Movie Age (1927)

PAGE 8 MOVIE AGE $8,000 to $15,000 New Cost of Installing Vitaphone Warners Place Service Franchise In Hands Of Western Electric Corp. Subsidiary. New Offer Also Free Of All Seat Taxes New York (SPECIAL) Beginning September 1, exhibitors may install “talking moving pictures” at a cost ranging from $8,000 to $15,000, and independent of all seat taxes, accord¬ ing to the announcement here by the Electrical Research Products, subsidiary of the Western Electric Co. The device is known as the Western Electric Sound Projector System, and was formerly marketed as the “Vitaphone.” The installation cost really amounts to an outright sale of the device, the an¬ nouncement points out, although a ser¬ vicing fee of from $50 to $100 a week is required in order that the company may maintain a staff of engineers to keep all units in order. Recent im¬ provements also permit the “sound pro¬ jector” to function either photograph¬ ically or phonographically, it was de¬ clared. Solicitations are now being made by the company for installations, which combine the facilities of reproduction of Vitaphone pictures with Movietone offerngs. The Movietone device, which has recently passed final tests, will cost $2,000 additional over the regular charge. It was also announced that 'the in¬ stallation of “sound projector” attach¬ ments are now solicited independently of any picture service. The separation of installation and film service was brought about by the acquisition by Warner Bros, of all the stock of the Vitaphone Corporation, which now functions solely as a manufacturing unit, with all installation service in the hands of the Electrical Research Prod¬ ucts company. Federal Trade Commission Case Against West Coast Set For August 23 in N. Y. The Federal Trade Commission will begin its hearings against the West Coast Theatres, Inc., on August 23. The case which was originally set for Aug¬ ust 6, will be held in New York, and it is probable that it will last only one day. Release Dates Announced For M-G-M Short Feature Products To October 1 The opening gun of the pi'ogram of short features which will be distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during 192728 proves to be set for August 27. At frequent dates thereafter will be re¬ leased one of each of the various series comprising this program. The schedule of releases from August 27 to October 1 follows: August 27, Oddities, “An African Ad¬ venture”; September 3, Charlie Chase, “The Sting of Stings”; September 10, Oddities, “Jewels of Venus”; September 10, All Star Comedy, “Sugar Daddies”; September 17, Max Davidson Comedy,; September 24, Our Gang, “Yale vs. Har¬ vard”; October 1, Great Events, “The Flag.” August 15 Starting Date Of Metro-Goldwyn News Arrangements have been completed for the inauguration of M-G-M News service to exhibitors on August 16. All staff camermen are now at their posts. With the release of the first issue the entire organization will be in full swing to supply last minute views of world events twice weekly. Special laboratories throughout the country have been completed for the handling of local news views. This sys¬ tem will save hours and days of valuable time that would be consumed in the shipment of such shots to New York and return to the territories for which such pax*ticular scenes are intended. Paramount Will Release First of 100 Per Cent Program During August The first of Paramount’s 100 per cent program will be released this month. The schedule calls for 19 features and short subjects, including the semi¬ weekly issues of Paramount News. Titles, directors, stars and release dates are listed as follows: August 1 : “Beau Geste,” which has already played many extended engage¬ ments in legitimate theatres throughout the country; Wallace Beery and Ray¬ mond Hatton in “Firemen, Save My Child!” Rounding out Paramount’s 100 per cent program for this week are two is¬ sues of Paramount News, an Edward Everett Horton two-reel comedy titled, “No Publicity” and a one-reel Krazy Kat cartoon titled “Sealing Whacks.” August 6 will see release of the re-is¬ sued “The Covered Wagon,” whicfl, on its first time out proved one of the greatest box-office successes in the his¬ tory of the motion picture. As an added aid to exhibitors in selling the picture the ad sales department of Paramount has prepared a new 1, 3, and 24 sheet which will be included in the paper orig¬ inally designed to advertise the product¬ ion.. Another August 6 release is “Service for Ladies,” with Adolphe Menjou star¬ red and Katherine Carver in the lead¬ ing feminine role. The program for August 6 also in¬ cludes the first Paramount novelty tworeel subject titled “The Elegy” and a Koko one-reel cartoon comedy titled “Koko Plays Pool.” The general re¬ lease of “Metropolis,” Paramount’s picturization of what the future may be is set for August 23. The first Paramount-Christie oomedy, a Bobby Vernon starring vehicle titled, “Short Socks,” and a Krazy Kat car¬ toon, “Tired Wheels,” will also be de¬ livered to exhibitors on that date. The release date of the newest W. C. Fields starring comedy titled “Running Wild,” is August 20. Short features for this 100 per cent pi’ogram include the Paramount-Christie two-reel comedy, “Row, Sailor, Row,” starring Billy Dooley and another issue of the Inkwell Imps series of cartoons titled, “Koko’s Kane.” The last release date for the month offers Clara Bow in “Hulu.” Clive Brook has the leading male role. An¬ other August 27 release is “Soft Cush¬ ions,” Douglas MacLean’s latest comedy contribution in which he was directed by Eddie Cline. Short Features for this program are Jimmie Adams in “Hot Heads,” “Web Feet,” a Krazy Kat car¬ toon. “Kid Gloves” the New Title of Ray’s “U” Picture The Universal Jewel Produetion being made with Charles Ray from Gerald Beaumont’s story, “Betty’s A Lady,” will reach the screen as “Kid Gloves,” it has just been decided by Universal production heads. It is a prize ring story put into screen form by Harry O. Hoyt, who wrote “Painting The Town”. James Gleason, co-author of “Is Zat So” noted stage play, has the role of the fight manager. Other in the cast are Jobyna Ralston, Arthur Lake and Edythe Champan. The picture is set for release in 1928.