Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1928)

February 11, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 29 Well! "Trags" Helped BuUd the "Big Ditch!" (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) PANAMA, R. P., Reb. l.—The Panama American, in its issue of January 21, says that W. E. Tragsdorf, chief of the personnel bureau of the chairmans office in construction days ( during building of the canal), has cabled greetings to his friends in the zone. "Mr. Tragsdorf is in Neillsville, Wis." the paper adds, "and it was last reported that he is operating a chain of motion picture theatres in that vicinity." (W. E. Tragsdorf is proprietor of Trag's theatre in the Wisconsin city which the paper names.) "The Busy Girl" Leaves F. & R. for Los Angeles (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 7.— When anyone calls at the big offices of Finkelstein and Rubin, he is met and welcomed by a little auburn haired beauty by the name of Pearl Mae Sgutt. She is no small cog in the office machinery of this firm and a big asset she is to it, for every application for a position as usher, janitor or any other help around the chain of theatres passes through her hands. She also has complete charge of all passes issued to the various theatres, keeps the personnel records, gives out information and in her odd moments takes dictation from members of the firm. And now this charming young lady, known to everyone as "the busy girl," has cast gloom around the office, for Pearl Mae is leaving for Los Angeles with her mother. Pearl May Sen It Two Film Theatre Bills Enter New York House (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) ALBANY, Feb. 7.— Two bills of much importance to owners of motion picture theatres in New York state were introduced in the legislature last week. The first bill, if it passes, will allow unaccompanied children between the ages of 10 and 16 to be admitted to theatres between 2 p. m. and 6 p. m., if the theatres maintain a matron at their expense. The second bill would prohibit the selling of tickets by a theatre unless there was a seat available for each patron at the time the ticket was sold. The bill, however, carries a provision that a theatre can issue tickets limited to its standing capacity, such to be determined bv local authorities. Warner Brothers Signs Agnes Franey, Dancer (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, Feb. 7.— Warner Brothers has signed Agnes Franey, dancer, now a member of the cast of "Rio Rita," to a long term contract. Credit for the discovery of Miss Franey goes to Archie Mayo, Warner Brothers director, who was so impressed by her screening possibilities that he arranged for a camera test. Exhibitors to Aim Exploitation at Women as Biggest B. O. Asset Book Pictures According to Appeal to Feminine Patrons — Demand Courtesy — Build More Attractive Restrooms — Rout Annoyers — Now Plan to Rearrange Advertising [By Special Correspondents of Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World] ALBANY, Feb. 7. — Exhibitors of Albany and Troy, N. Y., blushed last week, actually blushed as they admitted that they were doing little or nothing out of the ordinary toward attracting the patronage of the fair sex. But as they blushed they made a resolution to the effect that, from now on, they will take advantage of what several termed as one of the best hints the Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World has ever advanced. Naturally these exhibitors want to do everything possible to build up their business. They are the sort who appreciate suggestions and are ever on the alert to adopt them. Take Woman Patronage for Granted It's rather odd that this angle had never made any great impression in the conduct of their theatres. They have simply been taking the woman patronage as something for granted. Of course they have been booking pictures that carry an appeal to the women as well as to the men. They have demanded courtesy on the part of the box office and on the part of the ushers. It is noticeable that as theatres are built in this section, the restrooms are made more and more attractive. Matrons in charge of these rooms, espe been particularly true of the State theatre in cially of the more elaborate type, endeavor to Schenectady, where a bowl of cut flowers is have their women patrons do their powdering always on display, in the washrooms, rather than before the mirrors of the restrooms, in order that powder will not gather in the brocades, and later rub off on the women's clothing. Plan New Exploitation Angle But so far as exploitation and newspaper advertising, the exhibitors of these two cities have done nothing up to this time toward attracting women patronage. There is one thing, however, that must be said and that is that the exhibitors of the two cities have conducted a campaign that has brought results in one sense. There is no longer any annoying of women by men who seek out the motion picture theatre as a place to pick up acquaintance. Ushers have been cautioned to watch out for this type of man, and particularly the man who is seen to change his seat with the obvious purpose of locating next to an unaccompanied woman. Such men are asked to leave the theatre and their admission is refunded at the box office. This campaign has become noised about, with the result that few, if any, women are annoyed these days at the motion picture theatres of either Albany or Troy. Several of the theatres use flowers in their lobbies in appealing to the women. This has Columbia Assigns Milne To Bessie Love Script (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 7— Peter Milne, recently signed to a long-term contract by Columbia Pictures, has been assigned to write the continuity for Bessie Love's first starring vehicle for Columbia, as yet untitled. It will be directed by Frank Capra. Walter Lang's initial production since his return to the Columbia studios will be a story of the Far East, tentatively titled "Lovers in Damascus." R. Beers Loos, stage and screen writer and critic, has been signed as assistant to Elmer Harris, scenario editor. U-A Appoints Schlaifer Manager of District 1 (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) XEW YORK, Feb. 7.— L. J. Schlaifer assumed his new post yesterday as manager for United Artists of district 1, embracing New York City, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Boston, New Haven and Portland. He was formerly general manager of Universal Theatres in the West. Bombs Damage Two Theatres; Labor Union, Discharged Employes Blamed Police of East St. Louis, 111., and the sheriff of St. Clair county are investigating an explosion of dynamite that damaged the Idlewild theatre in East St. Louis shortly after midnight last Thursday. The dynamite had been placed against a sidewall, about 20 feet of which was blown away, hurling two sections of sheet iron about 70 feet into a vacant lot. The police are inclined to attribute the blast to labor difficulties between Grover C. Thomas, proprietor of the theatre, and union organizations. Anticipating trouble, Thomas had placed three watchmen armed with shot guns in the theatre. The guards had moved their cots from the vicinity of the explosion to another part of the building. Thomas has contended that ue could not meet the demands of the unionists and operate profitably. The theatre, a neighborhood house, was damaged to the extent of about $200. The second attempted bombing in several weeks of the Palace Hippodrome^ Seattle, last week, started an intensified police quest of the perpetrators. Slight damage was done by the last explosion. Discharged employees are suspected.