Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 67 John G. Sacks Is remodeliog his theater in AIleQtown and expects to re-open it to the public by the middle of the month. Mr. Sacks was in partners'ilp with Mr. Boxberry, and then sold his share in the establishment to Sir. William Manley. Mr. Sacks is an experienced motion picture man and was one of the first to open a theater In AUentown. Workmen are busy remodeling the building at 4545 to 4549 Lancaster avenue Into a modern picture house, which will be a credit to that section of the city when completed. The cost of the new house will be about §12,000. The National Motion Picture Company of Philadelphia has just been incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania with a capitalizalion of $200,000. A. T. Feigenbaum, of the National Features, is one busy man these days. The large number of the films owned by this concern have been working overtime. Mr, Feigenbaum has several new productions on the way which he expects to release to local exhibitors within the next few weeks. George W. Bradenburgh is receiving large importations of films from Europe, and daring the past week he has paid out to customs officials as duty on the films over ^l.OiXi. Zorn & Supplee, of the Broadway Theater, have now under way a new motion picture theater which will meet all requirements of the modern photoplay critic. Tlie furnishing and interior decorations will be of high character throughout and the capacity will be over one thousand seats. The "Auto Bandits", a feature which has had a most popular run In the local theaters, still continues to draw large crowds for the exhibitors, and the Quaker City Feature Exchange has not missed a single day's booking for this great picture. The Fairmount Feature Film Exchange which ^recently opened in Philiulelphia is enjoying a big business. Those in charge of the exchange are trying to give the exhibitors the verj' best features possible and are sparing no expense in getting the goods. Another feature house to open in Philadelphia is the American-European Feature Eohange. This concern handles a large amount of imported features of the very highest standing and is claiming a large portion of the local trade, I. Singer and Mr. Siegel of the Liberty Feattire Exchange are having a very busy time, taking care of their many customers. Since opening in Philadelphia these two men have taken a prominent part in the motion picture business, and they are placing shows with some of the largest houses in the city. George Graff, who was formerly connected with the Quaker City Feature Exchange and later with the Star Feature Film Compaay, is making arrangements to open a new exchange. Mr. Graff was the first man to rent feature films in Philadelphia and has a large acquaintance with the local exhibitors who will be pleased to see him back in the feature game. F. William Kamp, may be seen daily in his private office at the Calehuff Supply Company where he will meet all prospective buyers of Edison. Power's and Motiograph machines, and point out the different qualities. Kamp recently returned from a trip to Atlantic City, where he was drumming up business for the concern he represents. Edward Kruapa has been appointed Assistant Director of Public Safety at Atlantic City and he is making frequent trips to the resort city inspecting the moving picture fheaters. CONGDON. NEW ENGLAND NOTES. T AKUE VlEDENBUIiGH. ol' the Edison Illu■^ minating Company, of Boston, delivered an address before the members of the Boston Scientific Society, In the Chauncy Hall Building, Boston, last week, in which he lauded the educational value of motion pictures. Ms. Vredenburgh remarked that "the greatest thing of all in the mind of that wizard. Thomas A. Edison, the greatest man. dead or alive, in the history of electrical science, is the idea of the use of motion pictures for educational purposes." Dr. Frederick V. Fisher, manager of the lecture bureau of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, delivered a lecture at an assembly luncheon of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, at the American House, February 25. Motion pictures of the Panama Canal, showing the actual construction work, were shown and created a marked impression upon those present. The exposition and California scenes were also thrown on the screen. Tlie bill before the Massachusetts Legislature relative to tlie censoring of all pictures used in that state, was given "leave to withdraw." which will greatly please Massachusetts exhibitors. These same exhibitors should be duly grateful to the Massachusetts Exhibitors" League, as it was due to the energy of this body that the committee in charge of the bill was shown the injustice and utter uselessness of it. President .Toseph Mack, of the League, made a strikingly able speech, that won the day for the exhibitors. It is with great pleasure that we are able to report' that the petition of Mr. Mack, in behalf of the League, that exhibitions of moving pictures may be run continuously for one hour instead of for twenty minutes, as at present, before five minutes of some other form of amusement' is interspersed was re ported favorably to the Senate, and had its first reading on Friday, Febuary 