Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1929)

April 6 , 19 29 1121 The Voice of the Screen News and Comment on All Phases of "Sound" Pictures Britain Sending English Cast To Produce Talkie As the result of successful demonstration of sound motion pictures in England, British International Pictures are sending a company to this country to make the first British talking picture with a British east. It will be made in the Gramerey studios, recently opened by RCA Photophone, Inc. "Kitty," from a novel by Warwick Deeping, author of ' ' Sorrell and Son, ' ' has been chosen by Victor Saville, British International director, for the debut. It is claimed that the story offers unusual opportunities for dialogue and sound effects. Portable Sound Acts Now Ready For Small Theatres Five to six acts of "canned" vaudeville with portable sound equipment for one night stands are now available tor small theatre owners who feel that they cannot afford to wire their houses. Each act runs about seven minutes and averages about 200 feet. Run of the show is approximately 35 minutes. Sidney Northcote, a veteran theatre man is behind the plan and will work with the exhibitor on a percentage basis. M-G-M Eastern Studio Gets Portable Recording Device A portable automotive recording apparatus has been delivered to the MetroGoldwyn-Mayer Eastern Sound Studio by the Electrical Research Products Corporation. The new outfit, which is mounted on a big Reo truck, permits sound film recording of any outdoor sequence, and will be used for the shooting of atmospheric scenes in New York, as well as for short subject work. Raymond Hitchcock Makes Short Talkie For Warners Raymond Hitchcock has just completed a short talking picture at Warner Bros. Eastern Vitaphone studios under the direction of Bryan Foy. The act is titled, "An Evening at Home With Hitchy, " and is a monologue with Hitchcock's inimitable chatter. He sings one of his old favorite songs, "Here Comes the Groom." Ruth Chatterton Opposite Jannings In "The Concert" Ruth Chatterton will appear in another Paramount all-talkie. It will be "The Concert," and will star Emil Jannings. This vehicle served for many years as a war horse for Leo Ditrichstein. Miss Chatterton is now playing in "The Marriage Holiday," Musicians At Omaha Meet Discuss Sound ALTHOUGH speakers at the Midwest conference of the American Federation of Musicians held in Omaha, March 24 and 25, vehemently critized the talking motion pictures, their future success and development was generally conceded. Fifty delegates from local musicians' associations attended. "I do not say talkies will die out," declared Fred Brinbach, of Minneapolis, member of the national executive board of the federation. "They will be a splendid addition to the program, but they can never be the whole program," he said. Roach Sound Plant Finished; Shooting Now In Progress Hal Roach has completed disc and film sound apparatus installations at his Hollywood Studio, and began production of talking comedies for M-G-M on March 25. The new sound plant consists of two stages, one 192 by 110 feet, and the other 57 by 110 feet. The monitor and operating rooms are located between the two stages in one building so that the entire sound plant is housed under one roof. Recorded scenes can be played back and screened either in the monitor room or on the stages. Springfield Bijou Last To Succumb To Talkies The Bijou theatre, at Springfield, Mass., owned and managed by Al Anders, is the last first-run film house in the city to succumb to the power of sound and talking pictures. This theatre has held on tenaciously to the all-silent program, much to the satisfaction and approval of hundreds of movie fans. Xow Manager Al Anders announces that he will install the De Forest Phonofilm system and be ready within a we: k or so for the latest sound and talking releases. Synchronized Pathe Cartoons Three Paul Tein-v cartoons, "Skating Hounds," "Faithful Pup" and "Presto Changes," have been synchronized at the Pathe New York studio by Maurice Manne, supervisor of effects, Edward Gould and Orchestral Leader Attilio Marchetto. The recording was done by V. S. Ashdown, RCA sound engineer. O. P. Heggie With Dix O. P. Heggie, who plays in "The Lettei*," will appear in another Paramount picture, as he has been signed for a leading role in "The Wheel of Life," new all-dialogue film. Western Electric Has 400 Foreign Installation Orders That Western Electric is increasing its activity in Europe and other foreign countries is reflected in the number of representatives leaving or en route. Assignments range from London and cities of the Continent to several locations in South America. One hundred theatres in foreign countries have been equipped for sound, and approximately 400 orders are in, according to J. E. Otterson, president of Electrical Research Products, recently returned from a trip abroad. 800 to 1,000 houses are expected to have complete installations by the end of this year. Bid for Non-Synchronous System Is Made In Canada Canadian exhibitors are watching the development of the non-synchronous movement which they note in the announcement of the appointment of distributors for the special equipment. Radio Industries of Canada, Limited, Birks Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba, has been introduced as the Western Canadian distributor for the Columbia Theatrephone. Columbia record library and cueing service and the Columbia Public Address System. This company also handles the Capehart Orchestrope. Other distributing companies for non-synchronous sets have recently been announced at Toronto. Chromotone Buys Vocafilm Plant For Production Work The Vocafilm Studios, in New York City, have been purchased by Chromotone Film Studios, Inc., which will produce there a number of short and feature talkies and will also lease space. New equipment has been installed and a natural color process will be provided through Artchrome Film Laboratory. Both sound-on-film and disc recording will be available. Adolphe Phillip. B'way producer, will direct for Chromotone. W. E. Gets Big Sound Job Western Electric has been awarded the contract for installation of sound reproducing equipment in the large Atlantic City Municipal Auditorium which is rapidly nearing completion. Dove Finishes "Careers" Billie Dove has completed "Careers," her first dialogue picture for First NationalVitaphone. The story is now being cut and edited. It will be featured with two theme sonsg.