Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

EXHIBITORS HERALD exchange. So informs Manager Ben Beadell. B'gosh, we never knew he left. It takes a regular to come back, Abe, old top. One of the saddest happenings ever pulled in local film affairs was put over last week by the dapper and snappy youngster, Eddie Silverman, assistant to Ben Beadell. It seems Eddie had a pair of ducats for Al Jolson's show and prevailed upon Al Gallas, the suave and past master of the art of selling, to accompany him if Gallas would foot the bill for "chow." So off the two Select representatives hied themselves to the Blackstone. Just a moment of mathematical research and the cause for tears is solved, with Al the goat. C. C. O'TeoLE, brother to Jack, paid a wee visit while en route from the potato ranch of Iowa to the show environment of the Northwest. Can't figger it, with potatoes going over at a dime apiece for small ones and circus seats coming at two-bits per, how C. C. expects to pay any surtax on his forthcoming income schedule. S. R. Moses, erstwhile representative of the local Hallmark exchange, is to call on the local exhibitors starting February 16 under the Metro banner. "Dad" Moses should prove a valuable acquisition to Manager Jack Grauman's local sales force. Will "Jake" Cooper please return that empty bottle to Salkin & West, of the Bee Hive exchange? It seems one of their favorite customers has been suddenly stricken with a severe attack of croup. C'mon, Jake, be a good fellar. Another athletic find has been unearthed and 'tis said no man lives who can trim him on that bowling stuff. We refer to the film fraternity, so get busy, you experts, and get in touch with young Francis Nardi, of the Unity Photoplays Company. All challenges to be sent to "Dude" Murtagh. A huckleberry pie contest was held at the Blanche theatre the night of February 10 and L. A. Schiff, salesman for the Unity Photoplays Company, was appointed referee. If Schiff hadn't previously dined at one of Thompson's well known grills before arriving at the Blanche, the management would most likely have been compelled to award him the prize. I. L. Lesserman, general manager of the Universal exchange, claims you do not have to go as far as Wood River to get a film surprise. Just hop a taxi and drive out to Niles Center. It can easily be identified. Located northwest from the Loop, Niles Center has four houses, a blacksmith shop, two cafes (being speedily transformed into drug stores) and the Opera House, owned and managed by H. Meyers, with a seating capacity of 500. We give it up — where do they come from? Henri Ellman, of the Bee Hive exchange, slipped out of the city last week to hibernate about Los Angeles for a week's visit. Looks like Henri ought to bring back a Pullman car load of those cutey bathing seals that hang about the Sunshine and Sennett studios for the forthcoming ball to be held at the Coliseum annex the night of February 27. How about it, boys ; got those tickets yet? Frank Hammond, member of the O. C. Hammond Amusement Company, has been absent from that busy chain of south side film theatres since January 20. He is busily engaged in stepping about old Los Angeles and, judging by the infrequency of his letters to Brother John, the lure of the studios must have got to him. Jack O'Toole, manager of the United Picture Theatres exchange, is working overtime due to the fact that five of his employes are down with influenza, but says exhibitors should not worry, as their shows will reach them on time. "The Corsican Brothers," featuring Dustin Farnum, will have its premier at the Rose theatre the week of February 22, and a re-issue of William S. Hart's "Between Men" will be shown at the Castle. Memories of the Golden Gate and Market Street and the good fellows out 'Frisco way were vividly recalled when the writer espied L. Richter in the Realart exchange, Chicago, where Mr. Richter will make his headquarters, we hope, for some time. While we have no Luchctti's or Tait's in the Loop, L. R. thinks he can worry along by occasional visits to Terrace Gardens. S. Rowley, who handles the city territory for Realart. reports wonderful success in booking "Soldiers of Fortune." The entire city is practically booked solid on the first-run accounts. This feature will have its premiere at the