The Film Daily (1931)

ffV DA DAILY Sunday, June 14, ly^l Broadway Trans-Lux Houses Prove Value of Shorts Repeat Engagements Are Possible With Good Subjects By A. H. SCHNITZER . RKO l'iithi CHORTS have been put to the acfd test as a Broadwaj attraction and have clicked at tlic Trans-Lux Movie Short theater, twin to a news him house. This showing of shorts on the Krcat Show Strict 1 particularly interesting at a tunc when some exhibitors arc using double feature bills. Two very definite points in favor of shorts have been proved by this theater. One is that a well selected bill of shorts constitutes verj ptable entertainment. The other in that a >hort may have successful repeat engagements. This second pomt also proves that shorts are not nece>>arily short-lived. Shorts shown at the twin TransLux have been repeat attractions on Broadway. One Grantland Rice Sportlight, "Monarchs of the Field," played an eight-week engagement six months ago at the Gaiety. Repeat attractions on the opening bill of this 210-seat house, which r. ind Johoneson of the "Mirror" said "entertained 10,000 customers over the week-end," had previously piayed Broadway as follows: "Crystal Champions," Sportlight, two yeai for two weeks at the nd \ Feline Fighter," a year ago, two weeks at the Globe, one at the Cameo: "A Tale of TutuilaJ' Vagabond Adventure, four months ago for one week at the Mayfair and "Cinderella Blues," six weeks two weeks at the Globe and one at theCameo. \11 of which suggests the axiom: "I Shorts Are Not Short-Lived. " OneReel Vaudeville Show Something novel in the way of shorts will be put out next season by Exhibitors' Pictures Corp. in the form of a series of reels, each containing four "vaudeville acts." The shorts are being made in the east with Stanley recording. Some two-reel kiddie comedies and a western serial starring Franklyn Farnum will be produced by the same company. Grainger Emphasizes Real Thing In Movietone Sound Travelogues NOW SHOWING Crystal Champions A GRtNTLANO RCE Sportlight Aesops Fable Cinderella Blues Tale of Tutuila A South Sea Classic Feline Fighters ■ Sportlight Dance Classic A Marvel Harmony Color Rhythm Program Changed Every Saturday continuous from 10 AM TO I A.M. Announcement panel for inaugural bill at the Trans-Lux movie-shorts theater on Broad-.vay. All subjects on this program are RKO Path'e(ii/i Rcuicn productions and all previously played runs on Broadway. Actual sound, recorded on the spot, is one of the distinctive features of the 52 travelogue subjects being released by Fox in 1931-32 under the general title of "Magic Carpet of Movietone," says J. R. Grainger, vice president in charge of distribution. "During the last two years no short subjects whatever have been distributed by the Fox Film," says Grainger. "It has confined its activities to feature productions and sound newsreels. "Now we change back to short subjects because we have something really new and exclusive to offer. "From ever)' civilized country and from some that are not so civilized have been assembled the actual sounds and pictures for 26 one-reel subjects now completed and ready for release Twenty-six more are in preparation to provide weekly releases. "These, the 'Magic Carpets of Movietone,' are exactly what they seem to be. When you hear an elephant grunt, he grunts in India, not off-stage in Hollywood. When yo'u hear a Chinese song, it's the real thing, not Chinatown, Mew York. Japanese temple bells, the cries of wild birds in the Siamese jungle, the sounds of the world at prayer in every religion, the boom of the surf at Hawaii — this is the realism that is rivaled only by actual travel. "The subjects already shown have been received with as much attention as many feature productions. I am satisfied they will soon become tTie biggest box-office draw in the short subject field." Titles of the first 26 subjects in the series are: "Giants of the Jungle," "Diamonds in the Rough," "Wandering Through China," "Down to Damascus," "The King's