Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1919)

EXHIBITORS HERALD United Picture Theatres Holding Elections in Various Territories President J. A. Berst Receives Telegrams Pledging Support for Bigger and Stronger Organization— Well Known Men Directors The Winner Enthusiastic reports are coming in to the home office of the United Picture Theatres of America as regards the first meetings held for the election of local boards of trade and a director to represent each territory on the national board of directors of United. President J. A. Berst has received numerous telegrams all of which speak in complimentary terms of the manner in which his plan has been started and the whole-hearted way that exhibitors are backing up and working to make United bigger and stronger than ever. Many Meetings Are Held Up to the time of going to press, meetings had been held in Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Cincinnati and Cleveland. In the Philadelphia territory, Frank Hill of Reading was elected permanent chairman with L. J. Chamberlain of Shamokin and Harry Savage of Atlantic City as members of the local board. Tittsburg elected Charles Feinler of Wheeling, W. Va., Mr. George Panagatocos of Johnstown, C. N. McClosky of Uniontown and Mr. Michael Rosenbloom of Charleroi. At the Boston meeting W. C. Hartford of Pawtucket, R. I., owner of the Imperial Theatre and one of New England's best known film men, was elected chairman with F. A. Smith of Lynn and Victor Morris of Boston. Mr. Smith is one of the officials of the Waldorf Company, having large theatre, restaurant and realty holdings, while Mr. Morris is general manager of Loew's Orpheum and has supervision over other theatres. Honor Fred Schaefer. Fred Schaeffer of the Chrystal Theatre, Chicago, was elected at the meeting held at Morrison Hotel, Chicago, with George Hines, Auditorium Theatre of South Bend, Ind., and Fred Seegert of the Regent Theatre, Milwaukee, Wis. Cincinnati, Ohio, will have as their leader J. W. Weining of the Western Plaza Theatre, while Cleveland franchise holders elected George J. Schade of the Schade Theatre, Sandusky, Ohio. In the New York territory, the following well known exhibitors were elected: Gustav Koenigswald of Brooklyn, Louis Rosenthal, who operates theatres in Newark and Passaic; H. Gainsboro, owner of two theatres in Flushing, L. I.; Harry Hall of Troy, N. Y., and Leo Brecher of New York City. James P. Harris was elected chairman of the local board for the Pittsburg territory. Support Is Pledged From Minneapolis came the following telegram: "Meeting of Northwestern United Exhibitors held at Dyckman Hotel today. Exhibitors elected J. L. Maitland chairman of meeting and Anton Gilles secretary. Elected P. W. Myers of Minot, N. Dak., director from Minneapolis territory. Very harmonious meeting with all exhibitors extending their hearty support to you. Signed P. W. Myers, Directed Elect." Messrs. Schaeffer, Hines and Seegert Wired from Chicago that 280 franchise holders voted to extend their hearty support to United. Sam Kasse of the Empress Theatre, Akron, Ohio, acting as temporary chairman of the Cleveland meeting, wired Mr. Berst as follows: "Accept our heartiest congratulations in your earnest efforts to put United on the top. Can assure you that you have hearty co-operatio-n of every franchise holder in this territory toward the goal which you are striving to achieve. Meeting held today was wonderful success and everybody roused to a point where they can see nothing but good cheer ahead. George Schade unanimously elected director from this territory." Winner of Selznick Contest to Be Given Trial Before Camera Under the decision of the judges in the Olive Thomas beauty contest staged in Baltimore last week by Howard E. Greene, exploitation representative for Select Pictures Corporation, Washington branch. Miss Victoria R. Groom was declared the winner. The contest was conducted through the columns of the Baltimore News by Norman Clark, the dramatic editor, and managed by Mr. Greene with the help of Bernard Depkin, Jr., manager of the Parkway theatre where Miss Thomas' third Selznick picture, "The Glorious Lady," was shown. The contest attracted wide attention and Miss Groom was declared by personal acquaintances of Miss Thomas to be almost a perfect portrait "double" for the beautiful Selznick star. She was awarded the Myron Selznick trophy, a handsome silver vanity case of the newest style, suitably engraved. Miss Groom and her mother, Mrs. Clifford Groom, came up to New York immediately and the beauty contest winner was photographed with Miss Thomas at the Selznick Fort Lee studios. Miss Groom will probably be given a trial role in a forthcoming Selznick production. Lucy Cotton Is Signed By International Film Lucy Cotton, favorite of the screen and stage, who appeared for two years in the Broadway success, "Turn to the Right," and scored last year in "Up in Mabel's Room," has signed a long term contract with the International Film Company and will play leading roles in Cosmopolitan Productions, filmed after the stories of authors, the screen rights of which are owned by the Hearst publications. 59 D. S. DAVIDSOX Of the Cleveland Branch of Pox Films, who won the Mutt and Jeff loving cup. McLaughlin Production May Have Broadway Run Negotiations are under way which, if successful, will insure a Broadway showing for "The House Without Children," Robert McLaughlin's play produced by the Argus Enterprises. Inasmuch as "The Pearl of Great Price" and "The Fires of Spring," both McLaughlin plays, are in course of preparation for presentation upon the speaking stage in New York it is felt that there is an excellent chance of obtaining a theatre in which to exhibit the film production. The Gaity theatre was contracted for and two machines installed for the presentation of the picture during the recent actors' strike, but a ruling that theatres of this nature might not be used for film purposes made that opening impossible. It is stated that the present situation in legitimate circles greatly favors the acquisition of a theatre for screen purposes. "Plans of Man" Chosen As Owen Moore Vehicle "Plans of Men," by Lewis Allen Browne, has been selected as the second starring vehicle for Owen Moore upon the Selznick schedule, according to announcement issued by Myron Selznick, president of Selznick Pictures Corp. "Piccadilly Jim," P. G. Wodehouse's Saturday Evening Post story, is the first Owen Moore feature to be distributed by Select. It is scheduled for November publication. Lewis Allen Browne, author of the second Moore picture, wrote "Please Get Married," a well known stage play recently picturized by Screen Classics with Viola Dana in the leading role.