Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Oct-Dec 1928)

30 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD October 6, 1928 Exhibitor Tells How Storm Wreaked Havoc on Florida Theatres Five Towns Virtually IT iped Out and Each Had Supported Own Film Playhouse — Only One of Seven Publix Theatres Operating [By Specal Correspondent of the HeraldWorld] ATLANTA, Oct. 2. — The most vivid description of the desolated Lake Okeechobee district in the Everglades region where the force of the l hurricane was at its height, comes from C. C. Klutts, owner of the Glades theatre, Moorehaven, Fla., on the very edge of the lake. \T7RITING of the disaster, Klutts says the The Oakley at Lake Worth was blown com» V conditions almost defy description. Five pletely down, and the Liberty at Lake Worth, At the New York Theatres towns in the lake district were virtually wiped out — Canal Point, Pahokee, Belleglade, South Bay and Pellican Bay. The combined population of those villages was only about 5,000, yet each little village had its motion picture theatre and each supported it well. Every one of those theatres was destroyed and the inhabitants in those villages fled for their lives. Many lost their lives. At Clewiston, on the other side of the lake, the damage was severe. The Glatex theatre was nearly demolished and probably cannot be rebuilt for some time. Miracle Saves Glades Miraculously the Glades at Moorehaven escaped with only slight damage. Two years ago, when Moorehaven was practically swept away by a hurricane, the Glades was a new theatre, having been built by Klutts when the former house suffered damages from storms and high water. The Glades then was one of the few buildings that remained standing in Moorehaven. Its balcony and projection room was a place of refuge for all who could crowd in. Now Moorehaven went to the rescue of its neighbors. Word of the disaster at Canal Point and Pahokee was brought to Moorehaven by a negro workman who walked and swam 18 miles to deliver the message. Then Moorehaven rushed the first relief boat to the rescue. All Hit at West Palm Beach Hardly a theatre in the vast stretch between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach but suffered from the hurricane, not always in property damage, but in loss of patronage. At West Palm Beach not a theatre escaped damage. The Flamingo was destroyed ; the Stanley was seriously damaged, but has reopened ; the Arcade, newest theatre in West Palm Beach and one of the best in the Sparks circuit, suffered heavy damages. The Oakley at Lake Worth was destroyed and the town now has no theatre ; the roof was blown off the Lyric at Stuart ; the Grand at Winter Haven has not yet reopened ; the Polk at Lakeland lost its roof — for the second time. Frank Dowler, southern disvision manager for Publix, is now making a tour of the state to estimate damage to Publix properties and determine what steps to take in the matter. Damage to Theatres Estimated $250,000 (Special to the Herald-World) WEST PALM BEACH, Oct. 2.— Theatre damage conservatively estimated at $250,000 was caused by the hurricane when it swept through Palm Beach county, according to Jesse L. Clarke of Jacksonville, district supervisor for the Publix Theatres Corporation in Florida, who, with other company representatives, viewed the damage and went on to Miami for a survey of conditions in Broward and Dade .otinties. Publix is interested in seven theatres in Palm Beach, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth, only one of which is now operating This is the Stanley in West Palm Beach. LaM Worth's two theatres will cost more than $50,000 to reopen and it is said that the damage in the Palm Beaches will run above $200,000. the Stanley and the Kettler at West Palm Beach were badly damaged. The three Publix theatres at Palm Beach also were severely damaged. These are the Beaux Arts, the Paramount and the Garden. Damage to organs and other specific equipment may increase considerably the estimated total, Clarke said. Accompanying Clarke were M. J. Mullen, chief of maintenance of properties; Frank Dowler, Jr., Southeastern manager, and Arthur Jones. Industry Responds With Huge Benefit Shows in Theatres (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 2.— The motion picture industry is responding nobly to the calls for help from the hurricane sufferers. In addition to making a cash contribution to the American Red Cross Relief Fund for the victims in Porto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Florida, the M. P. P. D. A. completed arrangements whereby exhibitors ready to give benefit performances could obtain films free. The M. P. P. D. A. was working in cooperation with the thirty-two Boards of Trade. R. H. Woodhull, president of the M. P. T. O. A., urged exhibitors to aid the relief work in every way possible, including direct contributions to local Red Cross chapters and special slides accompanying the showing of news reels of the desolated areas. Benefit Shows at Memphis (Special to the Herald-World) MEMPHIS, Oct. 2.