The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

'"''^'•j^f spotlight to the Exhibitor Edited by Sumner Smith Congratulations to Wm, E. Benton There have been big moments and pleasant ones, too, in the life of William E. Benton of Saratoga Springs, but never was there a happier combination than Monday night, October 26, when Mr. Benton received the congratulations of what seemed to be 99 per cent, of the residents of Mechanicville, N. Y., on the occasion of the opening of the State Theatre in that city. About everybody was up from Film Row in Albany, for Mr. Benton is a prime favorite with the boys. The theatre represents an investment of about $150,000, the house being .located on the main street and with an interior that resembles Mr. Benton's house in Saratoga Springs. At 5 :30 p. m. the house was opened for inspection. There were many beautiful floral tributes in evidence. Mr. Benton was right on hand to welcome everyone, a procedure that kept him busy for man' an hour to come, and when he crawled into bed at 2 A. M. he remarked that he might well call it a day. With "Little Annie Rooney" as the feature picture, two siiows were given during the evening. Mr. Benton is a man who believes in good music and the orchestra was all that could be desired. The Stiir in Milieville, \ ., run liy Mrs. Jennie AnderNon. was <le.stro>'ed liy lire early one morning last week wlieii flames swept the little niount;iiii villaK'e, A hotel anil resi■dence were also burned to the K'ronnd. The 1>la:Ke w:i« first diseovered in an iee house near the theatre. Help was siiiiinioned from Tieon^lerogra and I'ort Henry, but laek of witter handieapped firemen in their work. 31aiiy wells in the villase were pumped dry in the frantic efl'ort to extinguish the fl;inies. Somewhere in Albany there is an individual who no doubt is mourning the loss of a single tooth as well as a bridge. If this individual will kindly call at the Leland in Albany, inquiring for Manager Alex Sayles, the said bridge and tooth will be gladly returned as Mr. Sayles has absolutely no use for either. Herman Vineberg, manager of the Albany and Regent in Albany, "stepped out," as the saying goes, last week in connection with "The Midshipman." Mr. Vineberg decorated the front of the house in national colors, and then got the naval recruiting station behind him. The week went over with a wallop. John Maxwell, manager of the Liberty In Herkimer, certainly did his .?hare in making the New York State magistrates thoroughly at home last week at a convention held in that village. Not only was the theatre open to the delegates, but Manager Maxwell was on hand with tickets the moment a delegate registered. In the cruel limeli^^ht of publicity, Jake Rosenthal, owner of the Rose in Triiy, bereft of a lifelong and intimate secret, stands forth today as the e.vponent of the night gown. In other words, Mr. Rosenthal has yet to don his first suit of pajamas, and what is more he doesn't care a rap who knows it now that the secret has leaked through devious channels. Jake is making money with his theatre and on each Wednesday night, he pays a «ouple of Troy bluecoats a couple of sinioleons to preserve order while the amateur Jlcis are on. Whenever anyone asks Mr. Rosenthal how business is, he generally replies that he can't complain. Sir. Rosenthal plans to bring over his radio from home on election night, and then tunc in for the benefit of his patrons. Edna Wallace Hopper is slated to appear in person at Harmanus Bleecker Hall in Albany, a second-run house, on November &, 6 and 7. Joe Sapersteln, manager, is making big plans for the occasion, as it will be the first personal appearance at the theatre since it was devoted to the movies. Junior Movies held forth at the Troy Theatre in Troy, on Saturday morning last, with an attendance of over 1,200 boys and girls from the Collar City. Mrs. Pay, one of the heads of the Parent-Teachers' Association, was ably assisted by Boy Scouts in handling the crowd. Every boy and girl planked down their dimes and the theatre was filled. Bring your own crowbar or jimmy, was the advice handed out by Jake Golden of the Griswold Theatre in Troy last week when the theatre observed its anniversary in a way that set the whole city talking. Tiiere were the regular double features, with the Domino orchestra playing the entire week, while Thursday night was characterized by a revue I Regionalsf Please j I Do Not Copy I 1 Several regional trade papers have M 1 paid this exhibitor department of Mov 1 1 ing Picture World a back-handed com g 1 pliment — they have got into the habit J g of copying some of our exhibitor news 1 1 verbatim. Of course they print it a 1 1 week late, but, then, it's good news, g g anyway. g g Appreciation, as genuine as this, though g g indirectly conveyed, always makes us g g feel good. But let us remind these g g regionals that they really ought to ask g g our permission before using our thunder, g g