Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

CHICAGO TRADE EVENTS Boosting Admissions Puts License Higher Chicago Theatre Men Forced to Pay City Collector Additional Fee If Chicago theatremen boost their prices of admission on special productions they also must pay the city a higher license fee for each day that the increased prices are effective. Many of the exhibitors of the city were not aware of this provision of the license ordinance and as a result they have been paid a visit by the city collector. 3 Per Cent Is Charged Chicago theatre licenses are based on admission fees and seating capacity. If, during the presentation of a feature the admission price is boosted, the city is empowered to collect for each day of the showing 3 per cent of the difference between the annual license regularly paid by the theatre and the license that would be paid if the higher admission prices were in effect the year around. . As an example, if the price of admission at any theatre is 25 cents and a 50 cent admission is charged for a one day presentation, the exhibitor would have to pay the city 3 per cent of the difference on a 25 cent license and a 50 cent license. Contracts Stipulate Higher Price It is very necessary that exhibitors of' Chicago know this provision of the license ordinance because of the fact that several big productions are being booked now, the contracts stipulating that a certain admission price be charged. Unless this additional fee is paid exhibitors will not be permitted to renew their licenses. Greiver Will Distribute Johnson-Jeffries Films Greiver Productions, 831 South Wabash avenue, has signed for the distribution in Illinois of the Johnson-Jeffries fight pictures. • The picture, which has played for ten weeks in the Chicago loop, will be booked on percentage only. Eight companies, according to Griever Productions, have been organized to handle the many applications for dates which have been received. Hopp to Erect House at Ogden and North Avenues A $300,000 motion picture house will be erected at the intersection of North avenue and Larrabee street by Joseph Hopp. pioneer motion picture man. The house will have a seating capacity of 1,650. Plans for the structure have been drawn by William T. Braun. and it is expected the new theatre will be completed in October. DETROIT, MICH., Jan. 4.— The week in which February 8 falls has been designated Kent-Selznick week by the local Select Pictures Corporation branch in honor of Manager J. O. Kent, who has been in charge of the office four years. Kent has been with the Selznick organization seven years. The special sales drive, it is said, was the idea of some of Kent's exhibitor friends. Barbee Books Seven Hodkinson Features Will Play Loop Theatre at Rate of Two Each Month W. F. Seymour, district manager, and Ralph Simmons, local manager, have just closed with Barbee's Loop theatre for the presentation of seven W. W. Hodkinson Corporation productions. The pictures will be played at the rate of two a month, each feature to be given a minimum showing of one week. The pictures booked by Barbee's are: "The Mysterious Rider," which goes into the house early this month; "Rip Van Winkle," "Jane Eyre," Cameron of the Royal Mounted," "Fifty Candles," "French Heels" and "The Light in the Clearing." Approximately $7,000 has been appropriated by the theatre and the distributor for advertising and exploitation purposes. An average of $800 will be expended on each production, it is said. Paramount Salesmen Convene at Chicago Discuss Matters Pertaining to Handling of Realart Productions A convention of Paramount salesmen was called by H. W. Given, Chicago manager of Famous PlayersLasky Corporation exchange, on December 27 and 28, at whi.:h twentv-two of the city and Milwaukee salesmen and representatives were present. Matters nertaining to the handling of Realart pictures in conjunction with the regular Paramount output were discussed. Chicago's Force Present Those who attended from the Chicago office were: H. W. Given, manager; Otto Bolle, sales manager; Xeal Agnew, assistant sales manager; Dan Roche, exploitation representative; William Hamm, booker, and the following salesmen: Jack Wolfberg. Joe Wolff, E. L. Goldberg, H. A. O'Brien, V. C. Jacobs, W. G. Carmichael, W. D. Washburn, Theo. Stover, J. Rockabrand. Harry Zink, S. D. Chapman, L. C. O'Connor. Realart Men Attend The following attended from Milwaukee: Al Bernstein, manager Milwaukee exchange; Milton Hirsch, sales manager; R. Of Gary, exploitation representative; and salesmen, Bert Reisman, Joe Roderick, George Oldfield, and Horace Conway. Messrs. Petaria and Rowley of the Realart exchange, Chicago, also attended. Those attending the convention were entertained on Tuesday evening at the 111 inois theatre and a luncheon was served on Wednesday at the Stratford hotel. Two Stars and Author at Chicago's Theatres Last week there was a regular succession of personal appearances in Chicago's downtown motion picture theatres. George Beban and the principals who took part in the production, "The Sign of the Rose," appeared in a twenty-five minute sketch depicting the flower shop, at the Chicago; Rex Beach, author of "The Iron Trail," which played at the Roosevelt all week, spoke briefly at every performance and made a very pleasing impression on his audiences, while over on Madison street Charles (Buck) Jones, the Fox star, appeared before the screens at the Rose and Alcazar theatres under the Jones, Linick & Schaefer management. O. J, Freulich Goes to Hot Springs, Arkansas O. J. Freulich of the Bonita theatre has gone to Hot Springs, Ark., where he will be treated for rheumatism. He is living at the Arlington hotel while there.