Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

1280 Motion Picture N e zv s Wifram-^njayrTC s THERE may be a new motion picture theatre in Troy, N.Y., for plans already drawn for the new Masonic Temple in that city, to replace the one burned recently, include a theatre with a seating capacity of several thousand. It is said that the Proctor interests will seek a long-term lease of the new theatre, owing to the fact that the Griswold, now being operated by Mr. Proctor, has been purchased by a business concern. The new theatre will be located almost directly across the street from the Griswold, and will be a part of the ground floor of the Temple. The past week brought further changes along Albany's Film Row with Fenton Lawlor resigning as salesman for the First National Exchange, to assume a similar position with the Fox branch. Clayton Eastman, who has been doing the booking at the Paramount Exchange, has been promoted and is now covering the territory. Uly S. Hill, managing director of the Stanley houses in Albany and Troy, was so infatuated last week with the Vitaphone, as it started at the Mark Strand, that he spent nearly all of his time listening to it. James Rose is planning to reopen his theatre at Queechy Lake about July 1. He reports business as being about normal at his Troy theatres. William Smalley, of Cooperstown, has recovered from his recent illness, and was in Albany during the week. Mr. Smalley will erect a new house in Stamford this summer, with a seating capacity of 860, which may be increased, however, by a 200-seat balcony. A new electric sign has ■ been placed in front of his Johnstown house. Nate Robbins, of Utica, who recently sold out his holdings in that city, Syracuse and Watertown, to the Schine Brothers, has just broken ground for a new theatre in the residential section of Utica. Fred Maussert, of Glens Falls, reports having rented all stores in the business block he has built in front of his theatre and through which an arcade runs to the theatre itself. Richard Bolton is now getting in readiness to open his theatre at Hague-on-Lake George, and will follow the same practice of a year ago of giving one show a night and then removing the chairs and holding a dance. Bob Pierce, of Ilion, is nursing a sore thumb these days as the result of having thrown it out of joint while engaging in his favorite pastime of bowling. Mr. Pierce ranks as one of the best bowlers in the Mohawk Valley. Admission prices at the Avon, in Utica, have been reduced from 50 to 40 cents by the Schine Bros., and there is a stiff fight for business between this house and the Olympic, which is run by W. H. Linton. Louis Buettner, of Cohoes, returned home this past week from a trip to California. Leon Herman and C. R. Halligan, of the Universal Exchange, journeyed out to Jefiferson, last week, to call on C. G. Danforth, an exhibitor there, and found their man in the sugar bush, gathering sap. Leon Medem, former manager of the Pa the Exchange in Albany, who resigned to go to New York, is now engaged in newspaper work in that city, representing one of the Chicago publications. Julius Byck was in town during the week and with pad and pencil, and stated that he would reopen his house in Tannersville at once. Harry Seed, local manager for Warner Brothers, was in Utica during the week, calling on exhibitors, while Julius Singer, Universal manager, took a week's swing through Northern New York. The Casino at Fleischmanns is to be sold on April 7, according to a report that has reached Albany. Alec Papayanakos, of Canton, has announced during the past week that he has bought the Vitaphone for his theatre and will have it installed at once. Frank Lapine has been made manager of the Strand in Ogdensburg, as Lawrence J. Carkey, of that city, district manager for the Schines, has moved to Watertown. Ivan Baumgartel has been named as manager of the Strand in Carthage, and has made a number of changes bettering conditions. A new lighting effect is being used in the theatre and a fashion show will be staged early in April. Former Mayor Robert E. Cahill, of Watertown, was present last week at the reopening of the Olympic Theatre in that city. Later there was a dinner at the Black River Valley Club, given in honor of the Schine Bros, and other officers of the company. The Schine Bros, are said to be negotiating for the purchase of the Garland City Park in Watertown, for the purpose of turning it into a children's playground and sport park. Balti imore RUMORS have it that the Garden Theatre, Lexington Street at Park Avenue, one of the Whitehurst theatres here, may be sold or the stock may be taken over by another company in the near future. A request has been sent to preferred and common stockholders that they deposit with the Mercantile Trust and Deposit Company their stock. A luncheon was given at the opening of the new Universal Exchange Building. Washington, D.C., by Ted Schlanger, manager, and his office force. Exhibitors from nearby and members of other exchanges in Washington were the guests. Ben Guterson, one time assistant manager of the Embassy Theatre here, and later associated with theatres in Pennsylvania, was the first person to enlist in the Ma rine Service for immediate service in China from Baltimore. He is the nephew of Mischa Guterson, conductor of the orchestra at Loew's Valencia here. Fred Robbins, conductor of the orchestra at the Garden Roof here, atop the Garden Theatre, a Whitehurst enterprise, will go to Carlin's Amusement Park this summer to conduct the orchestra there for the dance pavilion. The eastern territory of Virginia is being covered now b3' H. H. Pollock for Warner Brothers. Mr. Pollock formerly represented Fox in South America. Ed. Heiber has joined the sales force of Universal in Washington, D.C. He was formerly feature sales manager for Pathe in that city. Sam Sollers has been appointed poster clerk for the Warner Brothers exchange in Washington, D.C. He was formerly with Trio. Harry M. Lohmeyer, manager of the Earle Theatre, Washington, D.C, has recovered from grippe and has returned to his playhouse. Sydney Machat, member of Eva Le Gallienne's Civic Repertory Company in New York, who died in that city recently, was the son of Nathan Machat, film exhibitor of Washington, D.C., who founded the motion picture guild in that city. Harriet Hawley Locher, who was taken from her work as director of the educational department of the Stanley-Crandell Compa-ny, Washington, D.C, by an attack of grippe, has recovered. Brodie's Majestic Theatre in South Baltimore was scheduled to reopen to the public Saturday, April 2nd. It is operated now by Ruben Saltz. The structure was damaged by fire recently. Mrs. Hazel Paresky, wife of Harold Paresky, formerly leader of the orchestra at the Embassy Theatre, has returned to work at the Loew's Valencia Theatre as a cashier. Anne Sweeney, formerly a cashier at the Century Theatre, has left her work due to illness. A benefit performance was given at the Embassy Theatre Sunday, March 27th, by the Orinin Relief Association for the benefit of sufferers in Orinin, Russia, through the courtesy of Harry Berman, manager. The opening of the new Avalon Theatre, Park Heights .Avenue and Howard Place, under the management of .Arthur B. Price, who manages several other theatres in Baltimore, has been postponed until .'\pril 16th. Minneapolis THE New State Theatre in St. Paul, owned by Oliver Rowe and William Mustard, exhibitors of that city, was robbed last week by a bandit who held up Miss Ann Anderson, the cashier, and escaped . with $475 in cash. At the exact time the holdup was taking place, the audience was rocking witjh laughter over a stage holdup, in which a slapstick bandit was relieving a slapstick victim of his valuables. Mr. Rowe had just returned from Los Angeles, where he had been arranging for bookings for the $750,000 vaudeville and motion picture theatre which he and Mr. Mustard will build in St. Paul. Olaf Lind, 67, one of the oldest exhibitors in Minnesota, died very suddenly at his home in Clarissa, Minn., the other day. He was owner of the Rex Theatre in that town. Hallock, Minn., must do without Sunday pictures until the next election, at least. Voters decided against the Sabbath shows at the March balloting. The Happy Hour Theatre, at Burke, S.D., has been purchased by Henry Ilogrefe and Dr. R. J. Quinn. Argyle, Minn., has decided to rent its city hall to W. Gast and Joe Coninx for the showing of pictures twice a week. The picture house at Spicer, Minn., has been leased by Frank Covell, of New London. Minn., who recently presented his opening program there. Fred Finncgan, formerly booker, has been appointed assistant manager of the Universal branch office in Minneapolis to succeed Harry Quinn, who recently resigned. Finnegan's place as booker has been filled by Eddie MacErlane. Frank H. Marshall, manager of the organ department of the Chicago branch of the Wurlitzer Co., was in Minneapolis last week and had the opportunity to renew acquaintance with many of his friends along Film Row.