Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1929)

1158 Motion P i c t u re News Regional News From Correspondents C. H. Buckley Closes Clinton Square, Albany THE Clinton Square, Albany, first run double feature downtown house, under lease to C. H. Buckley, closed its doors last week after having been run at a loss for several months. Mr. Buckley's lease has nearly two years to run and in all probability the house will remain closed for that period. Walter McDowell, former manager of the Strand in Syracuse, was in Albany last week and called on his friend, Charles Smakwitz, manager of the Mark Ritz and former resident of Syracuse. Ben Stern, manager of the Troy, broke into print heavily last week when he was on hand with Mayor Burns to greet the arrival of the American Girl at the Troy Aviation field. Mrs. Renee Young, formerly Renee Cravem of Albany, employed at several of the local exchanges over a considerable period, is now residing in Buffalo. W. W. Farley, one of owners of the Farash string in Schenectady, was one of figures at a society wedding last week in Albany, when one of his daughters became bride of a resident of Troy. Joe Miller, of Buffalo, manager for Columbia in the Bison City, made one of his periodical calls during the past week on Albany exhibitors. Spyrus Skouras, general manager Warner Brothers theatres, was in Albany during the week. Eddie Alperson, film buyer for the same group of theatres and George Skouras, assistant general manager, were also in Albany. Uly Hill, general manager Warner theatres in Albany and Troy, drove to Montreal last week, accompanying his son Norman, who took entrance examinations for McGill University. Charles Smakwitz, assistant general manager Warner houses in Albany, was in New York for a couple of days last week. Sidney Saperstein, of Troy, plans to follow in the footsteps of his relatives and left a few days ago for Ithaca, where he will work under the direction of Joseph Saperstein, general manager Berinstein Itliaca houses. Jake Golden gave Troy something to think about last week in connection with his exploitation of the opening RKO week at Proctor's Fourth Street Theatre. With appearance of cold weather last week, ushers in all Warner houses in Albany and Troy, changed to winter uniforms while lights were also changed in giving house warmer appearance within. The old Central, Albany, is now being torn down.. The Pine Hills is operating on schedule of two or three days weekly. New Chicago Censorship Plan Introduced To City Council By Alderman Cronson AXJ'lW' ])lan of motion picture censorship, designed to "restrict the unreasonable lengths" to which the present censor board goes in refusing permits, has been introduced before the Chicago council judiciary committee by Aid. B. A. Cronson. The new plan provides for the establishment of a new department of motion picture review, with a commissioner of pictures in charge. According to Aid. Cronson, the police commissioner, who is head of the censorship board, is too busy with police matters to give much time or attention to the action of the censors. The commissioner which he proposes as head of the department of motion picture review would devote all his time to reviewing the decisions of the censor board, issuing permits and adjusting complaints, without curtailing the powers of the police. Final word in any dispute would rest with the Mayor, under ./Md. Cronson's plan. "Censorship in Chicago has gone too far," Aid. Cronson says. "Pictures which are shown in New York, Milwaukee and other cities can't be shown here without being cut. I don't believe in letting any smut creep into our movies, but I think that our censor board has gone too far in many instances." A dozen men, who have just completed a course in sound at the M-G-M studios, and who will cover various M-G-M exchanges throughout the country as sound technicians, met in Chicago last Saturday and Sunday for a conference with Felix Feist before departing to their respective territories. Ralph George, who has spent a number of years in Coast studios, will cover Oiicago, Milwaukee. Indianapolis, and Minneapolis, working out of the Chicago office. Saturday evening the group was the guest of Max Balaban in a visit to all B. & K. houses, where inspection was made of sound and projection equipment. Charles Bell, 60 year old doorman at the Gem Theatre, 450 So. State street, is dead as the result of gun wound inflicted last Sunday night. The assassin shot Bell five times because the doorman refused him a seat on the main floor of the theatre. Herb Washburn, local