The Film Daily (1930)

THE Monday, July 21, T30 sSBfr* DAILV 23 Five of Educational9 s Comedy Series Now in Work Two Additional Units in Preparation — More Names Signed Five out of the seven two-reel comedy series on Educational's 1930jl schedule are already under way It the three studios producing this program— the Educational, Metropolitan and Mack Sennett plants. With another dozen names of players for featured or prominent comedy parts added since the announcement of 11 star names a few days ago, the list of stars and featured players is already the biggest and most impressive with which Educational has ever entered a new season, while a number of other well known players are still to be added for the two series that will soon go into production and stars will be signed tor single pictures from time to time throughout the season. The latest additions to the Educational comedy roster include Bernard Granville, Dick Stewart, Catherine McGuire, Jerry Drew, Al Alt, Marcia Manning and Rae Daggett, for the latest Mermaid comedy to go into production, and Helen Bolton, Estelle Bradley, Vernon Dent, Adrienne Dore and Frank Rice, who will support Johnny Hines in his return to the Educational banner in the tirst of the new Tuxedo comedy series, now in production with William Watson directing. At the Sennett studio there has been no let-up, and as soon as camera work was completed on the current year's product, Sennett and his company launched into the new season's work, for which several stories had already been prepared. In the first two pictures Andy Clyde will be featured. In the casts will be seen Betty Boyd, Ben Bard, John Darrow, Margie "Babe" Kane, Nick Stuart and Florence Roberts. Daphne Pollard will return to the Sennett fold in the following subject, with Ann Christy, Charles Irwin, Cyril Chadwick and Marjorie Beebe. Two titles have been announced by Sennett in this new season's line-up. They are "Grandma's Girl" and "Divorced Sweetheart." In the Vanity series the first picture, "The Freshmen's Goat," has been completed, with a cast including Ray Cooke, Marian Shockley, the surprising "find" who is attracting so much attention at the Metropolitan studio, Ronny Rondell, Iris Adrian, Churchill Ross and Eddie Barry. "The Freshman's Goat" was directed by Nat Ross. William Goodrich is well along with the first of the Ideal group, which will feature Tom Patricola and his vaudeville partner, Joe Phillips. Lloyd Hamilton's first story is in preparation, and announcement is expected this week on the first of the new Gayety series, completing 'he seven two-reel groups on Educational's program. Other stars and featured players Foreign Markets By GEORGE REDDY Australian Circuits Sign for Pathe Product Sydney— The 1930-31 Pathe program has been sold to Hoyt's Theaters and Union Theaters, Australia's vvo major circuits, according to Ednund H. Howells, special Pathe rep esentative. The pictures are being jistributed in this territory by Celebrity Films, Ltd. Union Theaters will release Pathe n Sydney, Adelaide and Tasmanian key centers while Hoyt's have signed for Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. More Quota Prosecutions London — Prosecution of three cases of violation under the terms of the Films Act, in which the Board of Trade alleged failure on the part of exhibitors to comply with the liability to show a percentage of British films, were heard recently. Theaters involved were in Eastbourne, East Ham and Preston. English Director Dead London — A. E. Coleby, for many years associated with the motion picture industry here as director, died recently. Straker With British Cinephone London — Jean Straker, formerly of the Edibell organization, has taken over the sales of British Cinephone in the London and Home Counties territory. A.H. Bass. Radio, Ltd., Manager London — A. M. Bass, for 16 years associated with Ideal Films, Ltd., was recently appointed district manager by Radio Pictures, Ltd. Territory placed under tne supervision of Mr. Bass, includes Lancashire, Chesire, North Wales, and Ireland, with headquarters in Manchester. At a luncheon tendered him in the Park Hotel, Cardiff, by friends in the trade, Bass was presented with an elaborate silver tea and coffee service. already at work or signed up for Educational's two reel comedies include Charlotte Greenwood, Ford Sterling and Bert Roach, for the Tuxedo series; T. Roy Barnes and Monty Collins, co-featured in the first Mermaid, "His Error," already finished under Stephen Roberts' direction, with Greta Grandstedt and Virginia Sale, sister of "Chic" Sale, in the supporting cast; Patsy O'Leary, one of Sennett's