Rose theatre this week and the L. & T, Wells and Schoenstadt circuits will also play the picture. D. H. Bestor, manager of the Court theatre, Kankakee, 111., was a visitor in Chicago last week. Coming attractions to the Court are "Soldiers of Fortune," "Mystery of the Yellow Room" and "Eyes of Youth." Manager Bestor reports there has been no influenza in his city and that business is great. Mrs. E. Huerner is building a new theatre at Pekin, III., to cost $10,000, with a seating capacity of 400. It will be named the Empire. Clyde Elliott and Floyd Bkockell were seen gliding eastward with the pasteboards calling for put off at little ol' New Yawk. Will be gone for a spell, and s'pose the Loop will shortly get oodles of big news from the Greater Stars Production, Inc., when the boys return. Ralph Cropper breezed into town from Elgin last Thursday, signed up for "The Tale of Two Cities," "Les Miscrables" and "The Honor System" and smilingly wended his way homeward. Ralph says he expects to "clean up" on the Fox pics. Da niel Roche, local exploitation man and publicist for Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, proudly announces that the name of his new daughter is "Ann" and anyone who wants to know "How old is Ann" can find out by calling Wabash 7616. That must have been some party Ben Beadell staged on February 7. Reports of it still keep drifting in. Several important discoveries were made during the evening, it seems. One was that Paul Bush, manager of the Republic exchange, is some piano player; Al Gallas put on a dancing number that would net him $15 a week on any vaudeville circuit, and Eddie Silverman, besides being a shrewd film salesman, can handle the pasteboards in a manner that brought tears to the eyes of those present. Everyone stuck to the finish — 5 :30 a. m. — though, even Julius Alcock, Lee 110 Woodyatt, Percy Han, L. R. Nelson, Barbour, Art Schwartz, Louis Schutt an Joe Zilligan. Harry Rice is back and last Sunda spent the day at home limbering up hi right arm, which got stiff from shaUn hands with those welcoming him horn again. Jack Schwartz, former road reprcsenta tive for the Mickey Film Corporation, be ginning February 16 will shove off for th local First National exchange, carryin; their money makers to the downstat exhibitors. W. C. Cook, affiliated with the New Yorl office of Fitzpatrick & McElroy enterprise* is spending a few days in the city, and hi many Chi friends almost shook the old righ wing off the lad they were so glad to renev old days. S. Decker, representative for the loca Universal exchange, is in the market fo a trade on anti-skid protection for the ol< flat wheel travelers. It seems the othe day while trying to make the Consumer building he was closely pursued by Chid Sedell, who accidentally stepped on thi anti-skids and would have had Brother Decker running along State street in hi bare feet but for the fact he wore sox Anxious to trade for a pair about size 1! in exchange for size 14, series A. Another member has been added to th« automobile division of local film celebritie; in the recent purchase of a seven-passenge: Nash by I. Maynard Schwartz of th« First National exchange. M. J. Weil had the entrance to his Castk looking like a New England apple orchard all last week, advertising "Pollyanna." Anc with the thermometer registering 7 belo' zero it took some imagination to recall warm summer days. K. L. (Billy) Eagon, who made a record for himself with "Eyes of the World" during 1919, is cleaning up in Indiana with Realart's "Soldiers of Fortune" and "Mystery of the Yellow Room." Eagon wouldn't mind hearing from his friends at home, 1007 East Forty-first Place, Chicago. Jack Mallace, the young gent who used to juggle film cans in the shipping room' m of Celebrated Players Film Corp., over on: \* Wabash avenue, has went and gone back to the United Artists, as broker. Not the' Chicago exchange, ah no, Jack has departed these hereabouts and has become a naturalized citizen of Detroit. You know, the center of the great canning industry. GUARANTEED Mailing Lists MOVING PICTURE THEATRES Every State— total, 25,300; by States, $4.00 Per M 1070 Film Exchanges J7.50 313 mtanufacturera and studios 4.00 368 machine and supply dealers 4.00 Further Particulars: A. F.WILLI AMIS, 188 W. Adams St, Chi cap n ad > ft Ira