Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

January 1, 1927 St* Louis , Mo* Moving Picture World Bureau, Pittsburgh, Pa., Dec. 28. THE Grand Avenue Theatres, Incorporated, has been organized by Skouras Brothers and William Goldman, and on January 1 will take over the management of the Grand Central, West End, Lyric and the King Theatres, and in the Summer will also operate the Lyric Skydome. The incorporators are : Spyros P. Skouras, William Goldman, G. P. Skouras, F. J. Laurent and W. J. Hogan. Skouras Brothers now control the Ambassador, Missouri, Grand Central, West End, Lyric and Kings, and through the St. Louis Amusement Company about thirty neighborhood and suburban theatres. Reports from Southern Illinois are that local conditions are in excellent shape, and the outlook for 1927 is very bright. It is anticipated that the remainder of this winter will be a good one for the motion picture theatres in that section. All of the coal mines are working, and the miners have plenty of surplus cash again. Recent visitors on Harry Weiss, manager •of t'he First National office were J. F. Dittman and Messrs. Mager and Calvert of the John Dittman Amusement Enterprises of Freeport, 111., and Charles Lundgren, former Chicago film exchange manager. Lundgren was here to perfect plans for the opening of a local office for a new national film distributing company. Recent transfers of theatres in this section of the country included: Majestic Theatre, Stuttgart, Ark., from Fred Smith to M. A. Lightner; Grand Theatre, Eldorado, 111., 'from B. O. Lanham to William Maloney; Community Theatre, Raymond, 111., from A. R. McNeal to the Farmers Theatrical Company; Worden, Worden, 111., from Mrs. Frances Peart to J. Lannae; Liberty Theatre, Binghamton, Tenn., P. E Breece to E. L. Hunt; Princess Theatre, Gideon, Mo., W. H. Anderson to W. D. Mumma, and DeSoto, Memphis, Tenn., to L. S. Goolsby. When a ten-year-old boy crawled into the •Gem Theatre, 16 South Sixth street, St. Louis, to spend the night some one called the police and a squad of patrolmen were rushed to the scene. The boy was placed in the House of Detention. Wallace Aiken, well known film salesman, is distributing Damaged Goods in Southern Illinois and Eastern Missouri for Steve Farrar of Harrisburg, 111. Mrs. Bob Werthi wife of Fox’s city salesman, has been released from the Christian Hospital, where she recently underwent an ■operation. Recent visitors included: Elvin Weeks, Staunton, 111.; George Smith and Curley B. Gould. Lawrenceville, 111.; S. E. Pertle, Jerseyville, 111.; Tom Reed, Duquoin, 111.; Jimmy Clayton, West Frankfort, 111.; Frank Barnes, Carmi, 111 ; Charles Barver, Tilden, 111.; Sam Hallowell, Assumption, 111.; Homer Marvel, Mount Vernon, 111.; Peyton Campbell, Memphis, Mo.; Henry Lowry, Highland, 111., and Messrs. Leber & Hirth, Pacific, Mo ■A-f St. Joseph, Mo., the Electric Theatre ■displayed its $22o,000 worth of improvements to a capacity audience, while the Hippodrome of Joplin, Mo., operated by Ben Levy which has undergone $100,000 improvement, enjoyed a similar experience. The seating capacity of the Hippodrome has been enlarged to a total of 1,700 seats. A new pipe organ is among the improvements. The new $75,000 Rialto Theatre of St. Joseph, built almost entirely and equipped by local contractors, opened. Jack Quinlan, for several years manager of the Mainstreet Theatre, Kansas City, has been named manager of the Pantages Theatre. MOVING PICTURE WORLD Allene Ray is about to plunge into the eighth chapter of the Patheserial, “The House Without a Key,” with Walter Miller right on deck. Michigan Moving Picture World Bureau , Detroit, Mich., Dec. 27. AN “old-timers” meeting is announced by the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Michigan for their next monthly session, which is to be held Wednesday, January 5, at the Book-Cadillac Hotel. The meeting is in response to a general request from exhibitors that old-time members of the association who have been absent recently or who have moved to other scenes be invited to a gettogether. Many of those who helped form the present Michigan association are in other lines of business, but are still located in this vicinity. It is to these men that specal invitations are being issued to attend. There will be several speakers of note, entertainment