few contract players, and Clyde Cook, Buster West and John West, awaiting series assignments at the Educational or Metropolitan plants. British Wide Film Shown London — A new method of expanding the standard screen picture is now being successfully demonstrated at the Regal here, in conjunction with the showing of "All Quiet on the Western Front." Expansion of the ordinary size picture "throw," is gained by the interposition in the projection booth of a system of magnification, which is synchronized with an expanding screen to accommodate the gradually enlarging image. A press button in the booth controls the mechanism of the entire apparatus. The invention is the product of three Englishmen, Chief Projectionist Pilgrim of the Regal, George F. Hall, and R. G. Hall. French Features for England London — Societe Etoile Film, has sold for distribution in England, their features, "The Servant," directed by Jean Choux, and "Ladies With the Green Hats," directed by Andre Berthomieu. Stoll Picture Corporation is the distributor. New Salford, Eng., Firm Salford, Eng. — Salford Entertainments Co., has been incorporated with a capital of $65,000. Offices are at Bank Chambers, Bexley Square. Elect French Trade Officers Paris — Newly elected officers of the Chambre Syndicale Francaise de la Cinematographic, the French general trade body, are: President, M. Charles Delac; vice-presidents, M. Charles Jourjon, E. Costil, Natan and A. Osso; general secretary, M. Charles Gallo; assistant secretary, M. Roger Weil; treasurer, M. Debrie. Exhibs Fight Electric Rates Sheffield, Eng. — Protesting unfair electric supply rates imposed upon them, members of the Sheffield Cinema Exhibitors' Ass'n have appointed a committee to meet with the power company. This movement to have electric rates re-adjusted is backed by the local Chamber of Commerce. Receiver for Piccadilly London — Following the recent debenture holder's action in the Chancery Court, against the Piccadilly, directors of the house have announced the appointment of W. G. Blakemore, as receiver and manager. Canadians to Film Britain London — J. E. Patten and B. J. Bach, film attaches of the Canadian Government, have arrived here to make a complete camera tour of England and Scotland. The films dealing with the m >re intimate life ot Great Britain, will be shown in schools throughout the Province of Ontario. COMEDY 15 ESPERANTO' OF ENTERTAINMENT WORLD (Continued from Page 1) effective medium for reviving kid patronage. "The youngster contingent wields a powerful influence in our business, and its attitude is directly reflected in box-office receipts. Their admissions, together with the admissions of the fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers whom they have brought into the theaters, have represented millions of dollars of revenue yearly. We must not lose sight of this, nor of the fact that the children of today are the adults of tomorrow and it is important to keep their interest in the motion picture theater lively." "Children have always loved the movies for their action and movement, but they have been getting out of the sophisticated dramas of the talkie era, and a loss of their patronage has been generally felt. Comedy is the forceful element which can bring the children back, because comedy must essentially have action. It cannot be denied that comedies today are more important to the program than they have ever been in the past, for this reason, and for the reason that sound has tremendously popularized comedies with the adults. "Individual, rather than mass production, has been the policy meticulously followed during Educational's current year's activities, and this has been resulting in such outstanding product, that the same plan will be pursued in the new line-up. The entire system of making comedies has been revolutionized by sound. Selection of story material is now made with the same care that is exercised in selecting the best feature material; names that are valuable at the box-office are found, not only in the principal roles, but in the supporting casts as well; a new technique has been developed in the direction of comedies and a higher type of humor, with a more widespread appeal, has been evolved. Gag-men have been replaced by efficient comedy writers, who understand story construction, as well as humor." Full Educational Output Will Play Loew Circuit Educational's entire 1930-31 product, comprising the output of the Mack Sennett, Educational and Metropolitan plants, has been booked to play the Loew Circuit. The Educational short features have been a regular part of this circuit's programs for years.