Variety (Oct 1928)

Wednesday, October 24, 1928 FOREIGN VARIETY Cooperation and Ass;ocia^ tion Between jPicture In^ clustry and Vaudeville, as President of RCA Photo- phone Visualizes Future -—RCA Will Spend Mil- lions in Deveiopment of Sound in Theatre (This, statement i)y Mr. Sarhoff is at the request of Variety) . . By David Sarnoff President, R. C. A. Photophone, Inc. When, sound and motion meet •riywhere it iai iheyitabler perhaps^ that something should happeh; Sbmothing did happen when elecr trical science fin^ljy synchronized : sound and motion on the screen. Nevertheless, there are still many who are rubbing their eyfes. Is it • funeral or a wiedding? |s it • battle or a love-feast? To my mind, it's a love-feasf, al- though the.courtship has been brijpf The moving picture is the child of the motion picture industry. Sound r€fproduction/i8 the child of the elec- trical sciences. Whatever the fond parents may desire, a really, new art was created when the .two finally -met on the silver screen. To me this is the fundamenta point of what has happened irt the recent associ«»tiofn of the electrical and motion picture industries. Two years ago most moving pic- ture producers were ihelined. to stand aloof from the significant de- velopments in the synchronization of sound and sight. Sound, they said, was an intrusion on the "silent drama." Gradually they began to peep into the backyards of the electrical industry; and finally they stampeded towards the magic word "sound." . Some of these producers, who re I>ented at leisure and then acted in haste, still choose to believe that all that has happened Is that sound has been added to moving pic- tures. . Get yourself a license, add sound to your silent drama and you immediately become a sound movie producer. Time will prove the fu- tility of this view. • ■What haa happened is that a new and greater art of picture produc tion has been created, in which neither Sound nor motion can go forward without the other's co- operation. Sound has opened an Inflni.tely wider field of. dramatic expression for the motfoh picture; Further experience in the motion plct|ure art is ienabllner the elec trical Industry to linproye greatly the techniQue of .sound recording and reproduction. In the practical development t>f the new ^t it is . . Impossible to sjeparate the moving picture studio'from the pound lab- oratory. The Electrical Group The R. C-. A. Photophone Company Is the expression of the electrical industry of the United States in the field of- synchronized sound ahd motion pictures. We are . not ap palled by the fact that w© have thus entered the "entertainment" Held. The radio art, five years ago, led us, through, broadcasting to de velop a service of entertainment, Information and.'education to th6 home. It was the natural evolution of an art .^^„JXhus.!=jvA ..entjexed-^J the entertainment field with, the purpose of contributing whatever technical p,nd artistic advances we had avallaljle, or could create. We hope the results have justified our entry. . If our business Is to develop .sound reproduction through the new art of electrical cornmunfcatlon, It • Is clear that our work must be dedi- cated to a practical purpose. Thus the electrical group has establLshed a gi'eat nation-wide service broadcasting: in the United States; It has cp-operated With the phono- graph Industry in the fcreation of new sound reproducing instru- ments; it has now c motion industry tb co-op^ite .development of . the . ne sound-mptibn- pictures The R. C. Ai Photophone pany is Iii the business'of licensing sound-recording apparatus to pro- ducers. But it does:not stop there. Jt considers that its business also Is to assist these producers in de- veloping the talking-picture art to its maximum, by combining; sound with motion on the screen. The R. C. A. Photophone Com- pany is in the business also of in- stalling and servicing sound-repro- ducing.appa,ratus to the motion pic- ture and other theatres of the coun- try. But it does not propose to stop ther4:' It considers that its function is to develop the sound reproducing facilities of the theatre, jCist as it has de'velojped sound- reproducing facilities for. the home Furthermore, It. Is •clear that it can also contribute substantially to the entcrtainrhent capabilities and artistic possibilities of the theatre. One need only consider the creation and successful operation of the Na tional Broadca.sting Company—or- ganized by the Radio Corpoiratioh of Amerl<;a and its assoclates- wrhich operates the greatesit broad casting entertainment networks in the world, to be convinced tha.t this group is "Entertainment Minde.d.' In addition, the R. G. A. Photo phone Comr-,ny is. associated, in various developments with the phor nbgraph industry looking to the re- cording and reproduction of sound in that industry. IfOndon, Oct 23. lecond .edition of Chariot's ReVue, ushing off at the Vaudeville last night (Monday), is not much of an improvement over the original. Jeanne Decasalis, legit star, has been added but la palpably out of her element - At the Court, also last night, the English .yersioris of two Spanish plays by Granville Barker proved rather tiresome and unhappily cast. Names of the pieces arei "Fortunate" and "The. Lady- From Alfaqueque." )fs 2d Ediion and Spanish Plays Not Up AUBERT-MORRIS Former Show Girl Packer. Weds Beef Pall's $41,000 Last Wk. an Vaude Record . London; Oct.