The Film Daily (1930)

THE fesday, July 22, 1930 ■JZfr* DAILV Timely Topics A Digest of Current Opinion €) llw Norma Shearer Ik Her Chance ■1ECAUSE a Syracuse movie producer back in 1923 was Sndowed with that sixth sense ■vhich can spot a camera "find" Imong a hundred aspirants, NorIfna Shearer is today at the pinBiacle of cinema fame, with EuIrene W. Logan to thank for her Success. And because a movie ■made in Syracuse, with the old Ifcalthrop mansion, the Onondaga ■ ndian Reservation and the Liverpool salt yards among the setlings, and a cast including such Ik-ell-known localities as Yvonne ILogan, the Rev. Dr. Bernard C. (Clausen, Mrs. Martha Atkins ILangford and L. Marion Bradlley, was successful enough to Ipraw favorable comment, Miss (Shearer was given her big [chance The story Logan Selected was "A Clouded Name." Dt offered equal opportunity to llwo characters, one a child, the Ipther a young woman who would itupply the romantic interest.... But the heroine was lacking. Mr. Logan communicated his need to casting agents in New York and went down to pick from a group assembled for him by his director, Austin Huhn. Norma at that time was doing bits and, though her beauty and ability were recognized to some extent, no producer would give her a real chance because there was a generally accepted belief that she possessed a slight cast in one eye. She was accordingly, among those present to try for the Syracuse movie. Logan spotted her at once, discounted the eye story, signed her for Logan Productions and brought her to Syracuse. — Chester Bahn, "Syracuse Herald" It is estimated that films throughout the world entertain weekly about 245 million people. Along The Rialto with PhilM. Daly JUST TO whet your appetite for that 1930 Directors' Annual which will be out Saturday — we dont's mind telling you that it has been prepared in the ancient atmosphere of that annual Almanack with which Ben Franklin astonished the good citizens of Philadelphia now they call it the Satevepost so to get in the proper spirit, Publisher John Wild Alicoate drove to ye office in a stage coach he was dressed in powdered wig and knee breeches he smoked a long churchwarden's pipe but one day he absentmindedly wandered over for lunch to the Empey Club dressed this way, and the goofs over there mistook it for a new golf costume but the publication work went merrily on kind friends suggested to ye Publisher a lotta innovations someone even suggested running ads Squire Alicoate was very loathe to thus commercialize his Artistic Work but another bright boy sez: "Ben Franklin ran ads in his Almanack, and now lookit the Satevepost today — it's nothing but ads" so the 1930 Annual will introduce this Revolutionary Idea of carrying ads in a trade publication it will also contain some News about Directors, Production and other Light Reading, just to carry out the original idea JACOB WILK, manager of Warner's story department, reports on the contest among newspapermen throughout the country to submit original talking picture scripts he sez: "Among many of the scripts we discovered examples of good writing? veah. Take, but didja discover any picture ideas? Pathe claims that 500 incandescent lamos were used to illuminate one set on "Her Man," a record only equalled by '"King of Kings" they musta been trying to put her man on the spot * * * * THE B. & K. Manual gives the following sound tips for houses that are "hay-wired": 1. Go backstage and look for (a) stage hand getting manicured: (b) stage hand filing will 2. Prevail on stage hand to hang overalls on hook rather than in No. 2 horn 3. Call Rose Rat Exterminators and have them serve notice on tenants in No. 4 horn that their lease is expired 4. Sneak to sound monitor in regard to his snoring (And if all these fail, why not try a GOOD sound installation?) QORDON S. WHITE, director of advertising and publicity for Educational, stresses the fact that in these days of sound, comedies are the most sure-fire screen entertainment for the youngsters we know a gang of kids out in Brooklyn who have organized themselves into a Screen Scout Club, as they aptly term it, to wise each other up when they hear of a good short comedy, and they all pile in to see it kids just won't go for these sophisticated talkies, and it's good news that Educational plans to give them a break CHARLES REED JONES, twice winner of E. P. Dutton & Company's mystery novel prize, is handling the publicity on Nat Levine's three all-talking serials Pat Flaherty of Red Star has gone and got hisself a spiffy Packard he is working on a horn for the buzz-wagon that will play bars from the latest company song-hits Now they have an Eskimo yes-man in Babbletown he is on the Fox lot as Ray Wise, but the Eskimo flappers useter call him Aghni chack he had no trouble learning English — he sez "yes" as good as any of 'em Frank Wilstach of the Hays organization is back from a 1500-mile vacation trip to Cape Cod and Canada, where he pieked up a sunburn and some new similes for his next edition.. , EXPL0ITETTES A Clearing House for Tabloid Exploitation Ideas — €— A Stage Wedding for "One Romantic Night" HIGH-POWERED exploitation campaign was conducted in Dayton, Ohio, to put over the engagement of "One Romantic Night" at the RKO Colonial theater. The backbone of the campaign hinged on a wedding conducted on the stage of the Colonial. The stunt was played up by the newspapers and local merchants who featured it in their ads and window displays. Free tickets were given to couples procuring marriage licenses durinsr the dates of June 30th to July 7th. The bride and groom married on the stage the third day of the picture's run received $75 in cash from the theater and gifts in merchandise from the dealers. "" — United Artists * * * Talking Armored Knight for Theater Feast NCIENT medieval armor combined with the most modern of latter day miracles made an effective bit of ballyhoo for C. P. Laws, manager of the Fox U. C. theater, Berkeley, California, in connection with "The Rogue Song." An iron knight had a loud speaker contained in the helmet through which Laws made announcements over a microphone set in his office. Many additional tickets were sold to patrons who came solely to view the ancient relic. —"Now" A! 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: July 22 Dan Totheroh Phillips Holmes J. Leo Meehan