Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

28 Motion Picture News October 19, 1929 Dreiser May Write Novel With Industry Expose As His Theme Theodore Dreiser, author of "The American Tragedy," may write a novel of the film industry in the nature of an expose using the life of Will H. Hays as its central character. The Dreiser work would be along the lines of his "The Financier" and "The Titan," which were an expose of the political ring in Philadelphia of the early '70's Dreiser, it is said, selected the figure of Hays as the character on which to hang his delving into the industry. Hays, with his political background in the Republican party, his handling of the Harding campaign, his subsequent post as a member of Harding's cabinet and the investigations that came out of that administration, are to be interwoven with the history of the film business. It is said the author intends divulging a. lot of the inside facts on the political activities of the Hays organization over the country and especially in Washington. One of the publishing houses responsible for several sensational books in the past, including the Adams story of the Harding administration, is to undertake the issuing of the novel, counting on the tremendous number of picture fans to give the book an enormous sale. Pathe Sound News To Invade Europe Invasion of Europe by Pathe Sound News gets under way with three sound and camera men already in Paris. Accompanying the erew is a new KCA sound recording camion, the first of a fleet that is to follow at intervals between now and the new year. The equipment is in charge of Joe O'Brien, Harry Hardc and Lawrence Lynn. Plan-; 1" send others follow completion of a cooperative agreement between Hi'1 American Pathe organization and Pathe i ema Soeiete Anonyme of Paris. Both companies will jointly cover France. Belgium, Spain. Portugal, Switzerland and Holland. This deal was made through efforts of .1. Frank Shea and Tom Delehanty of the Pathe home office, working in conjunction with Terry Ramsaye ami Bay L. Hall of Pathe Sound Ne F. P. Canadian Will Erect $200,000 Vancouver House Vancouver A theatre seating lii.iioi) and costing $480,000, is planned by Famous ers Canadian at Broadway, between Granville and Fir. Thi is the second project announced £ot the, Granville-Broadwav section. Frederick Guest, of Hamilton, 0nt„ plans a $200,000 eat 1,200. Dunas Joins Columbia Chii I' I Dunas, formerly wit] A. as manager in Washington has joined Colun charge of the local office. Service Albany. — In order that they might follow the world series, several exchange managers installed radio sets with the result that exhibitors crowded these exchanges during the afternoons of the games. Toledo Exhibitors Want No Favoritism In Reviews Toledo, Ohio. — Constant favoritism in comments on pictures by reviewers on local newspapers has resulted in a movement among exhibitors for franker criticism. Adverse comment has been frowned on for several years in theatrical columns at the suggestions of a majority of managers whose advertising was the weapon to enforce the idea, but Jack O'Connell and Sidney Dannenberg, managers respectively of the Vita-Temple and Paramount, declare that receipts on several better grade pictures have suffered because of the critics' inability to fairly compute values. Albany 1st Runs Increase Earnings With Late Shows Albany, N. Y. — First run houses in Albany and Troy, have found a way to increase patronage. Several theatres are now giving a complete show beginning at 10 o'clock each night which are attracting hundreds of late comers. The first show of the evening starts at 6 o'clock, the second two hours later and the last gets under wav at 10 o'clock. Friday Openings Flop In Troy Troy, N, Y. — Friday as the opener for the week has not proven particularly >atisfactory in Troy and, as a result, the Troy and Lincoln have changed their policies to open on Saturday. Michigan and Ohio Units Meet Shortly Detroit. — H. M. Richey, business manager of the Michigan M.P.T.O. has set Detroit convention dates for the M.P.T.O. of Michigan for Oct. 29-30. Confederation Continues To Expand Holdings In Canada Montreal. — Confederation Amusements, Ltd., Montreal, has added to its chain of local theatres with the Outremont. This makes the fifth in the group. The Outremont is rile first Montreal house to be built on "nm] picture lines. Eugene Manyard bas been appointed manager. Pacent Expanding Abroad With equipments now operating in England, I i ance, i lermany and Great Britain. P cent is expanding its foreign trade with installations al Montevideo, Uruguay and Turin, Italv. Sound For Pathe Exchanges Contracts bave been placed with RCA Photophone by Pathe to equip all exchanges ound apparatus. Columbus, O. — P. J. Wood, business manager of the M.P.T.O. of Ohio states the ninth annual convention of the state unit will be held at Deshler-Wallick Hotel here Nov. 19-20. Equipment dealers have been invited to display their product. Southeast T. O. Launch Tri-State Member Drive Atlanta. — A campaign for new members in Georgia, Alabama and Florida is being launched by the Southeastern T. 0. Ass'n. Lobe B. Harrell, treasurer-executive secretary, is on a two-weeks trip through the territory in the interests of the drive. The association has established permanent local headquarters at 125 Walton St. Warners Complete Eight New Vitaphone Varieties The Eastern Vitaphone studios have completed four new Vitaphone Varieties under the supervision of Murray Roth. They are : "Who's Who," co-starring Harry Lang and Bernioe Haley, Arthur Hurley, director; Charles Hackett singing "II Mio Tesora" (Don Giovanni) and "O Paradise" (L'Africann), Arthur Hurley directing; Molly Picon singing "Yiddish Blues" and "Temperamental Tillie"; Douglas Stanbury in a number assisted by a quartet. Roth directing. Hollywood — At the Warners, four new Vitaphone Varieties have just been finished. The quartet includes : "More Sinned Against Than Usual," Howard Bretherton directing, with Charlotte Merriam. William Janney, Charles B. Middlcton, Sam [Mum, Theodore Lorch, Jessy Perry in the east; "Suspicion," with Ruth Lyons, Edward Earle, Mai .viand Mottle; Slim Timlim and Raymond in a blackface vaudeville act directed by Tenn'y Wright and Roy Mao; "The Maid's Night Out," comedy directed by Tenny Wricht and Sid Silvers with Pat O'Malley. Tyler Brooke and Ann Cornwall in the cast. "Rhapsody In Blue" For Whiteman Film Paul Whiteman and his orchestra depart for the Coast Oct. 21 to go into production Nov. 1 on "The Bang of Jazz Revue" tor Universal. Already on the ground is John Murray Anderssn who is to direct.. "IT" lias closed with George Gershwin, the composer, and HaVms, Inc., for exoluio of "Rhapsody in Blue," the price reported to be $50,000. With importation Mm' "li" Sisters, a sister loam discovered in Germany, Universal feels it has unearthed a new Dolly Sisters combination. In addition the cast is to have Billy Kent from musical comedy. Grace Hayes. Trini. John Boles, Hoot Gibson, Ken Mav nard and others. Russell Markert, dance master Eor the Roiyettes, is to stage the chorus numbers, while the score will be the work of George Gershwin.