Armada," "The Wild West of Today." "The World at Prayer," "Wild Life on the Veldt," "Over the Viking Trail," "India Todav," "TRe Land of the Nile," "The Homeland of the Danes," "The Kingdom of Sheba," "In the South Seas," "The Pageant of Siam," "Birds of the Sea," "When Geisha Girls Get Gay," Paris of the Orient," "Happv Days in the Tyrol," "Paris Nights." "Fires of Vulcan," "Stamboul to Bagdad," "Back to Erin," "City of the Clouds," "In Old Mexico," "Where East Meets West." 30 Releases in Next Three Months Coming from RKO Pathe Studios RKO Pathe has 30 short subjects, exclusive of Pathe News, on its release schedule from June 8 to Sept. IS. They are as follows: June: "Against the Rules," Rainbow Comedy: "Fisherman's Luck," \esnp's Sound Fable: "Stout Hearts and Willing Hands," Masquers Comedy: "Blue Grass King," Grantland Rice Sportlight: "She Snoops to Conquer." "Manhattan comedy: "Pale Face Pup," Aesop's Sound Fable; Benny Rubin Comedy: "Olympic Talent," Grantland Rice Sportlight. July: "That's News to Me," Newspaper Reporter comedy; two Aesop's Sound Fables; "That's My Line," Traveling Salesman comedy; two Grantland Rice Spor flights; "Gay Girls" comedy. August: "Lemon Meringue." Mr. Average Man comedy; three Aesop's Sound Fables; Jimmy Gleason comedy; two Grantland Rice Sportlights; Masquers comedy; Manhattan comedy. September: "Fallen Empire," Vagabond Adventure; Benny Rubin comedy; Grantland Rice Sportlight: Frank McHugh comedy; Aesop's Sound Fable: "Beneath the Southern Cross." Vagabond Adventure. Pathe's complete lineup for the new season, exclusive of Pathe News, includes 13 Pathe Reviews. 13 Floyd Gibbons' "Supreme Thrills," 26 Aesop's Sound Fables, 26 Grantland Rice Sportlights and 13 Vagabond Adventures. all one-reelers, and seven series of two-reel comedies, six in each group, as follows: Masquers, Gay Girls, Manhattan, Traveling Salesman, Mr. Average Man, Benny Rubin, Newspaper Reporter and Jimmy Gleason. FIRST OF NEW U SERIALS SET FOR RELEASE AUG. 24 "Danger Island," first of the four serials on Universal's 1931-32 program, is set for release Aug. 24. The only other U releases in August will be two Oswald cartoons. A tworeel comedy, Slim Summerville in "Parisian Gaieties," is being released June 17, with two Red Star comedies, "Howdy Mate" and "The Cat's Paw," coming out in July, after which the company will have no more two-reel releases until Septem I ber. The only one-reelers being re a leased from now to Sept. IS are Os-fl wald cartoons. Universal's full line-up for next J season, exclusive of newsreel, in-8 eludes: 52 two-reel comedies, consisting of Slim Summerville, George SidneyCharlie Murray, Daphne Pollard, Charles Lawrence, Steve Brodie. Lloyd Hamilton, etc.; 13 "Shadow" two-reel Detective Series, 26 Sports Reels, two reels each; 13 "Strange As It Seems," one reel each; 13 onereelers, series undecided; 26 "Oswald" cartoons; four serials, "Battling with Buffalo Bill," "Danger Island," "Heroes of the Law," "Airmail Mystery," 12 episodes to each, two reels to each episode. 12 MORE LIVING BOOKS IN FILM EXCHANGE GROUP Second series of the "Living Book of Knowledge" travelogues will be among the shorts released by the Film Exchange, Inc., between now and Sept. 15. There are 12 subjects in the series. A series of 12 one-reelers, known as the "Merrymakers," comedy and singing skits, also will be put out during the same period. Ideal Pictures Releasing 12 Shorts by September Ideal Pictures Corp., which plans to produce and distribute 24 one-reel sound-on-film subjects during the 1931-32 season, will release 12 shoffs by the end of September, it is announced by M. J. Kandel, president. Kid Shows in Dallas Dallas — Children's shows are being given at the Old Mill, Publix house, every Saturday morning with notable success. The management makes gifts of small rabbits, candy and various articles on which local firms are glad to co-operate for the publicity. The program is broadcast over WRR municipal broadcasting station.