Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1917 - Jun 1918)

X H B R H R D Terre Haute, Ind. — Indications are that the new Terre Haute Theatre will open its doors to the public on May 1. Despite many obstacles, F. H. Gruneberg, Jr., son of the president of the company, believes that the opening will not have to be delayed. Red Granite, Wis. — August Berkholtz, through a deal with the Eagle Theatre Corporation has come into possession of the Eagle Theatre here. Rochelle, 111.— The Rochelle Theatre Company has been granted a charter to operate a motion picture theatre here. The capital stock is $2,000, held by John A. Lisy, Diehl Mehrs, John M. Dales and Marie Marshman. Utica, N. Y. — Menger & Ring of New York have been awarded the contract by the Majestic Theatre here for the construction of a new front at the theatre and for improvements in the lobby. The plans include a new mosaic floor. Buffalo, N. Y. — The Olympic Theatre Operating Company has been capitalized here at $75,000 by Morris Slotkin, Hobart L. Himes and Matthew W. Weimar. Harrisburg, Pa. — Promulgation by the state industrial board of the new code of rules for operation by moving picture machines using inflammable films has caused a rush for licenses. The code provides that no operator can be less than eighteen years old, and that he must have a license from a local board or bureau created by law or ordinance to issue licenses for the particular town in which he resides or else has made application to the department of labor and industry and has been licensed after an examination. Monticello, 111. — E. A. Thorpe has taken possession of the Princess Theatre, recently purchased from C. W. Joehrendt and opened a week ago with a free performance. San Jose, Cal. — Grading has been commenced for the new Hippodrome Theatre here, which will be erected at an estimated cost of $175,000. It will seat 1,800 persons and is owned by a syndicate headed by T. S. Montgomery. The new playhouse is being built on the site of the first capital of California and a commemoration tablet will be placed in the lobby of the theatre recalling this fact. Washington, D. C. — Marian Frances Moore has been engaged by the First National Exhibitors' Circuit to act as private secretary and office manager for Walter R. Liebmann, Washington manager. Ben Abrams has also joined the First National Washington office. Albany, N. Y. — At a recent meeting of the New York State Conference of Mayors held here it was decided by that body to favor the proposed bill which will be introduced in the legislature for the purpose of legalizing motion picture shows on Sunday. Anderson, S. C. — The Bijou Motion Picture Theatre here will be completely remodeled arid redecorated at a cost of about $5,000. Hopewell, Va. — The Hopewell Lodge, L. O. O. M., plans the erection of a theatre, hotel and lodge building. Cleveland, 'Ohio — Andrew Dobos and others have leased for ten years from Mary E. Cowan, her motion picture theatre in Wade Park avenue, N. E., at a monthly rental of $140. An option for five years more at the same rent was granted. Ft. Worth, Tex.— The Liberty Theatre, now under construction, will be completed earl yin April, it is announced by Captain Horton of the engineers' corps. El Paso, Tex. — The Mundy building here will be demolished to make way for a new modern motion picture theatre to be known as the "Ellanay" Theatre. Work will be begun on the new structure as soon as the old building is razed. Geneva, Ohio — Jennie M. Gregory of this city has agreed to erect for the Manheim-Wolcott Amusement Company of Cleveland, a motion picture theatre in Geneva, said to be the only one between Painesville and Ashtabula. The Clevelanders have taken a lease on this property for ten years at a rental of $1,500 a year. Pueblo, Colo. — Pueblo's new Rialto Theatre opened recently to a capacity audience, which was warm in its praise of the playhouse. It seats 1,200 and is thoroughly modern. A Paralta picture, "A Man's Man," featuring J. Warren Kerrigan, furnished the opening bill. Fowler, Ind. — O. W. Kappelman has resigned his position as manager of the Regent Theatre here and has joined the sales force of the Goldwyn Film Corporation. Educational Films Co. Distributes Cartoons Announcement comes from the Educational Films Corporation of America through its general manager, E. W. Hammons, that it has acquired the sole distributing rights to the famous Happy Hooligan and Katzenjammer Kids cartoons produced by the International Films Company. The publicity given these laughable drawings by the Hearst newspapers, combined with the advertising planned for them by the Educational Films Corporation assures the exhibitor a degree of assistance never given before to comedy cartoons. The first film is scheduled for April 15. They will be issued weekly thereafter. Dan Whitcomb Returns To American Film Co. Dan F. Whitcomb, the writer of many successful stories for the silent drama, among them "The Bride's Silence" and "A Game of Wits," in which Gail Kane scored, has returned to Santa Barbara, Cal. He is writing a mystery story for one of the American Film stars, it is said. 38 Film Official to Face Prosecution For Misleading Ads. Police officials of New Orleans have been asked to arrest Louis B. Jennings, president of the Standard Films Industries, Inc., which formerly occupied offices at 69 West Ninetieth street, New York City. He is sought by District Attorney Swann. According to Assistant Prosecutor Brogan, in charge of investigations of so-called wildcat promotions, Jennings will face a charge of having issued misleading advertising regarding the securities of his corporation. The act constitutes a felony. The arrest was ordered after Mr. Brogan had witnessed a special production of a film which was used for the purpose of boosting the stock sales of the Standard Films Industries, advertised in its prospectus as a "Leviathan of Modern Industry." Shoots up a Town On a Motorcycle In 4 'Hoops of Steel" A new way for a cowboy to arrive and shoot up a town is shown in Henry B. Walthall's forthcoming Paralta Play, 'With Hoops of Steel," which has just been finished under the direction of Eliot Howe. The old idea of a rip-roaring entrance on pinto ponies has given way in the picture to a new form of Western "Cloudburst," said to be noisier, faster and with less regard for consequences than any mere horse-back arrival. In "With Hoops of Steel," this cowboy arrives to shoot up the town arrayed in all the picturesque costume that has endeared the cowboy to the hearts of the public, but instead of arriving on a horse, he comes on a motorcycle. The spitting, roaring motorcycle tearing down the street at full speed, the exhaust of the motor accompanied by the reports of the rider's six-shooter, is something new in pictures. In fact, when the mad rider comes into town it surprises the other cowboys fully as much as it will the audience. There is a general stampede, but curiosity gets the better of them and they return to inspect the strange, new contrivance. This is said to be one of the many unusual scenes that are promised in Henry B. Walthall's new Paralta Play. Gladys Cooper in "Masks and Faces" Gladys Cooper, the famous English stage beauty, who is one of the bright particular stars in the cast appearing in "Masks and Faces," the World Pictures production, has been selected to star in the English presentation of "The Naughty Wife," the American stage success of last year and the present season. One of the few screen appearances which Miss Cooper has ever made is her appearance in "Masks and Faces."