Motion Picture News (Jan - Mar 1928)

766 M 0 t i 0 n Picture News PRESENCE of mind of the organist, house manager and projectionist of the Madrona Garden theatre, one of the newest suburban playhousesc in Seattle, Washington, one night last week averted a serious panic when the house was seriously damaged by fire. An explosion in the heating apparatus of the house shortly alter the beginning of the final evenmg performance sent dense clouds of smoke into the auditorium of the theatre and caused a sensation among the several hundred patrons. Sensing the situation immediately, David Blair organist, despite the fact that he was almost blinded and choken by the smoke, remained at his console and swung into a cheerful popular tune. At the same time, Norman Taylor, projectionist, hastily leaned from the booth and cautioned the audience against any unnecessary pandemonium. House Manager Walter S. Merell hastily summoned two passing pa trolmen and also assisted in restoring order and emptying the house in quick time. Tiie speedy arrival og fire units prevented further trouble and averted more serious property damage. No injuries were reported. The Liberty theatre at First avenue and Pike street, at one time the key house of the entire Pacific Northwest territory, closed for the last month by West Coast Theatres, Inc., was leased last week by that company to Joe Danz, Seattle exhibitor, and will be reopened by Mr. Danz next week. The programs at the Liberty under Mr. Danz's direction will be similar to those in vogue at his Embassy theatre, consisting of a first run feature and a local stage revue and or chestra, with weekly changes of program. Admission pricse are 15c. at all times. The house is one of the largest in the downtown district, seating about 1500 persons. W. H. Peters, special representative of the Pathe company, out of the Los Angeles district, left last week after a brief visit here at Manager L. A. Samuelson's local exchange. Announcement was received on film row last week from Benton City, Washington, to the effect that the Blue Bird theatre in that town has been taken over by Mark Carter, from P. H. Martinin, and will be operated by Mr. Carter niKlf-r the name of the Virginia theatre. Manager Matt Aparton and Charles Beale, special sales representative, both of the local Universal exchange, are each proudly exhibiting new brief cases to the boys on the row. The cases are prizes from the home office, as part of the recent National Joy Week contest operated by Universal exchanges. Arnold Flink, associated with West Coast Theatres, Inc., returned to Seattle this week as assistant manager of the Fifth Avenue thearte, after having served in that capacity at the Broadway theatre in Tacoma for the last six weeks. Mr. Flink was originally connected with Manager Clemmer's house here, was then transferred to the United Artists theatre, and then moved to Tacoma as assistant to General Manager Jefiferies. He succeeds Bernard J. Haynes at the Fifth Avenue, Mr. Haynes being moved to the new Seattle theatre in the same capacity. Jack Lannon's Greater Features Exchange, Inc., forced out of their former location by new building operations, have finally lieen settled in new quarters at 2018 Third avenue, just a few doors from their former location at 2006. The present exchange is considered a temporary move, as Greater Features are planning a location among the other offices on the new film row within the coming season. Advice from Troy, Idaho, received on film row, indicates that the Happy Canyon theatre in that city has been sold by H. L. Wright to Ivan Mushlitz, former owner. Ed Dolan, veteran exhibitor of the Grays Harbor territory in this state, spent a short time in Seattle last week. He announced that he is soon to begin a contest for a name for his new 800 seat house, under construction at the present time in Hoquiam, and expected to open in April. Another April opening, as announced last week, will be Rolla Duncan's 600 seat house in Olympia, Washington. Mr. Duncan is a former well-known theatre operator of Lewiston and Billings. Montana. Ben F. Shearer, formerly asso ciatcd with National Theatre Suj)ply Company, and now president of B. F. Shearer, Inc., theatre equipment specialists of this territory, left this week for T^os .