Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1919)

E X H I B I T O R S HER A L D Feeling the Panhandle's Pulse h. E. N.= AMARILLO. TLX — The Olympic Theatre here, owned by Messrs. Dye, Ford and ROGERS, was entirely destroyed by fire Thanksgiving night, the total loss being estimated at $12,000. At about seven o'clock, while "Micky" was being shown. Eddie Rearden, the organist, observed smoke coming up from the organ and upon investigation found that the boiler-room directly underneath the stage was atire. He then obtained a substitute organist while he made the announcement that the building was on fire, but that there was plenty of time for everyone to make a safe exit. Terry Lomax. the operator, continued to operate his machine until everyone in the house had left. None was injured. Plans for the building of a new theatre to replace the Olympic are well under way by Dye, Ford and Rogers, who also control the Mission in this city, Olympic at Canyon City, and Mac-I and Olympic at Plainview, Tex. The new Olympic at Amarillo will seat 1.500 people and will play Inter-State Vaudeville besides feature productions. The Olympic at Wichita Falls is rapidly nearing completion and will be opened the middle of this month and cost in the neighborhood of $273,000. A Xo. 50 Photopiayer, purchased through J. D. Wheeler. Dallas, is being installed. In the projection-room will be installed a Westinghouse FRED C. ftUIMBY l nder whose directions Pathe's sales have shown a phenomenal increase in the closing months of 1!>1!). generating plant and two Simplex machines. The house will have a seating capacity of 1.400. AMARILLO, TEX.— C. R. Sullivan. owner of the Deandi Theatre at Amarillo reports business good. A. S. Davis is assistant manager of this popular house, which plays Universal features and "tab" shows. Harry Carey in "The Gun Fighting Gentleman" is the Christmas attraction. Rumor has it that the Sullivan interests will shortly erect a new house in Amarillo. CLAUDE. TEX. — E. S. Powell, manager of the Pastime Theatre here, reports business great, and that he will play "Daddy Long-Legs" for the Christmas attraction. The Pastime is a neat little theatre of 240 seating capacity and plays both Pathe and Triangle program. CLAREXDON. TEX. — H. Mulkev, manager of the Pastime Theatre, is busy drawing up plans for enlarging his theatre to seat 900 people. A new balcony will be installed and the house completely remodt led. Exhibitor Mulkey reports business good. ''Broken Blossoms" will be the Christmas attraction. MEMPHIS. TEX.— W. Roberts, ably assisted by Mrs. Roberts in the management of the Princess Theatre in this thriving county seat, will build a 1,000 seat homi in the spring. This house will cost $35,000 and will accommodate both road shows and feature productions. Cotton is high — so business is good ! MEMPHIS, TEX.— "The Hoodlum" will have its premier showing in Memphis Christmas Day at the Majestic Theatre, which is owned by Ernest Mollixson. This house, which plays First Xational productions, also plays road attractions. Exhibitor Mollinson says that the farmers have plenty of money this fall so he should vvorrv ! CHILDRESS. TEX.— Phipps & Laytox. owners of the Monogram and La Grand Theatres, a quiet little Sunday town, report that business is great during week-days but ■ w ing to the "Blue-Laws" of Childress they cannot open their theatres on Sunday. This state of affairs will be remedied shortly, according to Manager Phipps, as theyr will < pen their theatres with free admission, but, like the Dutchman, will have a largv howl in front signifying "Contributions thankfully received." The Monogram will be remodeled in the near future, a new balcony to he built and the seating capacity to be increased from 320 to 550. Simplex machines and a Style "G" Wurlitzer will be installed. The estimated cost of repairs and new equipment is $6,000. CHILLICOTHE. TEXAS.— Dr. E. M. Wehb. manager of the Majestic Theatre, is a very busy man. Besides his extensive practice as physician, president of the telephone company and electric light plant, he nevertheless finds time to book the better class of pictures for the Majestic. The Doctor states business is just fair and that his week-night for "specials" is Saturday. Ex K. H. Hl'LSEY One of the leading exhibitors of the South, who is interested in the construction of several big motion picture theatres early in the spring. hibitor Webb has been contributing regularly to the S. of A. A. & C, but advised the Herald representative that he had written his last check to that organization. VERXOX. TEX.— E. S. Wright, manager of the Pictorium at Vernon, Tex., is busy completing his plans for the enlargement of his theatre from 340 to 500 seats. A new balcony will be erected and theatre completely renovated. Two new Motiographs have lately been installed in the Pictorium. Exhibitor Wright reports business good in the thriving little city. ELECTRA. TEX.— The walls of the new Grand Theatre are rapidly going up and this new 1.200 seat house, which will cost about $70,000 and is owned by 1,200 stockholders of Electra. will be a real credit to the industry. The house will be under the management of R. S. Sykes, who also controls the Crown Theatre at Electra. A six-piece orchestra and a Cremo pipeorgan are planned. A standard stage is being built so as to accommodate road shows as well as feature productions. ELECTRA, TEX.— E. M. Collins, manager of the Liberty Theatre. Electra, Tex., has solved the coal problem. He has installed a boiler which is heated by fuel oil and has utilized his Buffalo Conoidal Blower fan to circulate the heat throughout his house, under the same plan that he circulates cold air in the summer time. He has erected a galvanized box over his fan and placed in front a set of steampipe coils out of an old laundry company's drying plant, and connected same up with the boiler. Christmas attraction for this house is First Xational's "Back to God's Country." IOWA PARK. TEX.— T. A. Crouse, who owns a confection shop and finds time to run the Ideal Theatre in this busy little oil city, reports business wonderfully good. This house, which has a seating capacity 157