Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

EXHIBITORS HERALD Chicago Group Takes Over Lease To Merrill Theatre, Milwaukee Handelsman, Hershberg and Gumbiner Pay Half Million Dollars for Possession of PlayhouseHint at Further Purchases By the terms of an agreement closed January 17, the Merrill Theatre, Grand avenue and Third street, Milwaukee, and the seven story office building of which it is a part has been transferred from the Badger State Investment company to Handelsman, Hershberg and Gumbiner, well known Chicago motion picture men. Negotiations have been pending several months. It came to the attention of the Chicago theatrical men through J. S. Grauman, formerly Milwaukee manager for the Metro Pictures Corporation and now occupying a similar position in the Chicago office, who held an option on the property. Grauman had little difficulty in interesting the enterprising Chicagoans in the transaction. Pay Half Million for Lease The transfer affects the leasehold only and involves a purchase price of $500,000.00. The Badger State Investment Company assumed charge of the property five years ago on a 99-year lease. By this transaction the newcomers come into possession of the unexpired term of the leasehold ; namely 94 years. Oklahoma City Will Have Big Playhouse Half Million Is Estimated As Cost of Theatre to Seat 2,000 People OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.— Work will begin soon on a new $500,000 theatre to be built here by J. M. Cooper of Wichita, Kansas. The new theatre will be named "The Cooper" and will seat more than 2,000 persons and will be the most modern in the state. It will have a triplicate lighting system, permitting correct lighting tor all classes of productions and a "mushroom" cooling system with air distributors under every seat. On the mezzanine floor are to be separate parlors for men and women, and one combination parlor. A nursery will be in the basement. In the rear of the balcony will be a smoking compartment with glass panels, enabling smokers to puff their weeds and watch the pictures at the same time. No announcement of the policy of the theatre has been made, but it is probable it will be opened with a showing of highclass pictures. A sixteen-piece orchestra will be employed. Prices will be 10 and 25 cents, according to the owner. Huntington Honored By Coast Publicists LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20— The following officers have been chosen for the recently formed "Studio Publicists Association," made up of press representatives of the various studios and stars: C. Walter Huntington, president; Ham Beall, vice president; Emily Squier, secretary; Al Risley, treasurer; Ted Taylor, editor of "The Mouth Organ," a miniature paper to be published by the organization. Seymour Tally Will Manage the Kinema LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20— Seymour Tally, son of T. L. Tally, has taken over the reins of management of the Kinema theatre, recently purchased by the Tally interests. He succeeds George Dumond, who left the employ of W. H. Clune two years ago to become manager of the Kinema. Dumond, it is said, will take over one of the new Marcus Loew houses to be built in Los Angeles. Ritchey to Supervise at Morosco Studios LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20— Will M. Ritchey, who has been a scenario writer for the past two years at the Famous Players-Lasky studio, has been made supervising director of the Morosco studio. Ritchey prepared the scenario for "Everywoman." Several years ago he was city editor of the Los Angeles Express. Normand Back West LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20— Mabel Normand is back from New York and ready to commence work on a new picture at the Goldwyn studio. Few Chicago theatrical men are better known in the industry than Handelsman, Hershberg and Gumbiner. Heretofore they have been operating separately in theatrical affairs, more especially of motion picture importance. This deal brings the triumvirate together in a business transaction for the first time. J. Handelsman has been associated with the W. W. Kimball Company, noted organ builders and dealers in other musical instruments, the past 25 years. He has contracted for high priced organs with many important theatres in the middle west. His theatrical holdings have been many and varied. At present he is erecting a theatre on the principal thoroughfare in South Bend, Indiana, at a cost of half a million dollars. Hershberg Is Veteran William Hershberg, who was the prime mover in swinging this Milwaukee deal, is a member of Metro's Chicago organization. He is a veteran picture man, having been one of the pioneer theatre men and distributors. In the early days he was associated with Barney Balaban of the present theatrical firm of Balaban and Katz, in the Balaban & Hershberg Film Attractions Company. Besides his present activity To Exhibitors Herald: I am a faithful reader of j your excellent department, "Exhibitors Bureau, How To { Advertise," I find the sug j gestions most valuable to me \ in getting up my newspaper j | advertising. Leland Wooters, SUN, MOON, and MUSE THEATRES j Omaha, Neb. as a member of Metro's organization he is interested in the Ashland Photoplay Company, operating the Ashland and Madlin theatres, prominent west side Chicago houses. Abe Gumbiner is a Chicago theatrical man with considerable holdings. He is operating a circuit of ten theatres in Chicago and his activities have been extended outside of the Windy City also. Among his houses are the Paulina, New Regent, Star, Temple De Luxe and Parkway. He is erecting a theatre and hotel in Hammond, Indiana, at considerable cost and anticipates its comple• tion in several months. Handelsman, Hershberg and Gumbiner intend to take charge of the theatre in the near future. They propose making extensive improvements in the theatre. The orchestra is to be augmented. Elkhart Exhibitor Purchases Site for 2,000-Seat Theatre ELKHART, IND.— The biggest real estate deal in the history of this city was concluded recently, when Harry E. Lerner, manager of the Bucklen theatre, purchased of the H. E. Bucklin estate all of the property on the east side of Main street from Franklin south to the Curtis block. The deal includes a row of buildings affording eight business rooms, all occupied. The purchase price is not made public. The frontage is 171 feet and the depth 165 feet. Mr. Lerner announced that on the site would be built a fine theatre, modern in all respects and capable of seating 2,000 people. Work probably will not begin for a year, because of the leases held by some of the tenants. Owen Moore West LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20 — Owen Moore is here to start work at the Brunton studio on his new Selznick production, "Love Among the Chickens." 53