Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

March 25, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 39 Radio Music May Supplant Orchestras in Many Houses Demonstration Held in New York— Exhibitors Hold That Centrally Located Orchestra May Be Made Possible by New Device (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, March I4. — One of the high lights of the radio show, which was held at the Hotel Pennsylvania last week, was a demonstration which was watched with close interest by many theatre owners. The demonstration was made in the big grill room of the hotel, where music for dancing was furnished by an orchestra stationed in Newark, the strains of harmony being transmitted to the dancing room by means of wireless telephone. The theatre owners' interest was occasioned by the possibilities presented of having one centrally located orchestra supply the music for a number of theatres. As one interested motion picture exhibitor outlined it : "Why Six Orchestras?" Asks Exhibitor '"If an orchestra located in Newark can supply such perfect music to that hotel dining room, why have I got six orchestras at work in my six houses. If the music can be transmitted from Newark as perfectly as that I can put a radiophone in each of my theatres and one centrally located orchestra can furnish music for all the houses. This is worth going into." W. D. Burford Quits As Exhibitor Officer Illinois Vice President to Devote Entire Time to Private Business W. D. Burford has tendered his resignation as vice president, member of the board of directors and chairman of the adjustment committee, of the Illinois Motion Picture Theatre Owners. In his letter to his associates, he states that his private business interests demand more of his time and makes his retirement from office in the league imperative. "Red Card" System Dropped? Simultaneously, it was indicated that the "red card," created by Mr. Burford, had been dropped from the film rental reduction plans of the Illinois M. P. T. O., although the organization has not ceased its effort to bring about lower rentals for exhibitors. "Negotiations with the exchanges for lower rentals, conducted by the exhibitors themselves, appear to be progressing nicely," said William J. Sweeney, state organizer of the exhibitors' association. "Not a case has been brought before the adjustment committee, which would undertake to obtain relief if the exhibitors failed." The Illinois exhibitors' convention is scheduled for April 4 and 5, and on account of the short time intervening, it is possible Mr. Burford's resignation will not be acted on, although he will be relieved of his responsibilities by other officers. Exchanges in Statement Chicago film exchanges this week issued a formal statement denying that the "red card" entitled its bearers to more consideration than would be given exhibitors not provided with cards. Signing the statement were managers of Fox, Goldwyn, Celebrated Players, Reelcraft, Select, Vitagraph, Universal, Gunning, Paramount, Metro, Pioneer, Clyde Elliott, First National, Educational and R-C Pictures. Moreno Files Suit Against Vitagraph (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, March 14.— Antonio Moreno has filed suit for $129,000 against Vitagraph for alleged breach of contract and salary due him to July 21, 1923. He has signed with Goldwyn. Moreno claims he was discharged by telegram from A. E. Smith January 28, and that prior to that date, although contract called for his being starred, he was given heavy roles and bits. Fire Destroys Theatre (Special to Exhibitors Herald) OLNEY, ILL., March 14.— The Alco theatre, owned by the Curley B. Gould circuit, was destroyed by fire Friday night. It had accommodations for 600. The loss was several thousand dollars. May Appear in Films (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, March 14.— It is possible that Harry Tate, comedian of the London Follies, will act before the camera. He is having tests made at the Sennett studios. The demonstration was made by Dodge Manufacturing Company of Mishawaka, Ind., and was made possible by means of an amplifying horn with which that company now equips phonographs for theatre use. The demonstration at the radio show was the first public showing of the horn in use with radio, and the possibilities opened up met with instant recognition. Tone Is Perfect A concert grand phonograph equipped with one of these horns was placed in one end of the big grill room. It had previously been dismantled of its phonograph machinery and a radio receiving set installed in its place. The Pennsylvania orchestra had been sent to the Westinghouse transmitting station in Newark for the occasion. The music supplied by wireless was as loud, perfect of tone and in every way as acceptable as if the orchestra had been stationed in the room. In fact many of the diners who had not been notified of what was doing, looked about for the orchestra, and then expressed great surprise when informed that it was playing in Newark. Trouble Eliminated While apparently the demonstration was an entire success, Kenyon W. Mix, who conducted it, was not satisfied. He said: "We had some interference but finally located it and got it straightened out without many in the grill room knowing that anything was wrong. After we started to work we discovered we were M. P. T. O. A. Convention will be held at Washington, D. C, the week of May 8 Convention headquarters at Washington will be at the New Willard hotel. Advance reservations can be made at Nezv York offices of the M. P. T. O. A. being blanked by a sending set close at hand. We finally located an operator right here in the hotel. When we got him to quit sending, things went all right. Not Practical Now "While the demonstration shows possibilities I do not believe we are far enough advanced in radio to make this centralized orchestra idea practical as a general thing. It could undoubtedly be handled advantageously in cases of a group of theatres located within a comparatively small area. I am afraid that over a wide field — sav a radius of thirty or more miles — the interference of other sending stations would cause trouble. "However, the possibilities of radio sets used with our horn, are great, and will be enhanced enormously as the knowledge and use of radio advances, or when the government takes charge and regulates the sending stations." Augustin W. Carrickls Elected President of Indianapolis Exchanges (Special to Exhibitors Herald) INDIANAPOLIS, IND., March 17. — Augustin W. Carrick of R-C has been elected president of the Board of Motion Picture Exchange Managers here. Other officers chosen for the year are: Vice-president, Norman Moray, Pathe, and treasurer, Floyd Brown, First National. Baggot Preparing for New Universal Picture (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, March 14.— King Baggot is on his way to Louisville to arrange for the filming for Universal of Charles T. Dazey's famous melodrama, "The Suburban Handicap." New Theatre Ready (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, March 14.— Los Angeles will have another first-run photoplay outlet, when the Hill Street theatre of the Junior Orpheum circuit opens, Monday, March 20, offering combination vaudeville and feature fiims.