Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

Early "Comeback" in Business Is Reported Summer Dull Period Is Now Over in Many Districts, Say Film Men One can not but be impressed by the optimistic business talk along film row. Better still, actual figures indicate an earlier revival than usual of normal box office receipts. Film men who have weathered many a summer dull period declare that business is picking up earlier this year than in the past. Maberry Very Optimistic Cecil Maberry, vice president of Goldwyn, who has made a recent tour ot the exchange centers, was a visitor on the Row last week. While labor conditions and hot weather still are having an adverse effect on theatres in some districts, he asserted that the fast return to normal, or near normal, in other territories was surprising. In the Northwest — Minnesota, the two Dakotas and Wisconsin — he predicts the biggest fall and winter business in eighteen years. Announces Early Recovery Frank Ishmael. Metro salesman, de-< clares that at no time in recent years has business shown such an early "comeback" as is discernible at this time. Sales, he said, have shown a very marked increase over a few weeks ago. Other film men corroborated these statements. With such an early '"'comeback" in business, it would seem .hat this fall and winter will find the theatre box office hitting its former stride. Elgin War Worker Leaves To Join Goldwyn on Coast Edna Geister, of Elgin, Illinois, exponent of recreational activities, whose work in soldiers' camps during the war became widely known, has left for Hollywood to accept an engagement with Goldwyn. Miss Geister, it is understood, will undertake some special work for the producing company. A part}' was given in her honor before her departure by relatives and friends. Newman Joins Detroit Exchange of Universal D. C. Newman, who for the past three years has been manager of the Select exchange at Detroit. Michigan, has resigned to join Universal's exchange in Detroit as assistant to Manager Joe Freidman. Will Direct for Eastman Tack B. Hyland will direct the instruction film being produced by Eastman Kodak Company as a part of an educational program to be presented to professional photographers by the company. A. B. Cornish is supervising production. RALPH BRADFORD, well known in Chicago film circles and formerly manager of the local Paramount exchange and head cf the sales department of Celebrated Players Film Corporation, has taken over the First National exchange at Minneapolis. Mr. Bradford succeeds J. F. Cubberley who has joined the interests of M. L. Finkelstein. Observe Anniversaries of Garfield Theatre and Its Manager, Chas. H. Ryan The Garfield theatre, prominent west side neighborhood house, will celebrate its thirteenth anniversary on September 11. Almost simultaneously Charles H. Ryan, managing director of the Garfield, will observe his eleventh year's association with the theatre as its managing director. Mr. Ryan will leave for a vacation starting September 23 at Druce Lake, 111., some forty miles north of Chicago. He confides that he expects to put in considerable time chasing the little white ball around the links at Round Lake and the Glen Flora Club, Waukegan, and also that he has high hopes of annexing the gold medal in the 50 yard dash at the Lake County Club on Labor Day. He did it last year in a field of thirty starters and says he is in shape to repeat again. During Mr. Ryan's absence Charles J. Schaefer will assume his duties at the Garfield. Is Made Milwaukee Chief G. A. Durlam, formerly connected with the Minneapolis Paramount exchange, has been appointed by S. R. Kent, branch manager at Milwaukee. Mr. Durlam succeeds A. E. Bernstein, resigned. Prepare Plans for New L. & T. House Theatre to Be Erected on Belmont Avenue Just West of Lincoln A beautiful and modern theatre is to be erected on Belmont avenue just west of Lincoln avenue by Lubliner & Trinz in the near future. Official verification of the project which has been the subject of numerous rumors in the past was officially given from the offices of L. & T. by Emil Stern, general manager. Plans Under Way Detailed announcement concerning the new theatre, it was stated, will not be made until a later date. Mr. Stern declared, however, that plans for the building were now in course of preparation by an architect. The location of the new house sets at rest reports of proposed sites for the theatre which have placed it within a radius of several blocks of the busy district at the intersection of Belmont, Lincoln and Ashland avenues. It is understood that work of razing the present property on the site for the theatre will be started shortly. May Have Stores According to current reports the project being planned is in the form of a magnificent theatre building which will also contain stores, offices and possibly flats. Kenosha Houses Merged ; Rhode Is Made Manager Under a deal recently completed three Kenosha, Wis., theatres are combined under the management of the Orpheum Theatre Company and it is announced that Joseph G. Rhode, former president of Wisconsin exhibitor organization, will have direct charge of the management of the theatres. A lease has been acquired on the Rhode Opera house by the company. Mr. Rhode, it is stated, has been elected a director of the company in which he has acquired a substantial interest. The other two theatres are the Orpheum and the Majestic. Labor Disagreement Is Adjusted at McVickers Work on the new McVickers theatre was temporarily interrupted for a brief time last week when 200 members of the building trades union quit work in protest against the arrival of some non-union painters, who were accompanied by representatives of the citizens' committee to enforce the Landis award. The matter was quickly settled, however, following a conference between Van Etten Bros, and Jones, Linick & Schaefer in which it was decided to withdraw the non-union workers.