The Film Daily (1930)

THE THE NEWSPAPER OF FILM DOM AIL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME VOL. LIV NO. 19 NEW yOKr, WEDNESDAY, CCTCDEC 22. 193C EIVE CENTS RCA Executive Sees Television-Film Cooperation S. M. PJTnOT TO NAMJTlNDUSTRY PTONEERS 11 Units Working, 7 Stories Readying, at Universal Movietone City — last word in studios ^^By JACK ALICOATE^^ Well do we A Monument to remember when the Industry this demi-tasse edition of New York, monikered Hollywood, was a village used as a location stop. When studio props consisted of a sword and a high hat, and when the piano was painted on the back drop. Those days seem but a mashie shot away, yet, today the progress of production has moved forward as if inspired by the lamp of Aladdin. We have just made a tour of Movietone City at Fox Hills under the expert guidance of that most efficient and courteous Cook's agent and cinematic interpreter, Vic Shapiro. Here is the finest studio in the world. London, Paris, Berlin and points west included. It was planned and built under the personal supervision of Winnie Sheehan, covers about 140 acres, cost approximately eight million, is dedicated exclusively to sound and will shortly become the workshop of about 4,000 picture craftsmen. To describe even its highspots would take pages. Newspaper folk visiting Hollywood in quest of news, background or production inspiration should spend at least one day at Fox Hills. It is the living reflection, in monumental form, of the technical as well as artistic advancement of the art of the screen since the days of the single reeler, written titles and custard pies. * * * 4 Foreign Versions and 3 Shorts Among Films Now Under Way West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Production activity at Universal is in high with four English features, four foreign versions and three shorts in work, while seven features are being made ready. Pictures shooting include "Half Gods," with Genevieve Tobin and Conrad Nagel, directed by Hobart Henley; "Cohens and Kellys in Africa." directed by Vin Moore; Edwin Carewe's "Resurrection, starring John Boles and Lupe Velez; "Dra^ (Continued on Page 2) Multicolor Steps Out This young but aggressive Mr. Hughes of "Hell's Angels" fame never does things by halves. His new Multicolor lab, erected at a cost of about a million, will be open and ready for business in about 60 days. It will have a capacity of a million feet a (Continued on Page 2) ZUKOR AND BROWN SLATED AS M. P. T. 0. A. SPEAKERS Adolph Zukor has signified that he will speak at the convention of the M.P.T.O.A. in Philadelphia, Nov. 10-12, it is announced by headquarters of the organization. His topic will be the present and future of the industry. Hiram S. Brown is expected to be present. Sweetened Ethics Commenting on "the change of business ethics in the film industry," C. L. Gregory, at the S. M. P. E. meeting yesterday, observed that at present "they are quite sweet compared with the early days of the business." Big RKO Event Oct. 31 RKO's big event, the opening of the Mayfair on Broadway with Amos 'n' Andy making a personal appearance with their picture. "Check and Double Check", is set for Oct. 31. Opening performance will be largely an invitation affair. ONLY 4% OF N. Y. HOUSES STILL USING DISC SYSTEM Use of sound-on-disc in the metropolitain area is down to 4 per cent against 50 per cent of the houses using discs in 1928, according to Nat Goldberg, office manager of the Universal exchange. Honorary Memberships in Society Declined at This Time The S. M. P. E. has decided, for the moment at least, to steer clear of the dynamite-laden task for naming the pioneers of the film industry, a subject which has Ions afforded warm discussion. This was disclosed when C. L. Gregory, reporting for the society's historical committee at the Fall meeting at the Pennsyl(Continued on Page 8) Warner Bros. Acquire Two Danbury Theaters Danbury, Conn. — Warner Bros. Theaters of Connecticut has taken over the two houses of the Danbury Amusement Co. here. This gives Warners about 60 theaters in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Jack Hattem Joins Universal Sales Staff Jack Hattem, formerly head booker of Fox houses in the east, has joined the Universal Exchange sales staff in New York. Expect Television to Draw Subjects from Film Industry Well Represented Although United Artists releases only about 17 features a year, it has four films currently on Broadway. They are "Abraham Lincoln", "Whoopee", "What A Widow" and 'Hell's Angels", the latter occupying two houses. "Television will draw on the film industry for its subjects," declared R. N. Goldsmith, RCA vice-president, in discussing "An Entertainment City" at yesterday's session of the S. M. P. E. at the Pennsylvania. He said he anticipates a close coordination between television and the film business. Following his address Goldsmith (Continued on Page 2) MICHIGAN COURT UPHOLDS TWO W. E. SOUND[PATENTS In the action brought by Western Electric against Kersten Radio Equipment Co. of Kalamazoo, Mich., over Patents 1707545 and 17346.24, covering a loud speaker and the diaphragm used with it, the U. S. Dis(Continued on Page 8) Credit Committee Brief Filed in Washington Washington Bureau of THF. FILM DAII.\ Washington— A brief on the appeal from the New York District Courl decision in the case of First National, et al, involving the use of credit committees, filed with the Supreme Court yesterday. Robert C. Frost Succeeds J. J. Franklin on Coast Robert C. Frost, lately with Vo\ Theaters in the east and formerly with Publix, has been picked by Oscar S. Oldknow to succeed J. I. Franklin as manager of the Los Angeles division of Fox West Coast Theaters. Franklin, who resigned, leaves the organization in a few w< Swap Houses Chanute. Kan. — By swapping their odd houses, Fox Midland now has exclusive control here, while the Dickinson circuit gains control of Trenton, Mo.