Exhibitor's Trade Review (May-Aug 1925)

Page 20 Exhibitors Trade Review News of Exhibitor Activities New Theatre in Pontiac, Mich., for Col. Butterfield DETROIT, MICH., Aug. 21— A deal was consumated between Messrs. D. R. and C. B. Wilson, Manufacturers, of Pontiac, and Col. W. S. Butterfield, president of the Bijou Theatrical Enterprise Company, whereby the Messrs. Wilson plan the erection of a new theatre in Pontiac for Mr. Butterfield at a cost of $260,000. The new theatre will be located on Saginaw Street, on a plot of ground sixty by one hundred and forty-five feet, across from the Oakland Theatre, which was recently purchased by Mr. Butterfield and the occupancy of which he will secure in about a year and a half's time. At the same time Col. Butterfield announced that articles of association for the Bay City Theatre Company were filed and all arrangements have been made with contractors for the building of a new theatre in Bay City. John Eberson has completed plans for the erection of the new theatre which will be known as the Capitol. The estimated cost will be $350,000, and it will be_ the largest theatre and auditorium in Bay City. Col. Butterfield announces that during the coming year he will build several other theatres in Michigan cities and increase his holding in the smaller towns. The Butterfield Circuit now comprises some forty-six theatres in Michigan. * * * ALBANY HOUSES USE BIG PRODUCTIONS ALBANY, Aug. 21.— Motion picture theatres in summer resort towns in New YorkState are using the bigest pictures obtainable at the present time and report excellent business. "The Iron Horse" played at the Hunter Theater on August 17 and in Tannersville on August 18 and 19, the two houses being owned by Julius Byck, a deaf mute. In Saratoga Springs "The Ten Commandments" ran four days last week to capacity business at the Congress, owned by William Benton. NEW BUFFALO HOUSE Plans for the new motion picture theatre to be built at 1588-1598 Genesee street, including seven stores and offices, have been filed with the bureau of buildings in Buffalo, N. Y. The new house will be built by Barney Vohwinkel, who has operated the Oriole theatre for many years. When completed the house will be leased by the Shea Amusement company. The theatre and stores will cost $350,000. The seating capacity will be 1710. REISTER APPOINTED George Reister has been appointed general manager for the Erie, Pa., division of the Rowland & Clark theatre interests. FILM TAX UPHELD BY CONNECTICUT COURTS Case Will Be Appealed to Washington, Hays Says The special Federal Court, sitting at New Haven, Conn., has handed down a decision affirming the constitutionality of the Connecticut state law providing for a tax upon motion picture films brought into the state and also for censorship of pictures by the state tax commissioner. In connection with this decision the special court refused an injunction filed by the Fox Film Corporation and the American Feature Film Company, Inc., of Boston, to restrain the tax commissioner from enforcing the law. According to Will H. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, the decision will be appealed immediately to the Supreme Court at Washington. The special court was composed of Federal Judges Henry Wade Rogers, Henry Goddard and Thomas Thatcher. George W. Wickersham represented the industry nationally when the case ws first argued last month. Benedict M. Holden, of Hartford, Conn., counsel for the plaintiffs, also stated that the case would be carried to the Supreme Court. The Connecticut tax is $10 on the first thousand feet of film and 50 cents for each additional hundred feet. News reels, educationals and scientific subjects are exempt. The law became effective July 1 and taxing was to have commenced one week thereafter, but was postponed when the case was brought into court. William H. Blodgett, State Tax Commissioner, at that time notified all exhibitors to keep a record of films shown so that the tax could be collected in case the law was sustained. Connecticut exhibitors are now, therefore, subject to tax on films received since July 8, unless a stay is secured pending the decision of the Supreme Court. If the decision had held that films were interstate commerce and as such not subject to tax, it had been planned to move Connecticut exchanges across the state line into Port Chester, N. Y. However, the decision provides the tax on motion picture films "brought into the state." ALBANY FILM BOARD SET FOR ANNUAL OUTING ALBANY, Aug. 21.— The program of the annual outing of the Albany Film Board of Trade, to be held at Saratoga Lake on September 14, has been issued by A. J. Herman, who has been given the title of director of sports. The attractions will get under way at one o'clock with a baseball game between the salesmen and managers. There will be all sorts of events during the afternoon, concluding with a dance in the evening. The suply of 500 tickets has been nearly exhausted, giving some idea of the heavy demand that has come not only from this territory but from elsewhere throughout the state. Managers of All Fields Combine in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES, Cal., Aug. 21. — The Theatre Managers' Association of Los Angeles, believed to be the first organization in the United States embodying motion pictures, vaudeville and legitimate stage interests, has been formed here. At a session scheduled to be held soon, a board of governors will be selected and officers chosen. Included in the personal of the organization are circuits whose headquarters are here and which control theatres in many other cities and states. The newly formed association includes : WVst Coast Theatres, A. M. Bowles ; Orph.um Circuit, Harry Singer; Baltimore Theati r\ V. E Kennedy ; Ed Smith Productions ani Mason Theatre, Jaques Pierre; Philharmonic Auditorium, George Smith; Orange Grove Theatre and Thomas Wilkes Interests, Sydney Miller ; Frank Egan and Egan Theatre, Lee Parvin ; Pantages Circuit, Carl Walker; Grauman's Egyptian Theatre, Sid Grauman ; Majestic Theatre, Michael Corper; Famous-Players Lasky theatres, Frank L. Newman. The primary motive of the association is to promote the best interests of theatrical activities in Los Angeles, both in a social and business way. "It is a broad visioned plan for co-operation among those who have under their jurisdiction the management of theatres," declared a prominent member of the new organization. "Such interests as we control can best be handled through effective co-operation, a spirit that unquestionably dominates our new body ." ^ ^ SELL BIRMINGHAM'S RIALTO THEATRE BIRMINGHAM, Ala., August 21. — The Rialto Theatre, located on Third Avenue, and formerly the property of the MuddColley Amusement Company, was purchased by R. B. Wilby and R. M. Kennedy. Mr. Wilby has been for a number of years district supervisor of the Southern Enterprise Company. Mr. Kennedy has been affiliated with the Marvin Wise Theatre for several years. He will be in charge of the Rialto as general manager. The Rialto will continue to be a second run house, showing three changes of program, every week. >K % % B. & K. HOUSE OPENS CHICAGO, Aug. 21.— The $5,000,000 uptown theatre of Balaban & Katz, which seats 5,000, opened. A spectacular series of parades and free entertainment which drew 100,000 spectators on the north side, lasted all week. The entire north side of the city back the project. ALBANY, Aug. 21.— Harry Rose, of Schenectady, has been named as district Manager of the half dozen or more houses in Troy, Rennselaer and Kinderhook, owned and operated by James Rose and Harry Windeknecht.