Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 22 , 193 0 Motion Picture News 33 W. E. Ready to Spring New Recording System; Says It Cuts Surface Noises Starring Timber It is difficult to believe that Richard Cromwell does his first picture work in the title role of "Tol'able David." He gives a natural, smooth and wellrounded performance worthy of a veteran in the part that propelled Dick Barthelmess into fame. Cromwell is emphatically starring timber if Columbia exercises extreme care in selection of his future vehicles. If that is done, the youngster cannot miss. K A N N Rapid Chicago Consolidation of Warners and F. N. Chicago — Consolidation of the Warner and First National distributing organizations brought about a sweeping reorganization of the sales forces of both companies locally. Five men are assigned to new positions while the services of four others were dispensed with. The changes, already effective, follow : Norman Moray, formerly Warner branch manager, named Vitaphone national sales manager, left for New York in mid-week to assume that post. Carl Leserman, formerly First National branch manager, made branch manager of the combined sales organizations. Tom Gilliam, formerly First National sales manager, named sales manager of the new organization. Earl Silverman, formerly Vitaphone sales manager here, also made a sales manager under the new line-up. Though unconfirmed at the time of this writing, it was also reported that Harry Neil, now Warner branch manager at Indianapolis, will be returned to Chicago, his old sales ground, as a city sales manager. The following salesmen's resignations have been received: R. E. Bradford and Jack Schwartz, First National, and Tom Reidy and Harry Goldberg, Warners. Additions to the booking staff of the local exchange are contemplated, as the combined Warner and First National line-up of 70 pictures is now on a par with Paramount's, heretofore by far the largest local distributing organization. The consolidation order was effective here immediately. By Monday morning the entire First National sales offices had been combined with the Warner offices and the unit selling was under way. Musgrove with Union Sydney, Australia — Jack Musgrove has been appointed manager of the theatrical division of Union Theatres. The company is planning to expand its circuit, coincident with return of vaudeville to a number of houses throughout the commonwealth. Available to All Licensed Companies— Secret Is in Specially Built "Mike" A new recording system which claims to eliminate surface noises has been developed by Western Electric and will shortly be made available to all of its licensed companies. The secret rests in the mechanism of a new, highly sensitive microphone which, by its construction, is reported to have developed the faculty of picking up voices only in and around its immediate area, thereby eliminating, or at any rate reducing, extraneous sound. This refinement to the present recording system has had its first test in a new picture which Paramount is making with Ruth Chatterton. The results are reported to be unusually good. Western Electric feels that the improvement will do much to sweeten the now sour attitude of many picturegoers toward talkies. It has long been recognized in the industry that bad sound has turned away money from the box-office, and that any mechanical improvements in recording and reproduction would go far toward maintaining and increasing the level of theatre business throughout the country. Both F. N, and Warner Studios Open in 30 Days Hollywood — Production of First National and Warner pictures will be resumed in 30 days, Jack L. Warner said Thursday. Executive and cutting departments will be moved to the Burbank plant, with films to be made at the Warner plant as before. Darryl Zanuck, Hal Wallis and Graham Baker remain as co-executives under Warner as previously. William Koenig will be studio manager at both plants. Seventy talkers, including 50 features, shorts and foreign versions, are to be made. He declined to discuss the reported theatre tie-up with Fox West Coast, saying all theatre arrangements are handled in the East. Uncertainty H o 1 1 y w o o d — Considerable uncertainty exists at the Warner and First National studios with many fearing headcutting when the two plants are merged. Ousted, Starts Chain Minneapolis — Harold D. Finkelstein, former general manager of the Finkelstein & Ruben circuit, who was ousted a few months ago by Publix, plans a chain of small town theatres. He has acquired H. N. Davies' three houses at Spencer, la., one of the choice towns of that state. Finkelstein is the son of M. L. Finkelstein, who was senior member of the theatre firm. Consolidation Moves at Warners? Profits Drop 51% (Continued from page 25) in cash. Current liabilities were $21,242,108. including $2,000,000 of bank loans. Warners further stated that, as of November 8, 1930, the company had current assets totaling in excess of $41,000,000 as compared with total current liabilities of less than $19,000,000. Cash on hand was approximately $5,230,000, while bank loans, which will be repaid from current operations within the next 60 davs, were $3,000.000. "Due consideration," he said, "should be given to the fact that in September, 1930, Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., received in excess of $14,000,000 from the sale of common stock to stockholders and during the year acquired various properties through the issuance of funded indebtedness and common stock. While the per share earnings are figured on the total shares now outstanding, the full benefits from these acquisitions were not enjoyed during the past fiscal year. "Since the first of September operations again show a substantial profit, and we are looking forward to a year of profitable operation. Number of stockholders has been increased from 11,157 on December 2, 1929, to 26.990 on November 7, 1930." Warner Holdings Spread Over 187 Cities and Towns (Continued from page 25) caster, Lansdowne, McKeesport, New Kensington, Norwood, Palmyra, Philadelphia. Pittsburgh. Pottstown, Punxsutawney, Reading, Red Lion. Ridgeway, Sharon. State College, Tacony, Tarrentum, Titusville, Warren, Washington, Waynesboro, Wesleyville, West Chester, Wilkinsburg. Willow Grove, York. OKLAHOMA Oklahoma City. TENNESSEE Memphis. WISCONSIN Appleton, Kenosha. Milwaukee. Racine, Sheboygan. WEST VIRGINIA Charleston. Fairmont, Martinsburg. Parkersburg, Wheeling. VIRGINIA Bedford, Clifton Forge, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton, Winchester. WASHINGTON Aberdeen.