The Film Daily (1930)

THE -s^m DAILV Friday, February 28, 1930 Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion — €)— To Draw, Films Must Offer Constant Innovation "VrO talkie means much to a city house to-day unless it can boast real stars or full color. A few more pictures and full color will cease to draw, while part color will fall into the same category as part-talkie. It will mean nothing. Then, either widefilm or third dimension cinematography must be relied upon for the new fillip, or "'C must fall back entirely on those tried true favorites of silent days. "Everyones," Sydney Playwright Holds Talkers Have Created Drama Audiences 'THE wide penetration of the screen is making our public not only theater-minded but dialogue-minded. They had been given the theater going habit in the old silent film days. Now they know the charms of cleverly spoken lines. Thousands of people all over the United States are going to so-called "legitimate" theaters for the first time, drawn there by an appetite for dialogue drama inculcated by the talkies. Martin Flavin, playivright Believes Even Now Talkers Overshadow Legitimate Stage PVEN at its present development the sound screen eclipses the stage just as completely as the modern motion picture has eclipsed the old Punch and Judy show. Nor is the comparison at all far-fetched, for when contrasted with the vast possibilities of the talkies even the most pretentious production of the theater is limited to just about the same comparative size as the little booth at the country fair. John Murray Anderson ^There are 350 theater chains in the United States and Canada operating four or more houses. Along The Rialto with Phil M. Daily, Jr. A/f ARTIN STARR, out in Hollywood way with a bevy of beauties, claims there still is no place like New Yawk. He's under the impression this Coast trip is a frame-up Harold S. Bareford, assistant secretary for Warner Bros., is scheduled to sail tomorrow for a two months' trip to Europe. Evidently one of those combined business-pleasure things « * * * Mrs. Frank Cahill, wife of Frank Cahill, of Warner Bros, theaters, is convalescing after an operation at the Flower Hospital, New York The Warner and First National building is kinda short on executives; Abe Warner is in Miami, Sam Morris in Havana and H. M. Warner en route to the Coast. But Herman Starr is still holding the fort 'Buddy' Morris, one of the head men of Witmark & Sons, is dashing around the Warner office these days Mayer Schlesinger is complaining of a slight cold, but we hear Gus is getting along well in Germany * * * * Ben Goetz, vice president and general manager of Con-solidated Film Lab., arrived in town yesterday for a series of confabs with H. J. Yates Ben's stay will be limited to a few days Universal Club's Dramatic Society held an entertainment and dance last night at the True Sisters Club House, and sure played to a full house * « « 4> Helen Morgan, Jack Donahue and the orchestras of Rudy Vallee, Leo Reisman and Vincent Lopez, are to be among the mirth and music lineup at the Newspaper Club's ball tonight ai the Ritz-Carlton Incidentally, Leo Reisman did not appear as scheduled at Proctor's 86th St. last night, due to illnes^, and the Roxy Gang was rushed to the theater to pinch hit « * * « Louella O. Parsons, m. p. editor of Universal Service, arrived in the big burg yesterday from the coast on her first visit since she became the bride of Dr. Harry Martin Black McVeigh would have the world know that, with the open ing of "Song of the West," there are now three all-Technicolor features running at $2 on Broadway, with more to come * * * * Lucille Gleason, the better half of the versatile and hardworking James Gleason, is back in New York and plans to resume vaudevilling in "Meet the Missus." * * • • James Gillespie, personal representative for Paul Whiteman, returns to the Coast tomorrow after a flying visit to New York, where he has been giving folks his personal assurance that Uni versal's forthcoming "King of Jazz" is okay John C. Flinn is Coast-bound again to busy himself on the new Pathe shorts schedule FEBRUARY 28-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: Charles Walter Beyer Pat Somerset William Wellman Irving Briskin -AND THAT'S THAT By PHIL M. DALY \ A VISITOR to the Roxy was discussing business conditions and the stock market with Manager C. W. Griswold. "I see that the film stocks have come back strong since the break," said the visitor. "You fellows must be doing a big business." "Sure enough," replied C. W., "it shows in the theaters." "American Chewing Gum is another stock that's coming back nicely. I suppose their business likewise is booming?" "Yes, and that shows in our theaters, too!" * * « Paid Gulick and Oscar Cooper were discussing a suitable title for a musical production that is to have a telephone girl as its heroine. "How about calling it 'The Telephone Operetta'?" suggested Paul. * * * Actors could play their parts a little more realistically if they were given real champagne to drink when the story calls for the bubbling liquid, says Sam Hardy, but the producers don't seem to think that the difference in acting would be worth the difference in cost between champagne and tea. * * t Cameron Lenz and Celia Lloyd postcard that they have reached Buffalo on their cross-country jaunt by flivver. Speaking of a house they tried to crash one night, Cam re ', marks : "We had as tough a time getting in there as you trade paper reviewers ^ have trying to get in the press sec f tion at the Paramount with your yellow passes." TEN YEARS AGO TO-DAY IN Tom Moore to have 11 houses in Washington. A. Kaufman signs Alan Holubar and Dorothy Phillips. Joseph Urban made rector of Cosmopolitan technical Prod. di * * t Al Boys Santell to for Cohn. direct Hall Room