Variety (Jun 1930)

Wednesday, June 4, 1930 PICTURES VARIETY STANDING OFF TELEVISION Actors as Salesmen in Talkers To Teach Regular Salesmanship • Actors usually claim to be the |>est salesmen. ^_At any rate they tnake excellent "salesmen In com- mercial pictures. Most of these pictures are used as Illustration in the training and schooling of real salesmen. A real salesmen cannot sell any- - thing under the eye of the camera. It takes an actor to do that. In their training, salesmen are told they must become actors; must have a line, a. technique. They must be able to handle their personality and vary it as an actor does on the stage or In pictures. The Approach .• Actors even in some of the com- mercial pictures show salesmen how not to do it or demonstrate how they can vary their approach, and gauge the charactei^istics of an individual. Actresses are also fine at show- ing salesladies how it should be done. How to lean over the counter, be interested, polite or very charm- ing, and pretty if necessary. A commerical picture for Macy's department store salesladies is now being made In the store at night, when the actresses come in to act -.their sales roles. The actor salespeople don't get paid very much for the commercial work. But they may be pointing the way to fame and fortune for a number of embryonic .high powered salesmen. WOMAN BACK TO 1st OHIO HOUSE; BUILT BY HER Akron, O., June 3. Ideal, Independent neighborhood house, dark for two weeks, is re- opening under the management of Mrs. Gertrude Moore, Akron, recog- nized as Ohio's first film house pro- .prietor. She built the theatre in 1913 and won state-wide attention because of her venture at that time. Later Mrs. Moore leased the prop- erty. In the last two years, it has had a colorful history. House was tlie target for two bombings during a projectionists' strike last year and later was the scene of an Incendiary fire during a school children's mat- inee when an operator is alleged to have ignited film in the projection room. Park Palmer, exhibitor during this troubled period, committed sui- cide as a result of the discouraging disasters and the efforts of his widow to continue the theatre met ■with failure. Mrs. Moore has wired the house redecorated and placed new seat Warners After Loop Spot Chicago, June 3. Warners is making an attempt to Invade the loop for a picture house. At present dickering for the Ma- jestic, logit theatre and office build- ing, dark at present. Property, now under lease to the Shuberts, is part of the Lehman IV-J^*-^- and the price quoted is $2,- 600,000. It is probable the prop- erty will not be sold, but may be leased. Pettijohn's Ignorance Brown and burly from Hol- lywood, Charlie Pcttijohn, im- mediately upon dusting his desk in the Hays' gathering place, stated in part: "I don't know anything about Television, mergers, salaries, codes or Myers." Effort to Drag in Gov't On P.P. F-P-Can Buy in Fails to Get Very Far Toronto, June 3. Famous Players Can. shareholders who refused to turn in their stock on the trade in with Paramount Publix, are trying to figure out where they stand, now that the deal has gone through and P. P. is listed on Can. exchanges. Many, of the smaller shareholders who forget to turn in their stock are wondering where they stand as well. Stock was to be turned in by May. 26. It has since been announced that there will be no extension of time for the exchange of certificates. As far as can be seen they won't lose any dough. They still have their money in F. P. Can. and will draw dividends. But P. P. has con- trol. Result will be that the market for F. P. Can. shares will be small. There is still plenty of talk about the deal and it has been before the House of Commons, or the Domin- ion government, twice. Matter up first when H. H. Ste- vens, member of Parliament from Vancouver, pointed out to the prime minister and the government, that F.-P. Can. was to be taken over by U. S. firm and quoted extracts say- ing that it would give them control of a film monopoly here worth $100,000,000. He wanted to know if the govern- ment knew about the deal whether any action had been taken or whether anything would be done. The Premier said he would look into it. Gov't Not Interested Next time Hon. Richard B. Ben- nett, leader of the opposition, brought the deal before the House and suggested that legislation to control amusements of this type (pictures) should be passed. He pointed out the difficulties the mi- nority shareholders were supposed to be having and wanted to know what it was all about. Premier King . read a statement prepard by the Secretary of State. It stated that F. P.