— All the uptown theatres of Memphis, including Loew's State, Loew's Palace, Strand and Pantages, remained open from 2 to 11 p. m. Sunday showing motion pictures exclusively for the benefit of the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund. Combined Show Given (Special to the Herald-World) ATLANTA, Oct. 2.— Theatres throughout the Southwest are rallying to the call of the Red Cross. Atlanta theatres combined to present a huge midnight benefit at Loew's Capitol Friday night. Acts from the Howard, Keith's Georgia and Loew's Capitol contributed their services, as did the musicians, projectionists and stagehands. The result was a $3 show for $1 and $2,000 for the fund. Sparks Theatres Aid Cause (Special to the Herald-World) JACKSONVILLE, Oct. 2.— Benefit performances were given Sunday in every town where the E. J. Sparks Enterprises arc operating. The Florida, big Publix house in Jacksonville, gave a midnight benefit performance Saturday. 6,500 at San Antonio Show (Sprcial to the Herald-World) SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 2.— A gigantic benefit show was held Friday at 11:30 p. m. in the 6,500 seat Municipal Auditorium with $1 admission fee. NEW FILMS PARAMOUNT— "The Fleet's In," a Paramount picture starring Clara Bow and James Hall, directed bv Malcolm St. Clair. ROXY— "Win That Girl," a William Fox football comedy with Sue Carol and David Rollins, directed by David Butler. HIPPODROME— "The Night Bird," a Universal picture starring Reginald Dennv. 55TH ST. PLAYHOUSE— "The Mystic Mirror," a UFA mystery picture with Fitz. Rasp. COLONY — "Lonesome." a Universal special featuiing Glenn Tryon and Barbara Kent, directed by Paul Fejos. GAIETY — "Four Devils," a Fox special with Barry Norton, Nancy Drexel and Charles Morton, directed by F. \V. Murnau. HELD OVER AND REVIVED CRITERION — "Wings," Paramount, opened August 12, 1927. ASTOK — "White Shadows in the South Seas," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, opened August 1. CENTRAL — "Lilac Time," First National, opened August 3. WARNER— "The Terror," Warner Brothers all talking picture, opened August 15. RIALTO — "The Patriot," Paramount, opened August 17. EMBASSY — "Submarine," Columbia, opened August 30. GLOBE — "Mother Knows Best," Fox, opened September 15. CAMEO — "Q Ships," an English Document drama, opened September 1 5. FIFTH AVENUE PLAYHOUSE— "Germany's Side of the War," a Teutonic record with actual war films, opened September 15. WINTER GARDEN— "The Singing Fool," Warner Bros., opened Sept. 19. STRAND— "The Lion and the Mouse," Warner Bros., revived Sept. 22. RIVOLI — "Two Lovers," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, revived September 22. CAPITOL — "Excess Baggage," Metro-Goldwvn Mayer, held over for another week. Frank Whitbeck Takes Jeff Lazarus' Post in West Coast's Publicity (Special to the Herald-World) SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2.— Frank Whitbeck, for the past five years director of publicity for the Northern California division of West Coast Theatres, Inc., has been made general publicity director for all West Coast theatres, with headquarters at Los Angeles. He succeeds Jeff Lazarus, who has accepted an executive position with William Fox. The local vacancy, in turn, has been filled with the appointment of Robert Harvey, for several years manager of the T. & D. theatre at Oakland, Cal. Robert Collier has been made director of circuit exploitation. New Bid for Sunday Show Starts in Martins Ferry (Special to the Herald-World) MARTINS FERRY, OHIO, Oct. 2.— Immediate renewal of the attempt to give Sunday exhibitions in Martins Ferry, will be made since the Grand Jury of Belmont county refused to return indictments in 39 cases charged with giving such performances on Sundays. The cases came up when the managers, owners and operators of the two motion picture houses were arrested as many as five times. Irene Fenwick Protests Judgment of $2,500,000 (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 2— Irene Fenwick, wife of Lionel Barrymore, is preparing a court fight against a judgment of $2,500,000. It is reported that her property has been bonded by a Los Angeles court order because she had signed a $3,700,000 mortgage agreement 20 years ago guaranteeing that her dower rights would not affect execution of a mortgage obtained by Felix Isman, her former husband.