Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

Chicago Exhibitors Will Give "I. O. U'j in Lieu of Change Chicago — Because of the scarcity of pennies, which situation is becoming acute, one exhibitor has hit upon the plan of giving his personal "I. O. U." to patrons in lieu of change. The recipient under the plan, can use the paper to gain admission to the theatre or cash in. When this proposition was put up to Robert I. Hunt, in charge of the subtreasury here, he expressed the opinion that the Government would not object to anything that would facilitate business. "We received only 3.000 pennies today," he said. "We just can't get them." Law to Bar Children From Picture Shows Opposed by Citizens St. Louis — An ordinance drafted by Circuit Judge Hennings, aimed to bar I children under sixteen years of age from motion picture theatres where certain described pictures are shown, has aroused the antagonism of a number of persons here, including a clergyman. The law is soon to be considered by the city council. Rev. J. B. Cox, an Episcopal clergyman, was the most vigorous opponent of the instrument at a recent public hearing, and it was apparent that he voiced the opinion of most of the opponents present. Rev. Cox said that while he was in (favor of the elimination of improper pictures, he was against the ordinance as framed because it would suppress the i best and most instructive pictures for children under sixteen. Spokane Theatres of Chas. Stillwell Run "Open Shop' Spokane — Charles E. Stillwell. owner of four motion picture theatres here, is now operating his houses under the "open shop" rule. The theatres affected are the Casino. Class A. Rex and Unique. Mr. Stillwell took his action when he found, he says, that he had been on the "unfair" list of the unions for the past four months. "I asked to have the ban removed and notified my union help that unless it ,was I would have nothing further to do with any of the unions," he said. "It was not removed." The union heads state that Mr. Still| well's action was taken because of his desire for an "open shop." The Class A. theatre was damaged .slightly by fire jin the projecting room, following the 'lockout. The fire resulted from a machine left in bad order by union help, .the theatre owner charged. Dayton Officials in Investigation of Theatre Fire Dayton — State and city investigation is now under way of a fire which recently destroyed the New Auditorium motion picture theatre, one of the finest in Dayton, causing a loss of more than ■5150.000. Information thus far obtained by the investigating bodies discloses the fact that a youth about 19 years of age had been seen several times on the roof of the building. Only a short time before the fire the miscreant had been pursued by Gill Burrows, manager of the theatre, but escaped by jumping to an adjoining roof. Preparations for building a new theatre are already under way. Trustees of the Leopold Rauh estate, owners of the building, have already held consultations with their architects and have ordered plans drawn for a theatre to cost approximately $200,000. It is expected that the new theatre will be completed and opened by April 1, next. forced to flee to the street. A slight detonation in the projection booth was followed by a volume of smoke which filled the theatre. Xone of the patrons was injured. Firemen extinguished the flames with chemicals. Exploding Film Routs Picture House Patrons New Orleans — An exploding film at the Newcomb Theatre, a motion picture house, recently, caused considerable excitement among patrons who were New Chicago Theatre to Be Built Around Present Structure The building of a new theatre around the old with a loss of less than a month's time in the blending of the two into a modern l,S00-seat motion picture house is the novel teat of construction which will soon be undertaken by E. D. Miller and L. A. Forbes, owners of the Plaisance Theatre, 461 Xorth Parkside avenue, Austin. Plans have already been drawn by an architect for the new building and contractors have pronounced the idea of these two progressive exhibitors as feasible. While the walls of the new structure are rising outside the old building the business of the theatre will be conducted as usual, and it is only when the blending point is reached that business will be suspended. Miller & Forbes have run the Plaisance for three years and for some time the need for a larger theatre has been imperative. The young men plan a trip to the East in the near future to obtain ideas on decoration and general equipment for their new show house. A FILM PALACE OF THE WEST THE P\HCE THEATER, LITTLE ROCK, ARK., ONE OF THE DISTINCTIVE TYPES OF MODERN PHOTOPLAY THEATERS WHICH ARE SUPPLANTING OLD THEATER • BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE WEST AND WEST 35