-Con. was incor- porated in 1920, said that the author- ized capital wns 600,1. 10 shares with- out par valui that 378,395 had been taken up and that there is outstand- ing an issue of $3,000,000 debentures and $6,000,000 of bonds. He said that the government didn't know anything about the deal and couldn't understand why the government should bo approached about it, "If the provisions of the laws haven't been complied with any relief would be afforded by the courts," he said. m EXCL Cohn's Play Bug Jack Cohn, through buyin? up so raa-ny plays and things for his Co- lumbia Pictures, has gotten the leglt producing bug. Colin contemplates producing stfiffe plays himself first and do .the \VarnPr idea of later transmitting thfm to the sound-screen. Treasurers* Union After Film House Men in Chi Chicago, Juno 3. Tlieatre treasurers' union, having regained its A. F. of L. charter, will malte a bid to organize treasurers of all de luxe picture houses. Union's power will be tested with change of policy in the R-K-0 Palace, which went into vaudfilm last week. Union asked that two of the three men trea.surers be re- tained. If successful, the union will' fol- low by aslcing that all tHeatre treasurer.? join and have assllants named. Wide Film and Screen May Be Forced onto Stage, to Offset General Electric's Intention to Limit First Commercial Displays of Television — Radio Also on Wide Film Move [ |BigFilin Trade Struggle May Shordy Start, with Largest Companies Mostly Involved HAYS' PACT? Th« imminence of .Television in the theatre, as reported from Schenectady, is panicking m large part of the industry not reached through General Electric into a state that threatens to exceed the stampede which existed when it first seemed that Warners had sound sewed up. As the result during the past week moves were launched for prepared- ness and to counteract as much as posSLible the novelty cream of Tele- vision which General Electric, ac- cording to Schenectady experts, has said will be confined to R-K-O houses. Taking wide film off the shelf and grooming it- for an early mar- keting, without waiting for stand- ardization of size, is admitted to be one of the first steps being taken by companies outside the General Electric boundaries. Television, It la conceded at pro- ducer headquarters, where. In- cidentally, it Is admitted the tele- vision marketing revelations in "Variety" caused more excitement among members than any news breaking during the past year is, by Its "premature debut" forcing the Industry to find another stim- ulant for pictures such as the ap- pearance of sound was dubbed. Producer spokesmen state that Inside activities prove any Indlffer- (Continued on page 66) Another Schenectady Between. Xakken and Bruns- wick, Warners claim they are set to give General Electric a run for Television money. The two interests cover the air picture situation sudlcient- ly for the Bros. Xone of the execs, however, are prepared to state when the Warners will stage a Schenectady. Pubfix Operating Force May Be in Separate BIdg. Physical operating separation of Paramount and Publix, recently merged into the new corporate name of Paramount Publix Corp., is reported contemplated through the erection of a special building in which all Publix e,jcec3 and depart- ments will be quartered. The Paramount pictures end, in- cluding all its execs and branches, will remain In the Paramount build- ing, which now quarters all of the Par-Publlx activities excepting pro- duction at tne Long Island studio. A 12-story building la proposed from inside accounts, with that providing for sutllclent space to ac- commodate everything In the Pub- lix wing. A possibility for Publix quarters is said to be In the lower 40's near 10th avenue. Talking "Pushers "Leather Pusher" series which as sllents several years ago brought out Reginald Denny, are to be re- done by U as talking two-reelers. Par Men Return Jesse L. Lasky, Walter Wanger and Cyril Maude arrive east to- morrow from Hollywood. "Brutal" Extras Around New York, Say Legits After Picture Work Picture extras make the most bloodthirsty primitive mob in the world. This is what legit actors who have been caught In a picture mob have to say about It. There is noth- ing that could be experienced in "darkest Russia" that one can't go through if caught In a group of picture actors seelcing work at a studio. Such are the . fierce con- clusions of legit players who, find- ing work scarce on Broadway, have answered studio calls. Picture extras, they say, are not performers, but brutes. They scrap for a. chance to get into the studio. It seems to