Exhibitor's Trade Review (Nov 1925 - Feb 1926)

November 21, 1925 Page 15 EXHIBITORS DAI LY REVI E W A Newspaper Devoted to the Motion Picture Industry NEW YORK, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21 NEW "LARGEST" THEATRE FOR K.C. Midland Theatres Company Plans House That Will Eclipse the Mainstreet KANSAS CITY. — Kansas City and territory is in the midst of a theatre building boom. Almost daily plans for both large and small houses, suburban and first run, are being announced. An office building, housing the largest motion picture theatre in Kansas City, now is under consideration for a site at Thirteenth and Main streets. The largest house at present is the Mainstreet, with a seating capacity of 3,500. Completion of the deal depends upon the exercising of an option held by the Midland Theatres Company. The Midland company, which controls the site, 177 x 109 feet at the northeast corner of Thirteenth and Baltimore avenue, would join this property with the northwest corner of Thirteenth and Main streets, 121 x 130 feet, owned by H. M. Woolf, who is interested in the Midland company. Mr. Woolf now is in New York, but consummation of the deal is expected in a few days. Then, in Manhattan, Kas., the Miller Construction Company is building a new 800-seat house, which will be completed soon. The manager of the theatre has not yet been named. At Thirty-eighth and Main streets, Kansas City, the city's finest suburban house is progressing rapidly. November 17 saw the completion of the prize contest in naming the theatre, which will be known as the Madrid. The prize winner, Miss Alma Bates, of Kansas City, received a season pass and $15 in gold. The theatre, which will be under the management of Jack Roth, will be completed some time in January. But construction is not being confined to theatres alone. Dr. N. Zoglin, of Kansas City, has announced that he will erect a 2-story building with a 50-foot frontage at Eighteenth and Wyandotte streets — the heart of Kansas City's movie row — to house film exchanges. F. B. O. and the Exhibitors Poster Exchange already have leased space. Metropolitan, Boston, Books "The Man on the Box" "Syd" Chaplin in the Warner Bros, attraction, "The Man on the Box," is to have its Boston premiere at the New Metropolitan Theatre December 14. The length of the run is yet to be determined. The New Metropolitan is a Famous Players-Lasky house. MARTIN GETS NEW BERTH Is Associated's Special Representative in Middle West On his return from Chicago, E. J. Smith, general sales manager of Associated Exhibitors, announced the appointment of H. O. Martin as a special representative in the Middle West. Mr. Martin joins the Associated Exhibitors after a long and successful career in the film industry. His first connection was with Colonel Wm. M. Selig, in the capacity of selling State Rights and exploiting the first "Spoilers." Later he entered the State Right field in the territory of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska and became the lessee of the Empress and WillisWood Theatres. After disposing of his interest there he became connected with Wm. H. Clune and disposed of the State Rights on "Eyes of the World" and "Romona." After these sales were completed he became associated with Sol Lesser and was instrumental in disposing of the Mack Sennett bathing beauties and "Yankee Doodle in Berlin." In 1920 he affiliated himself with Pathe as special representative, later becoming manager of the Pittsburgh office and then transferred to Chicago, where he remained for a period of two years. After having resigned from Pathe he joined Hiram Abrams with the United Artists as a country sales manager and was later placed in charge of the Chicago district. Upon Mr. Cresson Smith's return to the United Artists, Mr. Martin retired from the business for a few months and now comes back as special representative for Associated Exhibitors. Warners Make Hebrew Phila. Division Manager Several important field changes in the Warner Bros, organization were announced yesterday by Sam E. Morris, general manager in charge of distribution. J. S. Hebrew, who had been manager at Philadelphia, becomes a division manager. He will have charge of the Philadelphia branch, with supervision over Washington also. Harry E. Weiner, who has been a member of the Philadelphia staff, and formerly sold Warner product for a franchise-holder, was named Washington branch manager. W. H. Rankin has been transferred from Seattle, where he was a member of the sales staff, to Salt Lake City, where he becomes branch manager, and O. P. Hall has become branch manager at Atlanta. Hall was with the Fox organization three years. The Warners also formally reopened their New Haven branch this week, with Paul J. Swift again in charge. FOX ADDS TWO COMEDY UNITS Lex Neill, Former Buster Keaton Man, Becomes Imperial Director LOS ANGELES— George E. Marshall has added two new production units to his comedy staff on the Fox lot. Lex Neill, formerly on the Buster Keaton lot, has already started directing "A Flaming Affair" for the Imperial Comedy series with Sid Smith and Consuela Down in the leading roles. The other new unit will have Andrew Bennison and Max Gold at the helm. They are preparing the script on an Imperial and will be ready to start shooting within a short time. These additions to Marshall's staff have been necessary because of the help his directors have been giving to feature productions. Robert Kerr, director of the Van Bibber comedies, has started filming "A Trip to Chinatown," the first of the Charles Hoyt plays to go into production. This will be a feature length comedy, with Margaret Livingston, Earle Foxe, J. Farrell MacDonald and Harry Woods in the cast. Mr. Marshall is giving the production his personal supervision. Tom Buckingham, who just finished directing Hallam Cooley and Kathryn Perry in "His Own Lawyer" of the Helen and Warren series, is preparing to direct "Tony Runs Wild," the next Tom Mix starring vehicle. With five two reelers in the Helen and Warren comedies completed, Kathryn Perry has taken the role of the bride in "The First Year," based on the Golden stage success, under the direction of Frank Borzage. Hallam Cooley is playing a role in the modern version of "The Ancient Aiariner" which Chester Bennett is directing. Vital Executives to Coast Leo A. Price, Abraham Kaplan and William K. Hedwick of Vital Exchanges are enroute to the coast. Financial deals and the launching of a sales drive will claim their attention. Exhibitors DAILY REVIEW readers receive every day what is new, interesting and readable news of the motion picture industry. Fidelity to its readers and consistent service to its advertisers are its prime principles.