Motion Picture News (Nov - Dec 1926)

November 20, 1926 1963 onal News from Correspondent NEW JERSEY exhibitors are urgently requested by organization officials to attend the next meeting of the state M. P. T. O., to be held at the Ambassador Hotel, Atlantic City, Nov. 18-19. It is said that matters of an extremely important nature will be brought up for discussion at this time. It is reported that a merger went into effect last week which will bring all theatres belonging to Chrisedge Theatres, Inc., of the Bronx, and those of D'Stamatis Brothers, Brooklyn, under single control. The Chrisedge Company was heretofore under the leadership of Matthew Chrystmos and Harry Eldridge, both prominent in local exhibitor circles. D'Stamatis Brothers have long been identified among the smaller circuit owners of Brooklyn and this deal will give the new corporation, in addition to the Chrisedge theatres, approximately five Brooklyn houses; namely, the Apollo, Fulton Auditorium, the Parkway, Mapleton and Classic. The Chrisedge holdings are mostly in the Bronx and Westchester County. It is understood that Matty Chrystmos will remain as one of the chief executives of the newly formed circuit, while Harry Eldridge, although retaining an interest in one or more theatres, will devote most of his time to the presentation field, where he is considered one of the best. Further indication of exhibitor organization is to be found in the recently formed combination of four downtown Brooklyn houses under the name of the Brooklyn Heights Theatre Corporation, of which Alfred Goldberg is president, and David Hauser, treasurer. At present the combine includes the Gold, Washington, Boro Hall and Heights theatres, all in the Heights section. The Wilson Theatre Corp., operating the Nostrand Theatre at 657 Xostrand Avenue, and the Regent, 1225 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, has been taken over by J. Margolies and partner. Another change of ownership concerns the Tip Top Theatre, also over in Brooklyn on Wilson Avenue. The new owners are Messrs. Tweel and Xasser. The house, after being sold, was closed for a short time in order to permit repairs and reopened last Saturday. In the downtown section of New York's East Side, Rossassi, formerly of Richmond Hill, where he operated the Park and Manor theatres, has taken over the Houston theatre. The house is at present closed for repairs and is expected to reopen this Saturday. Rossassi's old Manor, at Richmond Hill, was converted into a store building, while the Park is at present under lease to another party. Reports would seem to indicate that the big battle for the supremacy of the lower East Side of New York is reaching alarming proportions and that sooner or later one of the combatants will be forced to toe the mark. In any event, it's a battle that will be costly to both sides when one takes into consideration the fact that houses with seating capacities of 600 or so resort to vaudeville as an added attraction for patronage, with no increase in admission. Not that this has any bearing on or effects the strategic position of one of the belligerents, but it is reported that the Golden Rule and the M. & S. Delancey have both closed for an indefinite period. Both are on the lower East Side. And again, with rare good judgment, Loew Theatres are reported as abo.ut to' add one more house to their ever-increasing chain. This t;me the Sheridan Square, the pride of Greenwich Village, is said to be the new member of the family. Harry Rafferty is, or was, the owner. Eddie Carroll, who has more than once shown his fidelity to Associated Exhibitors by taking their ups and downs and shifts with apparent nonchalance, is again wearing the purple of that order, as far as being New Jersey sales manager is concerned. His reappointment came with the recent Pathe-Associated merger. Phil Meyer, New York City manager for Associated and Pathe features, is at present deploring the time which must be necessarily taken from the business of selling pictures when one is chosen for jury duty. A recent report has it that Joseph Stern, whose theatre holdings in New Jersey became merged with the FabianStanley organization some time ago, has taken active charge of the New Jersey booking for that large theatre circuit. The fire which gutted the entire downstair section of the Clinton apartments at 253 West 42nd Street and sent Al Sautelle, Pathe-New York non-theatrical sales manager, scurrying to quarters less dangerous, may have had depleting effects on Al's wardrobe. At any rate, Mr. Sautelle was observed in the sanctuary of an inner office, sampling several brightly-hued sets of pajamas, which were being offered for sale by erstwhile Pathe salesman, Irving Rothenberg. And speaking of enterprise, credit will have to be given to Rothenberg for one who