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

16 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 25, 1928 K^C Exhibitors Try Every Device to Outbid New Dance Palaces Candy for Children, Reduced Prices and Free Midnight Previews Offered in A ppeal to Younger Generation [By Special Correspondent of Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World] KANSAS CITY, Feb. 21.— Virtually all the devices known to the show business are being employed by Kansas City exhibitors in an effort to combat a lull in attendance. Thus far, business has shown only a slight increase in night attendance, matinees having been fairly good. AT the Isis theatre, large suburban house, Brinch, Germany; J. C. Squier, England; J. a prominent part of that theatre's news J. Letsch, Belgium; F. L. D. Strengholt, Holpaper advertising is given over to the an land; F. Curioni, Italy; Dave Lewis, Portunouncement that candy will be distributed gal ; Raoul Lemat, Sweden ; Louis Goldstein, free to children at each matinee. The Alamo, Broadmour and Roanoke theatres, suburban houses, have cut their prices to 15 cents and lines prominent in their advertising read : "No jazz; no cheap vaudeville." At the Liberty theatre, a downtown first run house, Samuel Carver, manager, resorted to staging public marriages on the stage. That theatre already has a tieup with the street car company, through which suburban patrons are refunded carfare after 6 o'clock. The Apollo and Linwood theatres are offering free midnight previews on Saturday to patrons who buy tickets for the 9 o'clock shows. In short, it is a battle to attract the attenion of the younger generation, which is being lured away from theatres by several large and elaborate public dance palaces in the last four months. The Capitol theatre, which had been featuring first run pictures and a large stage show, was forced to close its door last week. It will not be reopened, Dan McCoy, manager, said. The theatre was operated by the West Coast Amusement Company. The Orpheum theatre, which for the first time in history adopted first run pictures this year in conjunction with its regular vaudeville program, last week lowered its prices to 75 cents top and announced that no seats would be reserved. Fred Spear is manager. Cuba ; A. L. Kalb, Mexico. Every Theatre Safe in Montreal, Report Says; Changes Cost $250,000 ( special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) MONTREAL, Feb. 21.— After one year of inspection, the city building commission of Montreal, has officially reported that all theatres there are now reasonably safe, insofar as the structural arrangements are concerned. During the past 12 months, the commission has ordered nine theatres closed because of alleged unsafe conditions. Two were since practically rebuilt and are again in operation, with the approval of the commission. The report of the chairman, E. A. Cunningham, states that Montreal exhibitors have spent a total of $250,000 in making changes in their theatres ordered by the commission since February, 1927. It is pointed out that a number of theatre owners went further with improvements than was required by the board. Two important considerations remain, the installation of independent lighting systems entirely apart from main house circuits. The second the improvement in theatre ventilation systems to prevent the suction of outside smoke into the theatres. M-G-M International Sales Congress Has Good Representation (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, Feb. 21.— The International Film Sales Congress, sponsored by MetroGoldwyn-Mayer, opened last Wednesday at the Hotel Astor with large representation from many foreign countries. The first foreign representatives to arrive were David Lake, general sales manager for M-G-M in Australia and New Zealand, and Benjamin Fineberg, district manager in Brazil. Others in attendance are George Forman, Chile ; P. M. Gonzales, Porto Rico ; George Fatt, Guatemala; T. Nielson, Denmark; Allen Byre, and H. Gunderlock, France ; P. N. ** Talkies" May Prove a Way to Sunday Shows (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) FINDLAY, O., Feb. 21.— Motion picture theatre owners of Findlay are watching with a great deal of interest the results of the opening of the Harris, operated by the Harris interests of Pittburgh, which has presented "talking pictures" for the past three Sundays. Findlay has been a closed city on Sundays and there has been a good deal of agitation for open houses. The Harris interests have taken advantage of the Ohio statute which permits the giving of musical performances on Sundays. If no great protest is raised, three motion picture houses plan to open on Sundays. Temporary Injunction Stops Picketing Of Seattle House; Legal Battle Looms (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) SEATTLE, Feb. 21. — Organized labor must show cause in Superior court why it should not be enjoined permanently from picketing the Palace Hippodrome theatre here. A temporary restraining order has been handed down by Judge William J. Steinert to the Oak Theatre Company, against the Seattle Cenral Labor Council 76 of the American Federation of Musicians, the International Alliance of Stage Employes, and Moving Picture Machine Operators No. 15. The entire subject of picketing in this state is revived in the case. The State Supreme court decided several years ago that picketing was illgal, but the unionists are anxious to obtain another legal expression from the same source. Battiston Reappears as "Youngest Exhibitor," Now Correctly Perhaps the name, Andy F. Battiston, is familiar. It appeared in these pages 'way back last Summer. Battiston was one of the first to send in his name and credentials as a "youngest exhibitor," along with his picture. In fact, there were two pictures, both from the same negative, however. And therein lies the reason for this reappearance of Battiston as a "youngest exhibitor." The picture was of him and a friend. Since he neglected to point himself out in Andy F. Battiston the snap-shot, an editorial conference decided which of the two was he. And the choice proved wrong. Battiston, who is 31 years old, became manager of the Lyric theatre at Yukon, Pa., when he was 16. At the time he sent in his name, he was manager of both the Lyric and the Ritz at Yukon. The error was unintentional, of course, and space is precious. But an old Jlerald precedent declares that all errors affecting others must be corrected. Herewith it is observed. National Screen Service Booklet Offers Tips for Best Usages of Trailers _ "What Every Owner, Manager and Publicity Man of a Theatre Should Know" is the title of an attractive booklet gotten up by National Screen Service, Inc., on the subject of trailers. Twelve pages of suggestions for trailer usage are given, in an informative and interesting form. Emphasis is placed upon the value of the trailer in institutional advertising. The first page also contains a number of hints for using equipment and service for the upbuilding of goodwill in the community. Rowland Arrives on Coast for Conference (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 21.— Richard A. Rowland, vice president and general manager of First National, arrived here Sunday, for a conference with Watterson R. Rothacker, managing director of studios. He expects to remain four weeks. Roland announces the appointment of Ralph I. Poucher for special work in the production department. Poucher was formerly with Consolidated Film Industries, Inc. Consolidated Film Shows $850,000 Cash Balance (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, Feb. 21.— Consolidated Film Industries Inc., reports a strong balance sheet as of February 1, there being no funded debt, no bank loans outstanding, and $850,000 cash on hand. Thalherg Sails for Europe (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 21.— Irving G. Thalberg and his wife. Norma Shearer, left here last week, to sail from New York on the Mauretania for Europe.