Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

January 5, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 43 "Split Reel" Notes For Theater Men SNAPPY ITEMS OF INTEREST TO OWNERS AND MANAGERS New Theater Is Opened The Federal Amusement Company of which Marks Browarsky is president, has opened a new moving picture theater at Center Avenue and Roberts street, in Philadelphia. The new house is known as the Center Square, and is one of the largest and best equipped places of amusement in the hill district of the Quaker city. The house has a capacity of 800, and is provided with exceptional means of egress for emergencies. An enormous pipe organ will supplement a first class orchestra. The theater stage has been built with a view making it possible to present speaking drama at a later date. Sunday Law Slips Notwithstanding the fact that the twin cities, Decatur and Albany, Alabama, have been promised "quiet Sundays," the promise has not fully materialized in the past few weeks. On last Sunday the sheriff of the county granted the various places of business which have been keeping open a temporary respite, including drug stores. The sheriff served a late notice to the effect that he would not begin rigid enforcement of the "blue laws" for the present, declaring . that some of the shop owners, merchants and concessionists might not have been sufficiently notified. Manager a Telegrapher Lowell V. Calvert, manager of the New Garrick Theater in Minneapolis, Minn., is expecting a call to the colors at any time, and to fit himself for his duties in the signal corps, he is brushing up on telegraph lore. When Mr. Calvert was a telegraph operator, he used the Continental code, but as the government prescribes the use of Morse code in its dispatches, Mr. Calvert is practicing with a sending key and sounder to perfect his knowledge of dots and dashes. Manager Gets New Job E. R. Saether, manager of the Strand, Bijou, and Marinette theaters in Marinette, Mich., has gone to Chicago to supervise the booking of films for the chain of theaters owned by Fitzpatrick and McElroy. T. J. Aelick of Chicago, an experienced moving picture theater manager, has succeeded Mr. Saether in Marinette. May Rebuild Burned Theater Out of the ashes of the Strand Theater of Spokane, Wash., which was destroyed by fire recently, likely there will arise a new and more pretentious play house. This theater, located on First avenue, was a historical land-mark of the city. It had been devoted to the legitimate, then to vaudeville, later to burlesque, and finally to moving pictures. James McConnahy had been managing it as a picture house since last July. The loss caused by the fire is estimated $55,000. Gives Grand Opera The Strand Theater of New York will introduce a new novelty in the entertainments after the holidays and Manager Edel is busily engaged selecting material and singers for the rather pretentious addition which will consist of a weekly presentation of condensed versions of grand opera. The first opera to be presented is "Carmen." Not only has Mr. Edel engaged a cast of high class opera stars to sing the various roles, but special sets of scenery are being painted for the various operatic productions. Opens Remodeled House Joseph Saperstein has opened the remodeled Hippodrome Theater in Bridgeport, Conn. The house was done over in artistic style and it now stands as one of the most beautiful moving picture edifices in the state. The house seats 1,500 persons and is modern in its equipment and decoration in every respect. Pays Tax for Family W. H. Deeth, manager of the American Theater in Minneapolis, has discovered that he must give the government several payments of two cents each for the times his wife and son attended his theater. He found that the members of his family were not "employes of the theater or city officials on official business" and he paid the tax cheerfully. Remodels From Ground Up When Emmett L. Booth of the Star Theater in Flint, Mich., determined to remodel his theater, he started at the ground and rebuilt the entire structure. The building is completed and has been formally opened. The newest equipment was installed, and the finishings of the entire house were made modern in every respect. Manager Goes to War Joseph Rubenstein, manager of the Broadway-Strand theater in Chicago, has enlisted in the Radio service of the United States Army. He will leave shortly for Harvard University to receive final training. For a number of years Mr. Rubenstein has been connected with the motion picture business, in Chicago and Milwaukee. Fire Loss Is $20,000 The Gem Theater of Jefferson City, Mo., has been destroyed by fire, with a loss of $20,000. This theater was one of the largest moving picture and vaudeville houses in central Missouri. A. E. Longnecker, owner of the theater building, has not announced whether the house will be rebuilt. Labor Trouble Ends The labor difficulties between moving picture operators and stage hands and the Cummings Amusement Company of Oshkosh, Wis., has been settled, and the striking employes have returned to work. A compromise agreement .was reached by Roy Cummings, owner of the Amusement Company. Invites Public Inside Through the medium of the public press Charles Branham, of the Strand Theater, Minneapolis; James Keough', of the New Lyric, and William Koch, of the New Aster, made it known that they had put winter doors on their entrances and invited the public to -"come in out of the cold." New Manager Takes Charge Carl Ray, formerly the owner of the Amuse Theater in Cheyenne, Wyo., has returned to Cheyenne. He has purchased M. C. Gerhart's interest in the Amuse and assumed personal charge of the management. Since last March Mr. Ray has been in Los Angeles. Plan New Picture House A report from Gillette, Wyo., states that plans are being formed for the opening of a new moving picture theater in that city. Ben Morgan is to be the manager of the new enterprise. Chairs and other fixtures have arrived ready to be installed in the new picture house. Reopens After Repairs The Crown Theater in Chicago was re-opened on Christmas Day after being closed down for a week for alterations. An entire change of interior embellishments cost the management of the theater in the neighborhood of $6,000. House Changes Hands The Burchard Opera House of Burchard, Neb., has become the property of L. Borden, and Albert Urich, Jr. The house has been equipped for the presentation of moving pictures.