The Moving picture world (May 1923-June 1923)

Record Details:

Something wrong or inaccurate about this page? Let us Know!

Thanks for helping us continually improve the quality of the Lantern search engine for all of our users! We have millions of scanned pages, so user reports are incredibly helpful for us to identify places where we can improve and update the metadata.

Please describe the issue below, and click "Submit" to send your comments to our team! If you'd prefer, you can also send us an email to mhdl@commarts.wisc.edu with your comments.




We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.

Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.

222 MOVING PICTURE WOULD May W, m Milwaukee Exhibitor Saves Girl from Poisoned Candy An attempt to kill the cashier of Otto Meister's Whitehouse Theatre with poisoned candy is being investigated by the police and federal officials in Milwaukee. The life of the cashier, Miss Nettie Tuchalski, was saved by Mr. Meister, who from his experience as a candy maker in former years, was able to detect the poisonous substance as the girl was about to place a piece of the sweets to her lips. A chemical test later showed the candy contained a deadly poison. Miss Tuchalski received the candy through the mails. Mr. Meister's suspicions were aroused because of the peculiar packing of the box. His suspicions increased when a note was discovered under the first layer which read : "From a friend. Guess." Although discovery of the plot immediately led to reports that it was a press agent stunt, Mr. Meister denied vehemently that such was the case, and officials, after checking over the list of pictures he has booked, apparently have come to the conclusion that it was a bona fide attempt to kill the girl. Mr. Meister pointed out that it would be foolish for anyone to seek publicity in this manner because of the heavy penalty provided for sending such a poisonous substance through the mail. Life for the kiddies in Milwaukee is worth living again. After eight weeks, during which children under 12 years of age were prohibited from attending theatres because of a scarlet fever epidemic, the health department has finally lifted the ban. As a result, unprecedented business is reported in neighborhood houses which suffered most from the health department edict. Although scores of exhibitors lost heavily because children were barred, with few exceptions they co-operated wholeheartedly in the fight to rid the city of scarlet fever cases and this spirit led Health Commissioner George C. Ruhland to compliment them. Some of the larger houses were allowed to evade the ban by stationing physicians at the box office to examine children who sought entrance. have been provided for the Grand Theatre at Clintonville, Wis., by William Gould, manager. The curtain contains advertisements of local merchants upon a background of artistic design. The stage background is of richly colored drapery, blending beautifully into a two-section curtain which covers the picture screen in the center. Ornamental lights posts are on either side. In connection with the showing of "Souls for Sale," Ralph Wettstein, manager of the Merrill Theatre, arranged to photograph hundreds of Milwaukee girls who aspire to fame in the movies. The pictures were shown in connection with the big feature. The Gayety Theatre at Milwaukee, managed by Charles Fox, has closed its burlesque season and is now showing summer movies. Mr. Fox is offering a new program of second run pictures daily at 10 cents for every seat in the house. Joe Pairolero has purchased the Rex Theatre at Lansing, Mich., from Joe Brighanti. The Rex has approximately 250 seats. John Cuddihy has acquired the Royal Theatre at Calumet, Mich., from the Vance Amusement Co. The Royal is a 400-seat house. Mr. Cuddihy also controls the thetre which bears his name. Leo Landau, manager of the Alhambra, was successful recently in landing "Enemies of Women" for his house, although two other downtown Milwaukee exhibitors felt secure that the picture would be theirs. Mr. Landau made a hurried trip to New York to close the deal. "The Girl I Loved" pulled so well that Henry Taylor of the Butterfly Theatre, Milwaukee, kept it for a second week. A new stage setting and new drop curtain Skouras Brothers are spending $100,000 on improvements at the Grand Central Theatre, their big Grand boulevard first run house. They have contracted with Kilgen & Sons, leading church organ manufacturers, to produce an organ for their theatre that will rival the finest theatrical instruments in America. This will cost $50,000, it is said. In addition, 2,000 seats have been purchased from the American Seat Company for $25,000, a new electric sign costing $7,000 is be FANCY BILLBOARDS HELPED SELL VALENTINO A. J. Bauman, of the Plaza Theatre, Wheeling, W. Va., makes his lobby six sheets reall; ornamental with potted plants and trailing vines. It was a fine pictorial display. F. J. McGinnis, Universalist, helped. Badgers Reply The Board of Directors of the Wisconsin M. P. T. O. telegraphs that "it ia unreasonable to suppose Wisconsin booming another candidate when it has its own in the field." This wire was caused by the story last week that Wisconsin is booming Al Steffes. It is the first verification of the rumor that Wisconsin has a dark horse, and no indication as to his identity is disclosed. "Kopel and Friedman," says the wire, "had no opportunity whatever for electioneering for their candidate," referring to a visit of the supporters of Steffes. ing installed while improvements to the cooling system will cost $6,000 more. The balance of the $100,000 will be spent for stage equipment, etc. The Roosevelt Theatre, 810 North Leffingwell, now under construction, probably will be completed late in August. This house is owned by the Davis Realty and Investment Company. The Avenue Theatre, East St. Louis, is now playing first run pictures at advanced prices. Herschal Stuart, manager of the Missouri Theatre, in conjunction with the St. Louis Times will stage an Old Fiddlers' Contest at the Missouri on May 14. The winner will enter the state-wide contest at Paris, Mo., in June. Several star bow slingers have already entered the Missouri Theatre contest. The Hi-Pointe Amusement and Realty Company has filed suit in the St. Louis Circuit Court asking $3,800 damages from F. B. O. The plaintiffs allege that they had a contract for "The Third Alarm" but that the picture was not delivered on the date named. At the F. B. O. St. Louis office it was stated that the application of the HiPointe Theatre for the picture was accepted subject to approval by New York, but it was found the picture was not open on the date named, no print being available, and the application was rejected by New York. Guy Snow of Fulton, Ky., was seen along Picture Row. Other callers from distant parts were : G. Dailey of Carlinville and M. Luttrell of the Majestic, Jacksonville, 111. Edward Sullivan, manager of the Orpheum Theatre, has been mentioned for appointment to the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners. Governor Hyde has been advised that the St. Louis Motion Picture Exhibitors' League would welcome Sullivan on the police board. Exhibitors from out of town who came in the past week included: Elmer Brienf, Hall Amusement Company, Centralia, 111.; J. W. Schuckert, Opera House, Chester, 111.; S. E. Pertle, Jerscyville, III.; Lawrence Watkins and wife, Strand Theatre, Petersburg, 111.; Bob Cluster of Johnston City, 111.; Jania Kolliopoulous, Grand Theatre, Alton, 111., and J. Bernstein, Quincy, 111. Blaine Cook, prominent exhibitor of Beatrice, Neb., was in town studying theatrical conditions in the St. Louis district. He departed the latter part of the week for New Orleans.