Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-15
FLASHES

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shops closed their doors, tn,
players went of to the mountain
or the SeaShore and the producer
took their annual trips to Europe
When September came arount
there was great activity--but thu
dog days were days when TIKI
theater was practically forgotten
But. unlike the old-line thea,
tiers, the movie palaces expec'
almost as large crowds in Sum.
mer as in Winter. They have in
stalled cooling plants which draw
the overheated cash customers
and an intelligent effort is being
made to exhibit pictures in keep
ing with the weather. Light
programs are the rule; comedies
are most popular--and the movie
theater goes along its way re.
gardleSS of the weather.
And, from another standpoint
it is a big season for the photo
play. The one subject of CONVEX
Sation Is the talking picture.
This feature has been developed
and expanded during the last two
months. and where it will lead no
one is able to answer, AS a rule,
when a new scheme is brought
forward one or two forward
seeing men take up the idea and
see where it will place them. But
this has not been true Of the
talking movie, for all the big pro-
ducing companies have jumped to
the idea. The large studios,
nearly all of them located in the
Hollywood district, are being
equipped to turn out the sound
photoplays, and millions of dol
lars are being thrown into the
plan. The producers themselves do
not know Just where they stand,
except that they are going into
the scheme with a rush. 1t is
possible that there may be sad
awakening. or it may be that the
talking movie will be the only
movie when September and
October of this year roll around.
1t is this writer's opinion that
the fate of the talking movie will
be decided during the Autumn
months. The whole thing is a
gamble; the producers are put
ting their cards upon the table,
but the photoplay patrons will be
the deciding factor; they will de-
ternine the winner.
And there are other features of
an unusual movie season. For in
stance, it is reported that the
next great move of the producers
will be toward natural colorS.
Various ideas along this line have
been tried out, but they have been
found unsuitable for the average
picture story. However, the coll
ored picture will come along, al
though it presents immense diff
cultieS. It has been explained
that, in the manufacture of col
ored films, the greatest trouble,
according to the artistic point of
view. is the claShing of colors.
For instance, the players in one
scene are dressed in costumes Of
many hueS. In a tableau they
would be arranged SO that the
colors did not clash. That is, a
certain color would 60 alongside a
color which harmonized and did
not hurt the eye. But, with the
moving drama, the costumes are
mixed. there is a tumble of color.
clashes and an artiStically ruined
picture. The cOlored film can
show a perfect tableau, where the
players remain in their positions:
in colOred movie there can be a
riot. The colored movie is COM
ing along, but do not look for 1t
Tor some time to come
Another Summer item of gossip
Is the statement Of Mayor Walker
Of New York that the photoplay
industry has gone into politics.
The dapper chief executive Of the
metropolis made such q remark
in a talk last week in Los Angeles,
and It has created quite a stir.
This column does not go in for
political chatter, but II what
Mayor Walker says is true it is
probably the worst single step
which the great industry could
make. When the movie industry
goes into the game Of politics,
from that time on it starts upon
a rough and downward path. The
producers should keep their coat
tails free from this one branch of
American life. III they don't, then
it's case Of ripping the industry
wide open.
NOTES on some of the new pic
IN lures, some of them ready for
distribution and others in the
making:
Robert Edeson, long a stage star
and once leading man with
Maude Adams, has been signed by
Warner Brothers for THE Little
Wildcat" la which Audrey Ferris
win star. EdeSon viii play a
featured role.
The George M. Conan play.
THE Home Towners," is being
turned into a photopiay, with
Robert McWade, who was a hit In
the stage comedy, having the
same part In the screen version.
The Desert Song" one Of the
most successful of light musical
works Of the past few years, goet
into the movies via the Warner
Brothers studio. One hundred
musicians viii play the score foi
the Vitaphone.
Fannie Brice, the stage star, Ii
working in the picture MY Man,
IN which she makes her screen
debut. A number of the Brict
songs viii be recorded by the
Vitaphone.
James Hall is starting on hi
seventh starring vehicle, "Ths
Canary Murder" playing opposite
Ruth Taylor. William Powell anG
Louise Brooks have supporting
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