Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

82 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 27, 1920 Hodkinson' s " Sagebr usher" Carries Away Attendance Honors at Capital Benjamin B. Hampton's production, "The Sagebrusher," did big business for an entire week at the Strand theatre in Washington, one of Tom Moore's first run houses. And, according to all reports, the picture did the biggest week's business in the capital. The Moore organization opened wide on advertising expenditure with half and quarter pages of newspaper advertising which "sold the show to the city." Uses Pertinent Phrases Mr. Moore's announcement of "The Sagebrusher" drove it home as being "the picture with a soul," "the picture of sublime faith," "the picture of humanness" and "the picture of reality," ending with a line in black type, "the picture you will always remember." The Sunday opening was to turn-away business, and the next day being Washington's birthday, produced characteristic holiday audiences. Praise on the part of patrons who had seen the picture made the rest of the week certain, it is said. The W. W. Hodkinson organization, which distributes the picture, announces that "The Sagebrusher," both in rapidity of booking for first runs and its popularity with exhibitors and audiences, is outstripping the two previous Benjamin B. Hampton productions, "The Westerners" and "Desert Gold," both of which productions have been record makers all through the fall and winter months. Theatres Already Booked Among the important first run iheatres that have booked the feature during the past few days are: Midgeley's American theatre, Oakland, Cat.: Goddard's Goddard theatre, Sacramento, Cal.; the Rialto, Pueblo, Colo.; the Lyric, Cheyenne. Wyo. ; the Palace, Muscatine, la.; the Strong, Burlington, Vt; Hulscy's Old Mill, Dallas; the Washington, Waco; the Zoe and Queen, Houston; the Hippodrome, Fort Worth; the Liberty, Ranger, Tex.; the Connellee, Eastland, Tex.; StillwelPs Casino, Spokane, Wash.; James Q. Clemmer's Clemmer theatre, Seattle, Wash.; the Sexton, Great Falls, Mont.; the Ansonia, Butte; the Signal Amusement Company's Alcazar, Chattanooga; the Strand. Clinton, la.; the Rialto, Bremerton, Wash. Utica's Colonial to Undergo Remodeling UTICA, N. Y. — The Colonial theatre, a Wilmer & Vincent house, will be remodeled this spring, according to Ford S. Anderson, general representative of the firm. The reconstruction will increase the seating capacity to 2,000 persons. The concern plans to construct in New Jersey a modern theatre which will cost $250,000, and will seat 3,000 persons. The firm also is interested in projects in ■Mlentown and Harrisburg, Pa., Norfolk and Richmond, Va.. and in Savannah, Ga. At Norfolk, the Wilmer & Vincent artassociated with the Jake Wells interests; in Richmond with the Keith interests; in Savannah with the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. To Have Show Each Night MINOCQUA, WIS.— Part of the Jenkinson block has been equipped as a motion picture theatre. A nightly program will be offered. Welter Takes Charge STURGEON BAY. WIS.— F rank Welter has purchased the motion picture interests of the Opera House from B. Hahn. IMPORTANT SCENES FROM "THE KENTUCKY COLONEL' A notable cast appears in this National Film Corporation production including Joseph J. Dowling, Clara Dred, Elinor Field, Francis McDonald, Fred Kohler and Edward Brady. This story of the Blue Grass Country has just been completed.