Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-09

lions of dollars
- were invested in
the silent studios. and that big
changes would not be made for
wears to come. Those who were
looking toward the future went sc
far as to predict that the syn
cfronized picture might be i'm
portant in the years ahead. but
that the change would be grad
ual: that there would be no jump
to change methods of production;
that any one who went in for the
talking picture game" was vast
ing money. The Warner Brothers
were really the pioneers of their
field. Perhaps they were no more
far visioned than their competi-
tors. but they tapped a mine
which poured out the box Office
geld.
The other producers were not
slow to see the popularity of the
new form of entertainment, but
for the first few months they
issued statements to the effect
that the talking picture was fad
of the moment: that they did not
, intend to be Stampeded, and that
they would stick to the silent pic
lures. However, when such pro-
auctions as The Jazz Singer
came along there was nothing
left for the other producers to do
, cut announce that they we're turn
ing over their studios to the
talkies. Since that time, only a
short while ago, practically all the
producing studios in the country
have been changed. Millions have
been spent in new equipment, and
the talkies have the field.
But the greatest changes have
taken place around Hollywood
Players at first ridiculed the
voice tests" Many of the stars
considered that they we're estab-
lished with their public and that
the talkies would make little diff
ference in their work. They soon
found themselves in error. Hurry
calls were sent out for stage stars,
and these men and women. flock
ing to the West Coast by fast
trains, began to take the places Of
the stars of the silent pictures.
This opened the eyes of the screen
stars, and since that time many
of them have been turned into
splendid talkie players. others
have been sliding down the very
smooth and very steep chute to
the land of never come back.
The fact that the new talkieS
lend themselves especially we'll to
musical scores has resulted in
musicians fiocking to the West
Coast. Bands. orchestras and in
dividual artists are finding work
with the recording machines.
Paul Whiteman and his troupe of
trained Jazz artists are now en-
route to Hollywood. where they
will be the featured players in a
musical picture. Waring and his
well known PennSylvanianS have
already appeared in "Syncopa-
ton" And nearly all of the stars
of the stage have been zap
preached" by the picture mag
mates. contracts following in the
next mail. so that Hollywood now
resem bles Forty-second and
Broadway in the good old days.
Everything is upside down.
There is much speculation as to
where it will all lead to, and even
those who are most enthusiastic
about the new talkieS are unable
to cast their glances beyond a
month ahead. The great rush in
production shows it's effect on
some of the Synchronized pictures,
but when things settle down
bigger and finer productions will
result. The courtroom scenes, the
! backstage dramas and the crook
stories will give way to really new
ideas. We are Just sitting back
and waiting patiently fer that day
to arrive.
B COLLEEN MOORE, whose con-
tract with First National eX-
pires upon the completion of her
next picture, plans long vaca-
ton before signing with another
company. Of course, she will be
accompanied on her European
trip by her husband, John Nc
Cornlick.
CON WITH THE SHOW" with
dialogue and music, is also
planned to startle the cash Gus
toners in another way. Not only
is the picture
anot her on
slaught on the Color
"legit," but it
offers something Comes
really new in
the motion pic into It's
/ ture line. It is A.
all in color-a O"h'
natural color
which its Spon-
sors claim is neither blurred mol
Smeared. This is an interesting
experiment in the motion picture
art, for it has long been con-
/ Sidered that colcr would not be
/ practical in motion pictures. ex-
Cept in the tableaux. The reason
! given was that the mingling Of
colors would give an inartistic eff.
! feet: that the shades would CLASH
as the moving figures were brought
49, IL