“Silent Pictures are Doomed,” Says Australian in Hollywood

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 508, 10 November 1928, Page 25

“Silent Pictures are Doomed,” Says Australian in Hollywood

THEY can say what they lik I make that assertion wii new sound and talking films. This was how Mr. W. Picker- [ ing, J.P., an Australian visitor to I Hollywood, summed up the re- ; suits of a careful inquiry into the newest phase of the cinema industry. Mr. Pickering, who returned from America by the Aorangi, is financially interested in pictures from an exhibitor’s standpoint. After a tour of Ithe world he reached Hollywood, where he visited many of the big

re—silent pictures are doomed, itli confidence after seeing the They are marvellous.” [ will be one of the most successful | talking picture stars. He had an excellent speaking voice, and his deliv- { ery was beautiful. As his father was ; a master of elocution, he began with a good advantage. May McAvoy was another star who promised to attain great popularity In •talkies.” William Collier and Louis Fazenda also possessed excellent voices. So keen were film corporations to secure people with good speaking voices that appeals were being made for actors, both - professional and ama teur, to submit tc voice tests. It was the first time in the history of the industry that such appeals had been made. ; Among the well-known people met by Mr. Pickering was Jackie Coogan. who, with his father, is in vaudeville. It was said that he had 1,000,000 dollars in trust.