Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

82 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 21, 1925 THEATRE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT West Coast Theatres Plans Large House at San Jose, Cal. \yEST COAST THEATRES, INC., * ’ through President A. L. Gore, general manager of northern California, and A. M. Bowles, announces the completion of negotiations for the construction of a 2,500 seating capacity theatre on the property situated on the corner of First and San Carlos streets in San Jose, Cal. West Coast Theatres have made an outright purchase of this property from T. S. Montgomery, and will themselves construct a theatre, the plans for which are now being drawn, that is said to be the final word in modern theatre construction. Great progress has been made in theatre building, perhaps the most modern of all being the Senator theatre, a holding of this company in Sacramento, and the new San Jose theatre will be built along these lines. Every modern convenience for comfort, every precaution for safety, every innovation for the presentation of motion pictures will be installed in the auditorium proper, and the stage will be built to accommodate any manner of theatrical attraction. * * * While West Coast Theatres, Inc., are, essentially, interested in the management of motion picture theatres, the new San Jose house will be constructed with regard to any possible change in policy. Either motion pictures or legitimate attractions will find a proper setting in the new house. Jacob Samuels, San Francisco attorney, handled negotiations for the West Coast people, and Seymour Montgomerj represented T. S. Montgomery, president of the Golden City bank, from whom the property was purchased. Montgomery is a pioneer in San Jose progress and realty development, especially in the neighborhood in which the new theatre will be located. Montgomery built the hotel which bears his name, also the California theatre, which was built originally for Turner and Dahnken twelve years ago, the lease of which is now held by West Coast Theatres, ‘‘Most Valuable Information” “I have a file of Better Theatre numbers of ‘‘Exhibitors Herald” since it was started with the exception of November 2md December, 1923. As I value these numbers eis well as all other Heralds very much, I emti very anxious to complete my file of Better Theatres. Would it be possible for me to get the above back numbers from you? 1 would be willing to pay a reasonable price for them as I consider these the most valuable in solid worth while information that ever appeared in any paper. I would not sell my file of Heralds for any money. ‘‘Yours for Better Theatres.” JERRY L. DRAKE, Warrensburg, Mo. Inc. Montgomery also built the American theatre, and recently completed a five-story modern office building which adjoins the property upon which the new theatre will be built. Theatregoers are fortunate in having this new theatre come into the management of West Coast Theatres, Inc., because of its addition to the chain of more than one hundred houses now controlled by this company throughout the state. In San Jose the company controls the booking franchise of First National Pictures, the Paramount productions, and the attractions of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In San Francisco West Coast controls Loew’s Warfield theatre, which is the representative house of the northern division, and the home of the Fanchon and Marco ideas which will be a part of the program when the new San Jose theatre opens. * * * A. L. Gore was in San Francisco for the week ending Feb. 16 and the announcement of the new theatre for San Jose is but the beginning of the building expansion program of $5,000,000 which was promised to Northern California by this company someo-months ago. It is reported that Gore a^d his associates will, ' within the next fortnight, announce the conclusion of negotiations for five new theatres within a hundred miles of San Francisco. Second Big Suburban House Announced for Kansas City, Mo. No sooner was the announcement of the construction of the Werner theatre — largest suburban motion picture theatre in Kansas City, to cost $250,000 — made than plans for a still larger theatre, to be at Forty-seventh street and Mill Creek boulevard, were made public. The new theatre, the seating capacity and name of which have not yet been definitely decided upon, is to be constructed by the J. C. Nichols Development Company, of which J. C. Nichols is president. The structure will be 300 feet long and include store rooms. The latest house has been designed by the architect, Edward Buehlar Delk. The theatre, which will have a large stage and exceed 2,500 seating capacity, will be surrounded with two-story shops and a basement for bowling alleys. The cost of the building has not yet been determined, Mr. Nichols said. First run pictures will be shown. When the Country Club Plaza was outlined by Mr. Nichols three years ago a theatre was then part of the plans, but has been slow in materializing. No details as to the equipment or interior arrangements of the theatre have been worked out yet. The building is expected to be completed this year. [In a recent story regarding Mr. Werner’s theatre the cost of this house was erroneously given as $25,000. It will cost $250,000.] Many Organs Installed by Wurlitzer Firm Numerous installations of modern theatre organs are reported by the Rudolph Wurlitzer company in many sections of the country. A few recent installations include the following. Chicago, III. — Diversey theatre, owned by Jones, Linick and Schaefer, has a new Wurlitzer unit organ. Weatherly, Pa. — A new Wurlitzer unit organ is now giving added life to the programs of the Keystone theatre. Main and Carbon streets, according to Frank Ramano, owner. Sacramento, Cal. — The Oak Park theatre, Oak Park, owned by T. & D. Jr. Enterprises, has just opened a new Wurlitzer unit organ. Brooklyn, N. Y. — Lefferts Amusement Corporation announce the installation of a Wurlitzer unit organ in their Lefferts theatre. Liberty aenue and Twenty-second street. NOW BOOKING