The Film Daily (1929)

THE Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion — €)= Kansas City Preacher Calls Films Boon to Civilization IT is difficult for anybody to estimate the power of the film. It disputes influence with the radio upon modern life. It is hard to lift ourselves out of habit and environment and figure what our life would be and what our state of world knowledge would be if the motion picture had never come to educate us. The motion picture does what we have so long neglected to do; it walks in through the widest gate into the mind, the heart, the soul of the individual. It teaches in the most concrete fashion in which instruction can be conveyed — through the eye. Now, it is combining the two gateways, the eye and the ear. Rev. Dr. Burris Jenkins, Pastor, Linwood Blvd. Christian Church, Kansas City Deplores Unfair Methods Of Some Exchange Managers COURTS have ruled that the principal is not always responsible for the acts of his agent, but right thinking production companies demand that their local exchange managers do nothing to incur the ill will of the exhibitor to the detriment of the organization. This being generally true, it is somewhat amazing to observe the unfair tactics of certain exchange managers who withhold information in their possession regarding their release list so that they may use this knowledge to swindle their clients. We do not believe that the companies are always aware fo these practices and in many instances could be blamed, where they are entirely innocent. Such actions, however, arouse wholly unnecessary resentment, which may work adversely to the producer's interests. Jay Emanuel in "The New York State Exhibitor" THEIR FIRST JOBS ROWLAND V. LEE New York stage Along The Rialto with PhilM. Daly, Jr. OUBLIX is goin' in strong for big names these winter days. ■1 F'r example, both Rudy Vallee and Belle Baker are doing their stuff on the Brooklyn Paramount stage this week and at the New York Paramount Ruby Keeler (Mrs. Al Jolson, yer know) is the main stage show Help The Relief Fund Known for its books and beans, Boston gets the first eastern crack at viewing "The Lost Zeppelin," the Tiffany special, the Park, the house, and Dec. 28, the date. Christmas day the same film makes its bow at the Rialto, Brockton. You know, Al Selig is supervising the monstrous campaign. Jimmy Loughborough hiked up to handle the detail Relief Fund Needs Your Help Heading south, E. A. Schiller of the Loew troupe, heading for Atlanta over the holidays Harold B. Franklin, president, Fox West Coast Theater, now in that town and will remain until the opening of the new Fox house there and M. Van Praag, general sales manager of Universal in St. Louis today and expected back in N. Y. tomorrow or maybe a day later Do It Now Help the Fund We knew it Here comes Fannie Brice, this time in "Be Yourself," her first for United Artists and a talker. Bet she'll dish out some snappy repartee in this one. Leave it to Fannie to give the bright boys a few new smart smacks Betty McDonald, captain of the Russell E. Markert's 32 Roxyettes, has been elected captain of the unit for another year Make Haste Aid the Fund "The theater of today is not more vulgar. It's just more natural," is the way baby faced Helen Kane, boop-boop-a-doop originator, answers E. H. Sothern, Shakespearean actor, who decries the fact that the country has gone boom boom Help The Relief Fund John Joneck, assistant manager at the Rivoli, is busy these mornings handling crowds which line up before 10:30 a. m. for the day's initial showing on "Taming of the Shrew." Just another reminder that in "This Thing Called Love" Pathe's sophisticated yarn holding forth at the Roxy, the coloring is not Technicolor but Multicolor, just to wise up up. Catch on? Relief Fund Needs Your Help Kathryn Carver, or Mrs. Adolphe Menjou if you are a stickler on formalities, will have a chance to shake off her legs when the Olympic docks along the North River today August W. Halfeld, U. S. representative for August Scherl, G.m.b.H. and Telegraphen Union, is returning to Berlin to become news manager of the Scherl organization, and will be succeeded here by Herbert P. Karowski DECEMBER 17 -MANY HAPPY RETURNS Best wishes and congratulations are extended by THE FILM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who today are celebrating their birthday : George Barraud Arthur Hoerl Jefferson Moffitt David Butler — AND THAT'S THAT By PHIL M. DALY pi) McNAMEE, editor of the ■^ AM PA mag, "Motion Picture Advertising," is in receipt of a letter from a Chink in Shanghai notifying him that he sent a crate containing a thousand yen to pay for a vear's subscription. The crate arrived, and Ed is spending his lunch hours counting the coin. But he sez he doesn't mind, for it solves his Xmas gift problem. He is stringing the coins with a hole in the center on strings, and passing 'em out to his lady friends as antique necklaces dating from the King Dynasty. * * * And his side kick Paul Benjamin was unkind enough to remark that it shows what dumb janes Ed travels with. Answered Prayer Dear Phil: Here I are, stranded in Oskaloosa, dead broke and u>ith no friends. What to do, oh, ivhat to do? Mike Glutz (your roving correspondent). Dear Glutz: Make some friends quick. Phil. * * * Just heard of a fillum salesman who has broken his engagement to a school teacher. He didn't show up one night, and she wanted him to bring a written excuse signed by his mother. Harry Reichenbach sez he won't be happy till he visits the Colorado Canyon and listens to his own echo. Now before we dismiss the class, children, let us remind you it would be a darn sight easier for teacher to fill this kolyum if you cuckoos would kick in once in a while. TEN YEARS AGO TO-DAY IN United Picture theaters to increase output to 25 features a year. * * * John Joseph Harvey reported planning new organization to distribute comedies exclusively. * * * L. J. Selznick to make weekly one reel releases on editorials by Herbert Kaufman. J. H. Marx heads Great Northwestern Film Corp. at Milwaukee.