Exhibitors Herald (Sep-Dec 1918)

aN^DWNWFILM NEWS Toronto Ministers Join Exhibitors to Fight New Theatre Preachers and exhibitors of Toronto have been showing a united hand in protesting against the granting of a license for a proposed new moving picture theatre on Danforth Avenue, near Broadview Avenue, in close proximity to a new viaduct which will bring considerable traffic into the locality. Clergymen and exhibitors have both appeared before O. Elliott, Inspector of Moving Pictures for Ontario, to ask the Ontario Government not to grant a license for the theatre, which will have a seating capacity of about 1,500, according to the plans submitted. The preachers thought that the Danforth district was well supplied with theatres at present and the Moving Picture Exhibitors' Protective Association of Ontario, Inc., objected for the same reason and because it was felt that the time is opportune to oppose the construction of any more exchange-controlled houses. Executive officers and members of the M. P. E. P. A. turned out in goodly numbers to present the association's stand in the matter. It was pointed out that the Government should protect the interests which it licenses and that the Provincial Treasurer, the Hon. T. W. McGarry, should consult the exhibitors' association as a body when application is made by anyone to start a brand new house. Four Theatres Seat 1,990 Figures were produced to show that the seating capacit" of four theatres in the district affected totaled 1,990. The new house would seat 1,500. It was also shown, by producing the balance sheet of one of the small theatres, that a $45,000 investment had shown a profit of less than three per cent during the past year. The $45,000 property represented the life savings and sole property of an exhibitor who felt that he would be ruined by the advent of the. new house. Inspector Elliott declared that it was not the intention of the Government to hold up the granting of the license for a lengthy . discussion of views because the applicants wanted to erect the building before winter, if possible. The clergymen promised petitions of protest if they were wanted, however, while the exhibitors rushed to secure more data to fight the project. It was pointed out that the United States Government had declared the moving picture business to be essential, but had ordered that no more new theatres be erected until the end of the war. Unique Lobby Display Manager Oral Cloakey of the Allen Theatre, Calgary, Alberta, sprung something unusual upon Calgary theatre patrons bv arranging a special lobby display for Marguerite Clark's Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was the recent attraction at his theatre. The front of the theatre was camouflaged as a cotton plantation and to secure the desired effect Cloakey borrowed the properties of a negro minstrel show which was stranded in Calgary several years ago. The completeness of the display aroused considerable comment and the local papers devoted considerable space to the stunt. Montreal Theatres Increase Admissions Joe Brandt Pays Visit To Toronto U Exchange Joe Brandt of New York City, one of the big Universal executives, visited the Canadian headquarters of the Universal company in Toronto, on Tuesday, September 10, to make an inspection. Announcement has been made that two prominent film men of Toronto had joined the sales force of the Canadian Universal. One is Ken. Hill, formerly manager of the Colonial Theatre, Toronto, and the other is Harry Law, formerly with the Metro. The latter will cover the eastern Ontario territory. The Allen Theatre, Toronto, has booked first run of the serial, "The Boy Scouts to the Rescue," to start on October 5th. This picture has received the official endorsement of Colonel Percy Sherwood of Ottawa, head of the Boy Scouts in Canada, and other Canadian officials. Loew's Theatre, Toronto, has booked "The Geezer of Berlin" and the Maple Leaf Theatre, Toronto, has taken second run. Manager Appleton of the Maple Leaf paid what is said to be a record price for a week's run of a comedy in Canada in order to secure second showing of the picture in Toronto. Arrangements are being made for the presentation of "Crashing Through to Berlin" in Massey Hall, Toronto, the large auditorium of the Ontario capital. anilltiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiimiiiiiimui miiiiimiimimiiiii iiiiiim Producers Over -Do Child Cruelty Scenes J. J. Kelso of Toronto, superin I tendent of the Department of Neg I lected Children, has made an un { usual protest to the Canadian au | thorities at Ottawa regarding I moving pictures. He claims that I moving picture producers are over | doing the depiction of child cruelty. | In such cases, he says, the audience | is quick to show its pity and hor | ror, but he would prefer to see the | pictures showing the good care | that is being taken of foster-chil I dren in many homes. Many foster-children, Mr. Kelso I points out, have been given uni I versity educations and a consider | able number have risen to prom | inent positions in life. Evil is | always so much more in evidence I than good, he declares. He urges | the producers to show something | that is being done in child protec | tion work. Here, apparently, is a cue for | the producers. No less than nine of Montreal's prominent moving picture theatres raised their admission prices on Sunday, September 15, following the holding of a series of conferences among the various managers. The theatres affected include the New Grand, Tivoli, Strand, Regent, Holman, Fairyland, Canada, Dominion and Connaught Theatres. The general admission price has been raised from 20c to 25c, but the new price will include war tax so that the real difference will be three cents. Manager Conover of the Imperial Theatre refused to co-operate with the other exhibitors in the matter, while Manager Mills of Loew's Theatre decided not to follow suit for the present. The several taxes and the general increase in operating costs were given as the reasons for the advance. The Montreal theatres of which there are sixty-four, are required to pay 85c per seat per year to the city and 50c per seat per year to the Province of Quebec, in addition to the 15c per reel per day tax, import duties, business assessments, property taxes, etc., in addition to ordinary expenses. Soldiers in Camp See "Hearts of the World" The Canadian soldiers at Niagara Camp, Ontario, were given a special treat on September 11, 12 and 13 when "Hearts of the World" was presented in its entirety and with special music in the large Y. M. C. A. tent free of charge. Extra operators, extra mechanical equipment including a projecting machine and extra music were provided by Jule and J. J. Allen, who control the Griffith picture in Canada and the feature was given a super-presentation on the three nights. The third night was reserved for the officers of the district and their friends. The Aliens made arangements for the big show with E. Elliott of the Military Y. M. C. A. Arrangements have been made for the first showing in Ontario of the English film success. "The Better 'Ole," an adaptation from Captain Bruce Bairnsfather's cartoon. Incidentally the first presentation will be at the Whitby Military Hospital and the audience will be convalescent soldiers. The Aliens have been providing many films for special presentations for soldiers throughout Canada. Remodeling the "Avenue" Although only one year old, the Avenue Theatre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, is being remodeled. The front has been torn out and a confectionery story is being made into a rest room for patrons. The furnishings of this room will be quite elaborate, it is promised by Manager George Graham, who also announces that the future policy of the theatre will be to change programs twice weekly instead of three times each week. Special illuminating effects will be obtained on the new front. 39 47C059 A