Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

April 7 , 1928 1139 TED EMERSON, for the last several seasons associated with the dramatic department of one of the Portland, Ore., newspapers, arrived in this city last week to assume the office of director of advertising and publicity for Publix's new Seattle theatre. Complete advertising offices have been established in the theatre for Mr. Emerson, and the publicity and space for the Seattle has been entirely divorced from the advertising department of West Coast Theatres, which now handles only the Fifth Avenue and United Artists Theatres, from headquarters in the Skinner building. A. F. Gangel, representative of Advance Trailer Service Corporation of New York and Chicago, spent a short time in this territory last week, following the establishment of a branch office in Portland. Word was received in film circles last week to the effect that the interests of R. S. Rowen in the Meyers and Bowen Theatre Company of La Grande, Ore., were purchased recently by Francis Greulich. According to the report, Don Meyers will continue to operate the chain, including the Star, Liberty and Arcade theatres, with Mr. Gruelich as the new partner. The Fifth Avenue theatre in this city was turned over last Mondav, Tuesday and Wednesday to a list of Seattle music patrons, for the presentation of four performances by the Chicago Civic Opera Company. Reports from the opera engagement, just announced, indicate a gross of $41,000 to offset costs of ?62,000. Ben F. Shearer, head of the B. F. Shearer Company of Seattle, last week announced the acquisition of the biggest seating contract in the history of the Pacific Northwest — the seating of the new Seattle Civic Auditorium building. Mr. Shearer, Northwest representative of HeywoodWakefield, will install more than 7,000 seats in the new structure when it nears completion next June. F'riends of Dick Fairless, formerly associated with Al Knox in the publicity and exploitation field in this city, will be glad to learn of his association with First National in Butte. Jack Lannon, president and general manager of Greater Features, Inc., last week was host to Mr. Budd Rogers, vice-president of Gotham Productions, whose films are handled throughout several Northwest states in Mr. Lannon's branches. After three or four weeks of struggling to put the house across with local residents, Joe Danz last week closed his Liberty theatre, ac quired just a month ago from West Coast. Future disposition of the house is unknown. Among the infrequent visitors on film row seen last week was E. A. Zabel, of Olympia, who spent a big portion of the time with Manager Les Davis and Exploitation Director A. J. Kennedy, of First National, planning a big campaign for the state capitol. Wrord was received last week at the Columbia Film Exchange to the effect that Joe Goldburg, former West Coast booking manager, will arrive here soon on his first trip as western district manager for Columbia. His appointment was made last week, and he will supervise the Seattle, Portland, Butte, Salt Lake City, Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles branches. He succeeds John C. Ragland, who spent a short time in this city just a few weeks ago on his final trip. Fred Quimby, short subject sales manager of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, has been spending the last several days at the hospital in this city, recovering from an infection in his back. His condition was reported as not serious, but requiring medical treatment at the hospital. Local friends of Tony Hartford, at one time shipper of the Universal exchange in Seattle, were pleased to learn last week of his appointment as manager of the "U" branch at Salt Lake City. Joe Danz's three houses in Seattle, the Embassy, Rialto and Liberty, are now reported to be on the non-union list, following differences between Mr. Danz and the musicians organization. The walkout of union musicians was followed at the Danz houses by a walk-out of operators and janitors. Cause of differences was not announced. John McGill, veteran Northwest exhibitor, will move into his own theatre at Annapolis, Washington, early in April, according to reports received last week, when his lease on the Community theatre at Port Orchard expires. The new Annapolis house has been entirely remodeled for Mr. McGill's occupancy, lie will also continue operation of the Liberty theatre in Port Orchard, and has also acquired a site for a new 450-seat house in that town. Beckman & Thompson, of Seattle, are taking over the operation of the Community theatre. Jack Rosenberg, brother of Al Rosenberg of De Luxe Theatres, Inc., of this city, and formerly associated with his brothers Al, Louis and