Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1927)

1912 Motion Picture News New England '"pilE new Riverside theatre, i Medford, Mass., under lease to the Mark Strand circuit, is now expected to open Monday, Dec. 26, with Larry DeCain as manager. The original date set was Dec. 5, but there was a delay in securing some of the decorative features. Cards have been received from Berkeley Hills, Cal., announcing the arrival there of Miss Caroline Jones, booker at First National Exchange, Boston. She plans to remain in California for several m< inths. Michael Garrity of United Artists Exchange at Portland, Me., and Lee Gorman of the Portland Theatre Supply at Portland were in Boston during the week on business. Philip Lamonica, assistant shipper at Independent Films Exchange, Boston, recently had an attack of blood poisoning as the result of a minor injury to one hand, which confined him to his home for several days. He is now on the road to recovery. Miss Eleanor O'Hearn of Independent Films staff is to be the leading woman in the St. Catherine's of Charlestown production of ''Rose Land." Maple Hall at Mapleville, R. I., has been closed temporarily. Degnan Brothers formeryl operated the theatre. J . LeTendre has now leased the theatre and after extensive alterations, will reopen about the first of the year. Henry Lamere of the Opera House at Ludlow, Vt., after repairing minor damage to his house done by the flood and getting things ship-shape, has been taken to the hospital there for treatment, where he expects to remain several weeks. During his absence, the booking is being done by his daughter, Miss Monica Lamere. Embargo conditions are still in effect in a large section of Vermont, although shipments are now so routed that all exhibitors are able to secure films by using autos to the nearest shipping points. Cressy Smith, eastern sales manager of United Artists, was present during the week at the United Artists Exchange in Boston. A meeting will be held at the exchange for rearranging affairs there in keeping with the new sales policy of United Artists. The new Circle Theatre at Pawtucket opens this week. It has a capacity of some 600 seats. The theatre is being operated by Fred Lovett, for some time associated with the Fay theatres in Providence. James Greco, owner of the Rialto theatre in Worcester, is at the Peter Bent Brigham hospital in Boston for treatment. He has but recently been out after a serious illness, which had its inception when he was attacked by thugs while in his garage at his home several months ago. Paul Denish and Louis E. Walters have leased the third floor at 129-131 Columbus avenue, Boston, as an amusement agency. They were formerly located on Stuart street. Midtown Theatrical Corp. has been organized at Norwich, Conn., with capital of $5,000. H. F. Eldridge of New York City heads the company. Hiram M. Burton and others have leased for a long term of years the theatre at 700 Washington street, Boston, known as the Unique theatre, to the recently organized Stuart Theatre Corp. Jacques Theatre Co., Waterbury, Conn., has incorporated with S50,000 capital. DeWitt Newing of Waterbury, with other Waterbury men, are the incorporators. The Cosmopolitan theatre at Lawrence, Mass., has been sold by Peter Contarino to Thomas Renzetti, who will continue the same policy there. The Hyde Park theatre at Hyde Park, Boston, has been sold by John A. Glasier to W. R. Wheeler. John J. Scully, branch manager of Educational Exchange at Boston, is this week on a business trip through western Massachusetts. Two of the salesmen at Educational Exchange have exchanged territories. F. O'Mahony will cover Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts and C. Breed will be the Boston and vicinity salesman. The new State theatre at Portland, Me., which is nearing completion, is to be formally opened on Christmas day. Lee Gorman is the owner of the theatre. Cosmian Hall at Florence, Mass., has closed indefinitely. Abrahamson & Bennett are to build a new theatre at Auburn and Lexington streets, Auburndale. Negotiations for the lease of the theatre are now under way. Excavations are already under way. Associated Producers, Inc., has incorporated at Boston with $100,000 capital. Incorporators are Allison, G. Catherton of Newton, Cecil E. Whitney of Cambridge and Lora M. Dennis of Boston. A group of Boston real estate operators have purchased a valuable tract in the business center of Rockland, Mass., and the development includes a theatre for the town to seat about 850. Names of the owners are not revealed at present. The safe of the Melrose