Our correspondents are kicking at the g g practice and are sending clippings to M g prove that this "borrowing" of news g g isn't uncommon. g 1 So, regionals, won't you either get g g your news direct from exhibitors, or g 1 credit material "borrowed" from Mov ] i ing Picture World, or at least rewrite g g the news ? .g I SUMNER SMITH g iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin^ of the ten best amateur acts of the season. Mr. Golden dolled the house up In national colors, with flowers decorating the lobby. Lew Fischer of the Bradley of Fort Edward ran "The Iron Horse" for two days last week for the benefit of St. Joseph's Church. The only comment he had to make was that • he wished his theatre had been about six times as large. It takes a man with iron nerve to venture into the Adirondacks these days, with all the hunting accidents that are being splashed over front pages In the newspapers. But Rae Candee of Utica made the trip and remained for a couple of weeks, doing a lot of deer hunting and then, returning home, asserted that he had been on a vacation. "Some restful vacation," one of his friends snorted. Failing to remove a wooden projection booth on orders from the New York State Labor Department, William Tweedy of Mechanicville was last week summarily notified to close his Star Theatre at once. It appears that -Mr. Tweedy was notified a month or so ago to Install a fireproof booth but postponed doing so. A second inspection resulted in an order being Issued on October 19 to close the house at once. The Star is a 600-seat house. Mr. Tweedy now plans to turn it into a garage. C. R. Halligan of the Universal exchange isn't going to buy any Thanksgiving turkey this year. John Mattice of the Novelty Theatre in Middleburgh was along Film Row last week and cautioned Mr. Halligan against buying a gobbler, giving the impression that he would see that the Halligan Thanksgiving dinner lacked nothing in the way of a bird. Looks as though Mr. and Mrs. Meyer Schine of Gloversville were still continuing their honeymoon. Mr. Schine took a trip to New York City last week, and with all the shows and fall fashions, on display, it was only natural that Mrs. Schine went along, too. Some weeks ago, William Smalley of Cooperstown intimated that he intended to add another theatre or two to his chain of a dozen or so. When Hill Smalley intimates a thing it comes pretty near being a foregone conclusion. While in town this past week he announced that he had taken over the Sherburne Opera House and would assume possession on November 1. Ed Trembley of the American in Troy announces a return engagement of "The Ten Commandments" for four days, beginning October 31. This picture ran a straight week at the Troy to heavy business. These football days are hard on the purse strings of Uly «. Hill, managing director of the Strand group of houses in Albany and Troy. Mr. Hill has a young son by the name of Norman. The other day he notified his father that he wanted a pair of football pants. His father assented. The boy hesistated, and then added that he ought to have a headgear. Again the father gave his consent. Following another hesitant minute or two came a further announcement to the effect that the boy would have spiked shoes. He got his heart's desire, and as he trudged in that night boldly announced that "we" had won the game. The Antique Theatre In Watertown was sold last week for !^:I7,<KK> to Carl .\. I'hillips of that city. 'I'lie theatre has been iiniler lease to the Rol»biiis .Vniiiseni«'iit t'onipjin.v at lltica for two years and the lease ^vill not expire until this coming Kebruary. .The theatre was at one time run by the I'apayanakos brothers. ,>lr. Phillips will spend !^l'f,tMK> in mitilernixlng the liou.se. Charles S. Ses<iiiske f>f .loliiistown, ftirmer ni.'iiixiger of the Avon in Wiitertown. ^\n.s in lliat <>it,v last week and is saiil t«i seek a lease itt the theatre as s(»<>n as the present one expires. A. T. Mallory, who runs the Starr in Corinth, stopped over in Albany, on his way back from New York and was very careful to park a brand new car on Pearl street, possibly thinking that evidence of prosperity on his part might skyrocket lilni quotations later on. The Mark Strand In Albany will observe its fifth anniversay soon and will use "Little Annie Rooney" as the week's feature. Sam Burns, former manager of the Vitagraph exchange here, and who resigned two or three months ago, is back from a trip to Miami. Visitors along Film Row during the week Included Claude Fredericlo of the Capitol In PIttsfield, Mass., and E. D. Leischman, an auditor for Universal. Alike as two peas in some respects, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Roberts of the Troy Theatre showed up last Week each wearing a i)alr of horn rimmed glasses. Mrs. Roberts claims that her eyes have become strained In her duties as cashier, and Mr. Roberts Just naturally took the glasses to keep her company.