The Moving Picture World (April 1907)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD. 119 The Unique Theatre, under the management of Tur- ner & Hornbrook, experienced men in the business with theatres in Worcester and elsewhere, opened its doors in the Shea building on Bank street, New London, Conn., for public patronage. The place is attractive because it is clean and well lighted and ventilated and is inviting to anyone who wants to see up-to-date pictures. Opera chairs have been arranged on either side of the theatre that will accommodate about 350 persons. The floor is raised so that there Will be no difficulty in obtaining a good view of the stage from any seat in the house. The name for the theatre was suggested by two young women and they will be given season tickets for their suggestions. Other names were proposed, but the man- agement decided to adopt the name mentioned, which describes the house for a city like New London very well. * * * From Cleveland we learn that Joe Hallet, thirteen, 718 Broadway, S. E., went to a moving picture show the other afternoon. He saw a hold-up. "I wish I was a man," he commented as he wended his way home. "I'd do that." Next day he met six-year-old Jimmie Sanso, who lives in the same block. Jimmie, sent to the grocery by his mother, had a crisp $1 bill in his pudgy hand. Joe "strong-armed" him as the footpad in the picture show had his victim. He ran, just as the picture robber had done. But he ran directly into the arms of Patrolman Becker. Becker, after he had heard Jimmy sob out his story. locked Joe up. * * » » At Oneonta, N. Y., Haynes & Sheppard have com- pleted the repairs to the Falls & Gardner block and have opened the Casino, a nickel theatre, with moving pictures and illustrated songs. The proprietors are L. H. Shep- pard, formerly of this place, and Baxter Haynes, of Au- burn. They have engaged Miss Mollie Delaney, of this place, as pianist, and H. M. Parkinson, of Syracuse, as singer. Their electrician is Thomas Mohan, of Auburn. * * * The Nickel Amusement Company, Columbia, Tenn., have purchased several other shows, and Mr. G. W. Nich- ols will rent out his business on South Main street and devote his time to looking after the shows. * * * From Baltimore we hear improvements are to be made to the building 225 North Eutaw street, owned by Mr. A. Brager. Contracts for the work have been awarded Henry L. Maas. The place will be occupied by a mov- ing picture concern. * * * The Bijou- Moving Picture Theatre, at Mitchell, S. D.. started in the skating rink building on Second avenue west. The design of the form of entertainment at the Bijou is to present, at a moderate price, programs of about forty minutes' duration of a refined, amusing and instructive nature. Frank Coppersmith is manager. Another from Mitchell. —There are times in the theatrical business when companies do not come with sufficient frequency as to keep the theatre open at least two or three times a week. Realizing this, Manager Gale is arranging to overcome this difficulty of keeping his house closed longer than he desires by purchasing a moving picture machine. With this machine in dull seasons he will open his house to the public and enter tain the people with some of the greatest moving pictures made, and the business now is brought down to a point where it is a great feature in the cities. Nothing seems impossible to portray in the moving picture line, and a fine entertainment • can be given with them. Mr. Gale will secure the services cf a competent elec- trician to operate the machine and he w 11 also, occasion- ally, introduced some good vaudeville specialties. Illus- trated songs will also be a feature of the entertainment. Mr. Gale will place the price of these entertainments at a very modest figure, sufficiently low that will give every person in the city an opportunity to go to the theatre and enjoy an evening's entertainment without working any financial hardship, at the same time passing away an hour or two enjoyably. Mr. Gale expects to have the machine in operation within two or three weeks. So says the Republican. * * * An attempt was made by the management of the Grand Opera House, Superior Wis., to show a series of moving pictures illustrating the life of Evelyn Nesbit Thaw and the trial just* closed. The local W. C. T. U. took up the matter with the police, but could obtain but little satisfaction. The house was packed wtih an audience two-thirds women, and as the first picture was thrown upon the screen depicting an artist's studio the interest was in- tense. The exhibition got no further, however, for at this point the chief of police walked upon the stage and dramatically stopped the show. * * * I From Paterson, N. J., comes the following: \ "No more phonographic barkers to advertise store shows," "was the dictum of the license committee of the Board of Aldermen last night. It was all brought about because in a store on Main street, where moving pictures are shown, the manager used a huge phonograph to call attention to the exhibition, much to the annoyance of storekeepers in the immediate vicinity. Walter K. Sibley, the manager of' the show, appeared before the committee and assured the alderemn that the Edison machine was a. wonder and gave free entertain- ment to scores of passerbys. He hardly thought the mu- sic was a nuisance, but if told to shut off the power was ready to do so.