The Film Daily (1930)

10 —3UW. . DAILY Thursday, August 28, 1< IN THE MAIL BAG Help Wanted Editor, The Film Daily: I am trying to get information regarding a moving picture that was made in 1917. Some of the battle scenes were taken at the Marine Training Camp at Quantico, Va. I will greatly appreciate any information you send me. Albert Miller Editors Note: Rather a big jol>, Mr. Miller, but if any of our rearlers have this infnrmat 'on we will pass it along to you. $ $ 4 $ * Thank You Mr. Stebbins Editor, The Film Daily: Upon my return from Maine, I found vour "Directors Annual and Production Guide of 1930" sitting right on top of my desk. I picked it up thinking I would just glance through it but it became so interesting that I read it thoroughly from cover to cover. It is not only beautifully prepared but the information contained therein is very convincing and truly gives one any information desired in connection with the Motion Picture Industry. Arthur Stebbins Pals Will Be Pals! Editor, The Film Daily: I have been advised by the Answer Man from the Photoplay Magazine that your firm will help a student whenever in doubt so — if you would be so kind and answer these questions for a fellow I'll not forget your favor when I get to be a big director I have just graduated from high school and I desire to take up Directing in a moving picture show so please.... my respectful pal, tell me what kind of an education is required of a man whose heart aches to be a director is the field overcrowded what is his wages as a start. .. .MAINLY my Dear unknown friend what college or university has the best training to offer for such field. With the utmost true respect for your concern, Francis Rakers Editors Note: Come in and see us personally, young man. and we will try to convince yon of the desirability of earning an honest living in some other vocation. R-K-0 Will Start Operating 17 More Theaters Next Month With the official opening of the new theatrical season next month, the R-K-O Circuit will start operating 17 more of its recently acquired houses. The group includes: Palace and Rivoli, Toledo; Keith and Regent, Grand Rapids; R-K-O, Racine, Wis.; Pickwick, Greenwich, Conn.; Regent, Kearney, N. J.; R-K-O, Dobbs Ferry; Majestic, Dallas; Majestic, San Antonio; Majestic, Houston; Majestic, Little Rock; Ritz, Birmingham; Majestic, Fort Worth; Capitol, Atlanta. Other late additions to the circuit are the Downtown, Detroit, dedicated last week ; new houses in Rahway, Lyndhurst, Arlington and Trvington, N. J. ; the Albee, Capitol, Family, Lyric, Strand and Palace in Cincinnati ; Palace, Columbus ; Colonial, Keith State and Strand in Dayton. R-K-O's new Broadway house, the rebuilt Columbia, is scheduled to open in November. GOOD FILMS ARE CHASING Vitaphone Schedule Finished by January (Continued from Page 1) the Brooklyn plant. At present four subjects are in production, 14 are in the cutting room and seven are in preparation. Pictures in work include "The Thirteenth Prisoner," with Willie Howard and Lee Kohlmar, written by Stanley Rauh and Robert Landry, and directed by Arthur Hurley ; "Tom Thumbs Down," by Rauh, with Harry McNaughton, Bobby Jarvis. Jimmie Dunn and Sue Conroy, directed by Roth ; "Purely An Accident," by Sam Hellman, with Allen Kearns Reed Brown, Jr., Frank Otto and Helen Lynd. directed by Roy Mack ; and a new production just being started by Alf Gotilding. Increased Union Demands May Close Four in Iowa Marshalltown, la. — Four local theaters may close as a result of demands of the operators' union for an increase of $10 over the present scale of $40. Exhibitors have taken the stand to close their houses as a protective move and have refused to consider any compromise propositions. (Continued from Paiie 1) president and general manager of United Artists, in a statement for THE FILM DAILY. "Economics can't be blamed for inferior pictures, and the only pessimists are those with duds on their hands," declares the vice-president and general manager of United Artists. "The current success of our own 'Raffles,' Hell's Angels.' 