Exhibitors Herald (1925)

April 4, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 25 “U” Buys 38 Schine Theatres; Paramount Expands in Canada Million and a Half Deal Is Announced in Texas Rumor in Circulation That Distributor for Warners Is Interested in Southern Circuit Famous Players, Universal and Warner Brothers are the outstanding names in the theatre situation this week, and the deals which bring these three companies into the limelight are far-reaching in their importance. Universal which only recently purchased seventeen houses in Florida has now acquired the Schine Brothers circuit of thirty-eight theatres in Upper New York state. The Paramount Canadian organization which has been gradually expanding its theatre activities has just taken over Trans-Canada Theatres, Ltd. This acquisition gives Paramount ninety houses in the Dominion. Resigns The Warner deal is only hearsay. Through negotiations just concluded Robb & Rowley of Dallas, Tex., with their associates will control more than $1,500,000 worth of theatre property. It is rumored that W. G. Underwood of Specialty Film Company, distributor of the Warner product, is interested in the deal. This he denies. Complete details of the latest in the theatre situation follow: London, Ont., where he concluded the purchase of the Grand theatre in that city, paying off a mortgage on the London house of $40,000. Another who acted for Famous Players in drawing up the papers, it is stated, was Alfred Maguire, former mayor of Toronto. According to official announcement, J. R. Minhinnick, manager of the Grand at London, Ont., has been retained under a new contract as manager of the house. John W. (Bill) Hawkins Allen Withdraws From Alien-Char ette Company and Receives $500,000 (^special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW BEDFORD, MASS., March 24.— George W. Allen, Jr., for 14 years engaged in motion pictures here has disposed of his interest in the Allen-Charette Corporation to Thomas J. Charette, Simon Beserosky, and Zoel Roy, all of this city. The Allen-Charette company was a closed corporation and Allen held practically all the common stock. About $500,000 was involved in the transaction. Under the terms of the sale, Allen cannot again engage in the theatrical business in New Bedford for five years. John W. Hawkins who has been associated with the company for nine years, and who has been general manager of the circuit for two years retired from the company with Allen. The Allen-Charette company operates seven motion picture houses in New Bedford and Fairhaven, the largest being the Capitol theatre with a seating capacity of about 1,500. Hays Group Admits Associated Pictures {Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, March 24. — A membership in the West Coast division of Motion Picture Producers was issued last week to the Associated Pictures Corporation, of which Herbert Lubin and Arthur Sawyer are executives. Texan Repairs House {Special from H. E. N.) AMARILLO, TEX., March 24.— The work of remodeling and repairing the Deandi theatre here has begun with the contracts for alteration and lumber in the hands of Glen Kendrick. The theatre will be opened by Ross D. Rogers May 4. Universal Outbids Famous Players {Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, March 24. — In the bidding for the Schine Brothers circuit of theatres, numbering thirty-eight in nineteen towns in upper New York, Universal has been successful over Paramount, according to an announcement issued Friday from the office of R. H. Cochrane, of Universal. For some time past it has been rumored that both companies were after the houses and it was even rumored that an offer made by Famous would be accepted. In describing the deal Mr. Cochrane referred to it as a “partnership arrangement” and that Universal had secured an “interest” in the circuit. Schine Brothers owned outright twenty of the thirty-eight theatres and controlled the other eighteen either through leases or by a booking arrangement. The houses and their locations are: Auburn — New Grand and Universal; Bath — Babcock; Canandaigua — Playhouse and Liberty; Carthage — Opera House, Strand and Hippodrome; Corning — Princess, Regent and State; Cobleskill — Park; Dolgeville — Strand; East Rochester — Rialto; Fairport — Rivoli; Geneva — Smith O. H., Temple and Regent; Gloversville — Glove, Hippodrome and Family; Lockport — Temple, Auditorium (renamed Rialto); Medina — Park; Norwich— Colonial and Strand; Oswego — Richardson, onta. Palace and Strand; Oswego — Richardson, Orpheum, Capitol and Strand; Penn Yan — Elmwood and Sampson; Rochester — Grand; Salamanca — Andrews and Strand. Robson Closes Deal in Canada for F. P.-L. {Special to Exhibitors Herald) TORONTO, ONT., March 24.— Famous players Canadian Corporation, Ltd., has done some more broadening out. This time, it is stated, the corporation has acquired the chain of theatres organized some five years ago by Trans-Canada Theatres, Ltd., in Ontario, but which have been operated, in some instances, under a trustee. This circuit brings the list of Famous Players houses up to the ninety mark. Clarence Robson, supervisor of theatres for Famous Players at Toronto, went to R. & R. Announce Texas Chain Deal (Special to Exhibitors Herald) DALLAS, TEX., March 24. — Robb & Rowley, operators of the well known R. & S. Theatre Circuit, with headquarters in Dallas, announce the closing of a deal whereby they and their associates will control over a million and a half dollars worth of theatre property. They will now control thirty-seven theatres in Texas and Oklahoma, making this one of the largest independent theatre combines in the Southwest. The new circuit is made up of the following closed towns : Durant, Okla. ; McKinney, Tex. ; Big Springs Tex. ; Sweetwater, San Angelo, Bonham, Laredo, Hillsboro, Ennis, Palestine, all in Texas. In addition this corporation, which is now known as the R. & S. Development Company, has just closed a contract for a $175,000 theatre building in Abilene, Tex., the equipment to cost an additional $50,000. They have in course of construction, a $75,000 theatre in Tyler, Tex., and a $50,000 house in Terrell, Tex. Through their various affiliations, they have eight other towns in Oklahoma under consideration. While this big theatre merger is being operated by Robb & Rowley, it is rumored that W. G. Underwood, the owner of Specialty Film Company, Dallas, is heavily interested, but Mr. Underwood emphatically denies this. Specialty releases the entire output of Warner Brothers, Oassics for Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Plan Denver Theatre {Special to Exhibitors Herald) DENVER, COLO., March 24.— “Dick” Dickenson and “Rick” Ricketson of the Western Enterprises, Inc., announce plans for a magnificent suburban house in Denver. The theatre is being built on South Gaylor street by the owner of the property. Western Enterprises have obtained a 10 year lease. Rick Ricketson, officer of the company, is manager of the Paramount Theatres of Denver.