The Film Daily (1929)

DAILV Friday, September 6, 1929 AND THAT'S THAT By PHIL M. DALY ly/ffKE OTOOLE was presiding ■*■" "as hostess at that now famous luncheon General Talking Pictures threw at the swanky Savoy-Plaza which was hy way of being "Pete" Woodhull's coming-out party. Pete was fecoming out of nine years of steady conversation at exhibitor prizetights, commonly known as conventions. And he was going straight into another sound job as executive vice president of Mr. Schlessinger's organization to sell the exhibitors De Forest sound equipment. Pete figured that after talking the ears off the country's exhibs for nine long years that he was sufficiently introduced to them to try and sell 'em something more tangible than conversation. And possibly there was a lurking suspicion in his mind that he was going to make some real dough while doing it. In any event, Mike stood up to sponsor-, his old pal and introduced him to the assembled gentlemen of the press. These birds let out yells such as| "Never heard of him" . . . "Is he gonna speak?" . . . "He better be short." . . . "And GOOD." . . . In this manner do the press boys make a speaker feel right at home in their midst. * * * So while Pete was getting up courage to get up on his hind legs, Mike O'Toole started telling a fevj stories about his pal in order to sorta make him feel at home among all these wild journalists, who were asking each other whether you ate the fancy cold lobster with a spoon or just picked it up in your fist. * * * Mike's best story was the one concerning Pete and the bankers. He told how the genial prexy of the M.P.T.O.A. once said to him confidentially: "Y'know, Mike, when I die I wanta have nothing but bankers for pallbearers, so please attend to it." And Mike sez: "But look at all the opposition guys who'd just love to be your pallbearers. Why bankers?" And Pete sez: "Haven't they carried me all my life?" HOBBIES! CECIL B. DE MILLE is one of the foremost yachtsmen of the industry. Side Line — Fishing. Along The Rialto with Phil M. Daly, Jr. TUST to prove that it wasn't a haccident that it chalked up « such a record at the Roxy, "The Cock-Eyed World" forced the Fox Academy of Music to throw overboard its week stand policy and hold it a second week Wotta lotta fun "Jimmy" Grainger must be having peddling that baby Free! Cubberley who handled all the theater buys for Effanar now is a theater broker on his own in Minneapolis Charles Schwerin has joined Publix Disney Cartoons is looking for a big year for the indies in selling ani mateds Harvey B. Day, Educational veteran, has a fresh memory when it comes to the old days to show biz. Then he was a Times Square habitue. Times surely have changed Viv Moses is back from the Coast. Eddie Quillan is Coastbound after making a big hit along the Main Stem And then there's the one about the fortunate guy who won all his hogguments because he could write faster than the gang, and so had the edge in the tablecloth derby Dolores Del Rio flew East to be present at the opening of the new Loew house, the Kings, in Brooklyn next Sattidy Publix was accorded the special thanks of the Georgia Senate for the fine and clean entertainments presented at its theaters Willard C. Patterson, district manager, was singled out for special praise Samuel Rothafel, better known as "Roxy," who stands as an institution in this man's business, now is breaking 80 on the golf course, and he's only had the bug a year Looks like there'll be plenty of competition in the fall Film Daily golf riot 44 I believe the talking picture will develop artistically and otherwise and thus become more permanently established as an art. It is my prediction that the outstanding talking pictures, whether in English, French or German will find a ready reception in all civilized countries, and that dialogue pictures will be supported by an ever-increasing number of people who appreciate the finer arts. 5 ^ ARTHUR W. KELLY N°-34 1 Industry Statistics No.34 By JAMES P. CUNNINGHAM Statistical Editor, The Film Daily Eighty per cent of all feature product screened in theaters of the world is made in the United States, although producers of this country manufacture only SO per cent of the total number of features released yearly. Approximately 1,500 feature productions, from all countries, are placed in regular distribution channels every year, of which the U. S makes 750, Germany, 200; Great Britain, 140; Russia, 130; France, 70; and other countries, 210. Ten producer-distributor members of the M. P. P. D. A. (Hays) organization made 410 of all U. S. feature prod uct last season. Foreign grosc"c of American companies have dropped since 1928, when producers commenced to concentrate on talking pictures. Forty per cent of total revenue obtained by large U. S companies in 1926 was from foreign distribution sources, an increase of 28 per cent in four years. In 1924. foreign gross sales totaled only 12 per cent of the income of U. S. distributors. * * * Five thousand persons are on the payroll of the distribution department of one large U. S. company. Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion €) Doctor of Dialogue Has Big Job Ahead of Him j JFA, biggest German moving y picture concern, makes "talkies" with German and English text. A "Doctor of dialect" " is hired to inject "Americanisms" for this country. When the British film says ' "Bonnie lass" the American film will say "Swell baby." The work of that doctor will be interesting. Arthur Brisbane in "The N. Y. American" * * ♦ Says Equity Shop Part of N. Y. Labor Scheme fPHE illustrious Gillmore says ■*■ that the Equity strike failed because Ethel Barrymore had a spite against him. Sure- Man O' War eating his world's champion heart out with jealousy of one of the nags they feed to the animals at the Lion Farm. The Equity disturbers feel aggrived because their strike did not receive "proper" support" from the other unions. The electricians on the sets did not quit and go hungry in order to get justice for actors who live in Beverly Hills palaces and drive to their back-breaking toil in Rolls Royces. This whole fracas was an attempt to unionize Los Angeles — stirred up by New York labor leaders who care nothing about actors or their troubles but who thought they saw a chance to stick a foot in the door. It is impossible to organize actors because their talents are not equal. Their rewards cannot be adjusted on equal terms. There are Ethel Barrymores and Gillmores. Harry Carr in "Los Angeles Times" TEN YEARS AGO TO-DAY IN Waldorf to produce "Kismet" with Otis Skinner. B. S. Moss reported to build 12 houses in New York State. :£ :{: % Earle Williams renews VLtagraph contract.