Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

1948 Motion Picture News Six New Theatre Projects, Involving $2,500,000, Planned by West Coast PLANS for the erection in Seattle, Washington, within the near future of approximately six elaborate suburban motion picture houses representing an investment of $2,500,000 were announced last week in the Northwest city by Abe Gore, vice-president of the newly-enlarged West Coast Theatres circuit, during a visit in Seattle. The houses will be devoted to both first and second run policies, according to location, and will be operated on a minimum top of about 35c, if present plans are carried out. During his visit in Seattle, Mr. Gore also announced that the executive staffs of the West Coast houses in the Pacific Northwest would remain the same as under the regime of the Pacific Northwest Theatres, Inc. Harry C. Arthur, Jr., president and general manager of the latter company, who acted as appraiser for the West Coast deal, will remain in the Northwest as managing director of the houses in that territory. The Seattle theatres included in the West Coast chain at present are the Fifth Avenue, Coliseum, United Artists and Liberty. The Strand Theatre, now closed, will be reopened as a first run house. TheSeattleTheatre, 3,600 seat Publix house now under construction, will also be included in the deal and is expected to feature a vaudeville and picture policy. New M. P. T. O. Attitude on Chain Theatres Sympathetic Consideration Towards Circuits Evinced in O'Toole Statement on Convention Plans THOUGH chain theatres and consolidations will be one of the chief topics under discussion at the annual Motion Picture Tlieatre Owners of America convention at Columbus, Ohio, it is believed that a new attitude, in consideration of them, may be disclosed, according to M. J. 0 'Took', liusiness manager of the organization. Mr. O'Toole declared that sympathetic consideration of chains and circuits, as an inevitable circumstance in the evolution of the industry, may mark the convention's attitude. The organization is opposed to ' ' unnecessary condemnation" of chain theatres but is determined to protect its members, stated Mr. O'Toole. However, these men should "keep their feet on the ground" in consideration of the chain theatre problem, he added. Where theati'e owners find that business conditions in their respective terlitories make necessary affiliation with or sale of their theatres to circuits, they should first communicate with the organization before taking any step, continued Mr. O'Toole, and concluded "We want members to remain independent, but if they find such a course economically unsound, the organization is prepared to aid them in "The Rough Riders" For General Release iirr^UE ROUGH RIDERS" has I been added to the Paramount program for general release during 1927-28, according to an announcement by S. R. Kent. "Beau (Jeste" is also on the general release schedule, this announcement having been made previously. obtaining the best possible tenns for their holdings. ' ' In addition to the entertainment plans already outlined for the convention by P. J. Wood it was announced this week that a golf tournament will be held Monday, June sixth at the Elks Country Club, north of Colunibus; a fee of ten dollars will cover for the day; lady visitors will be given a sight seeing trip through Columbus and vicinity on Tuesday and on Wednesday will be the guest of Governor Donahey's wife for tea. Cliairman Josepii M. Seider, of the administrative committee of the M. P. T. 0., called a meeting of that committee for May 18 at which the report of the general convention conmiittee will be submitted by its chairman, Mr. Harwood, and special arrangements outlined by Mr. Wood. R. F. Woodhull and Mr. ' O'Toole also will make reports on their respective activities. The final meeting of the Board of Directors, to which the administrative committee will report, will be held at Columl)us convention headquartei-s, the Neil House, on Monday, June sixth, the eve of the national convention. Arrangements have been made by the M.l^.T.O.A. for a special convention train over the N. Y. Central from New York City to Columl)us, leaving Monday, June (ith, at ti :30 p.m. daylight saving time, from the Grand Central station. It will arrive in Columbus at 11 :45 a.m. .June 7. Drawing room fare is $."{3.95 ; compartment, $31.70; lower berth, $29.08; upper berth, $27.80. The one-half fare allowance gives a reduction of $11.3.") on the i-eturn trip. Reservations on this train can l)e secured through Samuel Stein at^ Room 90S Times Building, who has charge of transportation arrangements. Memorial Ceremonies for Mastbaums Many of the lea'ding executives in the motion picture industry of Pennsylvania, together Avith other notables, participated in memorial ceremonies for tlie late Jules K. Mastbaum and Stanley V. Mastbaum, at the Eagleville Sanatorium, iu)t far from Norristown, Pa., on Sunday, May 1. The saimtorium is one of the leading monuments of the philanthropy of the Mastbaums, and Mrs. Mastbaum, mother of the two brothers, and Mrs. Etta W. Mastbaum, widow of Jules El. Mastbaum, were present as were other relatives and personal friends of the faniil}-. The princijjal speaker, Mayor W. Freeland Kendrick, of Philadelphia, was inti-odiiccd by Sol M. Schwab, also of Philadelphia. Prominent motion picture men present were John J. McGuirk, president of the Stanley Company of America ; A. and L. Sablosky, iinder whose auspices the observance of IMastbauni day was held; Frank Buhler, general manager of the company, and other officials. Morris Wolf spoke for the Stanley Company of America. ^lore than a dozen acts, including music supplied by artists from the Stanley and other theatres, suj)plied entertainment for tile fratherinj;. Exhibitor, Once Newsboy, Builds New House Harry Dickerman, for ten years a newsboy at Seventh and Hennepin, Minneapolis, has just taken out a permit to build a $35,000 motion picture theatre at 3215 Penn Avenue North, next door to the Alhambra, which he has been operating for the last four years. Dickernuin said a real estate man induced him to consider the purchase of the Alhambra four years ago and he finallj' decided to buy it with his savings from the ten years of selling papers. Tlie theatre paid him well, and he has to have a bigger building now as the 350-seat house is inadequate. The new Alhambra will seat 600 and A\all be a one-story building of brick and tile construction. It will have the latest equipment and has been designed by 0. K. Westphal. Work is to start at once. Albany Theatre Offering Special Children Matinee A series of connnunity matinees patterned after the junior movie idea will be held in the Regent theatre, Albany, N. Y., during the next few weeks as a nu'ans of keeping the children off the streets and thus lessening the possibility of accidents due to automobiles. Leading men and women of the city are behind the idea, Avhich also has the endorsements of one of the leading newspapers. The idea is to have the children come to the tlieatre one afternoon each week after school hours when they will be admitted at a very low price. Such children need not be accompanied by parent or guardian if they arrive before 4:30 o'clock, but after that hour they must bo accomjianied. Society women will assist the theatre managenienf in handling the children.