wastes no time in the matter of raking in the shekels. While waiting for an appointment which he expects to announce soon, this business-like young man plys his trade in pajamas. That he's good is definitely proven when he can sell these particular articles of wearing apparel to one Milton Kronacher, who has been overheard to assert that he never had any use for such contrivances. The new theatre under construction at Washington, N.J., has been taken over by Dave Howell, of Dover, N.J. The Washington house will be ready about Jan. 1st. Mr. Howell operates the Playhouse, Dover. Charlie Stombaugh, genial New Jersey sales manager for Pathe, disclaims any knowledge of a recent report extolling his athletic prowess on the cinder track and its rather distant neighbor — the bowling alley. Charlie says there are certain things that he most certainly does excel in, such as putting away one of Dinty Moore's juicy beefsteaks — or what have you — but as far as athletics are concerned, watching a good football game is about as close as he ever got to a hundred-yard dash. One of Broadway's most popular managers, Charles McDonald, has recently resigned his position as managing director of two or three of the B. S. Mos« houses. While Southwest g*ty7TTl~ — THE Terry Brothers, of Woodward, Okla., are building another theatre, to be ready for opening in three or four weeks. The Terrys now have the Pastime and the Nusho theatres at Woodward. The new theatre being built at Ponca City, Okla. is owned by Lew Wentz, the oil man, who has leased it to Paramount. Ely Shire, of Lincoln, Neb., is to manage it when completed, according to reports. W. A. Parbee is putting in a fourth theatre at Guthrie, Okla. The new theatre will open Sunday and will show pictures and stock. Roy Creason, who was reported to be selliner the Palace Theatre at Eufaula, Okla.. has announced that he will keep the theatre and continue with his plans for a second theatre at Eufaula. Mr. Creason was on a deal to lease the Palace two weeks aero in order to take his wife West for her health, but Mrs. Creason died on October 24th. Dan Myers and H. O. Stark, of Producers Distributing Corp., ( Oklahoma City, received fat bonus checks for their good work in a recent drive. Sam Benjamin of the local F. B.O. received a two-thousand-dollar bonus check this week and is treating the office force to a party at Coffee Dan's Saturday evening. The Oklahoma Paramount office his future connection is not quite ready for announcement, it is said that it will be a most lucrative and advantageous shift for Mr. Mc1 luiiald. Floyd Vogt, on his return from Jersey territory, announces that Walter Reade's new Red Bank theatre will be ready for its opening next Thursday. The house is said to have a seating capacity of from 1,500 to 1,800 and is up-tothe-minute in every respect. Manager Jacks will be in charge. Another theatre to open on the same day as Reade's is Juskowitz and Smollen's new house at Reading, Pa. Pat Campbell, Eastern Division Sales Manager for Pathe, has been in a two-day conference with the New York branch executives, .Messrs. Raynor and Stombaugh. Loew's Fulton Theatre, Nostrand Avenue corner of Fulton Street, Brooklyn, has been officially taken over by Charles Fisher, who will operate the house on a stock policy with Sunday concerts. In the future, the house will be known to the trade as the Fulton. Another change of name affecting Loew theatres is that of the Livingston, Brooklyn. This theatre has had its name changed to Loew's Melba. Ed. Speigel's Rugby Theatre, Church and Utica avenues, Brooklyn, opened its doors to the public last week. This should be a good location, as the community has grown considerably during the past year. The house seats about 1,100. Mr. Speigel also operates the Utica and Cross Bay theatres. One of our prominent Long Island exhibitors is soon expected to announce his engagement, and it is said that it will not be long before a fair young lady will be led to the altar. The about-to-be groom is Joseph Stanzler, one of the firm of the Whitestone M. P. Corp., and operating a circuit of seven theatres on Long Island. The fair damsel whom Mr. Stanzler will lead down the well-known aisle, where one of life's contracts will have its usual promising debut, is Miss Marion Fox. Incidentally, the Whitestone M. P. Corp. recently opened the Star at Amityville with a picture and vaudeville program. The Star is one of the seven in their chain. force gave a Hallowe'en party last week, celebrating the end of the first half of a sales drive. The four salesmen have the members of the office divided into squads and the two losing sides gave the winners this party. They were dressed in masquerades and a prize for the best disguise was awarded Sam Brunk. Refreshments of hot dogs, pumpkin pie and cider were served.