Exhibitors Herald (1927)

March 19, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 17 Stanley Merger Giving New Impetus to Theatre Buying Chicago Stormy Petrel In Struggle for Houses Publix N egotiating to T ake Over Ascher — Five Other Properties Sought by Distributors A tremendous new impetus to theatre buying activities of the various distributing companies has been given by the announcement of the merging of Stanley, West Coast and First National. Anticipating a determined effort to add to its theatre holdings with acquisitions west of Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains by the new consolidation, competing distributing-theatre owning interests appear to be in a race to gather up available theatre properties. Publix About to Close for Ascher Chain Negotiations have been underway for several days to transfer the twelve Ascher Chicago theatres, including the new 3,500-seat Sheridan, to B & K Midwest, a subsidiary of the Publix chain. Terms are said to have been agreed upon and only a few minor details are to be worked out. Start Drive for Daylight Saving in Missouri Cities (Special to the Herald) ST. LOUIS, March 15. — A drive to put over “Daylight Saving” has been started in St. Louis by the Chamber of Commerce and special interests that would benefit through changing Sun time in the Mound City and vicinity. At a conference last week proponents were out in force to put through the project, while only two motion picture men were there to express opposition to this movement which may mean financial ruin for many of the outlying theatres of the city. Sam Werner, head of the United Film Service, spoke in opposition as the representative of the St. Louis Film Board of Trade, while Spyros P. Skouras, president of the Skouras Brothers Enterprises and the St. Louis Amusement Company, also attended. Censor Bill for Stage Considered Practically Dead (Special to the Herald) ALBANY, N. Y., Mar. 15.— Reformers in New York state received a jolt during the past week at a public hearing held at the State Capitol in Albany, N. Y., on a bill having for its object the censorship of all stage plays. It is the consensus that the bill is as good as dead. The bill would create such a bureau in the present motion picture censorship commission. Opposition to the bill included such well known stage stars as Elsie Ferguson and the opposition scored heavily in several instances as they faced a battery of reformers, including the well known Canon Chase. To Take Over Colony Sept. 1; Permanent Home (Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, March 15. — Universal will take over the B. S. Moss Colony theatre September 1 as a permanent home for its productions. The Colony was leased for a short time last year by Universal. The Colony will close in time for a refinishing in order that “The Cat and the Canary” may open there September 3. LTniversal Chain Theatrical Enterprises added another link to its holdings last week with the opening of the Capitol in Somerville, Mass. It is an 1,800 seat theatre. Moody Signs Bill to Grant Press Freedom ( Special to the Herald) AUSTIN, TEX., March 15.— Dan Moody last week signed the new libel law which will permit newspapers to print facts heretofore considered libelous. Balaban & Katz, which passed to Publix control some time ago, acquired the Roosevelt, Ascher’s downtown theatre, several years ago, absorbed Lubliner & Trinz, and took over a long string of the leading theatres down state in Illinois. Other Chains Are Eyed Simultaneously, it appeared that overtures were being made by either Publix or another of the national chains for possession of the following Chicago theatre properties : National Theatres, owning a chain of nine houses including the world-famous Capitol. Marks Brothers, owning three large neighborhood theatres including the new Granada. Schoenstadt Enterprises, owning a large chain of small houses and the new Piccadilly. James Coston circuit, owning or booking for 71 theatres in Chicago and the immediate suburbs. Fitzpatrick & McElroy, owning a large chain of theatres in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. What companies are anxious to acquire these properties could not be definitely ascertained. Various rumors pointed to Publix, Stanley and I^niversal, while in some quarters Fox and Metro were mentioned. There was a hint of Warner Brothers in regard to one of the chains. “Roxy” Opening Surprising Magnet The week-end found Jack and Ben Cooney of National Theatres, James Coston of the Coston circuit, Louis and H. S. Marks of Marks Brothers and Blair McElroy of Fitzpatrick & McElroy, and Harry Ross, district manager for Paramount with headquarters in Chicago, all in New York. It was explained Klansman Exhibitor Kidnaped by Mistake (Special to the Herald) FRANKLIN, VA., March 15.— AI Young, theatre manager here, was kidnaped by a mob of 25 Klansmen in full regalia and taken five miles into the country before his captors found be was a member and freed him. that they were “east for the opening of the Roxy theatre.” At the Schoenstadt office, it was denied that anyone was east in regard to a talk of merger or sale, but it was stated that Herman Schoenstadt, head of the chain, was “either in Florida or New York.” Another Midwestern chain, which is sought by one of the large national theatre organizations, is said to be the Saxe interests with headquarters in Milwaukee. Finklestein & Ruben of Minneapolis recently brought their number of theatres up to 125 by acquiring two houses at Fairmont, Minn., the Haynie and Strand. Blue Law Foes Win in Jersey ( special to the Herald) TRENTON, N. J., March 15. — Advocates of Sunday shows won out in the assembly last night when a bill was passed to permit local option on Sunday observance on petition of one-fourth of the voters. The vote was 31 to 29. FP-L Earns $5,600,815 Net in Year; Regular $2 Dividend Declared ( special to the Herald) NEW YORK, March 15 — Net profits of $1,960,477 for three months and $5,600,815 for twelve months to January 1 are shown in the consolidated statement of Famous Players-Lasky. After allowing for payment of preferred dividends, the above earnings amount to $10.82 a share on common for 1926. The directors yesterday declared the regular quarterly dividend of $2 on preferred pa^’able May 2 to stockholders of record April 15. Edwards Under Knife ( Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, March 15.— Snitz Edwards underwent a mastoid operation Wednesday.