Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

September 30, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 29 Eugene Zukor New Pep Club Head Spokane Theatre Week Goes Over With Record Publicity Exploitation Defeats Weather During Drive by Film Industry in Washington City— Mammoth Parade Launches Northwest Movement (Special to Exhibitors Herald) SPOKANE, WASH.. September 19. — Weather holds no terror for the exhibitors and distributors in this city. It may be sweltering hot or a drenching rain may be falling — it is all the same to the industry in Spokane. Theatre owners and distributors proved their ability to overcome the elements during "Go-to-Theatre Week"' early this month. It was the first drive of this nature in the city's history and the fifteen theatres which participated went through the week with colors flying. Drenching Rain Fails to Halt Big Parade Opening on Saturday, "Go-to-Theatre Week" bucked up against four days that averaged more than 96 in the shade. On Wednesday, just before the parade, which exhibitors had been working on for a month, started the heavens broke loose and following a half hour of heavy rain a hail storm played havoc with the floats, marchers and thousands who lined the downtown streets. In spite of the downpour and the fact that the plane which flew over the parade fell into the river when the hail stopped the engines, the parade was run off on schedule time. Eugene J. Zukor (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK. Sept. 19.— Eugene J. Zukor was elected president of the Paramount Pep Club at an election of officers held last week. Others chosen were; vice-president, Melville A. Shauer; treasurer, E. A. Brown, and secretary Bertha Wiener. The board of governors comprises Elsie Hemmer, Florence McGovern, G. B. J. Frawley. Julian Johnson. Paul Morgan, George Spidell and Harry G. Wylie. The club recently staged its annual outing at Asbury Park, N. T. New Japanese Ruling Will Protect American Films in That Nation (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Sept. 19.— The home office of United Artists is in receipt of a copy of the Japan Advertiser, one of the leading newspapers of Tokio. which publishes a lengthy article detailing a court decision which assures American film interests protection against film piracy in the Orient. The ruling was handed down in favor of United Artists which brought action to prevent the illegal showing of D. W. Griffith's "Way Down East." The newspaper says: "The court's decision is believed to settle once and for all the question of motion picture copyright protection." Stork Visits Skouras (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. LOUIS, MO., Sept. 19.— A bouncing baby girl, christened Daphne Suzanna Skouras has been added to the family of Spyros Skouras of Skouras Bros., First National franchise holders in St. Louis. It is reported that the middle name is a tribute to a well known film of that title. On Saturda3 Pilot Nick Mamer driving a Casino theatre plane flew over the city and distributed 20.000 programs for "Go-To-Theatre Week." Each theatre distributed 5,000 or more programs during the preceding week and with department stores, hotels, clubs, parks and music dealers participating, it is doubtful if many Spokane people missed seeing the schedule of attractions for the week. Slides were screened at all theatres for two weeks previous and the city was well placarded with special window cards and photographs and window tieups of various screen stars whose pictures were shown during the celebration. Band Ballyhoos Event A band in a Transport truck paraded the down town and residential sections of the city at noon each day during the celebration. On Monday Pilot Mamer and J. L. Johnston, special representative for the celebration, flew over the city for a stunt exhibition and distributed programs and the like. Through C. E. Foster, photoplay editor of the Chronicle, a stars' impersonation contest was conducted, a special column being devoted to the idea each day. The Spokane Press ran a special three page advertising section on two occasions. The Spokesman Review also gave the event considerable publicity. A $500 funds subscribed by theatremen advertised the fete, distributors also contributing to the movement. Judges of the dual competition were Harry Eagles, Paramount Pictures; Mrs. John T. Little, Spokane society matron, and W. E. McMillan, Universal. Clemmer Wins First First prize for floats was awarded to Dr. H. * S. Clemmer of the Clemmer theatre, who entered a rich red cloth float on which was mounted a throne occupied by a bejewelled beauty who posed for a motion picture made by a feminine cameraman whose tripod rested on the snowy surface of a miniature mountain at the other end of the display. _ Second prize went to O. W. Newton of the Rialto theatre, Hillyard, Wash. Third prize was awarded George Terhune of the Rex theatre whose float was made to resemble a tropical scene from "The Idol Dancer," the First National attraction he featured during the week. Manager Ray A. Grombacher entered twenty-two new Hudson and Essex cars bearing the impersonators of the Chronicle contest as the Liberty theatre display. Each car was decorated and bore a two by five canvas sign calling attention to some feature of Liberty theatre service or the name of some forthcoming attraction. Marty Firms Participate Manager Stillwell of the Casino entered a "Monte Cristo" float on a huge Mack truck. The Empress, Lyric and Majestic theatres had decorated cars. The American theatre had ten Studebaker cars and six Northwest Mounted Policemen in uniform. Pantages had two decorated trucks and four Nash cars, the Rotary and Ad Clubs had decorated cars and Pathe, Hodkinson and Universal and Alexander Film Laboratories had decorated cars. Pathe employees distributed 1,000 asters to people watching the parade and the Pathe cameraman took pictures of the parade for showing at the Casino Theatre the same evening. Associated First National Pictures of Seattle entered a handsome float of white and silver on which Miss Ruth Harkins, prize winning beauty of the Inland Empire, dressed in a dainty pink crinojjne gown of 1865, rode with a prize Siberian wolf hound tied to a leash. Miss Harkins distributed asters to the crowd and also tossed away several thousand miniature photographs of First National stars. The Casino theatre's Curtis plane was appropriately decorated for flying low above the parade. Civic Clubs Assist Ad Club. Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and Chamber of Commerce organizations gave the principal speaker's privilege to theatre men at each regular meeting during the week and at each event all theatre men of the city were present as guests of the clubs. Members of the committees in charge of "Go-To-Theatre Week" were : Ray A. Grombacher and James E. Vesey, Liberty theatre: E. Clark Walker. Pantages; Dr~ K. S. Clemmer and Hugo C. Lambach, 'Clemmer theatre: George Terhune. Rex; C. E. Stillwell, Casino; E. C. (Concluded on page 38}