Exhibitor's Trade Review (May-Aug 1925)

Page 28 Exhibitors Trade Review NEWSPAPER TRIBUTE FOR NEWMAN AS HE QUITS KANSAS CITY KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 26.— As a farewell tribute to Frank L. Newman, Kansas City's exhibitor who leaves for Los Angeles to manage three theatres for Paramount having disposed of his Newman and Royal theatres in Kansas City to Paramount, the Kansas City Star published a column story on his life, which rivals fiction From a job working all night in an iron foundry for $1.75 a day to $1,000 a week salary, and $500,000 laid away as a nest egg — that is the two extremes of Mr Newman's career. After saving diligently in a small ready-to-wear establishment which he later founded, Mr. Newman eleven years ago opened the Royal theater in Kansas City, but the house didn't open without a fight. There was an injunction against having a theatre in the down town block Last year's proceeds of the house netted nearly $70,000 according to Mr. Newman Then came the Newman theatre six years ago, which is by far the most elaborate theatre in Kansas City. The lowest profits for any of the six years has been $54,000, Mr. Newman said. "I haven't done anything spectacular or unusual," Mr. Newman said, "I am doing now at forty what a lot of men do when they are older, cashing in on what I have seeing that there is something laid away and enough to take care of my family as well." The biggest tribute received thus far in life, Mr. Newman said, was when the employes of the theatre came to him and begged him to take them half way across the continent so that they might continue working for him. Although the deal, whereby Paramount will purchase the Newman and Royal theaters, is not yet closed, according to Mr Newman, Paramount is paying $900,000 for the two houses. Since Mr. Newman owns the controlling stock in both theatres, his proceeds from the sale will be more than $500,000. * » * BAT A VIA FIRM BUYS SITE FOR THEATRE BATAVIA, N. Y., June 26.— Genesee Amusement Enterprises, Inc., bought the old Community theatre site in East Main street near Center for a theatre and business building. The company now controls two theatres in Batavia, three in Olean, one in Salamanca and one in Wellsville. * * * APPOINTED MANAGER CLEVELAND, June 26. — Ira G. Becksted was appointed manager of the Jennings theatre, 2236 West Fourteenth street. Mr. Becksted is also manager of the advertising display department of the First National office here. * * * CLEVELAND, June 26. — National Theater, West Fourteenth and Starkweather, closed for the summer. The owner will remodel into a larger and more comfortable house by September. * * • CLEVELAND, June 26. — Camera theatre will close Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during the summer. It will play a full week after September 1. * « * CADIZ, Ohio, June 26. — Long and Son, lumber dealers, opened a 600-seat theatre here. The house is named the Long, after the owners. * * * DES MOINES, Iowa, June 26. — The Des Moines theatre, largest exclusive picture house here, will close July 5 for five weeks so that the interior may be completely redecorated. About $15,000 will be spent in redecorating the house. The stage will be enlarged to a depth of 14 feet, and the pipe organ will be rebuilt with many new stops added. The house will open about August 15. AUCTION OFF THEATRE ALTOONA, Pa., June 26. — Victoria theatre was sold at auction to George Karides and M. Lee, the only bidders. » • » WOODSFIELD, Ohio, June 26. — Warren E. Norris sold the Pleasant Hour Theatre to Fred Clements, of Mechanicsburg, Ohio. Means Completing Plans for Third Theatre in K.C. KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 26. — Operating only Murray theatre, a small suburban house, three years ago, Jay Means, Vic^president of the M. P. T. O. Kansas-Missouri, soon will begin construction on his third theatre between Thirty-ninth and Fortieth streets on Prospect Avenue. The second theatre to be acquired by Mr. Means was the Prospect theatre, Twentysixth street and Prospect avenue. The new house, which has not yet been named, will have a 70-foot frontage and seat 1,500 persons. * * * CLEVELAND GROUP TO BUILD 13TH THEATRE CLEVELAND, Ohio, June 26. — Meyer Fine and Abe Kramer, leading spirits of the Ohio Amusement Company, an organization that controls about a dozen theatres here, will build a 2,000-seat house at West Twentyfifth street and Broadview. * * * BUYS ARDMORE, PA., HOUSE ARDMORE, Pa., June 26. — Harry J. Rittenhouse, of Philadelphia has bought the Palace theatre here. * * * PHILADELPHIA HOUSE SOLD PHILADELPHIA, Pa., June 26.— Harry Schleifer bought the Chain theatre at Eighty-fourth and Eastwick avenue from Jay Kanter. * * * BUILDS THIRD THEATRE MANSFIELD, Ohio., June 26. — Tim Roberts, owner of two theatres here, is building a new 600-seat house which will be open about September 15. » * * COOPERSTOWN, N. Y., June 26. — William Smalley, head of a chain of fifteen theatres, has just purchased an old stage coach that once traveled between Richfield Springs and Albany, a half century or more ago. Drawn by two black horses, the coach is now being driven over a route of 420 miles between the Smalley houses. The trip will require thirty-four days. Mr. Smalley is using the coach for evplnitation purposes. » * • ALBANY, N. Y., June 26.