The Film Daily (1930)

THE Wednesday, June 18, 1930 -,%fr* DAILV Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion — ©— The Changing Scene In Hollywood TIKE all the other aspects of this "fastest growing" community, the picture industry is always adding something new to its equipment. Like the new trick putting greens that adorn every other thoroughfare, the studios go on adding new frills and fixtures. Faramount's latest addition is an imposing four-story building for executive offices flanking the attractive gardens that form the central plaza on the lot. It will boast the first elevator in any studio building to date, but already there are plans afoot in a rival organization for an edifice that will go as high as five stories Today, with traveling cameras and delicately adjustable microphones that reach out in any direction to pick up any little passing conation, the director works with an amazing disregard of tonal oh tructions of mischances. Except for a shrill siren blast warning other parts of the studio lot f.om making undue noise — and particularly the RKO saw-mill at work just over the common wall that separates the two studio'— Herr Lubitsch, sealed gay1\ on the traveling cameia that had its soundless rubber wheels fail ly set in tracks paralleling a iha ming simulation of a garden walk in the casino grounds of the famous Mediterranean gambling rt, trailed his stars up and down the set as they went over •.heir panoramic dialogue as if making pictures in the open was the simplest thing in the world. — Ralph Flint Of the 192 features produced in Germany in 1929, by 92 separate production units, only eight contained sound or musical accompaniment. Along The Rialto with Phil M. Daly r^ARL LAEMMLE, JR. believes that fan mail is an unfailing barometer of the public's attitude toward pictures a cross-section of a day's fan mail helps Universal officials in their choice of stars, stories and production methods as Carl Junior sez: "The humble idea of a high school girl may prove more valuable in some instances than the opinions of all our experts put together" It's the old story of the outsider looking in sometimes seeing more than the insider who is too close to see anything * * * * I" UTHER REED, the director, ups and marries Jocelyn Lee, who was once an extra girl College Influence: Dean Hart of the University of Maine reports that Rudy Vallee's crooning of the Stein Song has nearly doubled the requests for entrance applications to that hall of culture Chief Buffalo Child Lone; Lance, hero of "The Silent Enemy," will recount some of his thrilling hunting experiences over WGBS today at 3:45 and again at 8 o'clock in the evening Quiet Bear, another Indian, will sing a coupla whoop songs ARTHUR GREENBLATT, Educational's New York exchange manager, is in receipt of a second girl baby in the family domicile Sound reproduction was first discovered by tapping a beer barrel in 1761 Leopold Auenbrugger developed the science of percussion around his father's tavern by tapping beer barrels that were full, partly full and empty another argument for repeal of Prohibition Helen Morgan has taken an apartment in Paris A special 3-reel version of the Sharkey-Schmeling fight left on the Europa last night for Germany H. Sperber, newspaperman, did the talking for the synk version * * * * JA( K NOBLE is making a new talkie version of "Samson and Delilah" for Alfred H. Weiss, with Jack DeLacy assisting Espa Nolita, Spanish musical comedy star, had a voice test which looked so promising that she was signed for a fiveyear option Varick Erissell, president of the Newfoundland-Labrador Film Co., is probably the tallest film man in the world, standing six feet seven he just returned from the far north, where he helped film "Yrikings of the North" Jack Pegler is back from H'lywood Carrington North, story editor for I'athc, prides herself on her ability to cook a good meal and we pride ourselves on our ability to eat one, so '. . * * * * r OURTENAY SAVAGE is one film writer who came up— or is it down — from the exhibition field a little over a year ago he was managing the Fred Wilson houses in Connecticut, and now he has gone and written "Virtue's Bed" from the fund of his experiences, as it were Esther Ralston inaugurated a Cool Costume Crusade yesterday when she walked in a radiant pajama suit from Saks Fifth Avenue to the Astor hotel and who was her gallant escort but Jack Osterman as they are both appearing at the Palace, this has all the earmarks of a publicity stunt, we suspect * * * * LJENRIETT KAN', formerly of "Vanities." is working in "Heads Up" at the Paramount Longisle stude John Hobble has returned from the Pennsylvania hills, where he completed a play and wrote a brace of talkie shorts Dizzy Chit/ has been unsuccessful so far in digging up a bankroll to go into production, and he sez if he digs a coupla days more he'll be able to make a series of China scenics \ bunch of independent producers have decided there's no sense in cele braling Independence Day, as they have no hreworks to speak of * * * * "NTOiy THAT there is a device for removing cht wing gum from theater seats, can't someone think of an idea to remove censors from films ? EXPLOITETTES A Clearing House for Tabloid Exploitation Ideas e Repeat-Pictures Not Healthy Competition TOO many exhibitors are repeating too many pictures on their nearest competitors to make for healthy conditions. There are now enough good pictures released by all companies to give exhibitors plenty "clear" bookings in their zones. The public shops today more than ever. It is hard enough to get them into see first runs, without showing pictures that have. been seen in other theaters of their neighborhoods. That is one of the main reasons, in my opinion, that so many exhibitors are complaining recently of bad business. — M. J. Weisfeldt), vice-pres*, Talking Picture Epics Harmony in Blue for Picture Tie-Up TN conjunction with the showing of "High Society Blues" at the Paramount, Brainerd, Minn., a tie-up was effected with local clothing dealers to feature blue in display window showings during run of the picture. Further, one of the dealers even colored his window lighting to that shade. Lingerie shops also lent support by following this same procedure. Ceorge P. Irwin, manager of the house, takes the credit for this stunt. — Fox 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: June 18 Bruce Gallup Edmund Breese Dorothy Farnum Ray Meeker