be their Idea that one must fight for a part. It Is not enough for them to be told there is nothing doing. They think that if one only stays and tramples the other fellow down or shoves .him out of view, something will turn up for the survivor. People are actually knocked down and walked on and the general Idea is, if possible, to keep the other fellow from getting In at all even If there is no chance for ones'-lf, legits have beer, led to beliove from observations. The women extra.s are the worst of the bunch, It is claimed. Picture extras couldn't be more pres.sed for Jobs than the leglters around Broadway, but when It comes to seeking that job, the ex- tra.s" tactics disgust the stage ppo- plc who think that at lea.st an ac- tor should pretend that he or she is In a gentle protesBlon. Radioing Trailer Chicago, June 3. Radio for broadcasting sections of a picture as an ozone trailer was used for the first time anywhere last Monday (2) by Balaban & Katz. . Over Station WIBO, E. & K. went on the air for a half hour with "Paramount on Parade" direct from the projection booth of the execu- tives' screening room. Parts of five skit.s were trans- mitted from the film to ihc studio's transmitting apparatus, with the station -announcer interrupting to plug the picture, which opens Wednesday. An attempted cliock on the draw- ing power of radio as a picture trailer will be sought by W. K. Hol- landor, H. & K. publicity director. W. C. Trial June 17 Harry Arthur, Rf.-ncral in;inag'>r of I'"ox I'hoatre.s, i.s slated to leave for the Coast this Wfi:k. Arthur has been Hubpoened to testify in the government suit against West Coafst. The suit comes up for trial In Los Angr.'k's, June 17. It 1.4 based on restraint of trade and Indir-trnfnt Is blanlcct for the l<lg production companlf'S, Including Harold I'rank- lin, presld>'nt of West Coast. L.ittfr Is only Individual Indli-tf-d A world film struggle, prophesied to change completely the geography and politics of a large part of tho industry, seems admitted^ It may be precipitated by Warner Brothers. What Is regarded as the first in- dication, of a material severance with Western Electric is the Warn- ers' build-up of Louis Gerard Pac- ent, seen by high executives as the substitute system of their talker re- production and recording. Already Warners hav* atarted shearing Vitaphone Corp., througli which Western's system has dis- pensed its powers. Paul Swift, sales manager, is leaving, and the sale of short subjects, distributed exclu- sively through this Vita channel, from now on will be sold through the regular Warner and First Na- tional forces. A tilt with Paramount is also de- veloping along battle lines. At the Warner camp Par is blamed, the charge being one of the high prlce« for pictures and territorial restric- tions. This, it is declared, was fore- seen and Is one of the reasons for the rush for theatre ownership throughout the country. As several executives described It Monday, Harry Warner is InstilUng in his employees that the control- ling side of the Industry Is beinff cut down, and that If only one company survives the metamor- phosis. It- must be Warner*. (Continued on page 56) MAKING FANS FILM SALESMEN Warner Brothers believe thej have solved the fan letter writing: problem. The estimated 100,000 monthly contributors to the Bur- bank studios are going to be made into salesmen. In the near future a four-page spread In 15 fan magazines wlU carry the message. Readers will be startled by knowing that unless they personally ask their neighbor-. hood picture purveyor what produc- tions he Is showing next season, there Is a- great possibility that their favorites may not be among them. The Idea, originating in Charlie Einfeld's First National depart- ment, is to get fans on the record by reporting back what said exhib- itor replied in regard to future bookings. For their trouble fans will be re- warded with a seml-llfe siise still of their favorite Warner star. CHAPLIN'S 60-40 TERMS AND TALKER OPINION Hollywood, June 3. Charlie Chaplin's all-silent pic- ture, "City Lights," will be released on straightaway 60-40 sharing terms, It Is said. Chaplin will demand 40 per cent for his end. He has been quoted as stating a belief that "City Lights'* will be a blow agaln.st talker.s. Main Offices in Montreal Toronto, June 3. Head ofilce of Famous Playem Canadian Corp. Is to be moved from Toronto to Montreiil, where Para- niount-I'ublix has listed 3.206,749 common .shares on the. Montreal Stock Kxf'li.inge. The .mriual corivcn' in of Famou« Pl;xyi-rs-(':iti. tli'-fUie managers also likely to b" hi'UX In Montreal this .suiniii'.T.