— Mary Farrell, a reviewer for New York State Motion Picture Commission, has obtained a leave of absence and will sail for Europe on July 3, where she will spend the next three months. Abraham Klein and Frank Dermody, both of New York City, have just been appointed inspectors on the state commission, and will cover the territory adjacent to the metropolis. * * * PLANS TRIP TO EUROPE NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y., June 26. — Charley Hayman, president of the Strand and Cataract Theatre companies here, is planning another trip to Europe. STATE TROOPERS BUILDING (Continued From Page 26) less than 100 per cent of the capacity of such stairways. The minimum width of a stairway must not be less than 44 inches. Exits heretofore constructed where only two are provided and one is of a width less than specified in the following schedule, such exit must be reconstructed or an additional one provided at once. Where the exit is reconstructed or an additional one provided, it must not be less than 14 inches in width. The following is the minimum width acceptable for existing exits: 100 to 300 persons 30 inches 301 to 400 persons 36 inches 401 to 500 persons 44 inches Certain changes are made in the type of exits to be constructed and acceptable in New York state from now on, while provis-ion is also made that exit doors hereafter constructed must not be less than 44 inches in width. Rule 321, covering seats, provides that there shall not be more than fourteen seats in any row extending from one aisle to another nor more than seven seats in any row extending from aisle to wall. Motion picture theatres using a program of their presentation will be interested in a section of rule 323, which provides that a diagram or plan of each floor showing THEATRES SHORTEN WEEK TO COMBAT HOT WEATHER LOSS ALBANY, N. Y., June 26. — Theatres in central New York continue to shorten their weeks. Lew Fischer's house in Chatham has dropped to three days a week, while another run by Mr. Fischer in Port Henry has dropped to four days. Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Milligan are operating their house in Schuylerville three days a week. Several of the ten-cent houses in Schenectady will run on a seven-day a week basis throughout the summer, because one of the owners refuses to close, and the others, fearing that they will lose their business to this one house, will also keep open. * * * EXHIBITORS FORCE PAPER TO PUBLISH PICTURE REVIEWS TROY, N. Y., June 26. — Following a meeting with Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Troy, the management of Troy Record has consented to review pictures shown at these theatres. For several years past the theatres here were unable to secure any readers in the paper. Under the new arrangement the newspaper will send members of its editorial staff to review films. * * * MUSICIAN NOW MANAGER EAST AURORA, N. Y., June 26. — Merritt A. Kyser, manager of the new Aurora theatre, is a recruit from the musician ranks to the exhibitor forces. Mr. Kyser is a member of long standing in the Buffalo musicians' union. * * * SEEKING THEATRE SITE LeROY, N. Y., June 26. — A New York corporation has applied for an option on Hotel Wiss property owned by John Hepps, as a site for a motion picture theatre and stores. * * * ANSON, Tex., June 26. — Cozy Theatre will be enlarged and remodelled. * * * OMAHA, Neb., June 26. — Palace Theatre, which was destroyed by fire recently, is being rebuilt by S. G. Fry. * * * CUERO, Tex., June 26. — Reutin Frels took over management of Dreamland Theatre. distinctly the exits, each occupying: a space not less than 15 square inches, shall be printed in black lines in a legible manner on the program. Relative to the projection booth, Rule 402 provides: "The shutters at the projection and other openings shall be maintained in proper working condition and equipped with suitable fusible heat releasing device which shall be tested daily. "No combustible material of any sort whatever shall be permitted or allowed within the booth, except film used in the operation of the machines. "An approved fire-proof box, with selfclosing cover, shall be provided for the storage of films not in use. "A metal pail or box, filled with sand, shall be provided for hot carbons. "Smoking shall not be permitted in projection booths and a 'no smoking' sig'n shall be posted in a conspicueus place in the booth. "Door of projection booth shall be provided with an effective self-closing device and shall be kept closed while the booth is in operation. "A fire proof receptacle with a self-closing cover shall be provided for film clippings and waste, and all clippings and waste shall be kept at all times in such receptacle until removed from the premises." TO ENFORCE NEW CODE IN NEW YORK