Mike in the film business, last week announced his engagement to Miss Thelma Ballen of Los Angeles. Jack is at present associated with Loew's State theatre in the Southern California city. rlPHERE continues to be consid1 erable sickness among film exchange managers and salesmen, as well as exhibitors in this territory. Edward Hayes, "alesman at the Pathe exchange, was sick in bed last week with an attack of the grip. Nate Robibns. of Utica, is back from a trip to Atlantic City, having recoverd from the grip. William Smallcy, of Cooperstown, is still seriously ill at his home, while J. J. Whalen, owner of the Strong theatre in Burlington, Vt., is recovering from a slight operation. Louis Buettner, of Cohoes, who has been very sick for the past several weeks, has recovered to the extent that he was able to be out for a short time during the past week. Sam Burns, one time local manager for Vitagraph, and who has been working for L'nited Artists in the Syracuse territory, resigned last week, returned to Albany, and then went on for a few davs in New York City. S. E. Feld, also well known locally as a film salesman, resigned from the same company during the week. Miss Jane Holloran, former secretary of the Albany Film Board of Trade, and who is now employed by Universal in New York City, spent the last week end at her home in Albany. Sam Slotnick, of Utica, was among the exhibitors on Albany's Film Row during the week, Mr. Slotnick arranging bookings for the new Lincoln in Utica. Amos Leonard, former sales manager for Pathe out of Albany, is in Syracuse, and will announce new connections soon. Walter Emig, owner of the Central theatre in Albany, has decided to cut out all matiness except on Saturday, until next fall. Julius Berinstein, owner of the Colonial in Albany, returned home last week following a trip of several days to New York City and other points. Lee Langdon, former booker at the Warner Bros, exchange in Albany, is now in New York City. The Eagle theatre, in Albany, after having been closed for several days on account of a fire in the projection room, was reopened during the past week. A new projection machine and other api«ratus was necessarily installed by Abe Stone. Lew Garvey, who has been associated with the management of the Olympic in Watertown for the past several months, has resigned to become master of ceremonies at a cabaret in Springfield, Mass. When Tony Veiller severed his connections with the Mark Ritz last week in Albany, the employees of the house presented him with a gold pen and pencil suitably inscribed. Jimmy Rose, booker at the Warner Bros, exchange in Albany, is more firmly convinced than ever that he was born under an unlucky star. One day last week a large truck passing film row, got out of control and although there were a half dozen or more automobiles parked along the curb, the truck crashed into Mr. Rose's car and badly damaged it. Mike Kallet's new theatre in LTtica, will be known as the Liberty and will open soon. During the past week the Kallets have acquired quite a few new theatres in central New York, and it is said that further expansion is probable. There was a newcomer along Albany's film row last week in the person of W. J". Finn, who operates theatres in Madison, Eaton, Munnsville and Vernon. He drove down with Len Garvey, of New Hartford. Miss Margaret Wolf, secretary to Nat Ixvy, local manager for Universal; had a birthday last week and enjoyed every minute of it. Fxhibitors in northern New York complained of business last week with Monday so -warm that people stayed away from the theatres. Phil Hodes, of New York City. connected with F. B. O., was in town during the week. Incidentally, it came to light during the week that Al Guteck, local manager, was formerly a public speaker and traveled over a circuit in the Middle West. M. R. Hamilton, who has been manager of the Strand in Schenectady for some little time, resigned during the past week in order to go with Publix in Boston. Lew Fischer, of Fort Edward, was in Albany during the week, booking for his theatres along the northeastern border. Jack Bulwinkcl, who resigned as manager for First National a few days ago, spent a part of last week in New York City. Jake Golden, manager of Proctor's theatre in Troy. si>ent a portion of the week in New York City. Jack Campbell, manager of the Griswold in Troy, is now putting on a dance contest over a period of several weeks. Charles Marshall, of Ausable Forks, in town during the week, declared that the past winter was one of the best he had ever known, due to open roads. Russ Wehrlc, the new manager for First National in Albany, and Ed Hochstim, a salesman, spent nearly all last week in visiting the exhibitors in Hudson river towns.