The Film Daily (1930)

THE THE NEWSPAPER OF FILM DOM All THE NtWS ALL THE TIME VOL. LII No. 61 Wednesday, June 11, 1930 Price 5 Cents Cruze to Make 12 of World Wide's 18 for 1930-31 E. B. DERR ELECTEDJ>RESIDENT 0F~PATHE Syndicate Pictures Announces 16 All-Talkers The Mirror — a column of comment "DON'T MAKE verbal agreements" is one of the "don'ts" in the Salesman's Ten Commandments delivered by Joe Goldberg to his Columbia contract-chasers. If this item of advice were taken regularly, as prescribed, a large percentage of contractural fistfights in this industry would do a fadeout. A verbal agreement is just that — and no more. It's liable to suffer distortion owing to misunderstandings and bad memories. Far better a paper, properly and legally inked, and bearing the signature of an authoritative executive who can guarantee its performance. And such a tangible contract permits your reading it before your John Hancock is attached. Which, in the days of variances in contract provisions, is something a good business man ought to do. The Goldberg admonition embodies an idea which makes for greater industry peace and harmony. * * * RECORDING OF a great majority of Vitaphone records on 12-inch instead of 16-inch discs is announced by Sam E. Morris. Glad news, indeed, for thousands of exhibs who play Warner and First National product. It's a double-barrelled beneficial plan. Costs to both distributors and exhibitors are too high. The latter especially will no doubt welcome this policy which helps cut some of the fat off the overhead. * * * YOU WOULDN'T think of playing a show without giving it some advertising attention. You've got to get your money out of it, naturally. Wonder if you're applying the same principle to your cooling system. In a sense it's just as much a part of your entertainment service as the pictures on your screen. It deserves advertising. Series by Johnston Unit to be Sold Through Indie Exchanges Sixteen all-talkers are announced for 1930-31 by Syndicate Pictures, one of the W. Ray Johnston units. Three producers, Duke Worne, J. P. McGowan and J. J. McCarthy, will combine to turn out the pictures. George Durlam will be supervisor on eighty and Charles A. Post on an equal number. The series will be (.Continued on Page 2) THREE ST. LOUIS AIRDOMES ARE TRYING OUT TALKERS St. Louis — Outdoor talker entertainment is being put to the test here, with three airdomes, the Queens, Pauline and O'Fallon, now operating on a sound picture policy. Other installations will be made by airdome proprietors if these experiments prove successful. Talkers in Park Columbus — Talking pictures in the open air are being tried out at Olentangi Park here with RCA portable equipment. A baffle will be used to counteract extraneous sounds. Skouras Bros. Houses Not Cutting Prices St. Louis — Skouras Bros., controlling the Ambassador, Missouri and Grand Central, will not cut admission prices in conformity with the reduction in scale at the Fox, it is announced by Charles Skouras. The Grand Central is closed at present. Film Menu "Swiss Cheese," "Codfish Balls," "Hungarian Goulash." Just the titles of three Terrytoons to be released by Educational this month. Evidently they are running out of those sexy titles. PUBLIX CLOSES DEAL FOR GOLDSTEIN CHAIN Purchase of the Goldstein Bros, circuit by Publix, first reported in THE FILM DAILY of May 15, has been concluded and the deal becomes effective Sept. 3, it is announced by the Publix office. There are 21 houses in the chain, according to the last listing, 20 in Western Massachusetts and the other in U'tica, N. Y. These include: Capitol, Athol; Elms, Playhouse and Royal, Chicopee; Garden, Greenfield; Strand and Victory, Holyoke; Calvin and Plaza, Northampton; Strand, Palmer; Colonial, Palace and Union Square, Pittsfield; Broadway and State, Springfield; Bijou and Casino, Ware; Rialto and Strand, Westfield; Regent, Worcester, and State, Utica. Jack Ellis Now Managing RKO's N. Y. Exchange After eight years as salesman with the company, Jack Ellis, who lately has been acting manager of the RKO New York exchange, was yesterday appointed to succeed Cleve Adams as head of that branch. Adams was recently named central division manager. No Foreign Product Included in New World Wide Release List Twelve of the 18 features planned for the World Wide program for 1930-31 will be made by James Cruze Productions, said Harry Thomas, who has just returned to New York after a three weeks' trip to the Coast. No foreign product will be distributed by the company, he stated. Thomas brought with him from the Coast a print of "Once a Gentleman," which James Cruze made with Edward Everett Horton, Lois Wilson and King Baggott. Scollard Made Executive Vice-Pres. — Kennedy as Chairman E. B. Derr, as forecast May 14 in THE FILM DAILY, yesterday was elected president of Pathe by the board of directors installed Monday, filling the position left vacant by the resignation of J. J. Murdock. C. J. Scollard was elected executive vice-president and Lewis Innerarity becomes vice-president as well as secretary. Arthur B. Poole is the new treasurer of the company and T. S. Delehanty becomes assistant secretary-treasurer. Joseph P. Kennedy continues as chairman of the board of directors. Committee to Fight Stockholders represented by the Protective Committee of Pathe are now consulting counsel regarding appropriate legal proceedings, according to a statement issued last night by Richard A. Rowland, chairman of the committee. It is contended that this group was deprived of a proper hearing and of a substantial vote at Monday's election. FOUR TALKiNGSERIALS PLANNED BY UNIVERSAL Four talking serials are planned by Universal for its 1930-31 production program. The first, now in work at Universal City under Henry McRae, is "The Indians Are Coming," in 12 episodes, featuring Tim McCoy and Allenc Ray. Next will be "The Circus," 10 episodes, by Courtney Ryley Cooper, followed by "Finger Prints/' 10 episodes, adapted from Arthur B. Reeve's '•The Maxwell Murder Mystery," and "Mutiny," 12 episodes, by William M> Leod Raine. Wide Screen Installed in 26 Canadian Houses Ottawa— Ambrose Nolan, operator of three houses here, has equipped 26 Ontario houses with a wide screen device of his own invention. He is now planning a trip to Western Canada for further installations.