The Film Daily (1929)

THE Siday, October 20, 1929 ■z&* DAILV Timely Topics 'A Digest of Current Opinion €) liy Educational Values ■Sound Pictures, Fox Ik NY plan for the extension of Jp. the use of the movies and ILpecially the talking movies is Important, and when such a Ipteran as William Fox, the prolucer, submits a definite plan it Itnnot be dismissed lightly. Whether he has adequately I orked out a plan is not so important as the fact that he has [illed attention to the enormous liucational opportunities of the |ilking movies. That these can lie made of the utmost value in ■assrooms may be assumed, [hat they can entirely displace Ipxt-book methods may well be loubted. There is no royal road I) learning, and one of the prilary purposes of education is to iscipline the mind to concentraon and delving. When the picjre enters more generally into :ie educational system it will be ecessary to guard against the anger of superficiality. 'The New York Evening World" * * * her Than Hurt Teacher kers Will Ease His Work 1HERE is every reason why educational films accompanied competent explanation and lade under proper supervision lould enlist and hold the interst of school children. It is not <ely that these would seriously ncroach upon the domain of the choolmaster, because his contant oversight and assistance vould continue to be necessary o the individual progress of each upil. But they could be made o supplement the master's intruction and perhaps to relieve im of a measure of labor. "The New York Sun" •N YEARS AGO TO-DAY ules Mastbaum and Lawrence D. ggs visit Chicago for purpose of eading Stanley idea in theater iration. * * * ). W. Griffith completes contract h Paramount-Artcraft. * * * flae Murray gets long term conct with International Film; RobLeonard, her husband, may direct. Along The Rialto with PhilM. Daly, Jr. COLLEEN MOORE made a big hit in her radio talk Sam Berger, Emgeeem district manager, is doing a lot of commuting between New York and upstate offices Lorene Cunningham, who edits Fox Metropolitan Weeklies, was welded last Sattiday to Terry Turner, veteran Loew publicist Al Jolson said he's sick of premieres, when called upon to do the m.c. stuff at premiere of his "Say It with Songs" on the Coast In England, "Oh Yeah," will be released as "No Brakes." Paul Burger, who has been schooled in the art of humor as Al Lichtman's genial assistant, recently returned from a sales trip two days before the expected time. When asked to explain, he chirped: "I had to get back in a hurry. I'm two weeks behind on rumors." Pathe worked a new gag on publicizing a theme song through its use in a radio music sequence of a Broadway play, the song being "Little by Little," sung in "The Sophomore." Glenn (Fox) Allvine is commuting these days from Long Beach, and likes it Says there IS a difference in the air Dave Bader's Yurropean trip surely agreed with him, his appearance emphasizes Carl Laemmle left for the Coast on Friday Constance Bennett sails Saturday ante meridian for England Barney (Paramount) Hutchinson has been as busy as the proverbial bee of late, handling publicity work on star arrivals and the et cet, and doing a splendid job, to boot David J. Lustig is pepped up over his new post as advertising and publicity head for Manhattan Playhouses The forthcoming luncheon sponsored by the Piojection Advisory Council, at which "Bill" Canavan is to be principal speaker, ought to have a big draw 71 NUMBER 71 Industry Statistics By JAMES P. CUNNINGHAM Statistical Editor, The Film Daily THE SEASON of 1928-29, first year in which producers seriously concentrated their studio activities on sound films, brought 20Cf part and all-talking vehicles to the theater screens. In the current 1929-30 period, it is estimated, exhibitors will have between 500 and 600 at their disposal. It is interesting to note that all-talkers predominate on this year's schedules, while part-dialogue features were in the majority last year. The short subject field has turned almost completely sound, with more than 2,500 one and two reelers scheduled for the year, including serials and newsreels. MANY HAPPY RETURNS October 20 Best wishes and congratulations are extended by THE FILM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who today are celebrating their birthday: Charley Chase Russell Holman Bela Lugosi James Hood MacFarland Marian Nixon Evelyn Brent F. J. Wilstach AND THAT'S THAT By PHIL M. DALY "/"VNE does not arise to a sunrise v breakfast. One settles down in earnest, but with gaiety — rather eagerly, in fact, and altogether expectantly, and at Sardi's, one would say most cosily and intimately." That's the way Sardi's publicity palpitator talks about it. * * * Wonder if that guy ever ate a sunrise breakfast? You stagger into a "sunrise" restaurant about four in the morning with your pal Jake. You don't settle down. You flop down. And you're not a bit earnest about it, either. You just don't give a hoot. In fact you are what might be mildly termed as quite indifferent. * * * The waiter comes over and sez: "Whaddleyahave, gents?" Jake gets indignant. Jake is always indignant when he's a little potted. He flares up: "Who said we're gents?" The waiter is a diplomat, and apologizes: "Okay, kid, my error." Jake, mollified, orders three grapefruits and a goblet of ice water. Personally, we don't order anything. We just say to the waiter: "Z-z-ch-z-kch-ally oop." And the waiter, knowing us, sez: "Righto." He always says "righto" under these circumstances. What do you expect him to say? * * * Then Jake brightens up after eating the three grapefruits, and insists on going into a discussion of the fillum industry from the old Bioo:raph days down to the present. We don't pay much attention. Why should we? We used to do the same thing a year ago, but after you tell a story a few hundred times it gets tiresome to your friends. But Jake is one of these guys who has no respect for friendship in a "sunrise" restaurant at four A. M. Well, we sit there till 9 A. M. The waiter sits down beside us, and falls asleep, too. "Most cosily and intimately," as the Sardi gent aptly states it. Jake wakes up. "Gotta get to the office," sez he. "It's Sunday," sez we. "So it is," sez the waiter. THEIR FIRST JOBS NAT MANHEIM assistant to J. J. Shubert Theatrical Producer