Exhibitors Herald (Sep-Dec 1918)

CHICAGO TRADE EVENTS Spanish Influenza Creates Havoc Among Film Exchange Employes Theatres in North Shore Suburbs Closed— World Exchange Force Hard Hit — Two Government Men Stricken Closing theatres in the north shore suburbs, depleting the ranks of workers in the local exchanges and playing general havoc with local film interests, Spanish Influenza made its appearance the past week in Chicago. Probably the hardest hit of all was the local World office, where eight persons, including two government men here to aid in the distribution of "America's Answer," the second official U. S. war film, fell victims of the disease. One Case Serious L. E. Davis and M. J. Sullivan arrived in Chicago about the middle of last week, sent here by the Division of Films of the Committee on Public Information, to aid the local World staff in booking the war film. Mr. Davis' illness, according to reports, has passed the dangerous stage, but Mr. Sullivan, it is said, is seriously ill with pneumonia. L. A. Rozelle, manager of the exchange, has been at his office -all week in direct violation of his physician's orders. The others ill are A. C. Thompson, salesman in the Wisconsin territory; Miss Edna Frank, cashier; Miss Lillian Miller, switchboard operator; Leonard Sjehlstrom, shipping clerk, and a girl film inspector. Aaron Jones Stricken Aaron Jones, of the Jones, Linick & Schaefer interests, contracted the malady enroute to Chicago from New York and has been confined to his home since his return a week ago. Eugene Duffy, Chicago manager of the Mutual exchange, is also a sufferer. Mr. Duffy has hardly completely recovered from an automobile accident last spring. His case is not reported as serious. The disease first made its appearance in the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, 111., about thirty miles north of Chicago. It soon spread to the north shore suburbs where early this week theatres were closed and all public meetings called off in an effort to combat the disease. Loop Theatre Locks Door for First Time In Over Nine Years DOROTHY DALTON, In a Scene from Her Liberty Loan Play, Directed by Thos. H. Ince. An interesting fact was revealed this week in connection with the closing of ail night theatres in compliance with the city council's ban on all-night entertainment. The Lyric Theatre on South State street, near Van Buren, in closing at 1 a. m., Sunday, September 22, locked the entrance for the first time in nine years. The Lyric was the first all-night theatre in the United States, it is declared. How the idea was conceived was told by Ralph T. Kettering, publicity representative of Jones, Linick & Schaefer, owners of the house. "Aaron Jones was the author of the idea," Mr. Kettering said. "One winter night he had started home in his machine after spending the evening at one of the Loop clubhouses, when he decided to drive down State street and see if a new sign for the Lyric had been erected yet. "Passing the theatre he observed that the sign was up and was struck by the fact that although it was nearly 2, there were scores of men passing up and down the street. Curious to know where they came from, he drove down Van Buren street and observed a steady stream of night workers pouring from the printing establishments south of the Loop. Then he drove past the Federal Building and saw many postoffice workers streaming out there. "He counted a dozen or more restaurants and noted that all were doing a good business. The idea struck him forcefully that if the restaurants were doing business there was no reason why a theatre shouldn't do business also and the Lyric was opened all night, operating for the twenty-four hours with three eight-hour shifts. "From the time of the inauguration of the new policy the theatre did a largely increased business and shortly after going on the twenty-four hour schedule other houses on Madison street did likewise and there were half a dozen that never closed their doors until last week, when they were compelled to do so." No Loan Soliciting In Local Theatres Until October 12 In a statement issued by Peter J. Schaefer, chairman of the Theatrical Division of the Fourth Liberty Loan campaign, exhibitors are urged not to permit any soliciting in their theatres prior to the authorized date for these activities — October 12. The ward organizations will have direct charge of the sales in Chicago theatres and each organization will appoint a captain for each theatre who will work in co-operation with the theatre managers and have supervision over the work. Mr. Schaefer's statement is as follows : "In accordance with the ruling adopted by the Liberty Loan committee and the Theatrical committee, for the sale of Liberty bonds, I desire to inform you that the ward organizations in the ward in which your theatre is located will have full charge to solicit the Liberty Bonds in your theater. Kindly co-operate with the ward organization, which will appoint a captain in your theatre, who will solicit all subscriptions. "It is our intention beginning Oct. 12, which is the last week of the drive, to have women sell to audiences in your theater. This arrangement will give the ward organization a chance to canvass every precinct in their respective wards. "In cases where you have already appointed women for this work, I believe it would facilitate matters if you would give the names of these women to the ward organization captain in charge of your theater, and he will work in conjunction with you on all matters. Therefore, have no bond soliciting of the audience until October 12th." Unity Photoplays Co. Buys "The Vigilantes' "The Vigilantes," which enjoyed a prosperous run of several weeks at The Playhouse in Chicago, has been sold by the Bear State Film Company, its producers, to Unity Photoplays Company, Chicago, for distribution in Illinois. Fifteen thousand dollars is said to have been the denomination of the check President Frank Zambreno of that company turned over to the owners at the conclusion of the run at The Playhouse. "I consider 'The Vigilantes' an exceptionally good buy at this time," was the comment of Mr. Zambreno, "and already we have several bookings. It is away from the war subject, for one thing, and it is different than any other recent film in many other respects. I know that it made a very tidy sum for the sponsors of the engagement at The Playhouse, and as I have had some pictures in that house myself, I know it takes an exceptionally strong picture to draw business that is profitable there." The Unity sales force, under direction of M. J. Mintz, will make a special drive on "The Vigilantes" and expect to more than equal the record they hung up on "Berlin Via America" bookings. 51