Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1925)

November 7, 1 925 IU\ Circuit Expansion Continues Lively During Week Mark-Robbins, Famous-B. & K.-Shea Deals Set RECENT unprecedented expansion among leading theatre circuits continued unabated this week, with important deals consummated which enlarge the holdings of national distributors in the theatre held and others which mean a wider field of activity for leading circuits. One of the outstanding deals of the week was closed when the Mitchell H. Mark Realty Corporation, operating theatres in New York City, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Albany, Troy and Syracuse, took over the Nathan Robbms chain of houses in Watertown, Utica and Syracuse. This gives the Mark company twenty large houses in New York State. In Buffalo it was announced that Famous Players-Lasky and Balaban & Katz have closed a deal whereby they replace all outside interests, excepting Michael Shea, in the company operating the Shea theatres. Shea will continue to operate the houses. The deal also calls for an important new theatre in Buffalo. Famous-B. & K. also purchased the Hi-Art theatre in Lockport, N. Y., this week, after extended negotiations. Famous was already operating the Palace theatre in the Lock City. Announcement is anticipated momentarily in St. Louis of expansion plans of the St. Louis Amusement Company calling for the acquisition of some fifteen leading neighborhood and suburban theatres, further strengthening the Skouras chain. Reports in Detroit indicated that the Kunsky-B. & K. interests would erect three large and costly neighborhood houses in Detroit, a site having been already obtained for the first, to seat 3,000, in the North Woodward section, it is said. Two second and third are to follow within two years. The Mitchell H. Mark Realty corporation, operating theatres in Albany, New York, Brooklyn, Troy, Syracuse and Buffalo, took over the chain of houses this week that have been owned and operated by Nathan RobInns, of Utica, including' theatres in Watertown, Utica and Syracuse. The deal will give the Mitchell H. Mark company twenty large motion picture theatres in New York State. Announcement of the deal made in Albany on Tuesday came as ;i distinct surprise although it has been known for sometime past that tlie company has been in the field tor additional theatres. Sometime ago. .in announcement was made to the effect that Bobbins was negotiating w i t h Famous Players-Lasky. but this deal fell through some weeks ago. Hohbins Becomes Officer Bobbins, who is one of the best known men in the motion picture business in central New York, will become one of the vicepresidents of the Mitchell H. Mark company, and in that capacity will be associated with Moe Mark, of New York; Wa'ter Hays, of Buffalo; Eugene Falk, and others. The Mitchell H. Mark company has been expanding rapidly of late in both Albany and Troy. Starting with the Mark Strand in Albany, as the original house in that part of the state, the company acquired the Albany and the Regent theatres from the Suckno estate about two months ago, and is operating these houses following a brief closing, during which considerable money was spent in improvements. The same company is also erecting a quarter of a million doMar theatre in Albany which will be in readiness for opening early next spring. All four houses are located in the business center of Albany, with the Buckley theatres the only competing houses. In the neighboring city of Troy the company operates the Troy theatre as well as the American and the Lincoln, all located in the downtown section. The Lincoln theatre was taken over several months ago from Symnasky brothers, and the American was acquired last spring but remained closed until a month or so ago. In Watertown, the company now commands the situation with (he Olympic as the largest of the group. In Syracuse, by acquiring the Eckel, a down-town house, the company also takes over a business block in which the theatre is located. The amount of the deal has not been made public. Buffalo Deal Famous Players-Lasky and Balaban & Katz have closed a deal with ^-j McNaughton Realty company of Buualo through which the former corporation takes the place of all outside interests in the Buffalo company, except Michael Shea who remains as heretofore. The deal also provides for the erection of a new theatre on the Root site at 622 Main street. Shea will continue to operate the houses involved, which include Shea's new Buffalo theatre, Shea's Hippodrome, Shea's North Park and Shea's Court street, the latter being the vaudeville house playing Keith attractions. Negotiations have been underway for sev eral weeks with meetings between the parties involved taking place in Buffalo, New York and Chicago. Haiold B. Franklin, who graduated from the managing directorship of Shea's Hippodrome to the Paramount theatre department, took a leading part in consummating the deal. The new Shea Buffalo theatre is one of the finest houses in the country. It is expected to be ready for the public the middle of January. It will have a seating capacity of 4,000 and will be gorgeous in interior decoration and unusually complete in modern equipment. The name of Shea has been synonomous with the best in entertainment in Buffalo for over a quarter century. Buffalonians have always responded to Shea's efforts to give them the best obtainable in motion pictures and vaudeville. Every house in the chain today is enjoying great prosperity. With the new Comerford-Fox theatre at Main and Chippewa, the new Shea Buffalo a few steps away up the block, the new F. P.-L.-B. & K. house in between these two and the Hippodrome just below the trio, Buffalo will have four big theatres in a row. With Paramount interested in the Shea company, the city undoubtedly will get the attractions, pictures and prologues which will be sent over the circuit. Skouras Expansion Spyros Skouras, president of Skouras Brothers Enterprises and also of the St. Louis Amusement company is due back in St. Lou;s from New York City. It is anticipated that important official announcements affecting both of the companies will be made shortly upon his return to that city. The deal involving the Missouri and new Ambassador theatre with Paramount was scheduled to go through the past week, and it is believed that Skouras will announce that the necessary papers have been signed. It is also e pected that another big deal will be consummated whereby some fifteen leading neighborhood and suburban thea'res will pass under control of the St. Louis Amusement company. Preliminary steps toward this move have already been taken and but a few minor details remain to be straightened out. A third deal involving the Skouras interests was the recording of the agreement with William Goldman affecting the Grand Central, West End Lyric, Lyric Skydome and the Kings Theatre and Garden. As is known, that merger will not become effective until thirty days after the new ambassador has been completed and in deration. However, several weeks ago Skouras Brothers and Goldman perfected a booking arrangement whereby the Kings has played day and date with Skouras houses on several big pictures. That arrangement also included the Rivoli, Sixth street near Olive, operated by Goldman. (Continued on next page)