Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

June 2 3, 19 28 2129 Chicago THE ordinance which would revamp the censorship system in C hicago, was pigeon holed when it was brought up before the city council last week and it is understood, no action will be taken on this measure until some time in September. All officers of the Exhibitors Association of Chicago, were reelected for another year at the annual meeting held in Ridge Hall on June 14th. The officers who held over for another year are : Jack Miller, business manager and president ; Ludwig Siegel, secretary ; and Frank Schaefer, treasurer. The following board of directors was also elected at this meeting : John Balaban, Mort Singer, Eddie Silverman, Emil Stern, Joseph Leo, Fred Cleveland. Aaron Saperstein, James Coston, Fred Gilford and Louis Marks. Al Kvale, for some time Paul Ash's first lieutenant at the ( )rieirtal Theatre and who was very popular at this house, is returning to the Oriental this week as master of ceremonies and conductor of the stage band there, after a successful season at Balaban & Katz Norshore Theatre. Frank Schaefer, accompanied by Mrs. Schaefer and their daughter Dorothy, left for New York last week to attend a wedding. Mr. Schaefer and has since returned to Chicago, but Mrs. Schaefer and Miss Schaefer will remain in the east for some time. Further theatre closings for the summer are reported, including the Blackstone Theatre at Rantoul, Illinois, which will remain closed for an indefinite period starting July 1st. Stanley Levy is now managing Schoenstadt & Sons Atlantic Theatre. He was formerly connected with the Monogram in a similar capacity. National Playhouses, Inc., has made a number of changes in the management of their various theatres, during the past few days. Ben Cooney will take active management at the Capitol ; Manager Donaldson, formerly at the Capitol going to the Stratford ; Jesse Hogan going from the Stratford to the West Fnglcwood ; Con Cooney to manage the Jeffery. Manager Shepherd of this house going to the Highland; Vince Blackmore of the Highland, resigned. Marty O'Brien of the Chatham will, hereafter, be stationed at the Colony in place of B. Cody, resigned, and Manager Brazee will be in charge of both the Chatham and Grove Theatres. Hippler & Peake. operators of the Pastime and Orpheum Thea tres, Maquoketa, the Fern at Oxford Junction and the Lyric at Preston, Iowa, have bought the Galva at Galva, Illinois, from L. & J. Trevor. According to S. R. Peake, who was in Chicago last Wednesday, his firm will take possession of the Galva Theatre on July 1st. Jimmy Grainger of Fox Film Corporation, was in Chicago, and has now returned to New York City. Sam Lears, for eighteen years sales director of the opera chair division of the Arlington Seating Company at Arlington Heights, Illinois, and who served two terms as president of the manufacturers division of the Theatre Supply Dealers Association, has severed his connection with the Arlington Seating Company. Mr. Lears has not yet announced his future business affiliation but it is understood he will be in a line associated with the motion picture theatre industry. C. W. Spanuth, veteran motion picture man, was stricken with heart disease at his home and passed away within a few minutes. Mr. Spanuth had many friends in the industry, with which he had been connected, practically all his life, either as a theatre owner himself or in connection with his brother, Harry. At the time of his deatli Mr. Spanuth was engaged in the theatrical brokerage business. A. S. Pickett of the Ironwood Theatre, Ironwood, Michigan, was in Chicago the past week making final arrangements for the opening of his new theatre at Ironwood. Eddie Grainger, special Fox representative, is making his headquarters in Chicago temporarily, coming here from Milwaukee where he has been handling the office during the illness of Fred Slitcr, who was confined to his bed with the flu for some time, but is now recovered. Great States Theatres, Inc., closed the Majestic Theatre at Streator, Illinois, on June 10th and reopened their Lyric Theatre in that city on June 15th. All pictures booked at the Majestic will be transferred to the Lyric. Among visitors on film row last week was R. A. McNeil, general manager of the Golden