manager for R-K-0 is back in Chicago following a trip to New York, where he conferred with home office officials on business matters. The new La Grange Theatre, at La Grange, III., which has been leased to Publix, opened its doors last week. Max Mazor, sales supervisor for Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer, has resigned. Maurice D. "Red" Kaim, newly appointed editor of Motion Picture News, made a brief stop in Chi cago last \\'ednesday on his way to West Coast studios. He was accompanied by Mrs. Kann. Harry Cohen and Jack Holt passed through Chicago enroute to the West Coast. Saul Goldman, formerly booker for Jerry Abrams, is now in charge of the Red Seal exchange in Milwaukee. Following a period of remodeling and redecorating the Milda Theatre, on South Halsted street, was opened last week with talking picture equipment. Increased office space in the .Standard Oil Building is being taken by Essaness Enterprises following the acquisition last week of twelve Lubliner & &Trinz theatres. Joseph Hopp Perhaps no one will be more surprised at this article than the veteran motion picture man who is the subject of same. Joseph Hopp is well known to nearly all of the people in the industry who have been connected with it for any length of time. He was one of the first independent film exchange owners in Chicago, starting in 907 under the name of the Standard Film Exchange. In 1916 he sold his exchange to Universal Film Corp. During all this time he was also an exhibitor and has been up to a few months ago. He was twice president of the Chicago Exhibitors League and later served two terms as president of the Illinois Motion Picture Exhibitors League. When the present M.P.T. O.A. was organized at Cleveland, he was elected vice-president. Prior to this time he was active in film exchange organizations. Mr. H'ipp for the past year has been representative for the Universal home office, visiting exchanges in the Central and Southern States in plavdate work. Perhaps few film men are as well versed in every department of the industry. His personalit\-, alwavs radiating good nature, wins and holds many friends who are legion. Northwest Film Zone Trade News WILLIAM BLOOM last week was appointed to the sales staff of the local Columbia exchange and will cover the Western Washington territorv for Manager A. J. Sullivan. He was formerly with Ben Fish's M-G-M branch. Lester Holmes, formerly connected with Universal Chain Theatres here, has transferred his attentions to the producing end, and is now connected with Manager Mat Aparton's local Universal Film exchange. Ed Marshall, auditor of theatres for Universal out of New York City, arrived in town last week. Another auditor also appeared on the scene — W. F. Reilly, MetroGoldwyn -Mayer representative, who was en route to California. Among the out-of-town exhibitors seen on film row last week were Gil Holman, of Olympia ; Bill Armour, of Montesano; Carol Barney, of Arlington ; and Miss L. Neilson, of Qieney, Washington. Clarence Hill and Brooks Tilworth, both well known in film circles of the Pacific Northwest, last week were added to the sales ^aff of the local Tififany-Stahl exchange. Frank Harris, representative of the B. F. Shearer Theatre Equipment Company in the Oregon territory, spent a few days here at the home office last week with Mr. Shearer, A. L. Larson and Heaton F. Randall, company heads. James Alorgan. exhibitor of The Dalles. Oregon, left here last week for Alaska on a two-week vacation trip. L. E. Tillman, new Western division manager for Columbia, arrived here this week for a short visit at the local exchange. John Falk, formerly connected with John Danz' Sterling Chain Theatres, Inc., is now a member of the shipping staff at the local MG-M office. Ruth Foster, popular member of the Fox staff, returned last week from a three-vi'eelc motor trip to California and Mexico. Hal Boehme, Eastern Washington, sales representative of Columbia Pictures, arrived here last week for a few days' conference at the local exchange. Eddie Rivers, Eastern \\'ashington exhibitor, arrived here for a few days' visit last week and announced continuatiein of his nonunion policy at the Granada Theatre, Lewiston, Idaho, where he runs disc talkies with one operator and no organist. At the Liberty Theatre, in the same city, they use two operators and one organist,, with sound-on-fi!m pictures. Lynn Peterson, former assistant to James Q. Clemmer, manager of the Fox Fifth Avenue Theatre, last week was moved to Bremerton, Wash., where he will be in charge of the Fox Theatre interests there.