Exhibitors Herald (1927)

18 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 26, 1927 Trackless Train Braves Danger of Crossing Alps to Rome Collision ivith Tree Saves Crew from Plunge into Canyon, Conductor Carrier IT rites — Dig Aivay 14 Inches of Mountainside (Special to the Herald) New YORK, March 22. — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s Trackless Train is now in Rome after a journey over the difficult passes of the Alps which provided many a thrill for the crew. The route lay from Genoa, where the Train won first prize in the Carnival Parade. '^HE 125-mile trip from Genoa to Pisa was undertaken despite warnings of the long, steep, winding grades as well as the many sharp curves. “When it was reported that there was but little snow left on the mountains we proceeded on our way,” Conductor Eddie Carrier wrote the home office, and it took two. and one-half days to make the 68 miles to Spezia. Tree Prevents Plunge to Canyon “The trip was nerve-racking,” he stated. “The unimproved roads were very narrow and were slippery from the recent rains. There were many caveins along the road. As there were no guard rails tQ prevent one from slipping into a canyon miles below, the trip gave us many a thrill. “It was necessary to separate the coach from the engine sixteen times to negotiate the hairpin curves, and on one occasion we had to dig fourteen inches of the mountainside so that we might pass. At one spot, where the grade is about three miles long, the road was so steep and slippery that it was difficult to control the outfit and in slipping backward only fortunate collision with a tree prevented us from crashing over the mountainside.” After a stop at the theatre in the small town of Massa the Train continued to Pisa, where police and newspaper men provided an escort. Thousands of heralds were distributed and the newspapers made much of the dangerous trip from Genoa and the winning of first place in 'the Carnival parade at Genoa. The exhibitor in front of whose theatre the Trackless Train was parked gave a banquet for the crew, with the mayor of Pisa as a guest. Photographs were taken of the ballyhoo alongside the leaning tower of Pisa. Throngs lined the streets when the Train visited Plorence, Italy. The Train drove about the streets for three hours, and then parked in the principal square. A trip to South America now is being considered. Student Bandits Given 2 to 10 Years; Safe of New Aladdin Blown Up Denver Manager Narrowly Escapes Death IF hen He Walks Over Explosive Two student bandits who robbed three motion picture theatres in Illinois and Indiana and were captured after lining up the staff of the new Palace at Gary and looting the safe, will spend two to ten years in the Indiana reformatory. The sentence came two weeks after the Gary holdup. In Canada Sam Stapleton was given six years in prison for robbing B. M. Garfield, manager of the Rialto at Montreal, and Mrs. Garfield. Meanwhile several new robberies were recorded. Safeblowers entered the new Aladdin theatre in Denver, wrecked the safe and escaped with $500 in cash. Part of the safe door was blown into the street, which hastened the robbers’ departure and caused them to overlook $4,000 additional. The job was done with nitroglycerin. Harry Huffman, manager, and several detectives narrowly escaped being blown to pieces when they walked over a pile of papers in which was hidden half a tumbler of “soup.” A lone bandit at the Claremont theatre, Chicago, threatened to shoot Miss Lou Bjork, cashier, and took $69 while several hundred patrons were watching the show. Three theatres in Indiana were held up. A bit of genuine Wild West took place at the Paramount in Kokomo when a robber, outwitted by the cashier, ran through the business district firing at his pursuer. The Oliver theatre in South Bend was robbed of $150 by a bandit working single. The girl cashier handed the robber two rolls of paper dollars wrapped in $5 bills and saved several hundred dollars. An unsuccessful attempt was made to rifle the safe of the Grand at Washington. Two boys are being held in connection with the Arcada robbery at St. Charles, 111. Arkansas Exhibitors Will Make April 3-4 Meeting Gala Event (Special to the Herald) LITTLE ROCK, ARK., March 22.— The M. P. T. O. of Arkansas is looking forward to its best convention when the exhibitors get together for their spring meeting at the Lafayette hotel April 3 and 4. The first day, Sunday, will be taken up with registration and screenings, with a special program of “Don Juan” in connection with Vitaphone at the Palace theatre that night. Business sessions will be Monday forenoon and afternoon, with the closing banquet on the Lafayette roof. Special entertainment also will make the meeting of particular interest. Cecil Cupp of Arkadelphia is president.