The Film Daily (1930)

(THE :SfeHEWSPAPER oiTfilmdom ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME VOL. LI No. 1 Thursday, January 2, 1930 Price 5 Cents Non-Theatrical Producers to Attend Conference HAYS W INSIST ONIBRAMSON SUff| TRIAL 24 Columbia ^^tures Now Set for '30 Production Bad Sound -is synchronized murder =By JACK ALICOATE^^^= OF late we have received sd many letters from exhibitors in various stages of irritation, heated resentment, ire and constant unrest that we have come at least to the temporary conclusion that thev are entitled to speedy relief and consideration, now that tl J talkers are with us permanently, from the exchange man that sends them prints and records unfit for use. Talking pictures are a little bit of hotsy totsy for the exhibitor when they are clicking mechanically and everything is running O.K. but, when in place of oi-dinary even projection you have a constant rain storm on the screen and instead of pleasing voices and tuneful melody you get from the loud speaker a symphony of squeaks, scratches and air pockets, the effect upon the customer regarding his future and continued patronage is apt to be most discouraging for the exhibitor. The indictment before us that confronts the exchangeman aforementioned is rather long and consists of several counts. Here are a few: Oily prints^Scratched prints — Prints out of sink — Poor patches — Broken sprocket holes — Old and worn out records, and divers and sundry other abuses too numerous to mention. The above is inserted as hearsay evidence merely as a matter of record. Seriously, here is a situation that no doubt is a grave problem to nine out of ten small town houses. It is a big enough thought to deserve the immediate attention and consideration of every sales manager and supervising exchange executive in the business. In former days an old print was bad enough but under the new order of things bad sound from either print or records is nothing short of synchronized murder. 1. ictures Now in Work t Columbia Studio — Preparing Others Two roadshow pictures, one from a David Belasco stage play and the other a Jack Holt starring vehicle, "Hell's Island," head the list of 24 features already scheduled for production by Columbia in 1930. Four of the pictures now are in work, while an equal number awaits cast(Contitiued on Page 6) "Weekly Film Review" Sold to Associated Pub. Atlanta — "Weekly Film Review" has been consolidated with "Exhibitors' Tribune" as the Southeastern unit of Associated Publications, Inc. Anna Aiken Patterson, founder of "Weekly Film Review," continues with that publication in an editorial capacity. DEPT. OF COMMERCE TO HOLD CONFAB ON FEB. 1 Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Final arrangements have been completed for a conference of leading producers and distributors of industrial and educational films to take place here Feb. 1, under the auspices of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, (Continued on Page 6) Civil Service Examinations for Universal Chiefs Branch managers and head bookers of Universal will be given written and oral examinations, of the civil service type, to determine their fitness for promotion, it is announced (Continued on Page 6) 66 By Special Arrangement JflEIEAVNiDlHIEAlP" Br WILL M. HATS Just Published — A Brief History of Motion Pictures and the Development of Sound. T J-*^ Will Appear In Serial Form EVERY DAY IN THE FILM DAILY STARTING NEXT MONDAY A Daily Feature of Universal Interest to Everyone In or Out of Pictures — Don't Miss It! C. C. Pettijohn Replies to Actions Seeking $1,300,000 The Hays office will insist on trial of the suit filed Tuesday by Ivan Abramson and the Graphic Film Corp. against 47 corporations and individuals in the motion picture industry, said C. C. Pettijohn, general counsel of the Hays organization. In the Abramson action, brought against 13 major companies, five important executives, Film Boards of (Continued on Page 6) 72 DEAD, 150 il IN SCOTLAND FIRE PANIC Paisley, Scotland (By Cable) — Seventy-two are known to be dead and about ISO injured in a fire panic at the Glen Cinema Tuesday. Most of the victims were children. The fire started in the projection room but did very little damage, the heavy casualties being mostly due to a wild rush from the balcony to the main floor. IT'29 MAY REAC|$15,000,000 Earnings of Paramount for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 1929 are estabUshed at about $5,500,000, which is approximately 100 per cent greater than the net for the corresponding peritod of 1928 when the (Continued on Page o) Proposed K. C. Padlock Ordinance is Killed Kansas City — Proposed padlock ordinance to prohibit indecent shows has been defeated. It was believed that the measure was too drastic because it would repeal the present license ordinance and subsequently close local theaters.. Officials felt that the present ordinance and state laws are sufficient to regulate matters.