The Film Daily (1930)

Friday, January 31, 1930 — .^B^ WIIAJf .Ltli -^ DAILV Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion €— Talkers Call for Greater Concentration from Audience COUND immediately introduced •^ a complication which is largely psychological. If much of the story is told by the spoken dialogue it becomes practically imperative to maintain silence and to pay strict attention to every word. This demands concentration to a degree which is often not relished by an audience which demands a method of recreation which permits more relaxation. It will readily be granted that the motion picture audience, taken by and large, is definitely different from the one which attends the legitimate stage or even the musical comedy. These people go with the distinct knowledge that they will have to pay attention to every detail and will even have to strain a bit to get it all. Wesley C. Miller, Chief Transmission Engineer, M-G-M Studios More Safety in Theaters Than in Other Buildings "NJO opportunity should be lost to impress upon the public the unassailable truth of the fact that the average cinema today is among the safest of all buildings. Statistics would show that risk of death or injury is far less in a cinema than in a private house and immeasurably less than in the streets. Unfortunately, on the rare occasions when cinema disasters have occurred, the number of the victims (even though they represented only a small percentage of the audience) has ' often been gfeat enough to secure widespread publicity. Such publicity is apt to create an altogether disproportionate idea of danger. Actually, as we know, the public is more secure at the pictures than at almost any other form of sport or recreation. "The Bioscope" t THEIR FIRST JOBS RALPH CEDER lath grader Along The Rialto with Phil M. Daly, Jr. V '■JTAPHONE NEWS, a weekly publication issued to patrons of the local Warner houses, has a circulation of 40,000. Jack Lewis is acting associate editor Primo de Rivera, who has just closed an eventful career as Premier of Spain, makes his first appearance in a Fox Movietone release now holding forth at the Embassy, N. Y * * * ^^ Under the editorship of Hal Hodes, "The Beacon," Columbia's pet house organ, a_gain increases its size. This time to 12 pages, but Hal, you should tell a guy whether the sheet is put in circulation weekly, monthly or now and then Forrest Yarnell, baritone, will appear at the Capitol today in "Venetian Carnival," the new revue. Yarnell, just back from Australia, makes his first la la in New York * * * * Victor records of Jeanette MacDonald singing "Dream Lover" and "March of the Grenadiers" from "The Love Parade," will be placed on the market this week. Victor also has an exclusive contract for her musical numbers in future productions, so it is said Dr. L. Forno, manager of the foreign department for J. V. Cremonim, sails for Europe on Feb. 8 for a tour of studios in Italy, France and Spain * * * tf. Charles Ray will continue to be a prodigal from the films for at least another 10 weeks, the length of a contract he has just signed to appear in Loew vaudeville Albert S. Howson, scenario editor of Warner Bros., is going strong as a public speaker these days. His most recent oratorical appearance took place last night in Philadelphia at a meeting of the State Federation of Pennsylvania Women El Brendel is on his way from the Coast to Philadelphia and New York for a vacation, with a stopover in St. Louis for a personal appearance at the opening there of "Hot for Paris." * * * * An exhibit of photographs of old time minstrel notables including such famous troupes as the Dockstader, Haverly, Don Bryant and original Christy Minstrels, is on display next door to the Colony, N. Y., where Pathe's "The Grand Parade" is the current attraction. Helen Twelvetrees and Fred Scott ha\ v the lion shares of the picture >|: * * 4: Herman Reese, who designed all the big sets and costumes for Paul Whiteman's "The King of Jazz," has returned to this little town east of the Hudson This musical one is Uni versal's big boy Joseph O'Brien, film editor of Pathe Sound News, recently back from Paris, has left for the West to visit the editorial headquarters and traveling units of the organization J. H. Seidelman, assistant general manager of Paramount's foreign department, returned from a month's trip to Jamaica * * * * Do you ever wonder where a certain exchange, independent or otherwise is located? The 1930 FILM DAILY YEAR BOOK contains a complete list of all exchanges in the industry. Out soon, watch for it! JANUARY 31 -MANY HAPPY RETURNS Best wishes and congratulations are extended by THE FILM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who are celebrating their birthdays today: Adele Watson Marcella Daly Joyce Murray AND JHATS THAT By PHIL M. DALY Market speculators who were caught short in Paramount, Warner, Loew and Fox no longer call them amusement stocks. "England," declares one of 'is Majesty's politicians, "undoubtedly has made America what she is today." That's nothing. American pictures are making the world what it will be tomorrow. Some talkers are described by critics as butchered versions of good plays or novels. If the pictures come first, and the novels or plays ivere adapted from them, the critics would call the novels or plays butchered versions of good films. * * * SPECIALIST: Now, relax and say "Oh." SICK ACTOR: No, I won't. I came here for a physical exam., not a talker test. Every one of the last seven newsreels that we have seen and heard has contained scenes of Al Smith in various occupations from a golf act to witty repartee with other notables. Considering that Al recently stated he positively did not contemplate going into pictures, it looks as though somebody's been putting over a fewfast ones on the happy warrior. * * * Clara Bow is quoted in "Life" as saying that she always tries to be a "good fellow." 'At's the way, Clara. And be a good girl, too. TEN YEARS AGO TO-DAY IN Educational to open 26 exchanges in key cities with Joe Lee in charge. * ♦ * Net income of $4,000,000 estimated for Famous during 1919. ♦ * * "Fatty" Arbuckle will make features, advises coast report. i^ if <¥ Allen Holubar offered post with Italia Film Co. of Italy.