Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jun 1921-Apr 1922)

Page Twelve CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Managing Director of Biggest New Yor Theatres Introduce Paramount Revivals HEN Hugo Riesenfeld, Managing Director of the Rialto, Rivoli and Criterion Theatres, New York, hit upon the idea of a Paramount Revival Week at the Rialto, little did he surmise that it would prove such a smashing success that the plan would be followed by exhibitors all over North America, but that is exactly what is said to be happening, and Paramount state that they cannot supply prints fast enough to meet the demand for these Revival Weeks. The Rialto, as most exhibitors know, is one of the principal theatres on Broadway, and for presentation has few equals. ‘The accustomed policy is a week’s run although certain pictures have been held over for a second week. Mr. Riesenfeld’s experiment, therefore, of instituting a daily change policy for one week consisting of seven of the greatest pictures Paramount has ever released and which long since had had their initial showings on Times Square, was a most daring one, for although the Rialto is in the heart of the transient theatre-going district, it still maintains a regular clientele which must be pleased and catered to the same as any neighborhood house or a first-run house in a smaller city. Mr. Riesenfeld, however, felt that a really good picture should not be allowed to go into the discard after a single showing—that it should enjoy the same life as a good book, which is Henry Murdock, who plays comedy roles in Educational Christie Com edics. Digitized by Goc gle read more than once, or a good play which is given return engagements, and that there are undoubtedly thousands of people who have not seen these fine pictures when they were previously shown and would be mighty glad of the opportunity to see them at the present time, also that many who had seen them would like to see them again. He figured that if a play like “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” “Way Down East,” “The Bird of Paradise,” etc., could come back again and again, so could a good motion picture. or The Miracle Man,” “Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde,” “Old Wives For New,” “On With The Dance,” “Don’t Change Your Husband,” “Behold My Wife,” and “Male and Female” for his week of revivals, and the week was one of the most successful in point of box-office receipts and audience satisfaction ever enjoyed by any Broadway motion picture theatre, it is said. So he selected Immediately live-wire exhibitors in the States, from coast to coast, sensing the possibilities of a Revival Week, properly exploited, commenced to follow suit, and reports from all of them received, it is said, so far show that they have been as eminently successful as Mr. Riesenfeld. It is quite possible that owing to the support given by the Paramount producers, every town in the States having a theatre will also have a Revival Week some time during this spring and summer. FOR SALE.—For Cash the following articles: One Butter-Kist Pop Corn Machine and Peanut Roaster With Salted Peanut Attachment. All Electric, run less than a year, cost duty paid $1,000, will sell for $650; also One Power's No. 6A HAND-DRIVER Moving Picture Machine in good condition, price $150; also a Cameron Moving Picture Machine, large Lamp House and Magazines, Hand-Driven, in good running order, just the machine for a small town exhibitor or any one just starting in the business, complete with Lenses. Price for this machine $75. Apply T. H. Hartley, Border Theatre, Rock Island, Que. Exhibitor Brouse Has Keen Sense Regarding Proper Time to Book Certain Class of Pictures Harry Brouse, proprietor of the Imperial Theatre, Ottawa, Ontario, has a keen sense of showmanship with regard to the booking of features for appropriate occasions. During the school holidays of Easter week, the Imperial presented ‘School Days,” and the house was packed many times each day with children and adults. For the first week of the summer vacation, Mr. Brouse has already booked “Penrod,” starring Wesley Barry, and this, too, should attract many youthful patrons. “Penrod’’ is booked for the week of July 3. Three Moving Picture Theatre Men Identified With New Kiwanis Club No less than three moving picture men are identified with the new Kiwanis Club of Hull, Quebec, which received its charter at a_ special banquet which was held in the Hull City Council Chambers on Saturday evening, April 29. Fred Leduc, manager of the Laurier Theatre, Hull, is a director of the new club, and the members include Valmore Bureau, manager of the Theatre Francais, Ottawa, and Harold Vance, manager of the Casino Theatre, Ottawa. So Mary Alden, who registered a decisive hit in the mother role of ‘The Old Nest,” will be seen in a similar part soon in “The Man With Two Mothers,” a Goldwyn picture, by Alice Duer Miller. Cullen Landis and Sylvia Breamer are also featured in the cast. —— Josephine Hill, who appears in “Oh Promise Me” with Neal Burns and in “Hokus Pokus” with Bobbie Vernon, Educational-Christie Comedy. Original from NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY