Exhibitors Herald (Mar-Apr 1924)

March 29, 1924 EXHIBITORS HERALD 83 MIDDLE WEST EVENTS PLAN TO ENFORCE RESTRICTIONS ON THEATRE SLIDES Political Slides to Be Checked Up by M. P. T. O. A. (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY. MO., Mar. 18— At a meeting of the Kansas Citv Division of the M. P. T. O. A. in Kansas City, Wednesday, at the organization's headquarters, it was decided to place a restriction upon the use of political slides in theatres of the association. Before a candidate for office can enter into contract for the showing of a slide he first must fill out a questionnaire, to be supplied by the exhibitor and printed by the organization. "We believe such action is nothing more than fair," A. M. Eisner, president, said. "If a candidate favors legislation which is detrimental to the motion picture industry, or opposes just and fair legislation in behalf of the screen, why should we use our screens in his behalf, even though we do receive remuneration for it? The amount of remuneratio.n received for the running of slides is small in comparison to the damage a prejudiced or unfair office holder can do." Of the exhibitors of Western Missouri selected by the M. P. T. O. Western Missouri committee as prospective members of the newly organized body, twenty already have responded favorably and money has accompanied the responses, according to A. F. Barker, acting secretary-treasurer. Only the most progressive exhibitors out in the territory have been chosen to form an initial skeleton of the new body. A meeting will be held, probably in Kansas City, as soon as fifty members outside Kansas City are within the fold. A permanent organization then will be formed. The Kansas City motion picture colony was grieved to learn of the death of Dr. Carlos De Mandil, former director of the orchestra at Frank L. Newman's Royal theatre, Kansas City, who jumped to his death from a 15-story building in West End avenue. New York, last week. Dr. De Mandil, through a motor car accident, the theft of his wife's bracelet, valued at $6,500, the hold up of the Newman theatre and his large array of bandboxes, provided front page material for Kansas City during his stay here. At the Royal theatre it was said he had been dismissed before the expiration of his contract. Cigars were being passed out liberally and profusely last week by C. W. Allen, assistant manager of the Kansas City Vitagraph exchange. He is the proud father a 10-pound girl. CONTRACTS have been signed by Edward Grossman of Epic Film Attractions, Chicago, whereby Epic obtains the rights for Northern Illinois and Indiana to the entire year's output from Hepworth Productions, Inc. The seven Hepworth pictures to be released before August of this year are: "Lily of the Alley," "Mrs. Erricker's Reputation," "The Pipes of Pan," "John Forrest Finds Himself." "The Amazing Guest," "Mist in the Valley," and "Justice Raffles." Kansas City Star Praises Exhibitor (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., Mar. 18.— Here is what Kansas City Star thinks of Frank L. Newman, owner of the Newman theatres, Kansas City. "It would be fine to be a movie critic if one could hibernate during long, dreary seasons of mediocre pictures and come to life occasionally to shout out the window and mail postal cards to the readers to be sure and see the rare good offering. "That is what Frank L. Newman has managed to do and in so doing has made of himself a reviewer whose judgment of what people will like holds few equals. When he affixes his personal recommendation to a film it is well to cut out something at the cafeteria that week and sink your savings at the Newman. But then Mr. Newman has endorsed just six pictures in ten years. Imagine what would happen to most reviewers with a record like that. He never has gone wrong, but just think how many times he has kept quiet." ORGANIZATION OF NEW COMPANY NOW COMPLETED William Goldman Theatres Co. Is Formally Under Wax (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. LOUIS, MO., Mar. 18.— Organization of the William Goldman Theatres Company was completed on Saturday, March 8, with the selection of David Sommers and W. Frank Carter to head the corporation. A deed conveying the property on the southeast corner of Grand boulevard and Morgan street to William Goldman has been executed and work of clearing the site for the new $1,000,000 St. Louis Theatre is now under way. Goldman has set Labor Day as the date for his grand opening and the general contractors, the Selden Breck Construction Company, are to be paid a bonus for having the show house ready on that date. Goldman, former managing director of the Famous Players Missouri Corporation, owners of the Missouri Theatre, and at present owner of the Kings and Queens theatres, will be managing director of the new theatre. It was originally intended to make the new house of 3,000 seats, but the city plans for the widening of Morgan street to a 100-foot thoroughfare have resulted in a change of the plans by Preston J. Bradshaw, architect, and it will contain 4.000 seats on the first floor and balconv. The new theatre will become the St. Louis first run house for the GoldwynCosmopolitan productions. * * * William Goldman at the Kings broke all house records with Hodkinson's "The Hoosier Schoolmaster," while Manager Dave Russell of the Columbia Theatre reported that "Forgive and Forget" released through Barney Rosenthal's Columbia Picture Corporation proved the best bill offered during the current season. The Missouri and Delmonte theatres also reported very good business throughout the week. * * * Barney Rosenthal of the Columbia Picture Corporation, Empress Theatre Building, set a new mark for independest exchanges to shoot at by obtaining two first runs in the same week. "Broken Hearts of Broadway" opens at William Goldman's Kings on March 15, while Dave Russell of the Columbia Theatre selected "The Barefoot Boy" for his feature picture the same week. * * * W. C. Sears, of the Lyric theatre, Boonville, Mo., has purchased the theatres at Bunceton and Tipton, Mo., from Mrs. Brent Peters. * * * S. M. Robinson has purchased the Majestic theatre at Oran, Mo., from A. J. Matthews & Co. It will be managed and operated by Holly A. Robinson.