'Abraham Lincoln,' and the good pictures of other companies have proven that all this talk of depression really means nothing in the face of genuinely entertaining attractions. "It seems to me that weak stories, lacking in punch and originality, have been at the bottom of our depression, that not enough care has been taken in preparing the picture before the cameras start turning. That's the important time : the preparatory period, getting it all worked out in black and white with your effects all set before you start shooting. No matter how much we try to get away from the story in pictures through revues or all-star vaudeville pictures, we are always brought back to the fact that the plot holds the audience. "This year United Artists has paid special attention to great stories, its producers are taking even more time than previously in the preparation of scenarios, and we have people like Louis Bromfield, Roland West William Antjhony McGuire, Sam Taylor, ■ Stephen Vincent Benet, Sidney Howard,' Josephine Lovett, Frederick Lonsdale, Herbert Stothart Willard Mack, Howard Rogers. James Gleason, and Willfem Counselman working on scenarios and dialog on our pictures. Our producers are spending more money for material — original stories, novels, plays, adaptations, ^treatments, dialog — the stuff that means punch situations, dramatic conflict, stirring action to audiences who still insist that something must happen before their eyes. In the Hammerstein-Frim! picture, 'The Lottery Bride,' the story is the thing. So it is in 'Whoopee.' 'What A Widow ' 'The Bat Whispers,' 'Du Barry' and all our pictures." "Kismet" World Premiere in N. Y. Although no definite date has yet been decided. First National will open "Kismet" at a Broadway house in about three or four weeks for its world premiere. Otis Skinner is the star. 38 Star and Feature Players Are Lined up by Educational West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Educational's growing list of talent contracted for the new season's comedies now includes 38 players for starring or featured roles, besides 11 writers and five comedy directors. Ford Sterling, Bert Roach and Buster and John West are awaiting assignments, while the rest of the players have either just finished or are now at work in comedies. William Watson has completed the direction of Charlotte Greenwood in "Love Your Neighbor" and Johnny Hines in "Johnny's Week End." Miss Greenwood will soon start on another of the Tuxedo series. Watson is working at the Metropolitan studios, where Nat Ross has been in charge of the Vanity Series. Stephen Roberts is directing the second of the Ideal series at the Educational studios with Lee Moran and James Bradbury. Jr., featured. Doris McMahon. Robert G'aves and Thelma Parr are in support. William Goodrich also is busy on two-reelers. Mack Sennett is personally directing most of his own comedies at the Sennett studios. The three studios making comedies for Educational release maintain individual writing staffs. John A. Waldron, Earle Rodney. Walter Weems Jack Jevne and Vernon Smith comprise the Sennett scenario department. John Lockert and George Coogan are writing at the Educational studios. Neal Burns, Harry McCoy, James Starr and Walter DeLeon comprise the writing staff at the Metropolitan. Still Shining! Joe Cook in "Rain or Shine," Columbia comedy which moved over to the Cameo after a big week at the Globe on Broadway, is being held over for another week at the R-K-O 42nd St. house. Mayor Urges Tax Cut If No Crime, No Lo (Continued from Page 1) mended by the Mayor to the Cour . He urges a similar reduction for t hibitors who show all-educaticji urograms once or twice on Sund; Idea is to stimulate and protect cl attendance. Mamoulian Will Direct Another for Paramou Rouben Mamoulian, who direc 1 "Applause" for Paramount, i|l make another talker in the Fallt the New York studio. At pres t he is directing the stage version;! Ernest Hemingway's novel, "F;jwell to Arms," for Al Woods. Early Release Planned for "Africa Speafc ' Columbia plans an early ran for "Africa Speaks/' first aud;|; film to come out of the Afrih jungle. Paul L. Hoefler, explo,, spent 15 months in the Afri'i jungles, mountains and rivers slicing about 40,000 feet of film. 'U Colorado African Expedition spl-'i sored the trip. Fox N. Y. Houses Launch "Greater Talkie Seasc' With the reopening of six In York houses tomorrow and let simultaneous showing of "Comijn Clay" in these and 15 more aters, Fox launches its "Gre r Talkie Season" in the east. Hoi I to be reopened after remodeling d redecoration are the U. S., Vail tine, Riverside, Crotona, Manha n and Audubon. Charles Starrett for "Royal Fair" Charles Starrett has been signer y Paramount to play the juvenile E in "The Royal Family," opp(|t« Mary Brian. Starrett just compl d the leading male role in "The j People," at the New York sunk prior to which he appeared in " ings of the North," the first out' >' talking picture made in the A j Circle, New Incorporation I Freelex Productions, motion picture J V. Bickerton. 220 West 42th St.. New " $125 00(1 pfcl. 1.250 shares common. _ I Odeon Amusement Corp., motion pici I Steinberg & Levin, 11 West 12th St.," York. $5,000. Betty Paynet. motion pictures; F.p»' Sperling. 27 Cedar St.. New York. $2100. Ideal Theater; C. Segal. 570 Seventh New York. 135 shares common. Sound, Inc., motion pictures; Frankl Mettler, Wilmington, Del 1,000 I common.