The Film Daily (1929)

THE -gym DAILY Thursday, September 12, 1929 AND THATS THAT By PHIL M. DALY PAUL GULICK, who when his mind is not absorbed in directing the big publicity blurbs for Universal, allows his thoughts to stray wistfully in the direction of a golf ball, calls our attention to an item in the New York "Times." It is of the most vital interest to all those other golf ginks who will swarm to the Fall Film Golf Tourney on Oct. 1. Here's the item, in case you didn't read it: * * * "Several golfers on the links of the Gedney Farms Golf Club have been complaining about a crow which has been stealing golf balls. Eugene F. McKinley of White Plains, attorney, said today that he shot a ball on the third hole yesterday morning and saw a crow fly to his ball, pick it up and wing away." * * * We hate to admit that a rival publication has beat us to a scoop, but common decency requires that we doff our hats to that young rival of ours, the "Times." It looks as if they have got an inside tip on another big merger in the fillum industry. That crow, we are convinced, is just an advance agent for Charlie Einfeld, Pat Garyn, Joe Hornstein, Lou Metzger, Lee Ochs, Sam Sedran or H. J. Yates. One of these bimbos, all active entrants in the Fillum Tourney soon to be held at Gedney Farms, has already started that advance crow scout on the job. This gang is so accustomed to merging theaters, trailers, theater equipment, and other odds and ends, that one of 'em hit on this idea of collecting golf balls so he wouldn't run short on Oct. 1. * * * As usual, they all deny it. Charlie Einfeld sez: "Why should I steal golf balls? I always borrow my partner's." Pat Garyn alibis: "1 wouldn't hire a crow. Vd just send Paul Benjamin out. He'd come back with the golf clubs, too." Joe Hornstein pleads: "Ain't I got trouble enough with Warners' theater maintenance without maintainin' a crow on my payroll?" More on the tournament later. fev# THEIR FIRST J O R S HIRAM BROWN a copy boy on "The N. Y. Herald" (1900) Along The Rialto with Phil M. Daly, Jr. GLEN ALLVINE and his efficient department of advertising and publicity workers, have turned out a real job in a new exhibitors date book, soon to be distributed to exhibitors Customary Fox thoroughness and effective copy predominates throughout the handy book Estelle Taylor is tuning up her voice, preparing for a singing vaudeville tour Charlie Schwartz likes to recall the gag abot the mug running around with the doctor's wife, who played safe by eating an apple a day Christy Diebel, former Youngstown, O., exhibitor, who always carted off plenty at Film Daily Golf Tournaments, now is senior golf champeen of Ohio Tom Carroll, Cleveland vet, is back from his annual jaunt to Paree and other places in Yurrup Lee Begg, who was megaphoning flickers in the old Biograph days, has an interesting collection of stills Jack (Pathe Sun) Level has turned cock fight promoter, only it's not the mex idea, but a playdate drive by the Pathe branches Joe Rivkin of the Pathe publicity department, is on a special assignment, exploiting "The Sophomore" in key cities Today's the day for the big election of the AM PA, climaxing a spirited campaign Edward L. Klein and Don Hancock are rivals for the presidency Eugene Berton is to write music for Henry King's new Inspiration picture starring Lupe Velez, which is being made in Florida Warners are erecting a sign billed as the world's largest, atop the new building, housing their new theater at 51st and the Alain Stem The way they've been lighting up the street with the Winter Garden and Warner theater signs, certainly should make the electric company feel fine Sid Kent has not been shouting, but he's been giving action on adjustments, say Georgia exhibitors, a real bouquet that 44 It is my firm belief that the talker should be directed by one director. Movement and dialogue belong together and the future belongs only to the moving picture director who is able to direct dialogue or the stage director who will get acquainted with the moving picture. J J ERNST LUBITSCH No.39 Industry Statistics [*•■» By JAMES P. CUNNINGHAM Statistical Editor, The Film Daily Every known gross record for any theater box-office attraction throughout the world was topped at the Roxy, New York, during the week ending Aug. 10, 1929, when "The Cock-Eyed World," sequel to "What Price Glory?" grossed $173,391, beating the previous record, made at the same theater, a 6,2000 seater, with "Four Sons," which brought a $143,900 gross. Low record of the house is $72,000, made during the week ending June 12, 1928, this figure being more than $100,000 less than the high record. * * *' The motion picture field is one of the largest users of electrical byproducts in the world. The National Electric Light Ass'n, following a survey completed recently, announced that 9,900,000 large carbon lamps and 26.565,000 small carbon lamps were sold by the electrical industry in the U. S. during 1928. In the same year, 312,000,000 large tungsten lamps, and 228,370,000 small tungstens were disposed of. Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion — ©_ Achievements of Talking Newsreel Are Lauded NO matter how bitterly a foe of the talking pictures may denounce the detested cinema, he invariably finds a good word to say for the audible newsreel. Dialogue dramas may strike him as the most absurd manifestation of a hateful medium, but the capture of current events by the camera, or more particularly by the combination of camera and microphone, inescapably meets with his approval. It is, it might as well be confessed, a favorite device of this department to set up a proposition in, the first sentence or two and then belabor it bitingly for the rest of its allotted space. Here there must be a change in method, for it is my unwilling conviction that there is a lot to be said for this point of view. Whatever you may think of the screen, either speechless or voluble, you can hardly avoid admiration for this new and tremendous form of historical record. The talking newsreel, as organized by the vigorous Movietone leaders, hasn't always been as complete in its effects as an unrealistic admirer might have hoped for, but in the brief and rather confused period of development it has achieved fascinating results. "The New York Herald-Tribune" * * * Comeback for Silent Picture Is Predicted MARK this prediction: The silent screen will shortly execute a comeback, or we don't know Hollywood. Incidentally, we predict by mail, over the telephone and by special appointment in the home. All we need is the date of your birth and a lock of your hair. Watch for radio announcement of our easy payment plan. O. O. Mclntyre in "The N. Y. American." TEN YEARS AGO TO-DAY IN Sam Zierler quits Universal to enter independent field. * * * Harry Rapf made production manager for SeLznick.