The Film Daily (1930)

THE •%2?k DAILY Sunday, August 24, 191 LATEST NEWS FROM LONDON, PARIS, BERLIN, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE AND OTHER FOREIGN CENTERS Foreign Markets HAPPENINGS IN OTHER ! LANDS OF INTEREST TO I PRODUCERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND OTHERS IN THE U. S. I By GEORGE REDDY NEW PRODUCING COMPANY REVIVES DANISH ACTIVITY Copenhagen — Revival in Danish production has begun with organization of Scandinavian Talking Films, which has absorbed Nordisk Film Co. The company is affiliated with the manufacturing firm, Nordisk Sound Film, which has installed most of the Scandinavian sound apparatus. First of a sen'«" of pictures has been completed at the studios here under the title of "Eskimo," for which German, French and Swedish versions are now being prepared. Foreign stars will be imported for each of these versions. British Circuit Adds 5; More Expansion Planned London — Standard Cinema Properties, Ltd., rapidly expanding circuit controlled by Mortimer Dent, has acquired five houses in the Lanes, Manchester, and Burnley sections, with negotiations under way for purchase of several more. The houses obtained, and in all of which Standard will install Western Electric apparatus, are the Ritz, seating 1,100; Capitol, 1,600; Regal, 1,250; Alhambra, 1,450; and Palladium, 1,100. Two New Birmingham Houses Birmingham, Eng. — Two new sound houses have opened in the suburbs of Birmingham. They are the Odeon at Perry Par and the Orient at Aston. The former has a seating capacity of 1,700 and is owned by Picture House, Ltd. The Orient forms part of the A.B.C. circuit, and belongs to Cinema Proprietors, Ltd. It seats 1,541 and is managed by Alexander Seymour. W. E. Lectures for England London — H. S. Hind, Western Electric Service school instructor, will give a series of demonstrations and lectures on W. E. sound recording and reproducing in England during the winter months. 1000 For W.E. London — Installations by Western Electric in England now stand at approximately 1,000. The last official report, about a fortnight ago, gave the number of W.E. wired houses as 955, and since then enough new contracts have been signed to boost the figure near the 1,000 mark. Sound On $5-A-Day Payment Plan London — Purchase of B. T.-H sound reproducers has been made easier for exhibitors by inauguration of a new policy announced by F. A. Enders, managing director of Film Booking Offices. Under provisions of the policy, theater owners can buy an apparatus without an initial deposit and can pay it off at $5 a day. This applies to Type C equipment. For other types installments covering a period of three years can be arranged. STOLE STUDIO INSTALLING MARCONI SOUND SYSTEM Cricklewood, Eng. — With the completion of a new stage 129 by 60 feet, the Stoll studio here is now being equipped with Visatone soundon-film recording system. Installation is being made by the Marconi Wireless Co. and work on the first picture is expected to get under way shortly after completion. The studio will also be available to outside producers. Australian Firm Formed to Make and Exhibit Films Sydney — -Australia and New Zealand Pictures, Ltd. has been formed here with a capital of $250,000. The company will operate and manage theaters and manufacture and distribute all kinds of pictures. New Gainsborough Series London — Gainsborough Pictures has launched production on "Josser j?.C," first of a new series of talking comedies starring Ernie Lotinga and directed by Milton Rosmer. In immediate support of Lotinga in this film are "Nobby" Jack Frost, Maisie Darrell, Garry Marsh, and Robert Douglas. Osso To Make "L'Aiglon'>\ Paris — Adolphe Osso, who recently resigned as Paramount distribution head in France, and formed a production company of his own, plans to film the Rostand play, "L'Aiglon," and one of the Arsene Lupin adventure stories. S.M.P.E. Fall Season Plans London — Fall season of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers will be inaugurated with a meeting on Sept. 15, at which time, Captain West will open a discussion on "Microphones and Their Uses." At the October meeting, annual election of officers will take place, and a paper will be read on "Making the Secrets of Nature Series." Following meetings will have addresses on "Soundproofing a Studio" and "Planning a New Motion Picture Theater." HAVE 171 WIRED THEATERS A total of 171 houses in Poland, Hungary and Austria now have sound equipment, according to a Department of Commerce report from Commercial Attache Gardner Richardson, Vienna. There are 56 Polish houses wired, 33 with American and 25 with foreign apparatus. The greatest number of motion picture houses so equipped are in Warsaw. In Hungary, 63 theaters have been wired. 11 of these with American equipment an3 52 with foreign-made installation. Of these theaters 39 are located in Budapest. Austria shows 52 theaters with sound, 29 of these being with apparatus of American manufacture, 22 either with foreign machines or with an equipment of unknown origin. No less than 37 of these theaters are located in Vienna. Brighter Outlook Seen in Kontingent Situation Paris — Outlook for the new kontingent is brighter than ever with agreements understood to have been reached between Charles Delac, president of the Chamber Syndicate, and other leaders of the French industry. Arrangements with regard to ways and means to allay damage to international trade by the new kontingent have also been agreed upon by Dr. Plugge, attorney for the German Spitzen organization. Continual unimpairment of the Franco-German film entente is seen in acceptance of the total reciprocity of conditions. Stage Star for French Film Paris — Mile Marie Bell, star of the Comedie Francaise, has been engaged by Jean de Merly Productions for appearance in the French version of "The Joker," to be produced in Berlin. B-R Sound and Silent Paris— "Le Soleil a 1' Ombre," Braunberger Richebe production shortly to be placed in work at the Pathe-Natan studios, will be made in sound and silent versions under the direction of Henry Wuyschleger. Jenner Gives Up Fox Publicity London — Ellacott Jenner, who has been head of Fox publicity here, has given up this post and is succeeded by Roy Simmons. BRITISH FIRMS MERGE AS AUDIBLE FIIKCR, T London — Stockholders of the Btish Filmcraft Productions he agreed to an amalgamation v h Audible Filmcraft Co., the new C<| pany to be known as Audible Fi • craft, Ltd. Basis of the merger i i vides that the new company acqi e the assets and pay and discharge le liabilities of British Filmcraft. I* dios of the company are expecjd to be rented to American produce Bernstein Chain to Oper Four Houses in Septemfcr London — Four theaters will e opened next month by Bernsin Theaters, Ltd. The Phoenix, Crying Cross Road, will be ope d Sept. 22, after a year of buildfc. The new Walthamstow, seating ,000, will be opened Sept. 15. "e Kings Shrewsbury, is set for reopiing on Sept. 1 after complete modeling. Sometime during e same month the chain will reoin the Hippodrome, Lewisham, whh is now being renovated. A thesr being built at Tooting will not e ready before 1931. MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS of Every Type Consult Us and Save Money REPAIR SHOP with Expert* on Professional Cameras Right on Premises tt/ICXO£KjHBy< ▼▼110 West A2wSt.New Xwn.M* • i Phone Penna. 0330 Motion Picture Department U. S. and Canada Agents for Debrie New Paramount N. S. W. ManaK Sydney — Gordon Brookes, popu;r film man, has been appointed m« ager of the Paramount exchange N. S. W., it is announced by Joji W. Hicks, managing director. Keaton Aids Fund London — A donation of 100 guineas has been made by Buster Keaton to the Trade Benevolent Fund. The name of the popular film comedian has been added to the list of vice-presidents of the organization.