Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

February 28, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 39 Walter Hays Boosts Strand Holdings by Deal for Apple Theatre {Special to Exhibitors Herald) TROY, N. Y., Feb. 17.— The American theatre here, which has been closed for the past month through financial difficulties encountered by Benjamin Apple, who operated the house for several years, was taken over last week by the Strand company, operating the Mark Strand in Albany as well as the Troy theatre and the Lincoln theatre here. The deal goes far in giving the company control of the local situation. The American theatre during the next month will be redecorated and remodeled but may not be reopened until next fall, according to a statement made by Uly S. Hill, managing director of the Strand holdings. The deal was consummated by Walter Hays of Buffalo, head of the company operating the Strand group of houses, who was here last Thursday. The lease is for a long term of years. It is understood that Peter Apple, the owner of the property, first sought an annual rental of $15,000. Foreign Delegates Will Attend M,P.T.O. Meet (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Feb. 17. — An innovation will be augmented to the convention of Motion Picture Theatre Owners Association at Milwaukee in May in that representatives of Cinematograph Exhibitors Association of Great Britain and Ireland will be present for the first time in any similar gathering. This was set forth in a letter just received from W. Gavazzi King, general secretary of the foreign organization. Six exhibitors will come from the two countries. The letter intimated that exhibitors from Belgium, France, and Italy will likewise join in the delegation for America ; and expressed the belief that the problems of interest to the American owners are generally common in interest to the foreign exhibitors. Dintenfass Says Loss of Film Only $100,000 {Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Feb. 17. — An erroneous report regarding the recent damage of the National-Evans Film Laboratories, Inc., at Fort Lee, N. J., has been corrected in a statement made by Mark M. Dintenfass, vice president and treasurer. The loss sustained by the customers was near $100,000 instead of $2,500,000 as stated, he said. Also, the greater loss was borne by the corporation. A merger has recently brought the Evans Film Manufacturing Co. and the National Laboratories together with the transfer of the property to the old Willett plant. Democrats Demand Repeal of Censor Bill (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ALBANY, N. Y., Feb. 17.— Unless the Republican members of the legislature introduce a censorship repeal bill less obnoxious than the Davison measure of a year ago and one that will merit the approval of the Democrats, Senator James J. Walker, of New York city, will this week introduce a bill for the abolishment of the censorship commission in New York state. Officials of P. D. C. Indicate Further Business Expansion Company Has No Theatre Plans at Present Time, Declares President Munroe — DeMille Talks to Executives and District Branch Managers Producers Distributing Corporation, which is now allied with Cecil B. DeMille in the production and distribution of pictures, is not yet through with its program of expansion. That fact was intimated by Mr. DeMille and officials of the organization who attended a sales meeting at the Congress hotel, Chicago, on Saturday, February 14. President Munroe Goes West for Production Conference The convention brought to Chicago district and branch managers from its Central West as well as President F. C. Munroe and Paul C. Mooney, vicepresident, from the home office, and Cecil B. DeMille and his party. President Munroe continued West with the DeMille party for the purpose of completing production plans. To what further extent P. D. C. will expand its activities is only a matter of speculation at this time. In talking to the sales representatives, Mr. DeMille adopted as his slogan “What Next?” At the present writing the producer and executives of the organization are the only ones who can answer that question. Contrary to reports, P. D. C. is not planning on entering the theatre field, however. In explaining the company’s policy in this respect. President Munroe intimated that the only factor which would prompt serious consideration of entering the exhibition field would be the failure to obtain bookings. Possibilities of such a situation he considered as remote. English Representative Here The convention brought to Chicago F. A. Enders of F. B. O. of England, which handles the P. D. C. product there. Attending the convention, in addition to those already named, were: Barrett Kiesling, DeMille’s representative; Neal J. McCarthy, attorney; Bertram Millhauser, scenarist; Julia Faye, DeMille star; Cecil Maberry, district manager; Robert E. Cotton, district manager; Jack Stewart, special representative; Harry S. Lorch, Chicago manager; C. D. Hill, St. Louis; J. J. Mooney, Cleveland; N. Schaefer, STORIES EXHIBITORS WANT FILMED ^ ENGLISH ORPHANS, by Mary J. Holmes, suggested by Gartner, Halfway theatre. Halfway, Mich. BIRD OF PARADISE, suggested by Gartner, Halfway theatre. Halfway, Mich. GENTLEMEN OF COURAGE, by James Oliver Curwood, suggested by J. A. Zimmerman, Rex theatre, Aurora, Minn. MOTHER OF GOLD, by Emerson Hough, suggested by J. A. Zimmerman, Rex, Aurora, Minn. FIGHTING BACK, a short story by H. C. Witwer, published in Colliers, suggested by J. A. Zimmerman, Rex, Aurora, Minn. QUALITY STREET, a play by James M. Barrie, suggested by J. A. Zimmerman, Rex, Aurora, Minn. Mr. Zimmerman says that he considers action pictures from stories by Hough, Curwood and Peter B. Kyne the “best screen versions of novels.” Most picturized versions of novels have “become box office magnets when properly exploited,” he contends. Cincinnati; Jack 0*TooIe, Minneapolis; T. B. Wildman, Omaha; Charles Lundgren, Milwaukee; Charles Knickerbocker, Kansas City; D. Williston, Indianapolis, and Dan Roche, press representative. Marsh in New Company Result of Durand Flyer Mae Marsh received word yesterday that she would have the backing of a new company which is being formed in Chicago as an outgrowth of the good fortune falling to Mrs. Scott Durand, owner of famous Crab Tree Farm, when she took a flyer in wheat a few weeks ago. The company Mrs. Durand will finance will be, known as the Gold Coast Pictures, Inc., in which Jay Basset of Chicago and L. L. Arms, husband of the film player, will be actively interested. “I have been a great admirer of Miss Marsh’s work,” said Mrs. Durand, “and when I made that extra money in the grain market I decided to encourage her talent.” P’rhaps Thieves Needed But $1,000 This Week (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. LOUIS, Mo., Feb. 17.— “Mystery surrounds the . . .,” etc. For that is the habit we are falling into as a result of the daily stories of robbery and theft victimizing theatre, owners. This week the subject was the owners of the Delmar theatre, 4938 Delmar boulevard; the object was $1,000. There was a watchman, a colored fellow, but he did not watch long enough or else not carefully enough. It has grown the custom to take more than this amount, but it is said that the safe, held only the current receipts of the day’s business. Week*s Incorporation Is Slow; 6 Show $180,000 (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ALBANY, N. Y., Feb. 17. — The six companies entering the motion picture business during the past week in New York state, revealed but comparatively small individual capitalization, the total reaching $180,000. The companies, which will all maintain their principal office in the metropolis, were : Lipsco Amusement Corporation, capitalized at $15,000; Regbeth Amusement Co., Inc., $4,000; Jasmont Company, Inc., $10,000; Leeleff, Inc., $1,000; Buckner Star Productions, $100,000, and the Frank L. Teller Holding Corporation, $50,000.