Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Sep 1918)

O'Donnell Elected League President In Pennsylvania State Convention Authorizes Employment of An Organizer John O'Donnell may have failed to land the presidency of the Motion PLture Exhibitors' League of America, but he has captured that position with the Pennsylvania organization. He was elected at the annual meeting held recently in Philadelphia. Others elected were: First vice-president, F. G. Nixon-Xirdlinger; second vice-president, G. S. Bittenbender; secretary, G. H. Goodwin; treasurer, A. H. Nace. Organizer to Be Hired President O'Donnell was empowered to. appoint an executive committee consisting of five officers and five other members, to be increased by one new member from each new local. An organizer is to be employed to establish new locals. The exhibitors went on record as being willing to grant any request of the government for war service and passed resolutions denouncing the music tax. Dine and Dance At the conclusion of the business sessions the delegates motored to Westville, N. J., where several sporting events took place. Then they returned to Philadelphia and dined and attended a dance in company with their families. The business session, the dinner and the dance were held at the league headquarters, 1331 Vine street. The delegates in attendance were: W. J. Evans, Albert Brown, Samuel Blatt, Dr. Steinberg, John O'Donnell, Charles Rapaport, T. Conway, G. Fisher, Mr. Weisbrod, H. Green, C. Stamper, D. Barnst, C. Goodwin, G. Naudascher, M. Roganzner and A. H. Nace. Houston Theatres Compelled to Admit Censor Board Free Houston. Tex. — Houston's censor ordinance has been amended to require the managers of motion picture houses to pass all members of the censor board without the payment of the war tax. A fine of not less than $25 nor more than 1200 confronts any manager who refuses. The council amended the ordinance after members of the censor board had reported that several managers had refused them entry except upon payment of at least the war tax. The ordinance also was changed to provide for a censor board of eleven persons and that three of the members will be considered a quorum. The board will have a paid secretary, but the other ten members will serve without salary. It will be the duty of the censors to visit all places of amusement as often as possible. New Liberty Theatre Of Kansas City, Mo., Is Opened to Public Kansas City, Mo. — The new Liberty Theatre here, one of the most beautiful playhouses in the West, was opened to the motion picture public last week with many city officials and scores of representative citizens as invited guests. In many respects the Liberty is a noteworthy achievement in theatre building. Erected exclusively for motion pictures, everything in it is adapted to them — the seating arrangement, aisle lighting, the lobby and the foyer. The Liberty seats 1,200. Room for more than two hundred chairs was sacrificed to gain space in the aisles. Samuel Harding, the manager, advertised the opening extensively. He used a full page in the Kansas City Star. There was a picture of the manager anfj a four-column reproduction of the theatre. The rest of the page was devoted to attractions. Goldwyn pictures, it was stated, will be prominent among the coming features. Mr. Harding and his brother, Dave H. Harding, the latter acting in the capacity of secretary and treasurer, have organized an orchestra that has few equals. As director the Hardings have Frederick J. Curth, for several years concert master of the Kansas City Svmphonv Orchestra. Then there is a beautiful organ of special design. The Liberty was erected at a cost of $250,000 on ground worth more than half a million. Bethlehem Theatres Seek Seven-Day Week Bethlehem, Pa.— Managers of the motion picture theatres here have asked the Government for permission to keep open Sunday for the accommodation of thousands of munition workers and soldiers in Bethlehem and the vicinity. Bethlehem is one of the greatest steel producing centers in the world, and the second largest in the United States, ranking next to Pittsburgh. "What the Picture Did for Me" Starts on Page 55 This Issue "What the Picture Did for Me" | starts this week on page 55. | As in every week's issue of Exiiihitors Herald and Motorcaimiv since these two well-known trade | papers were merged under the one banner, the reader will find interesting comment on the true box office value of all the principal pictures in the market. Every shade of opinion is represented, from that of the exhibitor with a house at the busiest corner of the world to the exhibitor in the rural community. Hundreds of exhibitors are depending entirely upon this department to book their pictures. Winnot vou? f>7 Citizens Organize At Trenton to Fight For Sunday Shows Trenton, X. J.— While the Trenton City Commission has not taken any further steps toward the opening of motion picture houses on Sundays, a Citizens' Committee is prosecuting a vigorous campaign in the interest of the sevenday week. Director of Public Safety George B. LaBarre, License Inspector Harry Botschart, Chief of Police William Dettmar and Prosecutor of the Pleas A. Dayton Oliphant have come out openly in favor of Sunday shows. They have freely expressed the belief that Sunday shows should be permitted and advance as an argument that there would be a lessening of crime and vice. While the Citizens' Committee is advocating Sunday shows, even in advertisements, the ministers are busily engaged writing protests to the papers. It is believed that the City Commission will either be called upon to decide the question or have the matter decided by ballot at the fall election. Another Big Theatre To Show Pictures Only Detroit — Charles H. Miles, owner of the Regent and Orpheum Theatres, both of which have been conducted as combination vaudeville and picture houses, announces that beginning September 1, the Regent will be devoted exclusively to first-run pictures. Hildinger Chain Grows Trenton, N. J.— Charles C. Hildinger. the "movie king of Trenton," has added another house to his string of Hildinger Enterprises. It is at Belmar and has a seating capacity of several hundred. Colonial, Detroit, Is Sold Detroit — The Colonial Theatre, Woodward and Sibley streets, has been sold to Ben Cohen and Herman Warren, who operate the Rex, Coliseum and Globe Theatres. The present policy of a daily change will continue for a while at least. The Colonial has a seating capacity of 1,700. .exhibitors Brieh Kansas City, Mo. — Plans are being prepared for the remodeling of the [die Hour Theatre. The cost is to be around $10,000. Joplin, Mo. — A motion picture theatre is to be erected on Main street between Fifth and Sixth streets, this city, at a cost of $55,000.