Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

2204 Motion Picture N e iu s South East THE Grand Theatre, motion picture house at Cedartown, Ga., was badly damaged by fire early last Monday morning. From evidence discovered, it is believed the blaze was of incendiary origin. The screen, organ, several rows of seats and other equipment were destroyed, while the back of the building was considerably damaged. First estimates placed the loss at approximately $10,000. The Grand is owned by Joe Wheeler, who also owns and operates the Capitol Theatre in Montgomery, Ala. R. E. Long is the local manager of the theatre here. Faced by fifty cases scheduled for consideration and disposal, the Atlanta Joint Board of Arbitration, at its recent regular meeting, established a record for quick work in clearing the calendar. Ingrain's Theatre, at Ashland, Ala., which had been closed temporarily for repairs and complete renovation, has been reopened and Ashland now boasts of possessing one of the most modernly equipped small-town motion picture houses in Alabama. A cement and tile floor was laid, a metallic ceiling installed and the house was redecorated and painted throughout. It was also completely reseated with comfortable opera chairs, while specially designed electric fixtures were added. An important item of new equipment was the Arctic NuAir cooling system. The theatre is owned and operated by Ernest F. Ingram, generally regarded as one of the live wire showmen of the state. Jim Young, veteran salesman on the local First National Atlanta force, has severed his connection with that company after five years of continuous service. During practically his entire time under the First National banner Air. Young has covered the North Georgia territory. Manager C. B. Ellis, of F B O's Jacksonville, exchange, has returned to his office after an attack of influenza. Hubert Lyons, FBO salesman, is now in Riverside hospital. The Florida has a new organist, Jean Wilson, formerly of Chattanooga and other theatres in Tennessee. She received a wonderful reception on her first appearance and has been pleasing the Florida patrons ever since. Jack E. Lykes was placed in charge of the Strand, Tampa, last week by General manager, John B. Carroll of Consolidated Amuse ments. Mr. Lykes comes to Tampa from St. Petersburg where he has been managing the Florida. Further changes in Publix's operating personnel in Florida were announced last week by Jesse L. Clark, district supervisor for the state. Jack Lukes, assistant manager of the Florida Theatre in St. Petersburg, was transferred to Tampa. He will manage the Strand in that city. To succeed him. Jim Newman has been sent from the Palace Theatre, Jacksonville, where he was assistant manmanager. Newman's place has been tilled at the Palace by Lee Newsome, transferred from the Florida, Jacksonville. Fred Lee was sent from the Palace to the Florida to be advertising manager of that house, succeeding young Newsome. Jack Pickett and Frank Naylor are leaving the Empress theatre shortly, planning to go North to take new positions. They have been identified with the Empress for some time, although Mr. Pickett was recently transferred back to that house from the Imperial, when Fred Lake was brought back from St. Petersburg to be assistant manager. Leo Jacobsen has re-opened the Lincoln at Palatka, Fla. This house was formerly operated by his brother Ralph, who sold out to Ivan Arnold. The summer slump caused Mr. Arnold to close down, but Leo thinks there is sufficient business and so has taken the house over. Seen on Tampa's Rialto the past week, were A. C. Thornton, manager of the Patio at St. Petersburg. Mrs. N. V. Darley. manager of the Royal at Tarpon Springs, and D. J. Willig, manager of the Manatee at Manatee. John W. Mangham, Jr., head of Liberty-Specialty's Atlanta branch, is touring the Alabama territory. William G. Minder, Southern district manager of Tiffany-Stahl, left early last week for Nashville and other points in Tennessee. J. D. Graves, has joined the sales force of Arthur C. Bromberg Attractions, Atlanta branch, being assigned to the Alabama territory. T. F. Thompson, who operates the Palace Theatre at Cedartown, Ga., was a visitor on Film Row recently. W. H. Welch, of the Strand Theatre, Dallas, Ga., was another Atlanta caller. San Francisco AFTER spending a week at the annual convention in Los Angeles, the secretaries from the thirty -Jtwo zones throughout the United States recently came to San Francisco and were welcomed by the official committee of the San Francisco Board of Trade, G. C. Parsons, president; Milton Nathan, J. J. Patridge, Morgan Walsh and William J. Heinemann. Thomas D. Van Osten, secretarymanager of Allied Amusement Industries, officially represented the exhibitors. Clare Foley, the San Francisco secretary of the Film Board, was luncheon hostess at the St. Francis Hotel. C. C. Pettijohn, General Council of the Film Board of Trade, expressed himself as most optimistic for the coming year. Gabriel L. Hess, general attorney for the Film Boards, stressed the impor tance of the work of the boards and the necessity for all members to realize the seriousness of intelligent cooperation and loyalty. Jack Ley, manager of the Alexandria Theatre, is the proud father of a baby girl. Gerald Hardy has returned to Film Row, and is covering his old territory for First National. Upon retaining its orchestra after installing Movietone for the motion picture accompaniment, the St. Francis becomes unique in this part of the country. It is the only house that has orchestral music for all of its short topics, such as the newsreel and short comedy. Also the management has retained Dorothy Dooley, the organist, who accompanies the cartoon sketches. Announcing plans to produce the drama, "Appearances'' by Garland Anderson, and other works by the same author, Better Plays, Inc., S100.000, San Francisco corporation then filed incorporation papers with the secretary of state. The directors include Anderson and F. S. McFarland and Dorothy J. Tallman, all of San Francisco. Joe Solomon, branch manager for Advance Trailer Service, has placed the Advance Shadow Box Service in the National Theatres. The deal involved a trip over the entire circuit to obtain the O.K. of each of the house managers. Harry Lustig, Division Manager of Warner Brothers, recently visited San Francisco. Peggy Herrill spent her vacation days at Rio Nido. Assistant Manager Bloch, of the Alexandria Theatre, has returned from his vacation. Fred Voight says he is glad to be back in San Francisco again after three weeks in New York where he attended the Fox Convention. After an illness -of heart trouble for a period of two weeks, Sam Y. Edwards, well known San Francisco branch exchange manager of First National, passed away in Los Angeles, June 5th. Miss McFadden, who is in the bookkeeping department of the Fox Exchange, is spending her vacation in Yosemite. Grace Sacry was recently ill with tonsilitis, but is now back at her desk at Metro-GoldwynMayer. Harry West, one of Paramount's Ad Sales men, has been transferred to the Portland branch, where he will be manager of the Ad Sales Department. G. C. Parsons drove up to Sacramento recentlv in the interests of M-G-M. Kansas City THE following new theatres and changes in management in the Kansas City territory have been announced : Pastime theatre, Moundridge, Kas., re-opened after being closed for repairs ; new theatre in Stockton, Mo., is to be erected by Franous Babbs ; the Indiana theatre, suburban house of Kansas City, closed for remodeling ; new theatre to be built by Midland Circuit in Marshall, Mo., according to F. C. Stutter ; new house will be built in Oak Grove, Mo., by Norman McGuire ; Electric theatre, Maryville, Mo., reopened after having been closed for redecorating ; Victory theatre, Cabool, Mo., leased by Earl Vollmer and Frank Brown ; Wilmore theatre, Wilmore, Kas., redecorated and repainted. A golf tournament, which will be part of the annual convention of the M. P. T. O. Kansas-Missouri in Wichita, June 26-27, is attracting much more than casual interest among the theatre owners and exchange representatives. C. L. McVey, Dreamland theatre, Herington, Kas. ; C. M. Pattee, Pattee theatre, Lawrence, Kas. ; C. B. Wilhoit, Springfield, Mo, and Frank Weary, Farris theatre, Richmond, Mo., were Kansas City visitors last week.