Variety (Sep 1928)

Wednesday, September 26, 1928 PICTURES VARIETY 19 Publix Replacing Stage Shows and Orchestras With Sound in 3 Cities Atlanta, Sept. 2B. Howard theatre, ace Publix house }iere, abandons unit shows Oct. 1 In favor of all-talker bills. At the same time stage and pit musicians win be dispensed with. It la understood a similar policy will be inaugfurated in the Alabama theatre, Birmingham, . and the Worthi Fort Worth, Tex.. It la an economy move. Unit ahows for the Howard have been costing the house $3,000 a week, a burden the box office cbuld not supi- |(ort, according to understanding. There are now only three houses Jn Atlanta offering In person enter- tainment, Erlanger, Keith's Georgia and LK)ew'3 Capitol. There Is No Substitute for STAGE-BAND ENTERTAINMENT Known as the . "PAUL ASH POLICY'' PARAMOUNT THEATRE NEW YORK Indefinitely "KXCLCSIVELl COLUMBIA KECOKDINO ABTIST" All Pathe Featares for 29- 30 With Dialog; 6 Supers Lios Angeles, Sept. 25, The final 12 pictures on this sea- son's list will be completed by Pathe Jam 15. The schedule for '29^'30 will start March 15, with entire product to contain dialog. Pathe's productions plans for '29-'30 include four to six super- specials to cost from $250,000 to $500,000. One-third of the remain- ing 30-odd features win be classified as specials. In sounding its production, Pathe will adhere to a policy of complet- ing the picture In silent form and then recording sound or dialog ad- ditionally, .' Bartheiniess' Dialpger Los Angeles, Sept. 25. "Weary River," Courtney Riley Gooper story, will be the next Rich- ard Earthelmess production for First National. It is to have sound and dialog, directed by Frank Lloyds Bradley King has been borrowed from M-G-M to make the screen adaptation. New Eastman Manager Rochester, Sept. .25. Eric Thatcher Clarke, for five years general manager of the East- man theatre, resigned last week, fol- lowing differences of opinion as to house policies. William A. Caliban, film, booking agent for the theatre, succeeds Clarke, temporarily at least. Neither move was a surprise to local inside theatrical circles. BUCKLEY ON IT. A. TOUE Los Angeles, Sept. 25. Harry D. Buckley, general mana ger of the United Artists theatres, has been in Los Angeles for the past week. consulting with Joseph M. Schenck. After leaving, here he will make a tour over the country, visiting various United Artists the atres. Buckley will return in six weeks. His headofuarters will be at the lo cal huose. West Coast Theatre Long Beach Cat. FOX'S NEWSREELS lOTH Yesterday (Tuesday) was the lOth anniversary of the Fox news- reel. Geo. Williams in Syracuse Syracuse, N. Y., Sept. 25. George Williams, veteran exploi- tation man and theatre manager. Is new managing director of the three Kallet playhouses in Syracuse—Re- gent, Harvard and Avon. Golden Selling U Talkers Eddie Golden, veteran picture man, has been brought on. from Boston by Univcr-sal to handle the company's talker sales, a new de- parture with U. NEW YORK OFFICE: ■ «a m# 1560 BROADWAY —^iT"^ ■ gk B W 613 TAFT BLDG. HOLLYWOOD, CAL. HEMPSTEAD 3594 Cut Scale Houses Not Approved by Exhibs Chicago, Sept. 25. Cutting of admission prices by Liiblincr & Trinz brought a broadcast letter of condemna- tion from Jack S. Miller, presi- dent of the Exhibitors' Ass'n of Chicago, Miller's letter suggests that members cease buying Alms from companies selling first neighborhood rights to cut rate houses. If not, he says/inde- pendents will b« squeezed out entirely. 26 M-G-M Sound Shorts Ready for Fall Release Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer win have more than a score of talking shorts ready for autumn release. It has Issued a list of subjects to be Of- fered at the rate of three a week beginning Sept. 29., and including dates up to Nov. 17. It was known the company had such a service in preparation but the trade under- stood M-G-M's talking short out- put would not be available in quan- tity until Januiry. List formally announced In- cludes: Sept. 20, Van and Schenck, Johnny Marvin and Marion Har- ris. . . Oct. 6—Walt Rosener and Caplr tolians, Locust Sisters and Leo Beeers. Oct. 13-^Mnier and Lyles, Joseph Regan and M-G-M Movietone re- vie\y. . ' Oct. 20—Ponce Sisters, Odette Myrtle, Marion Harris. Oct. 27—Van and Schenck, Fuzzy X. Knight,: George Dewey Wash- ington. Nov. 3—Johnny Marvin, Joseph Regan, M-G-M Movietone review. Nov. 10—Vincent Lopez at piano. Ponce Sisters, Miller and Lyle. Nov. 17—Marlon Harris, George Dewey. Washington. Fox's First 100% Los Angeles, Sept. 25. Fox's- first 100 per cent, dialog feature Is under way with Rao.ul Walsh, director, also playing an important role. Maria Alba, Spanish beauty con- test winner, . more or less Idle around the Fox lot since heir im- portation. Is getting her first big break in the production titled "In Old Arizona.'