*SYNCOPATION (1929) RKO's 1st Released Film and 13 similar items

Vintage original 16 x 22 in. US pressbook from the early sound musical comedy/drama romance, SYNCOPATION, released in 1929 by Radio Pictures and directed by Bert Glennon. Based upon the novel, Stepping High, by Gene Markey, Benny (Bobby Watson) and Flo (Barbara Bennett) are a husband-and-wife dance team, traveling around the country as part of a revue, which gets picked-up and taken to New York City to be on Broadway. However, it quickly folds, and the two are forced to look for other employment. They eventually find work in a nightclub and become famous. While performing at the nightclub, Flo becomes entranced by a young, sophisticated millionaire playboy, Alexander Winston (Ian Hunter). Swayed by his sweet words, Flo leaves Benny and finds another dancing partner, who she pairs with in another revue, this one financed by Winston. However, her new act is a flop, and when Winston offers to take her to Europe but is unwilling to marry her, she realizes the mistake she's made. She repents and returns to Benny, who takes her back and re-establishes their act, going back on the road. This oversized 16 x 22 in. US pressbook was printed on a newspaper-like stock and consists of 12 pages with photographic illustrations throughout. The center two-page spread depicts all of the movie posters, lobby cards, and other promotional items created to advertise the film. It is complete but pages 3/4 have half of the page missing (see listing photos). It is in overall fine- condition and has one horizontal and one vertical fold. There is some separation along the spine and at the center of the outer edge of each page; a clear piece of Scotch tape along the top half of the vertical fold on the front cover; a small chip on the bottom right corner of the front cover; and a small area of creasing on the center of the bottom edge of each page. Syncopation is a 1929 American musical film directed by Bert Glennon and starring Barbara Bennett, Bobby Watson, and Ian Hunter, although top billing went to Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians. Shot in New York City, it was originally slated to be titled Stepping High. This was the second film produced by RKO Radio Pictures, but the first released by the studio, as the company's first produced film, Street Girl, was not released until August 1929. The film was heavily marketed on its release, being the first film to be broadcast over the radio, as well as being RKO's first sound musical, and was a significant success. It was the first film made in the RCA Photophone sound-on-film process and was an important test for Radio Corporation of America, which had invested heavily in the newly-created RKO. Released as a "Radio Picture" during the period when FBO was transforming into Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO). When the film opened at the New York Hippodrome, it had a run of two weeks, during which time it broke the records for that theater for a film. A sizable hit, this was the first commercial test of RCA's Photophone sound system, which was the reason for RCA's hefty financial interest in RKO. The first "official" RKO production would be their next release, Street Girl (1929). Syncopation marked the film debuts for actresses Veree Teasdele, Dorothy Lee, Mackenzie Ward and radio star Morton Downey. Barbara Bennett married Morton Downey in 1929 and Gene Markey married Joan Bennett in 1932, becoming Barbara Bennet's brother-in-law. Fred Waring established an archive for his recordings, films, and other items in the library at his alma mater, Penn State. One of two known 35mm prints exists in a Russian Archive.