theatre was broken open and about $400 in cash stolen over the week-end. Charles Colody of Boston is having plans drawn for a new theatre in Abington, Mass., at the corner of Washington street and Central avenue. Work of demolition of the present buildings on the site has started. The Walker theatre in Northbridge, Mass.r which was recently damaged in the floods, has been completely dedecorated and renovated. Joseph L. Levenson, who has been in charge of finances of the Mark Strand enterprises in New England, has returned from Philadelphia, where he was elected vicepresident of the Stanley-Mark Strand enterprises. Mr. Levenson will remain as treasurer of the various Mark Strand enterprises in New England. Howe Amusement Co., Newburyport, has incorporated with $10,000 capital. Incorporators are Lillian E. Howe, James F. Carens and Jerome J. Sullivan, all of Newburyport. Gerald, Inc., theatrical agents and managers, has incorporated with $75,000 capital. Incorporators are Warren J. Fitzgerald. Richard F. Cummings and Joseph E. Cahill, all of Boston. Kansas City THE Sunday closing fight in Ash Grove, Mo., is developing into one of the most interesting cases of its type in several years. The town's business men, to combat the reformers, have organized a 100 per cent Enforcement League and are determined that the town's one motion picture show shall stay open on Sundays, or that all other places of business in the county, which includes Springfield, Mo., a town of 60,000 persons, shall remain closed. The league went to Springfield this week to gather evidence in the case. Greene County will be either wide open or closed for all business on Sundays, the league has determined. The row started two weeks ago when the Rev. T. C. Pennell, pastor of the Ash Baptist church, recalled an ancient blue law which prohibited unnecessary work on Sunday. Gasoline stations and stores were not mentioned. The business men of the town sided with L. D. Metcalf, exhibitor, resulting in the organization of the 100 per cent Enforce ment League. The league also opposed the coming of Willard W. Harmlin, county prosecuting attorney and former State senator, to prosecute the motion picture show. Elmer G. Wadlow, the town's only lawyer, organized the club and is acting as attorney for Metcalf. The league will go even further, it is said, and ask the State legislature to close all theatres of Missouri if citizens want to go back to blue laws. Kansas City schools have adopted motion pictures as a means of training students and others in the methods used in fire drills. Pictures were taken this week of fire drills in Kansas City schools and will be shown before the Kansas City Safety Council and other organizations. North Kansas City, Mo., has outgrown its present motion picture theatre and a new structure, comprising bowling alleys and other enterprises, as well as a theatre, will provide a new, modern 750-seat house. The building was designed by Kenne & Simpson, architects, Kansas City. Mr. and Mrs. Lew Cody, the latter better known as Mabel Normand, denied that there was any intention on either of their parts in seeking a divorce in Kansas City this week. C. W. Allen, feature branch manager of the Pathe-DeMille exchange in Kansas City, has been transferred to Oklahoma City, Okla., where he will become Pathe branch manager. J. F. Burke, home office for Educational ; Charles Knickerbocker, Columbia branch manager in Butte, Mont. ; Joe Daly, traveling auditor for Fox ; Beverly Miller, representative of National Screen Service in St. Louis, and Maurice Safier, Warner Bros.' home office representative, were Kansas City visitors this week. The Empress theatre, St. Joseph, Mo., has been taken over by B. C. Cook, manager of Economy Film Service, Kansas City, and will be operated by the Empress Theatre Corp. J. P. Ghoson is associated with Mr. Cook in the theatre. The Centerville Aidome, Centerville, Kas., has been razed and a theatre will be built on the same site. Elmer Dillon, shipper at the First National branch, received a liberal quota of rice the other night. The "Mrs." formerly was Miss Helen Brown. When Louis Kopulos, who owns three theatres in Kansas City, has to do some quick thinking and moving, he usually does it. Monday evening at 6:15 Mr. Kopulos's car, containing all his film for that night, was stolen. To the exchanges he rushed and found that other prints of his schedule were available. Later that night his car was recovered and the films were not molested. John Graham, Tiffany booker, received a fat check from the home office this week for obtaining dates above a quota.