Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

434 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 9. Latest News of Chicago CHICAGO THEATRE MEN and other exhibitors of the Central States and Northwest, represented by a committee of seven, are investigating to determine whether they shall enter the new organization for carrying out the Manufacturer to Exhibitor Direct Sales plan. The committee, consisting of Joseph Hopp, W. D. Burford and William E. Heaney of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League; J. Cooper, Harry Corbett and Louis Frank of the American Exhibitors' Association, and D. Robinson of Peoria, a member of both organizations, has held several meetings but is not yet ready to report. The committee was appointed when exhibitors held a. meeting two weeks ago to hear an explanation of the plan by C. C. Pettijohn and Harry Rapf. At the committee's first meeting Mr. Hopp was appointed temporary chairman, and Mr. Frank temporary secretary. Mr. Burford and Mr. Frank were detailed to investigate legal aspects, especially whether a company should be organized by the direct sale of stock or whether the stock should be held in trust. Meanwhile more exhibitors are 'being interested. Tom Hamlin of the Associated Theatres, Inc., of the Northwest, which controls 700 theatres, is lining up exhibitors in that territory. * * * I. J. Ingraham is the new representative for the International Film Service in this territory, succeeding Harold Brown, who recently joined Mutual's Screen Telegram. Mr. Ingraham has had a varied career as cameraman. He traveled with Burton Holmes on his trips to the South Sea Islands, Hawaii and the Far East, and through Alaska and Canada. He was connected with the Chicago Land Bureau for some time and covered twenty-five states in this capacity. He has also taken many industrial and travel pictures on contract for various concerns, among them the Crossette Film Company. He thus brings a wide technical and news training to his new position. J. R. Grainger, general manager of the Allen Film Corporation, has gone to New Orleans following his return from New York, where he closed a big deal. Upon his return it is expected he will disclose the nature of the proposition. The Allen Corporation controls the rights of "The Garden of Allah," "The Warrior," and "Mother" in eleven states — Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Ben Beadell, assistant manager of the Select office, is back from a trip through Indiana with John Balaban, Indiana representative. Mr. Beadell said he found conditions much better than had been reported and did an excellent business. Among other things he arranged to start a billboard campaign in Kokomo. Similar campaigns will be started in all pivotal cities of the state. * * * Having straightened out all the kinks and curves at his new office for Chicago and Cook County business in the Consumers' building, Pat Dillon of the Allen Film Corporation wants it known that his friends cannot come in too fast. Mr. Dillon formerly was on the city sales force of Vitagraph. * * * Charles H. Ryan of the Garfield Theatre, a West Madison street house, arranged a special matinee for school children on Washington's Birthday. He chose for their entertainment the patriotic Metro play, "Her Boy," a Chaplin film, a Sidney Drew comedy and a Pathe News Weekly. + + * W. R. Sheehan, general manager of the Fox Film Corporation, stopped off en route to New York from a trip through the west and northwest. Mr. Harold P. Brown, who has just been appointed chief of the camera staff of Mutual's "Screen Telegram." Sheehan said that he found business good, reports to the contrary notwithstanding. * * * Albert L. Kahn, formerly of Chicago,, but now manager of the Quality film exchange at Kansas City, was a visitor in the city one day last week. He spent the day in saying "Hello" to his old office mates at the Chicago Universal exchange, where he was employed for seven years. Mr. Kahn has just organized another independent film exchange in Kansas City to be known as the Emerald. * * * The Alcazar Theatre, a Loop house, of which Harry C. Miller is manager, departed from its custom of a daily change of program last week and played the Fox feature, "A Daughter of the Gods," with Annette Kellerman, for all seven days. * * * William Fox has opened a separate office in the City Hall Square building for the booking of road shows. All western territory will be handled from this office, New York taking care of the east. J. A. Brehany is in charge. * * * C. E. Smith, manager of the Metro exchange, has returned from Indianapolis and reports that he booked Viola Dana's new picture, "Blue Jeans," for a week at the Circle Theatre, one of the leading houses of the middle west. * * * Ned Allen, president of the Allen Film Corporation, has just opened a new branch office in the Sincere building in Cleveland. Dan Martin and J. J. Gilmore will handle Ohio and Indiana from this office. * * * A private showing of the special Bluebird picture, "The Grand Passion," with Dorothy Phillips and a start cast, was held at the Bluebird exhibition room last Wednesday. * * * A. S. Kirkpatrick of the Mutual Sales department has returned from a trip of inspection of the Milwaukee office. + * * Joe Engle, treasurer of the Metro Pictures Corporation, spent a day in Chicago en route to the Coast. * * * F. C. Aiken, manager of the Select exchange, made a flying trip through Wisconsin last week. * * * Al Lichtman, general manager of Paramount, spent Sunday in Chicago.