The Film Daily (1929)

THE 14 iS&mk DAILY Sunday, September 15, 1929 body knew anything about sound production. So Fannie Brice, Ann Pennington, Jimmie Carr and many others get an awful tough break before their public. Time, about 20 mins. "Just Like a Man" Vitaphone No. 859 Very Good The old situation of hubby changing places with the wife in the kitchen is handled with originality and gets entirely away from the worm-out slapstick. It is done cleverly throughout, showing how hubby makes a mess of running the kitchen, harassed by constant calls to the dumbwaiter shaft to anwer tradespeople, and with the little girl Angel on his hands, who with her crying and yawlimg keeps him from doing any household work. John Hobble wrote the skit and made a good job of it. Arthur Hurley directed. Time, 10 mins. Baby Rose Marie Vitaphone No. 809 Okay This kid is about eight years, and puts over the put-putter songs a la Helen Kane and does it very well. She has all the mannerisms and expressions of a grown-up singer, and the audience seemed to like her. Her songs are delivered in a drawing room setting, and are "Heigh-Ho," "Who Wouldn't Be Jealous of You?' and "Don't Be Like That." Time, 7 mins. M.P.T.0A AT MEMPHJSJCT. 29-31 (Continued from Page 1) president in place of R. F. Woodhull, will have charge of arrangements in Tennesse, M. J. O'Toole will look after affairs in New York and the East, while Fred Desberg, chairman of the board, will supervise arrangements in the Middle West. The committee already has received the support of many fraternal and civic bodies as well as representatives from Great Britain and Germany whom promised to have delegates present, O'Toole says. Producers May Aid Financing of Ind'p'ts (Continued from Page 1) Attractions, Philadelphia; M. Fischer, Fischer Exchange, Cleveland and George McKean of St. Louis. The plan will guarantee producers a national distribution and a minimum fixed profit on each negative, this profit to be increased as grosses increase. A board representing exchanges will work with producers on pictures and also in making deals. Headquarters will be maintained in New York and a special representative will be retained to deal directly with major theater circuits. That Deal (Continued from Page 1) McAuliffe Manager of Fox Isis Colorado Springs, Colo. — P. D. McAuliffe has been appointed manager of the Fox Isis here. to readjust sound reproducing equipment in favor of the smaller exhibitor. Monday: World Wide Pictures and Sono-Art joined forces to make and distribute pictures. George W. Weeks is vice president and general manager of the combine worked out with Earle W. Hammons, Education al's president Fox West Coast, continuing its speedy expansion in the West, secures one-half interest in Principal Theaters, headed by Sol Lesser and Mike Rosenberg. It's Fox Principal Theaters now, with Rosenberg continuing to operate the chain Allied States Ass'n, gains a new member when a new unit is formed in Oklahoma. They're stepping fast, this Allied crew Columbia, continues its forward march with acquisition of the William Horsley laboratories at Hollywood. This makes Joe Brandt and the Cohns independent of any other laboratory for their developing needs. A wise move that, by these aggressive independents No Strings on Adjustments Strictly on the up and up is the adjustment plan worked out by distributors and exhibitors, and M. A. Lightman, new president of the M. P.T.O.A., intends to fortify his position with a questionnaire to exhibitors, getting the lowdown on the state of affairs. Charley Pettijohn has assured that there are to be no strings attached to adjustments, such as clubbing on new contracts and so on, so it looks as if real relief will be had Tuesday: Paramount-Warner talk had the street buzzing with report current that it is off. Oh, well, tomorrow's another day, and it may take special editions, before the final announcement is made In Wisconsin, Fox-Midwesco is seeking the remaining houses of the L. K. Brin chain. Competition's been plenty tough in the Badger State, with Fox Midwesco, Brin and Universal the points of the triangle Universal intends to do the Paul Whiteman revue in style, signing up John Murray Anderson to write and produce it. Both Walter E. Greene of General Theater Equipment and Fox office deny there is anything to a reported deal by which Fox is getting control of the equinment firm. Fox has a hook-up with Grandeur on the wide film-large picture development, and as Grandeur is a part of the equipment combine. Otherwise, says Greene, there is no connection Wednesday: Sid Kent's Paramounteers get a big hand at the Columbus, Ga., convention for the manner in which they have aided exhibitors by sound film adjustments. Other companies are asked "how come?" they have not done