-Xngeles on a rapid business trip. As representatives for HeywoodWakefield in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Shearer's organization is in the midst oi the largest seating installation ever completed in this territory, that of the 3500 seat Seattle Publix theatre to open in two weeks. William Hartford, manager of the Granada theatre Universal's house in the West Seattle district, last week was leected a director of the West Seattle Commercial Club, District No. 1. Mitchell Sutherland, for some some time associated with Pacific Northwest Theatres in this city as special advertising and publicity representative, and more recently connected in theatre publicity work in Los Angeles, returned to Seattle last week and is again located at the Seattle Times in an editorial capacity. Before his connection with the theatre business, Sutherland was motion picture editor of the Times. J. J. Wood, popular exhibitor of this territory, spent a few days in Seattle last week among the equipment houses and organ shops, looking around for new equipment that he is planning to install in his Red Bluff theatre. It was his first visit to Seattle in many weeks. West Coast Theatres, Inc., last week announced through local headquarters an introductory buffet lunchean for the press of the city to be held on the stage of the new Seattle-Publix theatre the week prior to the opening of the house, early in March. At that time, the house will be shown in detail and the opening program will be outlined for the persons present. Martin VonPraag, assistant sales manager for the Universal Film Company, spent a few days here last week as guest of Manager Mat Aparton and the members of the local exchange. He arrived here after a trip to the Western sales conference a short time ago in San Francisco. D. C. Millward and W. C. Gowen, associated with Western Film Company and the Tiffany Exchange in this city, were last week named as members of the board of directors of a new downtown first run house for Portland, to be known as the Capitol theatre. It will be built at Fourth and Morrison, and will seat more than 3000. Oi>ening is planned for June. Other direct ors include A. H. McCurtain of the Arco and Irvington theatres of Portland and Howard G. Mapes, manager of the Star Film exchange! T. E. Wakefield, formerly connected with a San Francisco film exchange, last week was appointed sales representative for F^ilni Booking Ofiices in the Eastern Washington territory, according to Manager Art Ihiot. He succeeds l-rank Hey from, who has been transferred to the Portland office to replace Lloyd Lamb. Mr. Lamb resigned last week to affiliate with Western Film Corporation in Oregon. "Sheriff" George Hickey, Western district manager for MetroGoldwyn-Mayer, left last week after a week's stav here with Manager Ben Fish and the staff of the local M-G-M exchange. He was en route to California, via the Portland territory. Sam Siegel, well known in this city for his publicity and advertising work with local theatres, has recently been given increased scope in his connection with John Danz's chain of Sterling Theatres, Inc., by being entrusted with the handling of two more houses in the Danz circuit. He now takes care of all the key houses in the downtown chain Ray Grombacher, head of the Liberty and Egyptian theatres in Spokane and president of the M P. T. O. W., spent a few days in this city last week on a business trip that included his personal worlc and also that of the association. A conference with Executive Serretary J, M. Hone was included in his schedule while here. Frank A. Lacey, well known Northwest exhibitor, recently manager of the Majestic theatre in Portland, last week was reported to have leased the .-Mameda tlieatre. suburban Portland playhouse, from L. A. and O. D. .Seltzer for a period of ten years. He was to take immediate charge. In conjunction with Station KOMO, programs from the Fifth .\ venue theatre in .Seattel have been carried on the air daily to radio listeners over the entire Northwest. Each day. Manager James Q. Clemmer arranges a special organ recital and numbers from the current stage shows for the halfhour dinner-time broadcast. i t 4 GI':.\E DENNIS, the girl psychic marvel, who appeared at tiie West Coast Liberty, last year made a personal appearance at the house, as a return engagement, and did capacity business. Her brother, Austin Dennis, has left for Seattle, where he will accept a position with the new Seattle Publix house, sclicduled for early opening. For the second time in the history of the local I'antages, a feature picture w;is held for more than one week. "Seventh Heaven" is being held over for a second week. The other picture held for three weeks was "What Price (jlory.'' luldie Hitchcock, pnivlicity director r)f West Coast houses in California, is in town working on the o]ii'iiing cam])aign for the new Publix house. Bob Blair, formerly city manager for Publix houses in San Antonio, comes to Portland as manager of the new Publix theatre, which is to be one of the largest in the Northwest. The house will be niulir the management of Richard .Spier, Oregon division manager lor West Coast Theatres, while R. A. Crabill of Publix home office is to supervise all Publix theatres on the Pacific Coast. Midnite public previews at the Columbia are going over big, according to Bert Levy, manager. Levy allows his patrons to stay over for the preview without any cost, Monday nights.