Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

44 Motion Picture News N o v ember 29 . 1930 Spoor Invention Given Test, But Opinions Differ Chicago — Scenic and panoramic effects achieved by Spoor-Berggren natural vision film at its world premiere at the RKO State-Lake Theatre here won the interest and applause of audiences more than its third dimensional effect and its vast screening surface. The pictures playing the theatre with Spoor-Berggren equipment are "Danger Lights" (Radio), a full length feature, and "Niagara Falls," a one reel photographic study by George K. Spoor and P. John Berggren, the inventors. More than a score of individuals interviewed by a representat've of Motion Picture News after the premiere performance Saturday expressed enthusiastic appreciation of the picturesque photographic effects achieved by both films. Most were vague about their impressions of a third dimension, and a majority expressed dissatisfaction with the mechanical phases of projection. These latter complained of frequent instances of sound distortion ; breakdowns of projection equipment, and the noise of the projection machine in operation, which, occupants of balcony seats declared, was noticeable enough to be disconcerting. All agreed that the equipment fully enhanced the value of side aisle, front row and balcony seats. Occupants of these less favored locations were unanimous with enthusiastic praise of screen visibility from angles which, ordinarily, afford extreme picture •distortion. Fourteen Interruptions As to the breakdowns. Motion Picture News checked a total of 14 interruptions of projection during three screenings of the feature picture. These included complete fade-outs of either sound or picture. Some were of momentary duration, quickly rectiBed. The most serious was a five-minute fade-out at the start of the feature which necessitated turning up of the stage lights before projection was started anew from the beginning. It was mechanical hazards such as these which have delayed the SpoorBerggren equipment's inaugural here, originally slated for September 27. These faults, accountable to the lax manipulation of airpressure-driven projectors, were partially corrected by Monday. Occasional sound distortion was noticeable, as were, less frequently, however, lapses from perfect synchronization. Reviews of the picture, the first of which (Continued on next page) Wabash Ave. — South CHICAGO. PAT HUDSON, one of the prettier chorines in the floor show at Mack's Club, softened the heart of a visiting studio executive recently. She's taking a screen test out Hollywood-way now. * * * Road-Shotv Pictures (Goctc) relates that Southern Representative L. C. McHenry has sold North and South Carolina on "The Primrose Path" to Nat Royster of High Point, X. C. It's a long, long path that has no sale. * * * Is Jack Hess married again? Some say yes but Jack says no. * * * Harry Miller, former manager of the Uptown (Racine), is back in town'. * * * "It ain't mine," wailed Al Fuller, co-author of the play from which M-G-M's "Remote Control" was made, after viewing it at the Oriental last week. "It ain't mine. I never seen it before." Real tears rolled down his cheeks. * * * The only event that got more favorable publicity from this town's Republican newspapers than the Spoor-Berggren equipment at the State-Lake was the election of Hoover on a Prosperity platform. Critics on all six sheets were unanimous and lavish iti praise. The Times wrote an editorial, and Ashton Stevens turned his Herald-Examiner column over to it one morning. No wonder RKO didn't bother to spend money for newspaper space. * * * If L. E. Goetz is unable to effect a national release tie-up for "Ten Nights in a Bar-Room" while in New York the state -righters will get it, says Albert Dezel, Goetz's assistant, in a "press story" received. * * * The Adelphi ( Sussman ) . United Charities' most ambitious competitor locally, sponsored clothing donations from Rogers Park families and is now engaged in distributing them among the needy of the neighborhood. In midweek, the house staged a food matinee, to which patrons were requested to — and did — bring food supplies to be used for charitable purposes; food offerings being accepted by the box-office in lieu of cash admissions. The Adelphi recently contributed one-third of its gross for one week to a neighborhood charity fund. Here is a man who believes in casting, not a loaf, but a zvhole bakery upon the waters. * * * The mother of Barney Perlman. National Theatre Supply manager, died during the week. * * * Educational has, in our opinion, the neatest and roomiest quarters of any film office at tinnorth end of Film Roiv. Go up and judge for voursclf. And while you're there, try a chair {Continued on next page) Mayor Thompson Delivers a Sock At Will Rogers Chicago — Irate because of a nationally syndicated commentary by Will Rogers on a business relief plan authored by Mayor William Hale Thompson of this city, Mayor Thompson issued the following statement : "I have read the article of Will Rogers which says Mayor Thompson of Chicago has the -most original idea to help the unemployed. He wants to sell them 4,000,000 tickets at 25 cents apiece; the one who draws the lucky number to get enough to eat. "All I have to say is that if Will Rogers has made so much money that his head is so swelled that he thinks it is funny to crack jokes about people who are starving, I hope to God he goes broke and gets hungry himself and he won't crack any more jokes about those who have to accept charity. "He has pulled some pretty brutal and unfair stuff about me in years gone by, which means nothing to me because I consider the source from which it comes. When this nation is suffering and people are hungry, a wisecracker that belittles the condition and efforts of any one to correct it to me is the cheapest skate on earth." Merchants Back Plan The plans inaccurately set forth by Rogers, and ridiculed in his syndicated newspaper article, proposed the issuance of tickets with all holiday purchases of twenty-five cents or over to Chicago shoppers. Lucky tickets were to draw prizes of value donated by Chicago merchants. The inducement thus offered shoppers, Mayor Thompson believed, would prove a great stimulus to Chicago's retail business, aid in re-establishing prosperity locally, and create jobs for unemployed. Leading Chicago merchants are now developing the plan preparatory to putting it into practice. Rejected by Circuits, "Squealer" Cleaning Up Chicago — "The Squealer" (Col.) appears to be another one of those pictures which, after having been snubbed by the big circuits, unhesitatingly proceed to make big money for the smaller operators. Turned down by the larger Loop houses, Jones. Linick & Schaefer put "The Squealer" into the Woods, where it has been cleaning up for two weeks.