State Theatre Circuit, San Francisco, who accompanied by Mrs. McNeil, are on their way back to the coast after a visit in the east. Walter Fleugel reports that his new theatre at Pekin will be known as the Oriental and will be ready to open the last of October or the first, part of November. THE Mid West Amusement Company, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has leased the Shrine Auditorium at Oklahoma City for five years at an annual rental of $12,500, and will show road shows, vaudeville and feature pictures. The auditorium seats nearly 3.000. H. C. Houston has opened his new Crystal Theatre at Pittsburg, Texas. E. G. Callahan will open his new house at Crockett, Texas about Aug. 1st. R. D. Bauer, lately with Educational, has joined F B O, with headquarters at San Antonio, Texas. A. Martini is remodeling his Opera House at Galveston, Texas. Because of conditions usually prevailing in Summer. Griffith Bros. Amusement Co. operators of a chain of theatres, have closed one theatre in each of six towns where thev operate two. The houses darkened are. Norman, Elk City, Ardmore, Enid, Henryctta and Miami, Okla. Manager Clark and salesmen S locum and Gibbs returned recently to Oklahoma City from Memphis. Tenn., where they attended a convention. G. L. Coleman will erect a new theatre at Miami, Okla., in the near future. Assistant Manager W. J. O'Shea of the Empress Theatre at Oklahoma City was reported last week to be quite sick at his home. Dr. L. J. Spettle announces the closing of his Postal Theatre at Calvin. Okla., until after the summer months. Chas. E. Kessnick, District Manager for Metro Goldwyn out of Atlanta, da., spent the past weekend in Oklahoma City visiting the local Exchange. The Empress Theatre at Roff, Oklahoma, which has been closed for some time, has been dismantled and the equipment moved to another town. John Brown, of the Lyric Theatre, Tulsa, Oklahoma, spent last Monday on Film Row. Earl H. Barrett, who formerly operated the Liberty Theatre at Qutnton, Oklahoma, has returned from a six months' stay in California and has purchased the Washington Theatre in Atoka, Oklahoma, from Mrs. Grace Marlow. Richard Rosebaum. Special Representative for Warner Brothers out of Dallas spent last Thursday in Oklahoma City on business at the local Warner Brothers office. Mary Jane Harvey, owner of the Princess Theatre, Cement, Oklahoma, was a recent caller on Film Row. The New Theatre. Konowa. Oklahoma, has been closed for an indefinite period. Mr. V. A. Hardin, of the Majestic Theatre, Allen, Oklahoma, was in Oklahoma City several days last week. W. J. Ashton, of Birmingham, Ala., together with Mrs. Ashton attended the National Convention of the Travelers Protective Association in Oklahoma City last week. Mrs. Ashton is a sister of Wallace Walthall. A caravan of some 1500 delegates to the T. P. A. Convention made an overland trip to Ponca City. Oklahoma, where they were guests of Col. George Miller at 101 Ranch and the Marland Refining Company. Word has been received that a new theatre is being planned for Miami. Oklahoma, which will be erected at Main and First Streets and will seat approximately 1600. The contract has been let to G. L. Coleman. W. J. O'Shea, veteran Assistant Manager of the Empress Theatre. Oklahoma City, is reported to be seriously ill at his home here. Ernest Walderich advises he has opened a new theatre in Dacoma, Oklahoma, which he has named The Dacoma. Jerry B. Jeter, for the past two years manager of the Rialto Theatre in Oklahoma City, has gone to Henryctta, Oklahoma, to assume management of the Blain and Morgan Theatres there. The Oklahoma City Film Exchange Base Ball Team is making preparations to go to Ardmore. Oklahoma, on July 1st. where it will meet the Dallas Film Exchange Base Ball Team. The Royal Theatre at Watts, Oklahoma, has closed for the summer months, according to Houston & Ricketts, owners. H. G. Kingcrv announces the re-opening of his theatre, the Empire at Fl Dorado, Oklahoma. The Empire was destroyed by fire several months ago and has been rebuilt and completely refurnished. Wallace Walthall has resumed his new duties as Special Representative for National Screen Service in Texas and Oklahoma. UNIFORMS FOR HOUSE ATTACHES COSTUMES FOR STAGE PRESENTATIONS BROOKS 1437 B'way H. T. Gty