The film daily year book of motion pictures (1929)

RCA-Photophone was reaching out for K-A-O, FBO and Pathe, as forerunner of a cycle of mergers brought about by the advent of sound pictures. Meanwhile, Western Electric was settling the controversy which developed with the electrical unions in connection with the building of sound equipment and was working three shifts at its Hawthorne, Chicago plant. Things were moving at a rapid pace. Interchangeability by August 13 was regarded as settled as between Western Electric and RCAPhotophone. The mutuality of interests of the two firms and cross patents under which both functioned were factors that brought about the understanding declared reached. Statement of David Sarnoff, RCA-Photophone head, claiming complete interchangeability of the two systems, had gone unchallenged and the subject was generally held a closed one between the two companies. ADVERTISING BECOMES MISLEADING Overzealousness of exhibitors in efforts to cash in on the craze was developing a danger for sound films in the form of misleading advertising. The "See and Hear" keynote lines were being used for synchronized as well as dialogue films. The difficulty of ascertaining the difference led to a reaction, which soon made itself felt at the box office. Since, exhibitors have been wary of misleading copy. The month of August witnessed increase of Fox Movietone News to two releases a week; advent of Gotham Prod, in the sound field in a deal for marketing of Bristolphone and licensing of TiffanyStahl by RCA-Photophone. Permanency of sound pictures was demonstrated September 19 when Al Jolson in "The Singing Fool'' opened at the Winter Garden where it has continued to practical capacity up to the present writing. September, too, saw release of "Wings" in a number of houses throughout the country. This contributed greatly to settling the interchangeability tangle, because of Paramount's willingness that the picture be played on any satisfactory disc system. By September 27, 600 theaters had been wired by Western Electric, with the number slated to reach 1,000 by January 1 and an additional 2,000 equipments to be installed in 1929. Deal for licensing o: Columbia was completed during the month. Installations of RCA-Photophone were begun October 1. The month also witnessed other concerns swinging into line. General Talking Pictures took over assets of De Forest and were preparing for installations, as were Cinephone, Gotham-Bristolphone and Biophone (then Tonefilm). Bristolphone took the lead in testing interchangeability, with its initial installation at the Academy, Hagerstown, Md. Although no effort was made to interfere with the first showing, it was indicated that pressure was brought to bear, with the result that discs for subsequent sound films slated to play the house, were not forthcoming. Bristolphone later duplicated the experiment at the Strand, Madison. Wis., where interchangeability again was demonstrated with discs recorded by the Western Electric system. Interchangeability was now the topic for argument, with different companies taking various stands on the question of supplying service. There existed some doubt as to just how far a particular company could go under its contract with Western Electric, but the general attitude was that service would be forthcoming if the equipment measured up to the standard of tonal quality of Western Electric equipment. Evasion and meaningless statements had marked efforts to secure the lowdown on interchangeability. Exhibitors in some sections were receiving discs for reproduction on systems other than Western Electric equipment; others were being refused service on discs. No set policy had been adopted, distributors meeting each situation as it arose. They were, however, generally averse to passing up business, provided the sound could be properly reproduced. They realized that the matter soon would develop into a race for playdates, selling of which was their primary business. By refusing to serve other devices, they would close the market, many felt, and help create a monopoly for Western Electric and RCA-Photophone equipment. Accordingly, service was extended where possible, pending clearing up of the issue. This was forthcoming October 24, 1928, when J. E. Otterson, president of Electrical Research Products, conceded interchangeability of its equipment with other systems which properly reproduced sound. A summary of his statement follows: "It (Western Electric) has all along maintained that the sound pictures of its licensees should be used only on the equipment which operates properly, reliably and efficiently to reproduce sound with adequate volume and quality equal to that obtained by the use of its own equipment. The company has a vital interest in the maintenance of quality that no discredit may be brought either to it or to producers and or exhibitors utilizing its systems. "We have not denied and do not deny these various claims (referring to interchangeability) but we do point out that making a public demonstration with a single instrument is quite a different matter than carrying on the business of supplying and servicing the equipment necessary for the commercial operation of talking movies in hundreds of theaters." Otterson's statement, while subject to a number of interpretations in the trade, placed the matter of interchangeability just where it had been — and belonged — from the start, squarely up to the distributor. November was marked by the advent of Sonora Phonograph Co. in the field through formation of Sonora-Bristolphone and of Gennett Recording Co., through a deal with Gennett Hanaphone. Pathe Sound News also made its debut during the month. INTERCHANGEABILITY TAKES THE STAGE Interchangeability continued a heated topic, following several unmolested runs of Western Electric discs over other reproducers and one suit by James N. Robertson, Detroit exhibitor, to force distributors to serve discs for the Huma-Phone reproducer he had installed in his theater. Distributors contended their pictures would suffer through the tonal quality of the machine and the case was settled out of court in what was regarded as a distributor victory. On the other hand, Dramaphone was demonstrating its interchangeability at the Castle, Chicago; Sonora-Bristolphone was doing the same at the Strand, Madison, Wis., and a home made reproducer was playing Western Electric discs at the Strand, Cumberland, Md. At the Ritz, Berwyn, 111., actors spoke titles for reproduction via Dramaphone, while at Edmonds, Wash., spoken titles were added to a silent film and shown via Melotone. A Cinephone short subject was shown via Western Electric equipment at the Colony, New York. Biophone then demonstrated interchangeability at the Goodwin, Newark. The situation was being split wide open and distributors began calling upon Western Electric for a more elastic arrangement in their contracts covering the question. Reports of a cheaper Western Electric sound projection system l>egan to be heard soon after it was stated that Pacent Reproducer Co. was to market a disc device costing about one-third as much as Yitaphone, which was to have the endorsement of, and be serviced by Yitaphone. RCA-Photophone was speeding manufacture of sets and developing a low-priced disc synchronizer as well. RCA, meanwhile, had become an important factor in the entertainment field, through acquisition of FBO and K-A-O, resulting in formation of Radio-Keith-Orpheum, which began activities November 25. The company in January, 1929, completed arrangements for acquisition of the Victor Talking Machine Co. Early in December, Phonofilm proved its interchangeability by showing both Western Electric and RCA-Photophone recorded subjects at the Alhambra, Canton, O. A disc device was planned for the equipment. Kolstaphone and Melotone were among the new synchronous equipments, an 501