- tJS. Doing three -extra performances show $31,B00, vaudeville week was ■ : • Paris. Oct, 23., Jane Aubert, French vaudevlUian, was married hercs tp Col. Nelson Morris, of Chicago. Couple have gone to the Riviera for their honey- moon. "Miss Aubert : anticipates playing in America. ■ Jane AubeVt appeared In a Shu- bert musical at the Winter Garden, New Yo^k, about two years ago. She and Col. Morris, of the Chicago beef Morris', were acquainted at that time ahd are believed to| have previously met In Paris. Miss Aubert is a comely blonde, rated as a good performer on the home lot Co-operation Our policy is the. policy of co- operation and association with , mo- tion picture -producers, motion pic- ture exhibitors, as well as with edu- dational, industrial and public ser- vice elements. We can serve the motion picture industry, we believe, in the field in which it has permanently estab- lished itself-^the entertainment field. We can serve the vaudeville Industry because it includes niany irnportaht motion picture elements in its programs. We can serve the home because certain educational and cultural services demanded by the home are not within the prov- ince of the motion picture ,theatre. Recognizing . the Immediate prob- lems of motioii picture exhibitors, the R. C. A. Photophone Company has developed its system, so that films recorded by it are intiar- changeable in all istandard repro- ducing apparatus. It plans to In- vest millions of dollars in the de- velopment of the new art and to place Its facilities at the service of the motion picture producers and exhibitors. The electrical Industry of the United States does not need to em- phasize its primary interest in the field of sound-motion pictures. . In following the path of devel- opment envisioned by the radio art, it established a edmMuhieatlon" sS^ vice which has given the United States leadership in the field of world-wide radio communication. It established ah industry in which all leading manufacturers of radio broadcast receivers are now licensed under the patent rights of the Radio Corporation of America. It made substahfial contributions towards the development of the instrumentalities of radio trans- mis.sion and reception which made possible the existing systems of sound synchronization, the princi pal elements of which a.re the vacuum tube, the photo-electric cell and the loud speaker. We have stood from the begin- ning for a system of synchroniza- tion thiat would combine motion and sound on the same screen; and we are. now seeing thi.g principle gen- erally adopted. We have .stood from the beg|nriing -_?£i^ - f. ?ysJ-^T" "of sound Reproduction that~"would employ the. principal of the dynamic loud «peaker, and we are seeing this method of reproduction being developed by all systems. We have .stood from the beginning for the principle of co-operation ahd asso- ciation between the motion picture indu.'jtry and the electrical Indus- try and we are confident that this is the way in which a new art will find Its greatest opportunity. Duncans May Double; Show Doing Fairly London. Oct 23. Heads of the Kit Cat restaurant are dickering with the Duncan SI3 ters to linger several weeks, al though the girls do not opeii until Oct. 29, following Van and Schenck^ c.i a month's stay. Sisters were asking $2,500 a Week but the management pleaded it could not meet that figure. A counter proposition of $1,500 and 50 cents on all patrons over 600 during the week was agreed upon The pair will double oyer from "Topsy and Eva" and only do a midnight show on the restaurant floor. Their show is doin^ fairly and claims to be Improving. The Duncans state they, are taking up the option on the Gaiety for Indefi- nite continuance. last week becfi the . l^alhidh record for any house. Ovei'head for tly approximately $17,000. Bill ^yas class Jill minus a .weak spot Schenck, in the farew ging off duel to laclj/of time. Kelso Brothers regi.stcrcyir solidly an id for way and wit ?il week, beg- laughs in their WILL MAHONEY Next Week KEITH'S SYRACUSE The Boston "Transcript" said: "Will Malioney will keep your laughter muscles working overtime. His gaiety is so infectious he, will make you feel like dancing on the sidewalk with joy.. And his clbg- ging is the most amazing we have ever seen. To say he was riotously received Is putting It. mildly." DIRECTION RALFH G. FARNUM 1560'Broadway Teddie Gerard's Husband's Cdnunission Looks Safe went oyer very I ■ At the Alha miniatiirp revue. Qdall, Caivno, c ramatic sopraho. bra (vaudeville) yesterday (Mond/iy) Frank Fay and Little Lady frony Dixie, .standard act. .on this side Cour years ago; re- appeared and ( wore, moved from third to secQnc\..after the niatinee. Act ncods overhauling to regain recognition. • - . ' •'. Stoll's Below Par . London, Oct. 23. Slock of the Stoll Theatres Corp., opened oh the stock C'xchange hero at a quotation of $3.50. The stock bias a par vJ^lue of $15. It indicates, the market evidently doesn't react favorably to the mer- ger of all the Stpll Interests. London, Oct 23; Teddie'Gerard