* Gerbraclit Beats Cdnncil Ames, la., Sept. 25, Joe Gerbracht, Ames theatre manager, routed the anti-Sunday amusement forces at a sizzling council session which lasted until 2 a. m. He drove the blue-Sunday law enforcement squad to cover with a 4 to 2 backing In the coun- cil. It appears to be all over now. 5 THEATRE MEN SUE VILLAGE FOR DAMAGES C ha r g e False Arrest . Through Sunday Shows in St. Clairesville> O. Cleveland, Sept. 2G. The battle betweeh theatre own- ers "of St. Clairesvllle, Ohio, and blue-nose city ofllcials who are at- tempting to stop inovics on Sun- day continues to wax furiously. Five theatre men have brought suit against the town for Illegal ar- rests. . One manager is bringing up a suit for the .fifth time, asking $10,r 00.6 damages. It seoms that city ofllclal.s have been .srlving tlie boys the runaround. According to the theatre men, they were arrested without warrants for giving Sunday shows. Then, they charge, the mayor would do the dis- appeai'ing act to keep , them from giving bond, and all their squawks failed to'help out. . One killjoy of a cpuncHmah even proposed recently ,an Increase In theatre licensc.s from $50 to $1,800, declaring the city would be better off without theatres or movies. His motion failed. Marks' Trial Waits Chicago, Sept., 25. ' Suit of Marks Bros., independent theatre oi)erators, against Para- mount-Publlx-B. & K. and 24 other defendants charging restraint: of trade, is at a temporary standstill awaiting serving of notice by the complainants that they are ready for trial. Preliminary hearings were held early last sumrnor. FOLLOW UP AT CRITERION Paramount's tentative Idea for the Criterion, New York, where "Wings" is In Its 59th week. Is to have "Interference" follow with ho date set. Latter picture Is the Joanne Eagels' tallter, not yet started. No Intention of road showing. V. A. RUNS IN PORTLAND Portland, Ore., Sept. 26. United Artists theatre will open during the month, playing U. A. pic- tures on runs. It will be operated by West Coast Theatres circuit. In association with J. J. Parker and United Artists. "Blindfold" Print East A print of "Blindfold," Fox talker feature with George O'Brien and Lois Moran, reached the home ofTice this week. "Flying Fool" Pathe's Aerial Los Angeles, Sept. 25. Pathe's contribution to the cycle of aviation films will he "The Fly- ing Fool." Paul Stein will direct from Neil Brandt's script. Merkle, DeForest Sales Arno Morkle will be .sales head of the DeForest talker, under the regime of four companies planned by the. Sclilcsi^ingcrs. Merkle has had charge of the foreign sales of the device. MANKIEWIGZ' STORY Los Angolos, Sept. 25. When William Welhnan finishes directing "Tong War" . for Para- mount the company will have him start making "The Man I Love," with Nancy Carroll and Richard Arlon. Story Is bfing writteii by I|ermari Mankiewicz. Freddie SMITH Jo* AKD Still Pabtixing EVERYWHERE A HIT "VARIKTI" SAID; ORIENTAL, CinCAOO "Th(!so boys have devclopid acro- bixlic ICKWorlc to sen.iatlonal propor- tlonrt.. They start as comnrty dancers, Ifttor losing their funny clothes to get serious and excellent. Forced Into a speccli." "ZIT'S" SAID: CAriTpI., NTCW YOKK "Smith nnd Hadley, two male dancers, deserve headline billing for excellent footworlc." SEATTLE "TIMES" SAID: SEATTLE THEATRE "Two boys who Just about dis- rupted the program schedule yester- day were' Smith and Hadley, expo- nents of dlfHcult, graceful and comi- cal dajicc steps." SAN FRANCISCO "NEWS" SAID: GRANADA THEATRE "One of. the most, clever dancingr teams that has been here In weeks li Smith and Hadley. After doln? some 'rube' stuff they execute some really dimcult steps." OMAHA "BEE-NEWS" SAID; RIVIERA THEATRE "When It comes to dance antics. Smith and Hadley need' retire for none." WEEK OF SEPT. 22 ALABAMA, BIRWrGHAM Regards to MAX TURNER JERRY CARGILL BILLY SNYDER THE JUVENILE PRINCE nOIVO TIME IN FANCHON and MARCO'S "HAT" IDEA Week Sept. 28 T>o«w'r .Stnto, Imh Angelen Direction—WM. MORRIS AGENCY PUBLRTUNIT NOW Direction ;: WM. MORRIS OFFICE PARIS Repeating Oar American Successes In LONDON BARCELONA DEAUVILLE OSTEND RENOFF and RENOVA Held Over and Re-engaged Everywhere STARTING RETURN ENGAGEMENT, PICCADILLY HOTEL, LONDON, SEPTEMBER 24 **Gorgeous, superbly athletic with incomparable poise and grace."— Amy Leslie, "You will have to call upon your reserve of superlatives to describe them."-—Vi</e Preis.