Exhibitors Herald (1927)

November 12, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 19 Young Men Best Managers? Ayes Have It in Milwaukee But Many Believe in Seasoning Organization with Older and More Experienced Showmen — Leading Chains Have Number of “Young Bloods” ( This is the first of a series of articles to appear in the “ Herald ” on old and young exhibitors ). (Special to the Herald) MILWAUKEE, Nov. 8. — Which are the better showmen, the young or old exhibitors? The young bloods seem to have the edge in Milwaukee, at least as far as numbers are concerned. And what is more important, several of the older men, who were managers themselves at one time but now are employing managers instead, seem to be for the young fellow. Young Blood in Milwaukee Theatre Circuit The Milwaukee Theatre Circuit has on its roster eleven neighborhood houses in Milwaukee. Of these eleven houses, nine are managed by men who are still in their twenties and the average age is 23. Most of, these have been in the show business for a number of years and started as ushers or doormen. THIS LOVING CUP was presented by Tiffany Productions to D. C. Millward of the Seattle exchange for making the best showing in the final two weeks of the Summer Sales contest. We Are Sorry, Flappers, M-G-M’s $10,000 Rodeo Trophy Goes to Mother (Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Nov. 8. — Motherhood scored another triumph in the world of sports when Florence Hughes, who in private life is Mrs. Floyd Randolph and the mother of a six-year-old daughter, won the $10,000 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer trophy in the Madison Square Garden rodeo here. She hails from Ardmore, Okla. The trophy was awarded for the donors by Jack Dempsey and Eddie Cantor. The trophy must be captured three times in succession before being awarded permanently. “Abie’s Irish Rose” Film with Nancy Carrol Starts When Al Smith Signals (Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Nov. 8.— Governor Al Smith will telegraphically start production on “Abie’s Irish Rose” from Albany this Thursday. Nancy Carrol, New York show girl has been selected to play Rosemary Murphy by Ann Nichols who has been in Hollywood for some weeks supervising production for the picture. V. Moses Reorganizes Fox Publicity Offices (Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Nov. 8. — Reorganization of the Fox publicity department in order to give better and more efficient service to exhibitors in publicizing the lineup of pictures is announced by Vivian M. Moses, director of publicity and advertising. Donn McElwaine is now publicity manager in place of Daniel M. Daherty, who is with Fox News as associate editor, and Beth O’Shea, who has recently returned from Europe has resumed charge of the fan magazine publicity. Cahill Goes to Burbank as Rothacker Assistant (Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Nov. 8.~-Frank Cahill, First National assistant treasurer, left here Sunday for the West Coast studios to work with Watterson R. Rothacker, vice-president. A number of these managers have been with the circuit since its beginning shortly over a year ago, and others were connected with the Silliman circuit before it was taken over by Universal. Among those who have been with the circuit since its origin are Stanley Gross, manager of the Venetian theatre, who is only 24 but has been in the business for eight years; Eugene Arnstein, manager of the Kosciuszko, only 20 but with the circuit since its organization, Emil Franke, 23, manager of the State; Robert Gross, 22, manager of the Riviera, and M. S. Harris, 26, manager of the Lake. Two “Granddaddies” in Chain Now there are two “granddaddies” on the circuit in Elmer Hall, 40, manager of the Fern, and Otto Lange, 42, manager of the Jackson. These men sort of lend a steadiness to an organization which is not always found in the younger people. There are several other experienced “youngsters” who are also still in the twenties and have been achieving success for the circuit. Among these are Dave J. Goldman, manager of the Downer, and Herman Koenigsreiter, manager of the Astor. These theatres constantly are putting on exploitation ideas which go over big, and in the most cases it’s the young managers who are filled with the ideas, they say. They Know Their Box Offices A real showman and an oldtimer is J. A. O’Brien (left) of the Strand at Rumford, Me. There’s Pero Morrin, too, of Shaw Hall, Greenville, Me., from the Moosehead Lake country. L. Sewnig, supervisor of theatres of the Milwaukee Theatre Circuit and assistant general manager of the circuit, believes in young blood. “To begin with,” Sewnig said, “it is hard to get older theatre managers, and the results of this circuit show we haW met with great success with young managers and assistant managers. They are not so fixed in their ideas and are more willing to fall in with your trend of ideas.” That’s one view. On the other hand, there are other theatre operators who, although strongly in favor of giving the youngest every chance and consideration, believe in seasoning their organizations with older and experienced men. The Saxe circuit seems to have chosen the policy of leavening their young blood with the experience of older men, and they have met with success beyond a doubt. However, as a recent editorial article in the Wisconsin News pointed out, John Saxe, president of the organization, is always ready to assist young men in their work. A number of Saxe theatre managers are still in their twenties and are meeting with success. They, too, however, had gained their theatre experience at an early age through the usher and doormen’s jobs. Perhaps Paul Hayden, manager of Saxe’s Strand is one of the youngest of that organization. He is only 22 years old. Other Milwaukee managers still in the twenties are Jack Plant at the Oriental, Frank Dau at the Merrill, C. W. Bedell at the Uptown, James Long at the Wisconsin, D. J. Smith at the Tivoli, and Milton Harmon of the Mirth. Throughout the state as well, the Saxe organization is dotted with young men as managers and assistant managers, as Otis Lord of the Apollo and Jeffris at Janesville and Harry Ellis of the Majestic at Beloit. Stunt Flyer Badly Hurt as Plane Falls in Scene (Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 8.— Russell Rausch, stunt flier of Long Beach, received serious injury Friday when his plane plunged 500 feet while he was making a scene for “The Legion of the Condemned,” a Paramount picture at Calabasas. He was rushed to Hollywood hospital where it was found he was suffering from a broken leg and internal iniuries.