Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

February 9, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 285 Beautiful Elsie Ferguson in her new Artcraft picture, "The Song of Songs.' All Theaters in Elyria, O., Merge Increased Dividends for Stockholders Are Expected to Follow With the Overhead Cut to the Bone AIRING of merger talk among the producers seems to have been infectious, spreading to the exhibitors, for word comes of a merger of the interests of all the exhibitors in one town. Elyria, O., is the town. All of the five theaters there have been pooled under the head of the Elyria Theaters Co. It is said that the company expects to increase dividends largely because overhead will be cut to the minimum. It was not easy sledding to perfect the merger, according to reports. Several times when the deal was thought to be nearly completed it went on the rocks, but after much effort the stockholders of the five theaters were called together and the merger formally approved. The following board of directors was elected : H. A. Dykeman, owner of the recently destroyed Elyria Theater, and subsequently interested in the Rialto ;0. J. Bannon, of the Bannon Theater ; Melton Phelas, manager of the Strand and Rialto; C. Neufer, who was interested in the Strand and Rialto ; John Pekras, of the American ; L. B. Fay and F. A. Stetson. The directors then perfected the organization with O. J. Bannon as president, John Pekras vice-president and general manager, F. A. Stetson secretary, and L. B. Fay treasurer. Mr. Pekras as general manager has charge of the general management of the theaters and films, while Mr. Bannon will act as house manager. It is understood that there was considerable rivalry for the controlling offices, but now that everything has been put on a firm business basis, harmonious co-operation is the anticipation from every member of the board. ing capacity of more than 300, while the balcony will seat approimately 700, giving the theater a total seating capacity over 2,200. This makes the Metropolitan the largest theater in Washington. For the convenience of ladies attending the matinee performances the Metropolitan will maintain a large and roomy nursery playroom with toys for the little folks to amuse themselves while their mothers enjoy the performance. The Metropolitan will be strictly a motion picture house and Mr. Crandall has already arranged for the first Washington showing of many photographic productions featuring the well-known stars of the film and stage worlds. Washington House Nearly Ready Crandall's Metropolitan Theater, now in the course of erection at F and Tenth streets, Washington, D. C, in which all right and title was purchased by Harry M. Crandall, Barry Bulkley and R. W. Bulkley, will throw open its doors to the public of Washington about the middle of February. This new and handsome addition to the amusement houses of the nation's capital covers approximately 10,000 square feet. The entrance is on F street, the lobby extending back 30 feet to a rotunda promenade leading directly to the auditorium proper of the theater, which, ex tending at a direct right angle, covers the remainder of the property to Tenth street. This affords an immense area on the first floor, the plans calling for 1,200 seats on the orchestra level alone. Extending over half of this space is hung the cantilever balcony and mezzanine. Private boxes and lodge seats will occupy the entire mezzanine. The arrangement of the balcony is novel in that it consists of a series of rises, reached by a system of ornamental fireproof tunnels or promenades. This is declared to be utilizing such manner of balcony approaches for the first time in theater construction in the United States. The mezzanine floor will have a seat Cleveland Exhibitors Elect The Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of Cleveland has elected the following officers for the coming year: President, Henry B. Lustig; vice-president, R. H. Grey; recording secretary, Joseph Lefkowitz; financial secretary and secretary, Adolph Mahrer. "It is the aim and ambition of this administration," said Mr. Lustig upon taking the chair, "to weld this organization into a strong local body. We want only such members as will co-operate with the administration in accomplishing this. The members who like to reap the benefits of our labors without bearing any of the responsibilities we intend to weed out. "Our slogan will be 'co-operation,' and I intend to exert my power as president in enforcing compliance with the fundamental principles of this league." Mr. Grey and Mr. Lefkowitz heartily endorsed the sentiments of Mr. Lustig, and promised to support him in the reforms which he intends to introduce.