Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

January 31, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 19 Theatre That Is “Different” Opens to Enthusiastic Fans New Chicago Capitol Theatre Is Erected at a Cost of $2,000,000 by J. J. and B. J. Cooney — ^Week Runs with Elaborate Presentations Is Policy Chicago’s Capitol theatre, a $2,000,000 structure more than a year in the building and radically unlike any other playhouse in the city, was opened on the evening of January 19 to one of the biggest and most enthusiastic crowds that ever attended a theatre premiere in the city. Long before the 6 :30 overture the 3,500 seats were occupied and a mob of eager admission seekers blocked the sidewalk from building line to curb, enduring biting cold, until conclusion of the first performance at 9:00 o’clock gave them a fighting chance to enter. House Located in Section Formerly Dominated by Aschers The theatre, erected by the National Theatres Company, also operating the Stratford, Chatham and Hamilton, other South Side neighborhood houses, is located at 79th and Halsted streets, a thriving intersection formerly dominated by Aschers’ Cosmopolian, directly across the street from the Capitol. Free Passes Are Jab to Dignity of Proud Lawmakers ( special to Exhibitors Herald) MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., Jan. 20.— Motion picture theatre passes, distributed to state legislators are vexing the lawmakers. The passes this year have greatly curtailed courtesies, it is agreed. Senators scorned to accept them and members of the house declared the passes an insult, belittling them. As a result legislation is aimed at the motion picture houses. One bill made its appearance in the house this week. It makes it a misdemeanor for a theatre to oversell the seating capacity of the house when patrons are kept waiting for seats. Other bills call for rigid censorship, Sunday closing, and firemen stationed in theatres for emergency. One legislator said he could remember when passes were good for two years. Later, he said, they were narrowed down to a 90 day period when the legislature is in session. Most of the passes held by the senators have been sent back. In the house belligerent legislators declare when they are all in hand, the lot will be shipped back. lt*s Finally Settled; Hearst Planning T wo Davies Films Yearly (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 20. — Two weeks ago William Randolph Hearst was getting out of the film business, disposing of the Cosmopolitan theatre, and turning all of his production business over to Metro-Goldwyn. Now it is all different. After several “off again-on again” switches the theatre finally goes to Flo Ziegfeld but Mr. Hearst remains in the picture producing business. It became known this week that since the original announcement that Mr. Hearst would retire from picture making, several of the larger companies have been approached on the subject of producing and distributing future Marion Davies productions. No satisfactory deal could be made and the latest Hearst program is to continue Cosmopolitan productions to the extent of two pictures a year with Miss Davies, these to be released through MetroGoldwyn. All future productions will be made in the West and the New York studio disposed of or leased as opportunity may offer. Dempsey and Leonard Give Up Ring Titles Jack Dempsey, heavyweight champion, and Benny Leonard, holder of the lightweight title, and both screen stars, have announced their decisions to quit the ring. Dempsey’s decision becomes effective on his marriage to Estelle Taylor in March. Leonard’s retirement is now in effect. He will devote himself in the future to the screen and the stage. Laemmle Will Fete 500 Cash Register Workers (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS .A.NGELES, j[an. 20.— Universal City is making extensive preparations to entertain the 500 star salesmen of the National Cash Register Company, who will arrive in Los Angeles on three special trains on January 31. A royal welcome will be accorded the salesmen at the “U” plant. John Eberson, architect, who designed the theatre for J. J. and B. J. Cooney, heads of National Theatres Company, provided in the Capitol a playhouse that should bring visitors from afar. It is no mere affair of four walls and ceiling. It is a mammoth Spanish garden set beneath arching blue sky across which white clouds march and against which tiny stars twinkle, or over which blackness descends, as the lighting system responds to pictured or staged event. (Detailed description of the theatre will be given, with illustrations, in a future issue of "Better Theatres.”) Presentations Are Elaborate Week runs, with elaborate presentations, is the proposed policy of the Capitol. The opening bill had “The Tornado,” Universal, “Art,” a Kelley Color reel. International and Bathe News as its film contents. Two presentations, the first employing 33 people and the second about half as many, a tableau prologue, a dedicatory overture under direction of Albert E. Short, formerly featured director of the Balaban & Katz Riviera and Tivoli theatres, and an organologue completed the program. Chicago to Dominate Opening of the Capitol is but another step in the movement which will eventually bring Chicago to the foremost position in the theatre field. Another phase of this progress is revealed in the announcement that South Water street, which will be transformed into a double-decked boulevard, will be a thoroughfare of theatres. Work has just started or will commence shortly on two new neighborhood houses. One, a $1,000,000 structure, will be erected in Grand avenue, just west of Sayre, by United Theatres Corporation. Another is the new Archer theatre at Archer avenue and Robey street, which will be operated by H. Schoenstadt & Sons. *^Lost World** Premiere in Boston February 2 (special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 20.— First National has announced that the world premiere of “The Lost World,” produced in association with Watterson R. Rothacker, will be held at the Tremont Temple, Boston, on February 2. The special goes into the Astor theatre. New York City, on February 8. “Quo Vadis,” the foreign special acquired by First National, goes into the Apollo theatre, New York, on February 15. George Kleine, who controlled the first film version of “Quo Vadis,” has relinquished all rights in that attraction, thus protecting exhibitors against opposition theatres showing any former picturization of the story. Northwest Theatres Plan Free Show Meet (Special to Exhibitors Herald) MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., Jan. 20.— Northwest exhibitors, under the leadership of W. A. Steffes, may hold a mass meeting here next month to discuss the advisability of taking some action against the free show situation in this territory. It is possible that the gathering will be held on February 10. Woman Police Chief Will Produce Big Underworld Drama for F. B. O. in East (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, January 20. — Major H. C. S. Thomson, president and managing director for Film Booking Offices, announces that Mrs. Mary E. Hamilton, said to be the only woman police chief in the United States, will personally supervise the production of a big underworld drama, yet untitled. The picture wilt be made in the East by Belban Productions, in which Samuel Briskin and George Davis are financially interested. Nat G. Rothstein is planning an exploitation campaign which will out-distance any of his previous efforts. The picture will be an adaptation of a story by Elizabeth J. Monroe, Mrs. -Hamilton’s assistant. Supporting Mrs. Hamilton in the cast will be Johnnie Walker and Virginia Lee Corbin.