Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

2202 Motion Picture News WITH the consummation of a gigantic real estate deal in Cincinnati during the past week, whereby Howard Wurlitzer and associates acquired an entire city block in Walnut Hills, a suburban settlement, it was reported that the twenty buildings in the block would be razed to make room for modern structures, included in which will be an ultra-modern motion picture theatre. The present plans are more or less tentative, although it is expected that more detailed information would be given out soon. The Albee theatre, which has been showing feature pictures and presentation acts on a continuous basis since the house originally opened several months ago, will hereafter play six acts of straight vaudeville on the three-a-day basis through the week, with four shows on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The picture policy remains the same for the present. Admission prices remain the same, except for a "special bargain" scale of 35 cents from 11 a. m. to 1 p. m. daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The Albee Entertainers, headed by Harry Willsey, who have been a feature of the Albee theatre programs, have been discontinued, and replaced with a symphonic orchestra. Hy C. Geis, organist at the same house, has resigned to take a different position in another city. His successor has not yet been named. During the recent personal appearance of Charlie Murray, in Cincinnati, he was given a banquet at the Gibson Hotel Roof Gardens by Isaac Libson, with Andrew Hettesheimer and William Clark of the Keith-Albee Harris-LibsonHeidingsfeld organization, as hosts. The affair was attended by exhibitors and newspapermen from Cincinnati and surrounding territory. The Alhambra theatre, located in the heart of the West Fifth street business district, Cincinnati, and one of the first houses in the city to change from the original short sub ject programs to big feature pictures, has been closed and is being dismantled, on account of poor business. The house was at one time one of the big producing units of the Frankel chain. Moe Wilchens, manager of the Lubin theatre, and one of the key men in the Frankel organization, in Cincinnati, has added a cane to his personal adornment, but not for style. Wilchens recently suffered an injury to his foot. His physician says that the broken toe is knitting nicely, and that he will soon be able to resume his normal means of locomotion. Mrs. Andrew Hettesheimer, whose husband looks after the interests of the Strand. Family and Keith's for the Keith-Albee chain in Cincinnati, was painfully, although not seriously injured recently, when her automobile which was being driven by her son, crashed into another machine. She will probably be laid up for quite awhile. "Bob" Stayman, publicity director for Coney Island, Cincinnati's upthe-river resort, entertained the Stage and Screen Scribes, theatre managers and newspaper executives at a banquet during the past week. "Bob" proved a fine host. The Regent theatre, Hamilton, Ohio, which has been operating on Saturdays and Sundays of each week with a feature picture and vaudeville, has closed for the summer. It is the present intention to reopen the house in September. Announcement has been made by the Real Neth Amusement Co., Columbus, Ohio, that they will erect a new house at the corner of Ogden avenue and West Broad street, to cost approximately $200,000. The house, which will probably be called Western theatre, will have a seating capacity of 1,500. Harry C. Holbrook, Columbus, is the architect. The State theatre, Lima, Ohio, after remodeling, has reopened under ownership of Ritzier and Kirwin. Herbert McGinnis is managing the house. Detroit AT the annual election of the Detroit Film Board of Trade last week the following officers were chosen to serve for the coming year : President, James V. Allen (Warner Bros.); vice-president, Frank Downey (M-G-M) ; secretary-treasurer, David Palfreyman; treasurer, J. L. Saxe (Favorite). Together with these officers the board of directors also includes A. M. Elliott (F B O) and Otto Bolle (Paramount). The Fleur De Lys Theatre, on West Jefferson Avenue in River Rouge, is to be rebuilt at once. The architects have planned a one floor house which will seat approximately 800. Frank Downey and Art Elliott have been appointed on a committee of the Film Board of Trade to confer with H. M. Richev of the M. P. T. O. with the idea of working out plans for a golf tournament to be held some time this summer. It is definitely reported that the new Fox Theatre here, seating 5,000, will open some time early in September. This latest house in the Fox chain is said to be even larger than the Fox Roxy in New York City. Plans are being made to make the opening one that will long be remembered by movie enthusiasts. William Fox and other prominent executives are expected to be on hand for the occasion. Fire in the booth of the Blackstone Theatre caused nearly §1,000 damage and forced the house to close for several hours. The Blackstone is an all night house and the blaze started after midnight. Although the State Theatre has gone in for talking pictures ex clusively, the stage band has been continued, but presentations are out. Ollie Brooks and Jack Saxe are getting set for their summer vacation somewhere in Canadian wilds. Their activities in the wide open spaces, so they say. will be confined mostly to fishing. Bill Hurlbut of Favorite and Lou Wisper of the Home Theatre recently returned from a motor trip to Philadelphia and New York City. B. G. Clare, publicity director of the Munz Circuit, was appointed advertising manager for the Cinderella, an east side house, last week. Employees of the Delft Theatre in Marquette, Mich., held their annual picnic last week at Lake An Train. The commissary department prepared a very tempting menu, and the program included sport stunts as well as dancing. H. S. Gallup, general manager for Delft, presided in the role of master of ceremonies. Paul Specht's Columbia recording orchestra, which established itself as a favorite at the Regent Theatre last season, played a return engagement at the Oriental last week. A new legitimate house which will also serve patrons extended run films is to replace the New Detroit Opera House on Randolph Street. The proposed theatre will be erected on Madison near Randolph, is planned to include an office building. The house, according to B. C. Whitney, who has the Erlanger franchise here, will seat 1800 and will have a balcony and gallery. Plans call for completion of the theatre by December 1st. Denver CHARLES R. GILMOUR, Warner Bros, branch manager of Denver, was the victim of robbers a week ago when they entered his home on Ivy street in the Park Hill district, and stole about all the clothes and personal effects which Mr. Gilmour owned. It seems as if the culprits were partial to Mr. Gilmour's personal property as nothing else in the house was molested, although the family silver, valuable fur coats and other prop erty might have been easily taken. The total loss was about $600. Seth D. Perkins has arrived in Denver from Los Angeles and taken over the reins of management of the local United Artists branch office. He succeeds H. Bradlev Fish. Jimmie Ellard is the new personality man at the Denver theatre ' for a few weeks during the absence of Lou Forbes, who is away in the east on a vacation. Air. El lard came to Denver from the Uptown theatre in Chicago, where he is a favorite. G. E. Rosenwald, district manager for Universal, arrived in Denver last week for a short visit with Sam Cain, local branch manager. Hobard Kincaid, manager of the Rialto theatre of Florence, Colo., spent several days in Denver last week, transacting business with exchanges. Mrs. Ward E. Scott and two boys, accompanied by Mrs. Bartels, wives of prominent film men of Cleveland, Ohio, arrived in Denver last Saturday morning after motoring here from Cleveland. Ward Scott managed exchanges in Denver for a number of years and was one of the most popular exchange managers ever to be promoted from a position in Denver. Mr. Bartels is now a salesman for Mr. Scott out of the Cleveland branch office of Fox.