Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-21

~ NE of the very big problems
of the motion picture in
n duStry at the present time
/. ~ is the small theater. What
is to become of the neighborhood
house? What is to become OF the
'eclall theater in the small town?
For time these questions did not
worry the producers to large eX-
tent. They were too busy merg-
ing, converting their studios and
buying up the palaces in the large
cities. Now, when matters have
settled somewhat, and one may
look over the battlefield, he sees
thousands of small theaters clos
ing their doors and cutting OF
quite a portion of the profit of the
manufacturers and distributors.
The principal reason for the
closing of the small theaterS, 1t Is
alleged, has to do with the enor-
nous rentals being charged for
the new sound pictures. Neigh
borhood houses, many of them
unable to give more than two or
three shows day, cannot pay the
large rentals, together with the
other expenses of conducting 4
first-class theater. Also, the small
theater owner must pay score
charge. There Is talk, at the pres
ent time, of combining the rental
and score charges, then lowering
both, in order that the theater
owner may make both ends meet,
In the past much Of the velvet
from a picture came from the
everlasting ShoWingS OF a picture
in the small theaters. A produc-
ton was only good for certain
length of time in the large city
houses, but in the provinces it
might go on forever. seemingly.
There is talk of the producers,
distributors and exhibitors getting
together ard revising the rental
and score charges. Also, mention
is made of charging a percentage
for the use of pictures. This would
be fair to the small theater owner.
However, the distributors seem to
prefer a guarantee as well as a
split of the box office cash.
! OF course, the motion picture
patron is not greatly interested In
the business end OF the moves.
All he cares about is seeing a good
picture, But, really. the fate OF the
neighborhood house has a bigger
meaning. The small theater is an
institution which has become very
popular during the past few years.
1t should not be neglected and al
lowed to pass out. for it Is quite
close to the home itself-a part o.
the neighborhood life.
WHILE he was the owner OF the
NV largest chain of motion pic
ture theaters in the District OF
Columbia, Harry M. Crandall es-.
tablished the first department. OF
public service and education IN
the motion picture industry. This
was placed under the direction OF
Mrs. Harriet Hawley Locher, and
it was developed until it became
an important factor in Washing
tons community life. We note
with regret that this work has
been discontinued by the Warner
Brothers organization. which has
absorbed the Stanley Co. Of Amer
,ica. the latter organization having
taken over the Crandall theaterS
some time ago. =,
When the Stanleys succeeded
Mr.. Crandall the department OF
public service and education was
enlarged. There was a continual
ton of the city's Americanlzatlon
School, carried on in the Crandall
neishborhood houses, and the
Saturday morning selected pro
grams for children. Mrs. Locher's
work was extended to PennSyl-
:vania, Delaware and New Jersey
Study groups were organized with
the club women of washington,
and the work attracted attention
all over the United States.
The elimination Of this feature
is a loss to the city, but it has
been given such firm foundation
that it will probably be carried on
in other sections of the country.
NEWS dispatches to the effect
that Adolphe Meniou, the de-
.bonair attraction OF the society
dramas, was out OF a JOB ana
walking the streets in an effort TO
find some way to fight the pro-
verbal wolf from his door, seem a
bit exaggerated, at least. Adolphe,
Just before he sailed for Europe,
signed a contract with the Ameri-
can Sound Studios for production
of the stars next picture.
THE picture is good one, but 1t
= = might have been better. The
a., -
be, and she wears Paris gowns IN
a really delightful manner, SO
much for "Evangeline" and Do
.lores del Rio. AS to the theme
song, the writer OF this column
stated many months ago that poor
Judgment was used in selecting Al
:Jolson for that particular work.
Edwin Carewe came right back
with a personal letter to the ef-
feet that we would be agreeably
SURPRISED with the splendid song
Jolson had written. Now, we are
reaching away around and patting
ourselves gently on the back, al
though we would have desired to
be surprised"
THE advent of the sound pic
l. lures has created number of
new jobs around the Hollywood
studios. Among these are the
mixer" the "echo-chaser" and
the paper moistener." The mix
'er" Is really the most important
of the technical experts con-
cerned with talking films. He
sits, during all dialogue pictures,
with earphones on his head, regu-