The Moving Picture World (1908)

7 6 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD The eleven theaters now in operation are the Vaudette, Idle- hour, Superba, Ida and Lyric, on Canal street; the Mystic and Bijou on West Bridge street; the Royal on North Division street; a theater on Plainfield avenue; another on South Division street, and still another at Madison Square. Theaters All Safe. Following the Boyertown Theater fire, some question has been raised concerning the safety of the small theaters. Building In- spector Davidson declares that all those in Grand Rapids are safe and equipped with ample exit space. "PICTURE SHOW" BIG SUCCESS. The astonishing statement is made that under the newly estab- lished policy of moving picture entertainment the Bijou. Dream (formerly K.-P. Twenty-third Street Theater) is rolling up gross receipts approximating $2,800 and showing a bigger profit than at any time during its vaudeville career. B. F. Keith has taken personal charge of the house, and is deeply interested in its development, while George Moran, an acting manager of the press department of the IL-P. interests, is temporarily house manager. A change has been made in the presentation of moving pic- tures at the Twenty-third Street Theater (Bijou Dream), by the' addition of three more reels of pictures each week, making nine in all shown during the three weekly complete changes of program, as well as three complete changes of songs and illus- trated travelogues, besides the usual addition on Sunday of a series of religious and semi-religious pictures and songs. I * * * KING LOUIS' PICTURE SHOWS. King Louis, of Ziska and King, states he will have two "pic- ture shows" in operation soon under his own control. One will "be at a new stand in Long Island City, while the other will be purchased in Flushing, close by. "King Louie," whose name has a regal sound, says after due figuring he is convinced that with conservative management there is a livelihood for anyone in a moving, picture establishment The manager of the Flushing place about to sell his enterprise has been counting up from $25 to $50 weekly profit without re- moving his feet from the piano cover. His only reason for sell- ing is that the time occupied in counting nickels and dimes wore down his finger nails so close the manicure pronounced him hope- less as a patient, and he was in danger of social ostracism. King Louis is willing to take a chance. * » * HAMILTON, ONT., CAN. The Canadian Multiphone Co., 80 James street, N., Hamilton, Ont., are the proprietors of one of the handsomest and best equipped amusement places in America, familiarly known as the "Red Mill." It is situated in the central part of the city and since its opening has been doing a most 'prosperous business. The first ■ floor, which covers a space 30 x 135 feet, is fitted up with over 100 slot machines and is the most complete penny exhibit in Canada. The family theater, the most popular place of its kind in the city, occupies the entire second floor and has a seating capacity of over 350. The theater is reached by means of a crystal stairway; that is, this stair is entirely made of glass with the exception of steel carriers. Water flows continuously down glass falls placed behind the glass steps, where hundreds of colored lights are arranged, making the view from the front most brilliant and effective. The theater is open daily from 2 o'clock until 11 P. M., and runs continuous shows consisting of two reels of pictures and one illustrated song. About March 1 a new addition will be completed, which will give the "Red Mill" a seating capacity of 600, when refined vaudeville will be intro- duced, giving the patrons a solid hour of entertainment. Should any of the readers of the Moving Picture World ever chance to be in Hamilton, they are cordially invited to visit the popular "Red Mill," where, if they will make themselves known, they will be sure of receiving a hearty welcome. Charleston, S. C. Mr. Whiting, of Montgomery, and Mr. Wass- man, of Nashville, were appointed a committee to go to Chicago and book attractions. * * * NEW COMPANY CHARTERED, The World Film Company, of New Orleans, La., has been in- corpora ted, with a capital of $5,000. The incorporators are: Joseph D. Hviand, ■ president; Walter Streetly, vice-president^ and C. Kelly, secretary and treasurer. Its business is dealing in moving picture machines. * * « THE CALIFORNIA CAMERAGRAPH COMPANY has filed articles of incorporation and will operate in this city the newly invented moving picture that sings and talks. The com- pany is formed with the following directors: William H. Leahy, for many years the manager of the famous old Tivoli Opera House; Edward Ackerman, who is the owner of the Empire and other smaller theaters; G. M. Roy, who is the proprietor of the Cafe Francisco; Samuel Wells Horton, who has just retired from the office of auditor of this city and county, and E. G Leffing- well, who is secretary of the Board of Education. Other mem- bers of the corporation include Samuel Harris and Thomas Fitz, of Oakland. The company is incorporated for $60,000, and has issued 60,000 shares of stock, all of which has been subscribed. By a combination of graphophones and picture machines, voices are resonantly and accurately reproduced so that small parts of operas and entire speeches can be reproduced. Three new places of amusement are to be opened before February 1— one on Fillmore street, one in the Mission and one at North Beach. * * * PICTURES THAT DRAW. "The Four-Footed Hero." Reports from all over the conti- nent tell of the fascination with which pleased audiences have witnessed this excellent film. "A Dog Robbery,'' although of a different character, also cleverly depicts canine intelligence. "A Tale of the Sea" brings them back again. "Ben Hur" drew such crowds to a theater in Atlanta, Ga., that the police had to aid in clearing the aisles and lobby. POLICE NOT HELD IN CONTEMPT. Justice Carr, in the'Supreme Court, Brooklyn, N. Y., handed down a decision denying the motion to punish Police Commis sioner Bingham and former Deputy Commissioner O'Keeffe for an alleged violation of the injunction prohibiting interference with the moving picture shows of Sol Brill and William Fox on Broadway. Justice Carr says: "It appears that the police officers in question bought admis- sion tickets to the moving picture show then and there being conducted, entered with the audience, took notes of the pictures, but made no arrests and in no way attempted an interference with what was fcoing on. It seems to be the theory of the plain- tiffs in this motion that the mere entry of a police officer into the audience present at the performance was enjoined by the judgment, even if the officer entered as a holder of a ticket of admission sold generally to the public That the judgment in question should not be so construed seems to me beyond reason- able contention. Motion to punish for contempt denied." MOVING PICTURE MEN ORGANIZE IN THE SOUTH. The Southern Advanced Vaudeville Association has been or- ganized, with F. W. Bandy, of Savannah, Ga., president; G. A. Vuscovich, of Pensacola, vice-president, and P. R. Whiting, of Montgomery, secretary and treasurer. The following theaters are in this circuit: Theatorium, Memphis; Crystal, Nashville; Crystal, Knoxville; Wonderful, Vicksburg; Theater Palais, Meridian; Casino, Mobile; Star Theater, Pensacola; Theato, Montgomery; Alamo, Birmingham; Wonderland, Columbus, Ga.; Lyric Theater, Macon, Ga.; Superba, Savannah; Theatorium, Montgomery, and Mr. Wassman, of Nashville, were appointed Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 22.—Mayor Bond to-day ordered all of the five and ten-cent mpving picture shows in Columbus closed on Sundays, and also announced that they must close at mid- night Saturday nights. There are about twenty-four such shows in town. * * * Mobile, Ala., Jan. 19.—Managers of moving picture shows were given another jolt yesterday when orders were issued by Mayor Pat J. Lyons that no music would be allowed in these places Sundays. Orders to this effect were issued out of the mayors office to the. police department and in turn communicated to the moving picture managers. * * * That the church people of Chelsea, Mass., do not take kindly to the recent action of the aldermen in granting permission to the moving picture theaters to open Sunday evenings became evident last night when a mammoth petition signed by i^° citizens protesting against the action was received. The protest- ing citizens requested a hearing before any_ more theater permits be given, and it was voted to give a public hearing. * * * The moving picture theaters in Rochester are still closed on Sundays, as the result of an order by the Chief of Police issuefl in December.