Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-21
Talking Movies
Continued from First Pagel
Newest Development Makes Operator One Of Big Factors
in Film Shows.

Continued from First Page)
collapse under the weight of words.
The studios were never attuned to
sounds or the beauties of language, but
now, by the strange twist of fate these
are their most vital concern. Movie
magnificos are becoming as articu-
late in type as they have been fertile
in the production of films They draw
no lines between adjectives or adverbS
or between split infinitives and prepo-
sitional phrases. They're simply talk
ing, and with such volubility that it
seems they will soon outdistance Con-
gresSmen. Such exhortationS, warn
ingS and bulls never issued from a pub
lie parliament, and the end is nowhere
in sight.
HTNHE other day." said a projection
list, "the father of twins was talk
ing with me about the talkies. He
showed great interest in the technical
end of tone projection. I couldn't un-
derstand what it was all about.
why do you want to know all this,
asked him.
"'Oh.' he said, I'm going to invent
some way of synchronizing the. yells of
my babies"
While the projectionist feels honest
pride in his new responsibilities, he is
at the same time restricted should his
hankering for invention overcome him.
He is told that to experiment with his
new apparatus Is strictly Taboo mas
much as it can suffer no improvement
at his hands Already leading engineers
have lent the weight of their intelli-
gence to solution of "talkie" prob
lens. The operator is told that eight
ming may strike tree, but for every
one struck millions remain. The chances
of an experiment by you working i'm
provement in your apparatus are about
in the same proportion"
But the projectionist, who for a time
twas scared stiff at the wires, gadgets
and imposing looking panel board" will
undoubtedly bring to light good many
Improvements that will be adopted gen.
orally.
A new billion-dollar industry shows
itself on the American scene. Almost
with Aladdin-like magic tremendous
buildings are springing up in all parts
of the land. A $1O,000,000 studio is
commonplace. All the energy, enter
prise and intrepidity that character
lie the Nation are being thrown pell-
nell into the production and perfec-
ton of audiovision.
The man on the streets knows little
of the magnitude of this development.
Even some within the industry are at
sea. For when the movie entente
adopts course Of action it never &C
quaints the people or exhibitors with
reasons. There are privy councils and
mits himself on an issue. But some
day the industry rubs its eyes to see a
gushing torrent Of gold pour out of the
eXhaustlesS treasures, and, 10! there
stands a new sea of buildings.
Just little more than two short
years ago the first Vitaphone produc-
ton was shown in New York at the
Warner Theater. There was little en-
thusiasm in the first audience. The
first audiovision speaker to appear was
Will Hays, generalissimo of celluloid.
He talked, his lips breathed words, and
the novelty of this phenomenon surely
awakened some dorment reaction. AS
leader Of the industry, Will said, it was
his signal honor to indorse audioviSion
and appear before the first audience. A
spontaneous burst Of applause greeted
him.
From then till now is a short time.
All over the land agents and statesmen
presented exhibitors with the marvels
Of this new invention. In the face of
violent opposition audiovision was far
from being popular. Most exhibitors
argued that it was merely novel, and
when the public tired of novelty the
talkies would be thrown out of thea
tiers. Indeed, 20 years ago the idea was
attempted and met with miserable fail
ure. History repeats itself-but not in
the movies.
out on the movie lots, back Of the
~ spiked fences and hard-faced
guards, one finds the real tragedy of
the talkieS. The old stars are slipping
and gathering more and more nornen-
tum in their slide to oblivion. And all
over the land in other backwards, in
alleys, in schools In stables and cradles,
a new generation of audiovision mines
is rising from city streets and country
roads to new peaks of eminence.
The public has, for the time being
at least, stamped its approval on audi
DIVISION. And what the public wants it
gets. Ergo. do not be surprised to
learn that studio employees are feeling
this demand so forcibly that their
nerves are stretched almost to the point
OF breaking. The strain fastened by
the public on the movie industry is
appalling. From the lowest to the
highest there Is fear of new develop
ments of some fresh whim of those
whose hunger for entertainment must
be appeaSed. This time the public has
the whip in hand, and is beating the
industry into such pulp that when 1t
rises out OF the mulch it will have some
new form and novel purpose. And no
one can predict what turn of affairs
will come about.
Because the industry fears the public
and sees the possible end Of fat con-
tracts, all nanifestoS issued on the
lance point of public opinion are needed.
The good old days are gone-the
days when a star came out on the lot
some time near noon and the directors
shot couple OF scenes. Audiovision
recording means the employment of
new armieS-armieS of electricians,
acousticians, musicians. rhetoricians
and writers gifted in the composition
OF effective dialogues. A pause in ac-
ton means vast sum of money All
the cid camaraderie is disappearing.
Men wear strained faces and they walk
silently because sounds will disturb the
recording of talkies.
But If the nerves of employees are
strained, how about the big, silent men
who hide behind mahogany? These
fellows have bloodshot eyes from
sleepless nights and heated confer
ences. Long used to signing six-figure
contracts without batting an eye, the
magnificoes have goose flesh as they
see costs skyrocket to new heights.
Even for them there Is little protection
these days. Tomorrow some fool in
ventor. working in an attic, may re-
ceive patents on an entirely new device
that will record sound and color stimuli
taneously. making necessary new equip
ment, new buildings. new technicians
and new contracts The producer, un-
like the talkies, can't speak for him
self.
Even Lloyds fear to take a chance
on the fortunes Of movie magnate.
The risk is high. What will come out
N.l.- l.