Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1168 Motion Picture News NEWSY BRIEFS FROM CENTRAL FILM BELT Chicago and the Mid-West L. H. MASON, REPRESENTATIVE, 725 S. WABASH AVE. Among the Exchanges DAN ROCHE, of Famous Players-Lasky, Chicago, has left for Detroit and Pittsburgh, where he will superintend exploitation campaigns on " The Covered Wagon." Mr. Roche will probably be away from Chicago for two or three weeks. He recently put over some successful exploitation stunts on this picture in New York and broke into the columns of the metropolitan press, for columns of space, with his bull team and old time covered wagon. Charles Perry, former manager of the Capitol and State Theatres in Minnesota and St. Paul, has been brought to Chicago by Manager Manske, of American Releasing Corporation, to cover Illinois territory as a salesman. Mr. Perry is an experienced film man, having been connected with the Ruben and Finklestein organization for several years. Bill Brimmer has joined the United Artists' sales staff and has been assigned to cover city territory by Chicago Manager Eichenlaub. Harry Phillips, live-wire Universal salesman, is knocking them cold on Universal week bookings, having already lined up twenty-nine theatres, which will show nothing but Universal features, comedies and news reels for a solid week. Manager Jack Sampson, of Film Booking Offices, has extended a special invitation to all exhibitors, to call on him in connection with the anniversary week of his company. He has his exchange all dolled up in honor of the occasion, including a monster birthday cake with one candle on it. Joe Friedman has added three salesmen, well known in Chicago territory, to his staff of Celebrated Players' hustlers. They are Al Gallas, Lee Woodyatt and Mort M. Krueger, all of whom have recently been connected with Select. Ira Firman, who has been connected with Goldwyn Pictures Corporation for the past four years as traveling auditor and in other capacities, has been appointed assistant manager at the Chicago exchange and has arrived from New York to assume his duties. Niel Agnew, of Paramount's Chicago sales department, has been transferred to the Milwaukee exchange, where he will take over the duties of manager as successor to G. A. Durlam, who has been made a special representative for Paramount. Jack Frost is back in the booker's office at Chicago, after helping to get the Peoria office generally as they affect the indusstarted. try. William A. Shalet, St. Louis manager of United Artists, who has been in the city for several days, reports business good in his territory, and that the slight slump caused by the excessive cold weather is past. