The Film Daily (1929)

01 TIFFANY AIMS FOR 3, FRANCHISES BY JANUARY (Continued from Page 1) ber of silent houses, and of the Tiffany output 80 per cent will have silent versions. "Up to the present the company has signed approximately 2000 franchises and from indications, it is believed, they will reach a total of 3000 before the end of the year as claimed at the recent Coast meet by W. A. Steffes. Hanson later explained how prices were derived in the matter of rentals for exhibitors. "Our national quota is fixed by Allied States Ass'n," Hanson said. "These quotas range from $400,000 to $700,000 in the case of pictures just completed. The exhibitor pays $3 per $100,000 in the case of certain small houses. Should a picture cost $500,000 if the exhibitors rental is $3 per $100,000 his rental for that production would be approximately $15. If at the end of the year an exhibitor finds that his rentals were too high or a producer believes he is entitled to get more money per picture, the matter is taken up by either the Producers Board or the Exhibitors Board and settled by the Board of Appeals of which Abram M. Myers, president of Allied States Ass'n, is chairman, and adjusted for both parties." DENY PUBLIX SEEKS TO BUY SHENANDOAH CHAIN (Continued from Page 1) pect it "was news" to him. Louis Cohen, in charge of Universal Theaters operations, who has been mentioned as handling the negotiations for his firm, disclaimed all knowledge of the matter. Theaters mentioned sought by Publix, all in Virginia, were the Masonic, Clifton Forge; New Virginian Harrisonburg; Lyric and New, Lexington; New and Strand, Staunton, and Little Winn, Empire and Colonial, Winchester. JSking JgWER / didn't get a wink o' sleep last nite. They kep' wakin' me up to say I was a Wow. Heh, heh! TALKING NEWSREEL THE -2&2k DAILV Wednesday, October 23, PROGRAM OUTLINED FOR MICH. M.P.T.O. CONFAB. (Continued from Page 1) ed by luncheon. Later at the Hotel Wolverine a dinner will be held at 7 p. m., with board meeting scheduled after in the association headquarters. Tuesday — Registration of delegate;, at Hotel Statler and business session scheduled in the banquet hall of hotel. The meeting starts at 2 p. m. with remarks by Charles W. Porter, president, and a welcome on behalf of the city by Mayor John C. Lodge. Annual reports of various committees to be read and address on "The Franchise" scheduled by Oscar Hanson, Tiffany Productions, In the evening a theater party as guests of Fox theater. Wednesday — Tour to Ford Airport and inspection of Henry Ford Museum. Closing business session at 12:30 p. in. Meeting to be called to order by President Porter. Banquet in the evening at the Hotel Statler. Subsidiary is Organized by Kinemas in Britain (Continued from Page 1) company, which has declared a dividend of eight per cent on the cumulative participating preference shares, calculated to Aug. 31 last. Twenty-one new theaters have been added to the Kinemas chain, including several in Natal and the Orange Free State. Additional ones are in actual construction or in contemplation. New Type Microphone for Reproducing Systems (Continued from Page 1) sound amplifying systems, but can be used with other systems. There are three types of microphones in this new line, namely, a 3^2-inch, a 6-inch and a hand micro phone for portable use. The hand microphone is enclosed in a bronze case with bakelite handle. The construction includes a special alloy diaphragm that has no fundamental period of its own. There is also a special composition, anti-"pack" carbon button. Universal Writers Return to Respective Studios Verne Porter, eastern scenario editor for Universal, returned from a two months' stay at the coast, while Len Fields, contact man between both studio, who has been in Xew York for two months scouting plays and stories for the company left last night via T.A.T. route for the Coast. Porter was very enthusiastic about the way production of various stories were being whipped into shape. Snerman With Berger Sioux Falls — Sam Sherman, former associated editor of (neater Amusements," lias become assistant to Bennie Berger in charge of the Strand here. Coast Wire Service F. N. Seeking Originals PREFERRED FOR TALKING FILMS, SAYS C. G. BAKER That there exists a market for original stories written expressly for talking pictures is the belief of C. Graham Baker, production executive at First National. "While originals offer the best material for talkers," lie says, "the}' are difficult to obtain and are seldom found to be in suitable form for picture purposes. His company is in the market for originals adaptable for talking films, it is revealed by Baker, who holds that "buying the right stories is the biggest problem in producing pictures." "Studios in Hollywood buy annually over 200 stories," he says. "This is a tremendous market. We cannot find even half this many good originals, so we learned to fall back on the stage, or on magazines and books. The number of New York stage hits can be counted on one's fingers, and this also goes for the number of really successful novels. Therefore, First National and other studios would be glad to find suitable originals to fill their production needs." Phono Kinema Busy on 12 Guest Sound Films Under the direction of Charles L. Glett, Phono Kinema at their studio here are now preparing the remaining six of a series of 12 one reel sound pictures featuring Edgar Guest. In the pictures Guest will recite his poems which are to be synchronized with musical accompaniment. The company will use its own system of recording. Six productions now completed consist of "Worn Out." "Boyhood," "Vagbaond," "Fisher," "Songs" and "Mother." Others will be announced shortly. Bert Cann did the camera work. "Queen of Jazz" in Production Production has begun at First Na tional on Dorothy Mackaill's starring picture, "The Queen of Jazz." The cast is headed by Sidney Blackmer, Julanne Johnston and Warner Richmond, its youngest member being Mickey Bennett, 13. William A. Seiter is directing. The picture is being made from a story written especially for Miss Mackaill by Ra\ Harris and Gene Towne. At Work in "Dance Hall" Olive Borden and Arthur Lake are at work in the film version of Vina Delmar's novel, "Dance Hall," under the direction of Mel Brown. Oland in Carroll Picture Warner Oland will have a role in "Flesh of Eve," in which Nancy Carroll will be starred by Paramount. A Little from "Lots" By RALPH WILK Hollywm ly/TEREDITH FULTON, who i ■*•" rects more stars and featiw players than any other director, k been re-signed for two yearjB George W. Gibson, president Fashion Features, Inc. Fulton d rects for Fashion News, which produced bi-weekly and whiclT tures at least four film celebrities each issue. * * * By the way, "Reno," which k serve as a Sono-Art starring vehitk for Ruth Roland, is not a sequels "The Great Divide." * * * Incidentally, Sono-Art seems to be cornering the market on "heavenly" titles, having used "The Rainbow Man." It now has "Blaze O' Glory" in production and will also produce "Miss Sunshine." * * * Speaking of Sono-Art, we must mention that Ruth Roland, George Weeks, O. E. Goebel and Jimmy Ashcraft made a big hit at the luncheon Miss Roland tendered the press. * * * Our Passing Show. Robert Nor& hurrying at First National; Albert De Mond doing likeivise at Unix** sal; Alexander Gray and Benin Claire rejecting offers to return ft Broadway for stage engagement*. Italotone Set to Start Films in Italian, Spanisl Plans for the company's initial production in its program of Italian and Spanish language pictures ljfl been completed by the newly organized Italotone Film Productions, II with the establishment of headquif ters at the Metropolitan Sound dios. Western Electric equipmi of both sound-on-disc and soundfilm type will be used. Among eign artists placed under contrai assist Alfredo Verrico, general di tor, are Countess Rina de Ligui Italia de Santis, Dolores Mitrovil Nella Nelli, Concetta Zingarelli Agostino Borgato.