Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
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FROM THE
BY c. E. NELSON.

~ URING the past year many
predictions have been
made regarding the future
of the motion picture III
dustry. For instance, it Mas been
said that the talking pictures are
to be the big entertainment OF
the future. and that the silent
drama" will be silent for only q
short time to come. Such a state
of affairs will change the entire
BACKGROUND of the motion picture,
hut whether it comes to pass is
another thing. However, the
most interesting prediction of the
season comes from Joseph M.
Schenck, president of United
Artists. He states that the new
synchronized productions Will
sound the death knel OF the
radio in the home as a Compel
itor of motion pictures. And he
uredicts. also, that this change
will come about within the next
year,
There is no reason to fear the
radio" says Sehenck, for eye en-
tertainment has much stronger
appeal than ear entertainment.
This is a scientific fact. The eX-
hibitor of motion pictures can
beat the radio by showing great
pictures for the eye. And now
comes the sound pictures, to give
the big thrill to the ear. That Will
put the radio out for keeps as 4
competitor of the motion pic
ture."
The words of the head of Unit
ed Artists may be based upon
scientific fact. as he states, but
the motion picture is not going TO
displace the radio. The two are
radically different forms OF en-
tertainment: the radio in the
home is an established feature;
its manufacturers and boosters
have progressed wonderfully; the
quality of radio entertainment
has not gone backward. The radio
has. to a certain extent, disturbed
the dreams of the motion picture
producers and eXhibitors-but the
sound movies will not result in
the Scrauping of millions OF dol
lars worth of radio apparatus
and cause the radio hstenerS-ln
to form long lines at the theater
box Offices.
Mr.. Schenck, at the same time
he made the above announce
ment. commented upon the fact
that Charlie Chaplin is consider
ing the movietone for use with his
next picture, which has been
titled. "City Lights" Several
other United Artists. among them
Wilma Banky, in THE Awaken
ing" and Lupe VeleZ, in The
Love Melody" will use movietone
scores. It is also proposed. IN
these two pictures, to introduce
several new songs written by
Irwin Berlin.
Will Hays, president of the Mo
ton Picture Producers and Dis
tributors, states that he considers
the sound pictures very important
and that they viii become I'M
mensely popular. However, he
ventures the opinion that the
silent type of film entertainment
will always draw enthusiastic
audiences. He says that the re-
cent inventions mean two differ
ent audiences, and that in many
cities certain theaterS will show
the sound pictures. while others
win retain the ''Shent drama. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Hayes: "I'tle silent
picture is not in any danger OF
extinction. but 1t VIII stimulate a
fresh interest in the entire In
duStry."
THE new revenue act becomes
u effective June q. when thea
ter tickets sold at the box ONCE
for s. or less become exempt from
the 10 per cent admission tax.
Tickets sold for more than s. are
subject 70 tax. At the present
time two Washington theaters are
Immediately affected by the new
law, the stock companies being
allowed to discontinue the tax.
Just what effect the new adj
mission tax exemption viii have
on the price of theater tickets
has not yet developed, but some
New York producers have already
announced that they win scale
their dramatic attractions at s.
for the top price. It is not known
whether other producers viii fol-
low this example.
THE Exhibitors Herald and
Moving Picture World, a trade
Journal Of the motion picture In
dustry, brings out an idea which
may have considerable merit.
Mention is made of the various
news reels Of today, Of the seri-
GUS competition and great expense
and the duplication Of effort, and
q suggestion is made that one big
organizatior-an Associated Press
OF the motion picture world -
gather the shots Of the news
reels, forward them TO the dis
tributing agencies, and thereby
do away with considerable duph-