is engaged to wed Archibald Grant, captain in the Grenadier Guards. The unwritten law among oillcers of the Guard ^ Is that the . wife, of ; any ot tiMTT^^^^^ number must retire from the stage Or the husband resign his commis- sion. Of late years there has been no nrylng demand for Teddle's serv-^ ices so no trouble is looked for on that score. ." Grant is the son of a Scottish laird with a direct ancestry that is centuries old. Chaplin Seeks Writ For Paris Chariot Paris, Oct 23. Charley Chaplin, through United Artists,, is seeking a court Writ to suppress Chariot Rlvels, a circus comedian, who does an impersona- tion of the. cinema clown. Chariot is how at the Empire, where his billing include^^ of Chaplin. Of course, the" French all know Charley under his 'French equivalent of "Chariot** and the court argument Is baaed on the con- tention that public expects to see Chaplin himself, to his injury in public esteem. Widow Tries Suicide Paris, Oct 23, Mmo. Rene Creste, whose hus- band was a well known film pro- ducer, having made, among other things, a serial, "Judex," attempted suicide by inhaling Illuminating gas in her modest Paris apartment ^ylth her at the tlm« was her young daughter, who also would have died with the mother. Friends, however. Intervened In time. Woman gave destitution as her reason for wanting death. The French Artists' Union is raising a purse In her be- halfr-^^^^^-"^'^-^"^^-^^^^-^'-^^ W-T MEN ON COAST San Francisco, Oct 28. Sir George Tallls, governing di- rector of J, C. Williamson, Ltd., of Au.stralla, and George Parker, dra- matic producer for the circuit, ar- rive here on the Sierra Oct. 25. Thoy will scour the country In a search for talent ^ Butt's 2nd "Shbwv^Boat" . . London, Oct 23.. Sir-Alfred Butt iai recruiting a sec- ond "Show Boat" company. .Idea Is to present the piece in Paris around the. Christmas holidays. , Charles Cannon, Butt's right hand nian and secretary of the . Drury. Lane for yeart, has left the flirpi, to become as.soclated with Viplet Wallace^s "Ringer" Over ' London, Oct 23. A change of plans establishes that Edgar Wallace will, not sail for New York for the opening of his play, "The Squeaker," which the Shu- berts are to produce. "The Ringer."., and not "Squeaker,'* will be the initial Wallace effort^- the Ameri- can producers. Latter piece Is to follo.w. Wallace remains on this side due to the pressure of business; which Includes the opening" of another of his plays around Christmas. Campbell GuUan, stage director, sailed Saturday (Oct. 20) oh the •^Berengarla" for New York to put oh "The Ringer,".now scheduled to open late In November. POMaUE'S CARDIFF iffOUSE London, Oct 23. Leon Domque, husband of . Sybil yanc,. has" found backers with $200,- 000 to purcha.se the New theatre, at Cartiff, Wales,' formerly a one- hlght stand for legit .shows tripping about the provinces. Domque becomes general mana- ger and the house inaugurates twice nightly vaudeville starting Dec, L DELYSIA H. 0. AT PALL , London, Oct. 2S. Deiysla has been held over at the Palladium for another week at a salary increase of $550. Management co.uld have 0|btalned the performer for two weelts at her first named salary, but preferred to wait, upon the audience reactlon. Edythe Baker, pianist (Ameri- can), opens at t^ls house next Mon- day (Oct 29) as a single and un- der the provl.so that she be tho principal headlin.er. CECIL DOUBLING DEPUTY London, Oct. 23. Cecil Cunningham filled in for two French acts la.st week. At the." Palladium (vaudeville), she went on In place of Dely.sla, who balked at tba tKi-^e extra mat- lncos-"lnscrtcd^-bccaufle=^ot-Hhe^motor show crowds. Cecil also substituted .for Lu- clcnne. Boyer at the Cafe Anglais. MOTOE SHOW'S 10% London, Oct. 23. Although attendance at the motor show is 10 percent behind tliat of a year ago, sales" Inorca.sod tl^ th<' same proportion. "Ln^S^ !?IME'' KEVIVAL? — London. Oct 23. If "Blue Eyes," current at Daly's, can linger until ■ Christmas, thla : management intends reviving "Lllao Time." Such action will postpone, or place at some other house Jo« Sachs' revival of "Lilac Domino." Sachs Is negotiating for Covent Garden, but the opera house will not be available until late in No- vember. DeBEAR, EXPLOITER / London, Oct 23; Although offered .severarbankrolls to continue revue producing, Archie Debear ha.s turned them all down to resume his old love—exploita- tion.- .- ... ,'pebear will, start off by publiciz- ing.the Eo.stock.circuH. wliloh comes into the Earl's Court Vw. 1. LUPINO, RI.GBY, JOY FIRM ■ Londcui, Oct. 23. A new firm to soil its own. plays to a world market has. just been founded by Stanley Luplno, Arthur Rigby and Nicholas Joy. Joy sails on the Carnianla this. Saturday. (Oct. 27) tu rcpr'.vs'jnt. the company In New York. "Varieties," French Wecl<ly lyjiiiion, Oct. 23. = 1A .nc.\v^AV^vckIyv^paiu;r.,-_irj.=bii.^^^ '•Vari(!ll(;H." will rn.iUo" its • iniliid ai)pear-'irice In I'aris Xijv. 1.0. Lartl^ue and Arji;in<i arc spon- sorinff with Henry SlM;r<'iv tu s yrito •■ibouL Jvrif,'I.'Ui(i in .Vi oitcii... Bobby Jarvis Better , ■ . J.oii.lori, Oct 23. After'rnit of' "Oonii N'l-w.s". for tlirf<? w'-i-kH. diK? t'} .scjitic; pi)isoning, liobfjy Jai'viH will r(.'turri liext Week.