Indianapolis — • Indiana exhibitors will "continue outside of arbitration with producers and distributors until more equitable film contracts and improvement in rules of arbitration are assured." they decided at their annual meeting here. No contract or {Continued on Page 8) Enthusiasm for Franchise Plan Reported in Midwest Des Moines — -"Great" is the way VV. A. Steffes, president of the Northwest exhibitor unit sums up the manner in which the franchise meetings are proceeding. Steffes is stumping the West with Lee Marcus, (Continued on Page 2) RKO PARAMOUNT IN DEAL FOR BRITISH INTERNATIONAL? BUTTERFIELD PARAMOUNT DEAL DENIED IN MICH. Lansing, Mich. — Denial that the deal for sale of the Butterfield chain to Paramount is under way was made to a local newspaper over the telephone by E. C. Beatty, general manager of Butterfield Theaters. "1 don't know of any such deal," (Continued on Page 8) Publix, Fox Expansion in Far Northwest Planned Portland — Publix, as well as Fox West Coast, is planning an expansion program in this territory. The firm recently acquired the Heilig here and the Metropolitan at Seattle. "U" Wisconsin Expansion Awaits Visit of Cohen Expansion plans of the Universal theater chain in Wisconsin await visit to that state of Louis Cohen, general manager of the circuit. Cohen had planned to go to Milwaukee with Fred S. Meyer, head of the firm's theater activities there, but the slated trip was postponed. Meanwhile, Meyer has returned to the Wisconsin city. Phonofilm Representation in All Keys Planned in Program Balaban Welcomed to N.Y. Post at Mon. Testimonial A. J. Balaban, vice president of Publix who is assuming charge of all stage productions, will be feted Monday at a dinner at Cavanaugh's when 40 to 60 Publix officials will (Continued on Page 2) Sound Films Called Boon to International Peace Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Sound pictures will cause English to become the universal language, "at least English will be (Continued on Page 2) Now Film in Preparation — Arrangement for Fall Golf Tournament — Advt. Marking a step in the national expansion program of General Talking Pictures, a new branch ' has been opened at Charlotte with Walter Griffith as manager. Opening of the branch was the first official act of R. F. Woodhull, who resigned the presidency of the M.P.T.O.A. to become executive vice president of the company. Under the program, Woodhull within a few weeks olans to launch branches for the company in territories, where it lacks representation General Talking Pictures manufactures and distributes Phonofilm and Phonodisc equipment. Branches recently have been estab (Continued on Page 2) Negotiations Under Way for British Firm, London Hears London (By Wireless) — Paramount is dickering for control of British International Pictures, it is reported here. Effort to reach Paramount officials yesterday for a statement on the London report was unavailing. British International Pictures was organized several years ago and is an outgrowth of British National Pictures. The firm has studios at Elstree, near London, which are equipped for RCA-Photophone recording. John Maxwell, president of the company, is one of the leaders of the British industry, and when in New York recently, stated that production of both feature and short talkers by his company was planned. Product of the company has been distributed in the United States and Canada by World (Continued on Page 2) COMMITTEE GETS SET ON FALL GOLF T( Committee members yestercompleted preliminary arrangeme for the semi-annual Film Golf Tournament, the eastern industry's most important athletic event, to be held Oct. 1 at Gedney Farms Country Club, White Plains. A flood of early entries and numerous beautiful cups and trophies assures a record-breaking tournament. Sign the Knlry Blank on Page 8 and Shoot It in Immediately St. Louis Showdown on Musicians Seen Sept. 15 St. Louis — Showdown on the musician situation here is expected Sept. 15 when the truce between the union, the St. Louis Amusement Co., Skouras Enterprises and Fox expires. On that date, theaters of these firms either will have renewed their con (Continued on Page 8) Tourney Date: October 1. Place: Gedney Farms Golf Club, White Plains, N. Y.— Advt.