The Film Daily (1930)

ft W*< D/ DAILY Tuesday, September 23, 1930 Coast Technicians Debating Wide Film Series of Confabs Being Held to Discuss Problems West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Wide film is to come in for considerable discussion at a series of meetings under the auspices of the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences. At one meeting already held at Fox Hills studio, more than 200 technicians, directors and producers joined in a debate on the advantages and disadvantages of the enlarged screen. The first half of this meeting was devoted to brief informal talks on various aspects of wide film use. Douglas Shearer, sound engineer, spoke on "Sound and the Wide Film;" Dr. Lee De Forest on "Direction;" J. O. Taylor and Karl Struss on "Cinematography." The meeting was not concerned primarily with engineering considerations but with the production aspects of film— what should be the proportions of any new frame for most artistic and effective presentation of motion pictures — what adjustments of practice and technique are to be made in photography, direction, art direction and sound recording. Actual experiences of technicians present in dealing with the wide film were recited. The origin and reasons for its introduction into production, its use in panoramic scenes and assembles and in the more intimate drama took up a portion of the evening. Col. Nugent H. Slaughter, chairman of the technicians branch of the academy, presided. Similar meetings and discussions are to follow during the coming months, it was announced. "Indians Coming" Serial At Brooklyn Paramount "The Indians Are Coming," Universal serial with Col. Tim McCoy, has been booked ,by another big metropolitan theater, the Brooklyn Paramount, where it is now playing. Walkout at Minneapolis Minneapolis — Failure of union officials to reach an agreement with" circuit heads resulted in a walkout of the stage crew at the Minneapolis, Pubhx house, Saturday just before the first show, with Charles Rogers billed to make a personal appearance. M. P. Academy Manager on Speaking Tour West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Clinton Wunder, executive manager of the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences, will go on a speaking tour through the middle west from Nov. 9 to Dec. 1, it is announced by the directors of the Academy. Wunder has been speaking for the past 10 years on motion pictures throughout the United States. He will address especially arranged meetings in Denver, Kansas City, Milwaukee, St. Paul, Madison, Wisconsin, St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati and other points to be determined. Invitations for these addresses have been received from groups combining religious leaders, educators, clubs and women's organizations in these cities. Slogan Prizes Warners are offering readers of the New York dailies an opportunity to compete for $500 in prizes for a slogan describing the unusual qualities of "Outward Bound." Prizes are $250 for first; $150 for second; $100 for third. FIGHT FILM BAN (Continued from Page 1) termined to wage a stiff fight against the ruling, according to P. J. Wood, secretary of the organization. The censor board's action, primarily based on "The Big House," which it classed as harmful to boys and girls, is characterized by State Democratic Chairman Henry G. Brunner as a political move, whereas the censorship board is supposed to base its decisions on moral issues only. Appeal from the decision of the censors must be made through the courts. Columbia Pictures Joins Will Hays Organization (Continued from Page 1) of the meeting was of a routine nature. Those present included Capt. George McL. Baynes, Hiram Brown, Harley L. Clarke, E. W. Hammons, Will H. Hays, Nicholas M. Schenck, foseph M. Schenck, David Sarnoff, J. J. Murdock, Maj. Albert Warner, H. M. Warner and Adolph Zukor. W-S Books "Quiet" Into 26 Philadelphia — Twenty-six WarnerStanley houses have booked "All Quiet on the Western Front. CONFERENCE SUGGESTED ON NEW JERSEY ZONING (Continued from Page 1) Louis Nizer, chairman of the N. Y. Film Board of Trade, in a letter to Sidney Samuelson, president of the N. J. M. P. T. O. He has recommended that the matter be taken up by a committee comprising five distributors, five affiliated theaters and five independent exhibitors. Nizer yesterday declined to comment on the report. Rothafel Stays at Roxy Until First of the Year (Continued from Page 1) THE FILM DAILY. Marco, of Fanchon & Marco, takes over th : reins of the house when Rothafel sails. One of the objects of Rothafel's trip to Europe is understood to be the lining up of talent, costumes and effects for the new Rockefeller amusement enterprises with which he is to become associated. New Company Acquires Two Lock Haven Theaters Lock Haven, Pa. — A new company, the West Branch Theater Corp., has taken over the Martin and Garden from the Lyric Amusement Co. A. C. Cander and N. W. Fredericks were the former operators. Scarcity of Talent Hampers French Producers, Florey Says Scarcity of players who sing as well as act is one of the problems which are perplexng French producers, Robert Florey told THE FILM, DAILY yesterday followng his return from Europe. European audiences are displaying irritation over lingoes which sound spurious to them, said the director. Florey recently completed "L'Armour Chante" and "El Professor de Mia Senora" for Ufa. In January he returns to Germany to make "Mademoiselle Nitouche." He plans to visit Hollywood, leaving New York in about a week. Publix Appoints Shields Columbus, Ga., City Mgr. Columbus, Ga. — Lawrence Shields, formerly city manager of Pu.blixLucas in Waycross and previous to that manager of the West End in Atlanta, has taken over the post of city manager here for PublixLucas, supervising the Martin houses which recently came under the new banner. Milton Kress succeeds Shields in Waycross. H.B. FROM FOX WEST COAST t in (Continued from Page 1) tion of perhaps two months, his first real relaxation in about 10 years, and incidentally studv theater conditions in Europe. Meanwhile he will make future plans. Franklin joined the West Co about three years ago, at which til the circuit had 67 houses. It no numbers 513 theaters. Before goin to West Coast, Franklin handled theater operations for Publix, prior to the Sam Katz regime. In an official ^statement last night Franklin said: "The association that I enjoyed with Harley L. Clarke during the past six months has been most pleasant. While my contract as president of Fox West Coast Theaters does not expire until February, ' 1932, Clarke and I have worked out a satisfactory settlement. I have the highest respect for Mr. Clarke and believe that his activities in the motion picture industry are very constructive. I believe that Fox West Coast Theaters is one of America's finest circuits and will continue as one of the important pillars of the motion picture industry." Harley L. Clarke, head of the Fox organization, commenting on Franklin's resignation, said: "I am very sorry that Mr. Franklin has seen fit to resign as president of the Fox West Coast Theaters as I regard him most highly personally as well as his unquestioned ability as a theater operator. I wish him the greatest success in his future ventures and I am sure I bespeak the sentiments of the entire organization." Buck Jones Westerns For Publix Theaters Publix has contracted for the series of eight Buck Jones outdoor spe cials, which the western star is producing for Columbia. The Jones pictures will be presented in 11 the-i aters in as many Southern towns in the New Orleans territon'. Midwesco Circuit Now Has 48 Houses in Wisconsin Milwaukee — With the acquisition of the Odeon and Davidson in Beaver Dam, the Fox Midwesco circuit now has a total of 48 houses in Wis cousin. Of this number, 16 are in Milwaukee. "Surrenders" for 8 Key Cities Universal has booked "A Lad\ Surrenders" into eight key city RKC houses for pre-release showings. Lab on Location Paramount has equipped a complete film cutting lab on location for the "Fighting Caravans" company. As fast as the Hollywood labs forward the prints, the film is made ready for showing in a portable sound equipment. By this method film editing keeps pace with, production.