and plenty of hot groceries. The Christmas holidays found the Detroit film trade busy moving from old to new quarters and over the week-end five more companies took over their new quarters. The companies now in the building are Universal, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, F. B. O., Warner Bros, and P. D. C. All will be moved before another two weeks have passed. Basil and Stuart Davis, exhibitors from London, England, were recent Detroit visitors for several days. While here they were royally entertained by Russell Chapman, manager of the Capitol Theatre. Jacob Sullivan, manager of the new Orient Theatre, being constructed at Linwood and Philadelphia avenues, announces the theatre will be ready for opening around the first of February. The Michigan Theatre has announced a special New Year’s Eve show at $1 top and tickets are being grabbed up eagerly, the management announces. Several acts from the other Kunsky theatres will supplement the regular program. It is to he the plan of the Kunsky management to obtain the services of well known screen players from week to week as masters of ceremonies at the Capitol. J. L. Snitzer, vice-president; E. B. Derr, treasurer; Lee Marcus, general sales manager, and C. E. Sullivan, assistant treasurer of F. B. O., are expected in Detroit this week to conduct a sales conference with Arthur Elliott, local manager and his sales force. Read Live News for Real Live News 59 Pennsylvania Moving Picture World Bureau, St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 28. THE minority interest of the Harris group in the Harry Davis theatrical enterprises, Pittsburgh, has been transferred to the Stanley Corporation of America, State Senator Frank J. Harris announced last week.’ The controlling interest of Harry Davis in the organization recently was acquired by Stanley. The latest phase of the deal gives the Stanley Corporation full control of the Davis, Grand, Pitt and Olympic Theatres. The amount of money was not revealed. Charles F. Schwerin, for the past eight months manager of the Capitol Film Exchange, Pittsburgh, has resigned to accept a position as home office representative for United Artists. Austin Interrante, formerly manager of the Film Classics exchange, Pittsburgh (which, two years ago was distributor for Warner Bros.), is back in the territory again as a special representative for Tiffany. J. I. Schnitzer, senior vice-president and general manager of F. B. O., as well as C. E. Penrod, division manager, were recent Pittsburgh visitors. Mr. Schnitzer is a brother to A. H. Schnitzer, manager of the local branch. Ben Nadler reopened his remodeled and enlarged Prince Theatre at Ambridge on December 23. Montana Moving Picture World Bureau, Butte, Mont., Dec. 28. THE Joshers’ Club, that entertained royally December 22 at the Broadway Theatre, under the direction of Merle Davis, lessee of the Ansonia Amusement chain of theatres, and netted some thousands of dollars for the poor of Butte, is now in funds to furnish over 500 baskets of food for the many needy families. Joe Soloman, who was head of the local Associated Exhibitors’ exchange until it was merged with the Pathe interests, and who then became branch special feature manager, has just been promoted to the San Francisco office, where he will be branch manager of special features for Pathe. “Rick” Warren, Pathe salesman, will take the place Rft vacant by Mr. Soloman. This leaves an opening in the ranks of the Pathe that as yet has not been filled. Salt Lake City W. T. Withers, salesman for F. B. O. out of the Salt Lake City office, has been on a trek over the state of Montana for the past several weeks. He left for Salt Lake City this week, where he will spend Christmas. Dave Farquhar, manager of Warner Brothers classics, who frequently tours Montana for the classics, is recovering from a prolonged attack of “flu.’’ Heis able to be at his office again. C. R. Wade, special representative for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation, is home from a drive over the Treasure State and if present plans work out, he expects to spend Christmas with his family in Mineapolis. Livingston E. P. White of the Strand theatre in Livingston, has booked an evening of vaudeville for the Strand, with the threat or promise of making the vaudeville a weekly attraction.