Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

February 4, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 33 Films Displacing Stage and Vaudeville Shows in Cities Pantages Theatre at Minneapolis Will Be Reopened As Picture House — Dramatic Attractions Are Cancelled at South Bend, Ind. A more marked supremacy of the motion picture as the most popular form of entertainment in America is evidenced this week in announcements from Minneapolis and South Bend. Ind. In both of these cities the photoplay is supplanting dramatic and vaudeville attractions in the theatres. Pantages to Be Devoted to Silent Drama In Minneapolis the Pantages theatre, featuring vaudeville, is to close for four weeks during which time extensive alterations will be made so that the house may reopen for the exclusive presentation of photoplays. This new policy marks the passing of one of the strongholds of split time. The South Bend situation effects the dramatic interests, the city being without a theatre offering this class of attractions for the first time in fifty years. "The Night Rose" Given Permit by Chicago Censors Censorship is necessarily the exercise of personal opinion. No two of the existing censorship boards have the same standards. If there were a thousand censorship boards in United States, no two could agree on what is right and wrong. For instance: "The Night Rose," the Goldwyn production, which was barred in its entirety in New York 6tate by the New York censorship commission, opened at Ascher's Roosevelt theatre, Chicago, Sunday, January 23. The picture, to be shown in Chicago, had to have the approval of the Chicago censorship commission, regarded by many producers as the most rigid in the country. The picture opened Sunday and strange as it may seem to censorship advocates in New York state, no newspaper condemned it the following day and up to the time the Herald went to press, no reform league had demanded its withdrawal. "Herald" Gives Data To A. M. P. A. Head C. L. Yearsley Is Provided With Figures Showing N. Y. Circulation (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 24.— Martin J. -Quigley, publisher of Exhibitors Herald, has placed in the hands of C. L. Yearsley,, president of Associated Motion Picture Advertisers, complete data supporting the claim that the Herald, published in Chicago, has a larger buyers' circulation in New York state, exclusive of Greater New York, than any of the four film trade papers published in New York City. The recapitulation shows that 752 theatres in New York state are booked by 584 bookers. Exclusive of the bookers not interviewed, the exhibitors reported ©n the trade papers they take as follows: Herald «9 News MS Wid's SS Trade Review 1S8 Wid's • SS William A. Johnston, editor of the Molion Picture News, who challenged the •orrectness of this statement, has agreed to submit a complete list of his New York state circulation to the A. M. P. A. The controversy has attracted considerable interest in the trade. First Reel of Urban Movie Chats Is Ready ■ (Special to Exhibitors Herald) MEW YORK, Jan. 24.— The first reel •f the "Official Urban Movie Chats of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America" has been completed. The official screen publication of the motion picture theatre owners is being produced by the Kineto Company of America and being distributed by W. W. Hodkinson company. Made Division Manager (Special to Exhibitors Herald) DENVER. COLO.. Jan. 17. — H. M. Herbel has been appointed division manager in charge of Universal exchanges at Denver, Salt Lake, Spokane and Butte, with headquarters here. Adoption by the Shuberts of a combination program over their circuit of vaudeville houses is another indication of the trend of the times. Exclusive Picture Program Offered (Special to Exhibitors Herald) MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., Jan. 24.— The Pantages theatre, a local downtown house featuring vaudeville, will close for four weeks. Extensive alterations will be made. The policy of this house will be feature pictures only, and will change the entire first-run policy of the situation in this city. Bert Meyer, late of Pantages San Francisco house, has taken over the management, succeeding Joe Quinlan, who will be transferred to the Kansas Citytheatre of this chain. No Houses Playing Dramatic Shows (Special to Exhibitors Herald) SOUTH BEND, IND., Jan. 24.— For the first time in fifty years, South Bend is without a theatre offering legitimate attractions despite the fact that the city has two houses erected at a cost of $1,500.000, and has a third house under construction which will cost $800,000. This latter house, which was started six months ago for the purpose of housing dramatic productions and musical comedies, has been absorbed by the Orpheum circuit and will be used for vaudeville. The Oliver theatre, which for years has been regarded as one of the best theatres in the country, has passed over to the motion picture men, while the Blackstone, a 2,000 seat house, is also catering exclusively to picture audiences. All legitimate attractions booked for the Oliver have been cancelled. Lack of business is given as the reason. Warners to Build Broadway Theatre (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 24.— Announcement has been made by Harry M. Warner of Warner Brothers that he is planning the erection of a $1,000,000 motion picture theatre on Broadway between 42nd and 49th streets. A site is now under consideration. The house will be erected, according to Mr. Warner, so that independent producers may obtain Broadway runs for their attractions. It is not expected that work on the new house will get under way much before next fall. Kent Reorganizes Sales Department of Famous (Special to Exhibitors Htrald) NEW YORK, Jan. 24.— A reorganization of the executive staff of the sales department of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation is announced by Sidney R. Kent, general manager. The position of general sales manager is abolished and hereafter there will be three general division sales managers. H. G. Ballance will be in charge of division 1, which includes the Eastern territory; George W. Weeks, division 2. Central West; G. E. Akers, division 3, West. Congress to Investigate Alleged "Political Activities'9 of Industry (Special to Exhibitors Herald) WASHINGTON, D. C, Jan. 24.— Congress is to investigate the alleged "political activities" of the motion picture industry. Acting upon a resolution introduced some time ago by Senator Meyers, a subcommittee was appointed today to launch the investigation immediately. Open hearings are expected to be held within a week or so. Meyers stated at the time of offering his resolution that the industry had boasted of its participation in politics.