28. Frank Booth Is now In charge of Boyden's Theater. Taunton, Mass., having taken over the managership of this new theater. For the last few years Mr. Booth had been associated with the Park Theater of Taunton. Every report indicates that Boyden's Theater has jumped Into popularity, as, indeed it should. The house is a first class one in every way, and offers a good program of vaudeville and pictures. Manager Booth states it is his firm intention to "deliver the goods" to his patrons all of the time. Manager M. W. O'Brien of the Scenic Temple, Boston, is doing a splendid business these days, notwithstanding keen competition. Of course, the reason for this pleasing state of affairs can be found in the fact that Manager O'Brien knows what his trade wants, and does not hesitate to supply the demand. The Scenic has always held a most enviable name for itself, being called "a model of its kind" by several of the local clergy. Several Massachusetts exhibitors are leaving that territory, to try their fortune in New York State. W. 0. Youngsou, formerly manager of the Bijou Theater, North Adams. Mass., has formed a partnership with Lewis J. Cody, and William C. O'Brien who sometime ago was in charge of the Bijou. The Darling Theater of Gloversville. N. Y.. has been leased by tlie new concern. Mr. O'Brien has lately been in charge of the Emily Theater, of Gloversville. hut has now resigned in order to guide the Darling Theater. Gus. Schlesinger, who managed the St. James Theater. Boston, while M. H, Gulesian, was giving stock company attractions, has left that theater, since Marcus Loew took possession with his programs of vaudeville and pictures. Manager Schlesinger is now at the head of the Lee Avenue .\cademy Theater, Brooklyn, N. Y., which is owned by his brother, Morris Schlesinger. Messrs. "Moe" and "Mitch" Mark announce that everything possible will be done to push along the new theater they are to build at Lynn, Mass. The new house will have a seating capacity of around 2GO0 and is to be the best that money can buy. Active work will probably not be started until Spring, owing to certain obstacles in the way. Al. Newhall. now in charge of Moe Mark's Comique Theater, Lynn, will be a very busy man before the year is out, as he will have charge of the new house, as well as the old one. Manager Newhall will be able to swing both houses, as he has unquestioned ability, plus a great amount of energy and push. Howe's moving pictures had another extremely profitable engagement at Manager D. O. G'ilmore's Court Square Theater Springfield. Mass., from February 27 to March 1. The Court Square is a 'legitimate" house as a general tiling, but offers Howe's pictures no«' and then to packed bouses. Manager Knight of the Bijou Theater, Springfield, Mass., had some very nice free publicity when the Colonial Minslt-el Four appeared at a free concert at the city's new auditorium, February 19. The Bijou Is a vaudeville and picture house, and has the reputation of being a splendid money making proposition, due to the well directed efforts of Manager Knight, who is considered an unusually capable executive. The Princess Theater, Hartford. Conn., recently contracted with Frank Manning. Eastern representative of the Mirror Screen Company of Shelbyville, Ind.. for one of the company's mirror screens. The Princess is very well pleased with its bargain, and is proving a good booster for the Mirror Screen Company. The Great Eastern Film Manufacturing Co. has acquired a four story building in Stoughton. Mass., where it will locate a manufacturing plant and studio. The Great Eastern has offices at 2lS Tremont Street, Boston, and is a $2iX),00l) corporation, with James A. Reid as treasurer. Mr. Eeid is at present at .Tacksonville, Fla., locating suitable winter quarters for his company of photoplayers. Miss Virginia Keatingue. formerly of the Cottage Tlieoter, Chicago, has been secured as leading lady. Randall F. Smith, who has tried for some time to secure a license to operate a photoplay theater in the Forest Park district of Springfield. Mass., was finally turned down. Residents of the Forest Park district were dead against the issuance -of the license, and brought considerable pressure to bear on the matter. The Colonial Theater, Lawrence. Mass.. plays to "legiliniate* road attractions during the week, btit Julius Cahn finds that vaudeville and picture programs are needed to secure the big Saturday and Sunday business. F. A. Moxon, manager of the Nickel theater. Lawrence. Mass.. finds business most satisfactory. with programs of pictures and illustrated songs. No vaudeville is used nor does It seem to be required by the Nickel. Manager F. L. Boyd, of the Columbia theater, runs on a similar policy, and business seems to be good. Manager J. M. Mosher, manager of Keith's Hippodrome theater. Portland. Me., announces that he will exhibit the Edison Talking Pictures in the very near future. Joseph A. McConville is now in charge of the New Portland theater, Portland. Me., and is offering the regnlation bills of vaudeville and pictures. Manager H. C. Parsons of Parsons' theater, Hartford, Conn., a "legitimate" theater, offered Paul J. Rainey's African Hunt pictures on Febru ary 24-26, and was exceedingly pleased with the