The Film Daily (1929)

THE OAILV Sunday, December IS, 1929 PRODUCTION IN THE EAST WHO'S WHO AND WHAT'S WHAT IN GREATER NEW YORK STUDIOS MORE SHORT PRODUCT PLANNED AT WARNER'S With the opening of two new stages at the Eastern Vitaphone studio of Warner Bros., greatly increased production plans have just been completed which will necessitate a much larger working force than at present. New writers and directors will be engaged to help complete a schedule which includes 13 one reel dramatic sketches, 30 two reel (mixed) playlets and 12 one reel musicals. The first recording in the Eastern Vitaphone studio was made on Sunday, Dec. 16, 1928, and was a voice and screen test of Alexander Moissi. This German player later starred in "The Royal Box," with German dialogue, this being the first full length all-talking picture to be recorded in a foreign language. Prior to the latter, a one reel short was made on Dec. 27, 1928, in which the "Bing Boys," of vaudeville, were featured. Since that time many one and two reel Vitaphone shorts have been made, in addition to "The Royal Box," totalling in all, 260 reels. In addition, a large number of voice and screen tests have been made besides the recording of musical scores for the foreign versions of Warner Bros, feature talkies. This has all been accomplished on one stage and with one recording channel. According to Porter H. Evans, chief sound engineer oi the Eastern Vitaphone studios, the new stages are equipped with the latest and best type of acoustic treatment known, while the recording apparatus represents the newest and best available. A number of the sound equipment parts have been invented and developed by the studio's technical staff. Stage No. 2, the larger of the new stages, is 135 feet long by 65 feet wide and 33 feet high, and is for the production of talking pictures. Stage No. 3 will be used exclusively for the scoring of pictures. When these new stages get into operation, it will be possible to shoot two pictures simultaneously and score at the same time. Announcing My FIRST ANNIVERSARY with Warner Bros.-Vitaphone Eastern Studios "RAY FOSTER Cameraman Short Shots from New York Studios By HARRY N. BLAIR I CHARLES RUGGLES will play a brief vaudeville engagement in and around New York while waiting for Paramount to start production on "Young Man of Manhattan," in which he has a big part. Ruggles' act is called "Wives, Etc." * * * Murray Roth has completed direction of Billy Lytell and Tom Fant {no relation to Ella Fant — ouch!) in a Vitaphone musical and dancing number which features this twomanband. "The Painting" is the name of a two reel short featuring Maria Gamberelli ("Gamby") and the Morgan Trio, which Mort Blumenstock directed at the Paramount Long Island studio. "Gambyf' was assisted in her dance by June and Adelaide, child dancers, and Kamberoff. The setting is 18th Century France. The pleasant air of welcome so noticeable to the Paramount Long Island studios is evident the moment a visitor reaches the entrance where he is sure to be greeted with a big smile by Warren Baber, who more than lives up to his title of Information clerk. George LeMaire recently sent out a call for a Jewish comedian and was surprised to find only one candidate waiting when he arrived at his office. The mystery was explained when he later learned that the sole applicant had spent most of the morning shooing away others who came for the job by shouting "All filled up!" the minute anyone stuck their head in the door. P.S. No, he didn't get the part. * * * He used to make animated cartoons for which he) earned good money. Last summer, due to slackness, he was laid off. On top of this his favorite child contracted a dread disease and suddenly died. With Christmas approaching, this, coupled with her husband's unemployment, weighed on the wife's mind and he came home the other day to find her dead, by her own hand. Now there is a new job in view and he is going back to the business of making other people laugh. A new angle to the "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" motif and, in this case, all too true. THE unusual number of visitors attracted to the "Big Pond" set has prompted George Folsey, cameraman, to invent a periscope arrangement by which he can look over and around those watching the action. * * * Operations having again become fashioyvable, Warner Bros, seem to have a most timely subject in "The Operation," which Edgar Bergen, ventriloquist, has just completed with the assistance of "Charlie MacArthur," who is not as dumb as he looks. * * * "Princess Lady Bug" is the title of a new Photocolor short which Bradley Barker just completed at the RCA studio with Katherine Reece featured. * * * It was good news for Claudette Colbert when Paramount decided to postpone "Young Man of Manhattan" until spring. The strain of appearing in both the French and English versions of "The Big Pond," now going ahead at full speed, has made the prospect of vacation very alluring. * * * The success of this year's Annual Lambs' Gambol has been greatly due to the efforts of John Hobble, who writes originals for both the stage and screen. Mr. Hobble has been devoting the past few weeks to the Gambol which many believe is the best ever put on by the Lambs'. * * * Dudley Murphy has just bought an enormmis fur coat which his associates at the Paramount studio insist is the only set of unborn Newfoundland in existence. B. P. Fineman to Return to Coast After One Picture Upon completing the supervision of "Dangerous Nan McGrew," which Alfred E. Green will direct at the Paramount Long Island studio, B. P. Fineman, associate producer, will leave for Hollywood. Helen Kane will appear in this original comedy which was written by Charles Beahan. Green is expected to arrive in New York during the early part of January and production will be started shortly thereafter. MacGowan and Smith to Adapt "Nan McGrew" Film Adaption and writing of dialogue for "Dangerous Nan McGrew," in which Helen Kane will head the cast has been bestowed upon Jack MacGowan and Paul Gerard, playwrights, who have been placed under contract by Walter Wanger. The picture will be made at the Paramount Astoria studios. The story is an original bv Charles Beahan. Technicolor Short Completed A two reel fantasy, filmed entirely in Technicolor, has just been completed at Warner Bros. Eastern Vitaphone studio under the title of "A Holiday in Storyland." Thirty children comprise the cast of this picture, which was directed by Roy Mack. Three song numbers are featured all written especially for the picture by M. K. Jerome and Harold Berg. Ray Cozine Directing Ray Cozine, formerly assistant director at the Paramount Long Island studios made his initial directorial plunge last week with a one reel short, "Dream." Cozine's next assignment will be a two reel production to be started shortly. To Film Freaks Freaks on view at Coney Island this summer will be photographed for a series of two-reel shorts planned by Dagrose Pictures, Inc., of N. Y. BUILDING SETS FOR SOUND PRESENTS NEW PROBLEMS The introduction of sound has forced studio art departments to develop additional artistic versatility, according to William Saulter, head of the art department at Paramount's Long Island studio. "The motion picture artist must be an architect, designer, scene painter, interior decorator and portrait painter," Saulter points out. "In addition to all these, he must now be a scientist, physicist and mechanic, able to solve the most puzzling acoustical problems. He must also adapt his art to the new system of lighting used on the sets." "The incandescent lighting that superseded the sputtering old arcs is too mellow to indicate the contrast of light and shade that appears in Nature. This has had to be brought out by careful brush work. Acoustical qualities are insured by choosing material which will deaden sound, so as to eliminate reverberation."