Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

March 13, 1920 EXHIBITORS HERALD 39 WHO IS SHE? HERE is the mysterious new star of the screen who is declared to have the most beautiful hands in motion pictures. It is freely predicted that February, 1921, will find her among the most popular actresses on the screen. Who is she? It is a secret. Ask Joe Brandt. He knows and may tell ycu. Five-Reel Sunshine Special Will Reach First Run Houses in April December Attendance Breaks All Records $7,268,688.41 Collected in Admission Taxes — Increase Totals $3,814,940.47 WASHINGTON. March 2— Attendance at motion picture and other theatres during December broke all records, judging from the admission taxes collected by the bureau of internal revenue. During the month, according to a report just made public by Commissioner Roper, the admission taxes collected totaled $7,268,688.41. This was an increase of $3,814,940.47 over the collections of the same month in 1918, which were $3,453,747.94. Ever since their first inclusion in the revenue law, the admission taxes have been increasing steadily, according to the figures. For the first six months of the current fiscal year, ended with December, a total of $34,522,664.94 was collected, against $20,789,314.68 during the same period of the preceding year. During December, also, the government received $435,454.86 from taxes on leased and licensed films, and $275,409.94 from the seating tax on theatres and other places of amusement. Other taxes in which the theatre men are interested were $12,037,410.96 from freight, $2,828,049.23 from express, $10,040,018.80 from transportation of persons, $49,724.68 from seats, berths and staterooms, and $3,099,761.40 from long distance telephone and telegraph messages. The total collected during the momh from all sources was $1,030,684,083.41. an increase of $836,687,016.76 over the collections of December. Seeks Revision of Ordinance to Erect 12-Story Playhouse ST. LOUIS, MO. — A revision of the zoning ordinance to permit the erection of a twelve-story apartment building at Grand and Lucas Ave., is sought by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. The concern now is building a twostory theatre on the site which is in a district where a limit of eighty feet is placed on height. Plans for the theatre would not be changed, it is said, if the higher structure is erected. The building would be of reinforced concrete. Approximately $1,000,000 would be spent in the twelve-story enterprise. Famous Players-Lasky is contemplating the construction of a theatre at Seventh and Locust streets. Loew's New House in Knoxville Is Opened K N O XV I L L E. TENN. — Marcus Loew's new theatre, a motion picture and vaudeville house, has been opened. A souvenir program was distributed as a momento of the opening. The theatre was remodeled at a cost of $150,000, practically all appliances, fixtures and decorations having been replaced. A $15,000 Moller organ was installed. Raymond P. Whitfield is manager of the playhouse, which is the starting point .in the southern circuit. The all-star five-reel Sunshine special produced by the Fox Film Corporation is expected to reach first run theatres in April, according to an announcement from Fox offices in West Fifty-fifth street. New York. The production, as indicated by Fox officials, is a departure from the usual comedy aggregation. The Singer Midgets, a well-known troupe of diminutive people, will make their debut in pictures. The entire personnel of the Sunshine comedies aided in the adaptation. Comedy Without Music A musical comedy without the music is the way the production is described by Fox officials. Hampton Del Ruth, who supervised the subject, has had considerable experience in staging musica! shows before the footlights. It is said that the screen special will be impregnated with much of the snap, dash and color of its stage prototypes. During the making of the. special, the regular two-reel Sunshine comedies were being published on schedule time. Alta Allen Heads Cast Heading the cast is Alta Allen in the role of prima donna. Others in the cast are Harry Gribbon. Laura La Yarnie. Chester Conklin. Harry Booker. Dorothv Lee. Alice Davenport. Glen Cavender, Ed Kennedy, Tom Kennedy. Blanche Payson, Bert Gillespie, Slim Somerville. Jack Cooper, Ethel Teare. Rosa Gore. Hyman Binunsky and Bobbie Dunn. Assisting Hampton Del Ruth in the filming of the comedv were Jack Blv^tone. Eddie Cline, Roy Del Ruth, De'lmar Lord and H. G. Mac Lean. It is announced by the producers that the comedy will be featured in a special way. a line of exceptionally effect accessories going with the picture.