Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-27
Wv WASHINGTON p OF oplay
VA fans are following with
w interest the premier ap-


pearance of the Vitaphone
In, the city. Although the invention
can hardly be called new, it VIII be
. novelty in the Capital, and there
is considerable speculation as te
what effect it will have upon the
pliotoplay of the future. After
period of development covering the
past so years, the motion picture has
reached an established position and
was thought to be standing upon
solid foundation, where, with MINOR
improvements from time to time, II
would go on as the babbling brook
gathering in the cash customers and
being known as the silent drama.
So this matter of the talking pic
lures, now claimed to be perfected
may give cause for concern. 1t may
be lust another experiment, and, on
the other hand, it may mean that all
the big pictures of the future are TO
be syncronized with the human voice.
One of the newest American photo
plays and one of the best German
pictures ran their seven or eight
reels without subtitles. From this, it
is a far cry to the talking movies.
1HG NlldpIIOliG HldhAS AlS AZ - oP
pearance and speaks its first piece
in Washington this afternoon.
Early in the history of the Vita
phone the Warner Brothers, photo
play producers. became interested in
its possibilities. Their first expert
ments were made in the Brooklyn
studios. As they went deeper into
the work they took over the Man
, haitian Opera House. where skilled
engineers took up the problem OF
natural action and syncronizat;on.
The first public test was made in the
Warner Theater, New York, where
am audience announced the invention
amazing and uncanny." Now. sew
eral chains of photoplay houses have
bought special rights to the Vita
phone, and Roxy has arranged for
its installation in his big New York
theater.
IRON the motion picture section
l. of the Department of Com
merce comes some interesting news
regarding photoplays and the peo-
pie who bake the film, pie OF
France For instance, Nalentin Man
deistamm, the French author of
Hollywood" and other books, until
recently scenario writer and expert
for large American producing COM
pany. has been awarded the cross OF
the Legion of Honor for his services
to the French motion picture indus
try in studying film production in the
United States.
One OF the most important French
films produced recently is The
Chess Player which was exhibited
few days ago i'll a Paris theater.
The picture can be ranked third in
French production for the past year.
The other productions ahead of it
are Napoleon and Michael Stro-
goff." The first showing of the film
was gala charity affair. the Presi-
dent of France being represented by
Minister of Commerce Bokanowski
According to Harold L. Smith, vice
consul, the French people in the
small cities are demanding that their
film fare be changed at least twice
each week. AT present" says Mr..
Smith, "the pictures are changed
only once week. on Fridays, and
the agitation is strong for new pro-
grams
MOTE from diary of motion pic
~ ture fan: Saw whale of a
movie last night. but my companion
became annoyed by the loud speakers
sitting behind him, who persisted in
broadcasting the subtitles and de-
failing the plot of the piece Finally
John turned squarely around and
made this remark: / say, won't
you please talk just the least bit
louder? | am a little deaf and |
missed that last remark And the
best part of it was that the pests
raised their voices to accommodate
him John is clever. but. like so
many clever chaps, is unappreciated.
Y
A CCORDING to word from the
"A West Coast, Miss Elinor Patter-
son, who played the role OF the nun
in "The Miracle" has signed film
contract with Universal Pictures.
Her father, Joseph Medill Patterson
of the Chicago Tribune, accompanied
her TO the Universal studios in Cali
fornia for the first screen tests. Miss
Patterson will be given an intensive
training in picture work before at
tempts are made to place her in star
roles.
* X X X
. OXY has assembled new gang
~ for his New York theater, and
the members will become friends OF
sWashingtonians via the radio. The
new organization will, of course, be
built around the old favorites. Gam
by" and Doug" (Mlie. Gambarelli,
dancer, and Douglas Stansbury, bari
tone). Others i'll the group will be