patronage these reels drew. It is rumored that the Scenic Temple, Boston, one of the William Bradstreet' circuit of theaters, devoted to vaudeville and pictures, will be torn down this summer to allow a more modern theater to be built, llie Scenic was formerly a church, and was slightly altered some time ago. The week of February 24 saw a world of activity in the moving picture business of Boston, willi Edison's Talking Pictures at Keith's and the National Theaters, and "The Miracle" playing at the Colonial theater, with nu augmented orchestra and a chorus of 100 voices at prices up to §1.50. The press had many good things to say atwut "The Miracle." Here is a sample of what the papers gave out: ' "Unusual, almost unbelievable, the wordless mystery play held a large audience spellbound, astonislied. and enthusiastically surprised at its first production at the Colonial last night." Great interest was shown at the exhibitions of the new talking pictures. Wlien the writer saw them at Keith's they were very well received. The picture of Mr. Edison thrown on the screen started a demonstration so prolonged and enthusiastic that one might have thought one was witnessing a presidential nomination. The Talking Pictures are to be exhibited -at Keith's and the National indefinitely. Herman Rifkin. manager of the Eastern Feature Film Company, announces that he has opened a New York office at 12 Union Square, in addition to his Boston headquarters at 224 Treraont Street. An exclusive line of features are pulling in the business for this wide-awake concern. S. B. Leland is busy these days booking the multiple reel feature film "From the Manger to the Cross" In New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, The Majestic theater of Burlington, Vt.. was filled to Its capacitj of 700 at every performance, while this feature was being exhibited. Theater ticket speculators are now working the large vaudeville and picture houses. The National theater, Boston, is twing annoyed in this way, and refuses to honor tickets bought of speculators whenever possible. August Hamilton, the war cotrespbndeot, gave some illustrated lectures on the Balkan War at Tremont Temple, Boston, last week. The reels were particularly good, and Mr. Hamilton delivered a most interesting and instructive lecture, declaring that the atrocities attributed to the Turkish Army are false, and that the Ottoman government was wholly unprepared for the strife, while the allies particularly the Bulgarians, Servians and Montenegrins, had been preparing for year.^;. A , co-operative scheme of public education, relative to health and sanitation, is being seriously considered by all the principal cities of Western Canada. Moving pictures are to turn the trick; the idea being that each city shall purchase one picture, of an educational nature. These reels will be interchanged between the various cities, and will be lectured upon by a physician. It' is hoped that photoplay theaters will be willing to lend their auditoriums for this purpose. In this way a municipal hygiene campaign will be waged, and the public informed as to health and sanitation, in an entertaining way. The idea is a good one and should be pushed through. A new incorporation is the Globe Film Co.. of Fall River, Mass., a 55,000 concern, with Samuel G'enansky and M. M. Travers, as the promoters. The Universalist Church of Stoughton, Mass., has decided to install a moving picture machine and will give regular exhibitions to awaken interest in the younger element. "Satan," showing the birth of evil as told In Milton's "Paradise Lost," was exhibited at the Palace theater, Boston, last week. This feature was heavily advertised in the local dailies, and did a good business for the theater. The Pastime theater, Bridgeport, Conn., finds that Mutual service is ju.st to tlie liking of its patrons, and is loud in its praise of its picture programs secured from the Mutual Film Corporation. Poll's new theater, Worcester, Mass., will have a big mass band concert on April 6, with B. A. Rolfe as director. Thomas J. Lynch, president of the National Baseball League, is operating the Russwin Lyceum Theater at New Britain, Conn., to good busines-;. W. W. Sargent, president of the Fitcbburg and Leominster Street Railway Co., with headquarters at Fitcbburg. Mass., intends to run Whalom Park, Fitchhurg, this summer, but he has not quite decided whether to run vaudeville and pictures or a stock company. The new Princess theater that opened at Hartford. Conn., on February 15, seems to be doing a splendid business with a program of independent pictures. The Princess is strictly up-to-date, and has a good location. Quality shows should result in good business. Guy P. Woodman, manager of the Scenic theater. Portland. Me., was forced to close his bouse this week, not because of poor business, but due to the fact that the building has been leased by Messrs. Mayberry and Elliott who intend to use the place for other purpo-'^es. Claude R. Buffington, an actor, died at the Union hospital, Lynn. Mass., as a result of a fall from the stage of the Olympia theater. Lynn, on Christmas night. Mr. Buffington, who leaves a wife and child, had instituted a suit against the Olympia Amusement Companj for §15.000.