Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

40 EXHIBITORS HERALD February 28, 1925 Adolph Zukor, president of Famous Players-Lasky Corp. and Mrs. Zukor, sailing for Europe on the Mauretania. Left to right — Eugene Zukor, Mrs. Eugene Zukor, Adolph Zukor, Mrs. Adolph Zukor and Mrs. Arthur Loew, Mr. Zukor’s daughter. Some Reasons Why Everybody Swears by Ace Berry Fourth of the Sketches Relating J. M. Loughborough’s Impressions of the American Theatre Otvner By J. M. LOUGHBOROUGH INDIANAPOLIS, IND., February 17. — Behold the humble press agent. He hath become general manager of one of the largest and handsomest theatres in the world. Selah! For hath it not been written and spoken from one generation unto another that press agents are tolerated only so long as they function continuously and actively, and that if they cease such functioning for one or two days they lose the name of "Patsy”? good organization. Count me out. I’m just a figurehead.” But Ace Berrj' is more than that. He is a Personality — just like some of our stars. He has been through the mill. He has served, from the humblest capacity on up, and he has a keen realization of the troubles of every human unit working in a theatre. * * * Born in Brooklyn, he was educated there and then whisked away to Boston with his parents. His first job was as an usher. Then he turned to newspaper work, acting as a reporter on the Boston Traveler, Journal and Herald. But the grip of the show business had him. He went back into it as a box office man, working for the Stair, Havlin and Nicolai Circuits. Next he was an actor, playing comedy roles for three years. This last training fitted him to become a real press agent, for it developed his sense of humor and a press agent must have that if nothing else. About this time his Daemon — or “Inner Self” — told him the best place to be in the show game was in the business end, so he opened a booking office. His first break into motion pictures, after piloting Anna Eva Fay around the country, was with Dick Gorman, of Gorman Brothers. He says he owes all of his early training in managing, advertising and publicity to Dick Gorman, who possessed {Continued on page 106) L?UT the rule has here been broken. Ace " Berry is the former “Patsy” in question. In his press agent days he was a rattling good one. He was mild of manner and tremendously active in deeds. Newspaper columns yawned for him, in large cities as well as “tank” towns. For he knew what to give the editors. And now he is general manager of the Circle theatre, Indianapolis, controlled by Robert Lieber, president of First National, and the Ace Berry Circle is running at top-notch prosperity. Everybody connected with this big playhouse, from ushers to orchestra leader, swears by Ace Berry. He rules with smiles and kindness, which, after all, are the real secrets of true leadership. He says he has only three bosses. One is Robert Lieber. The other is Mrs. Ace Berry. The third is Baby Berry, aged 20 months. “How have you managed to make such a big success of the Circle?” he was asked. “I haven’t done it,” he replied. “Credit goes to the employes of the house — to a Warner Radio to Begin March 4 in Effort to Boost Motion Pictures (Special to Exhibitors Herald) SACRAMENTO, CAL., Feb. 17.— What is claimed to be the only motion picture broadcasting station in the world will try to boost the industry by radio rather than to fight it by radio. Warner Brothers received incorporation rights from the. office of Secretary of State Frank Gordon here this week, giving them sole rights in broadcasting as a motion picture concern, it is said. The broadcasting company, which will be subsidiary to the producing company, will begin to function March 4 with the relaying of President Coolidge’s inagural address. It is intended thereafter to broadcast every interesting bit of news and personality concerning the company and its employes. It will be known as KWB, having a 312 meter wave length. Conners to Run Houses Till Leases Are Signed {Special to Exhibitors Herald) MARION, IND., Feb. 17. — Officers were elected last week by the stockholders of the Washington Theatre company. E. L. Weesner was re-elected president; John O. Fryer, vice-president; and James S. Sission, secretary and treasurer. Other than those named the directors are : Milton Matter and T. H. Bedell. Billy Conners, secretary of the M. P. T. O. in Indiana, is now operating the company’s theatres consisting of the Indiana, Lyric, and Royal Grand. The First National Bank, receiver for the theatres since some time ago, will file a final report regarding the financial welfare of the theatres in a few days at which time it is expected the company will sign new leases for the houses. Conners was selected to manage the house until the Superior Court had released the company from the receivership, and new leases had been signed. Hammers Pounding on $45,000 Universal Job UNIVERSAL CITY, CAL., Feb. 17.— Air hammers and acetylene burners have begun their industrious methods in the construction work which will mount into $45,000 worth of improvements as the first step toward a schedule of extensions planned by the Universal company. The work is under the supervision of Julius Bernheim, general manager of the studio, and Norman Sproul, business manager of the company. The items of early construction include a library which will cost $5,000 and two large stages, each to accommodate sets depicting the entire deck of a battleship. Mack Will Write Another For Jackie Coogan (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Feb. 17.— Immediately following “Charley's Aunt” at the Orpbeum theatre, Chicago, is booked “The Rag Man,” Jackie Coogan’s latest play, written by Willard Mack, it was announced by the Metro-Goldwyn offices. Simultaneously it was stated that Mack has been engaged to write Master Coogan’s next subject. This will make three stories from the pen of the proliBc playwright.