as well by exhibitors. The southeastern group declined to affiliate with either the M.P.T.O.A. or Allied, for the present Abe Myers of Allied urges that a 30 day limit be placed on franchise ratings, so that RKO and Tiffany-Stahl may be free to sell films as they choose in individual transactions. He's averse to any clubbing tactics on the part of exhibitors, hence the proposal What a piece of property "The CockEyed World" is turning out to be, clicking off unheard of grosses in many widely-separated cities 22,216 Playdates Thursday: Allied leaders have lined up 22,216 playdates for RKO and Tiffany-Stahl franchises, W. A. Steffes advises by 'phone from Milwaukee, where he won over the Wisconsin unit to the Allied, cause Now Fox is planning a recapitalization as a forerunner to merge of all units he controls They're still battling arbitration in the Minneapolis sector, distributors making another attempt to get exhibitor arbitrators Independent distributors representing 26 key cities plan a national co-operative association of exchanges. The plan looks feasible and practical Friday: "Pete" Woodhull celebrated his new job as executive vice president of General Talking Pictures by announcing a new lowerpriced equipment for small houses, and formally inducted M. A. Lightman into the presidency of the M.P. T.O.A. all in one afternoon at Memphis. A worker is "Pete." His successor, who is popular and capable, should give a good account of himself The Paramount Warner deal is in the bag, all right, and the announcement may be expected any day The Fox-Loew merger into one company also is set, plus a formal government okeh, it is hinted. New Scales are Set Saturday: Add P. A. Powers of Powers Cinephone to the list of sound equipment manufacturers offering new models, details of which appear in this issue. Now, a new scale is set on the RCA-Photophone equipment for small houses. Allied, which secured the low price, has agreed to and endorsed a slightly higher price, so that RCA-Photophone won't be left holding the bag and in the red Speaking of that color ink, M. A. Schlesinger of General Talking Pictures, says he expects to drop money on his new reproducer for small houses That independent exchange association idea is growing. Producers may come in with some of the money necessary It's all set the M.P.T.O.A. convention, to be held Oct. 29 to 31 at Memphis, home grounds of the new president, M. A. Lightman. M. A., by the way, in his inaugural speech, NEW DE FOREST DEVICE FOR SMALLJHJSES ONLY (Continued from Page 1) and $50 for the last nine, plus one-half the installation charge and a service charge of $15 a week. If within six weeks he decides to keep the machine, the rental paid for the first 13 weeks, will be credited to his account, and the balance of $3,000 is to be paid in 24 months. The service charge continues at $15 a week for one year, and then is reduced to $12 a week for two years. J. here is no servicing after three years unless the exhibitor decides to continue the arrangement. The company plans a national corps of experienced service engineers. M A Schlesinger, company president, told the exhibitors at the meeting here that he expected to lose money on every machine installed under the new arrangement, but that he hopes to build up the patronage of these clients to an extent that the company will enjoy their future business at a reasonable profit, and added that he feels he is entitled to a profit on machines installed in larger houses. Schlesinger said he was forced to buy the De Forest patents for his own protection and declared he is willing to allow other exhibitors to have the machines at a fair price. R. F. Woodhull declared that so far as one is concerned "politics" is behind him, and that he assumed his new post, with the conviction he is entering a new field where he can work for the best interests of small exhibitors whom he regards as his pals. LIGHTMAN PLEDGES TO WORK FOR linLE FELLOW (Continued from Page 1) to office at a meeting where the new lower-priced De Forest equipment was announced by General has no political meaning, and sending possible criticism, Lightman stated he has no apology to make on that score, as he is convinced that the new equipment is for the best interests of small exhibitors, whom he regards as his chief charge in his new office. He added that if he finds a similar proposition from some other manufacturer is a worthy one, he will not hesitate to give it a similar endorsement. pledged his best efforts to the little fellow, considered as his chief charge. Upon the small showman, Lightman says, depends the industry's future. Welcome sentiment that to the many small exhibitors who have been wondering just where they would end up in the giddy scheme of things which has engulfed many of them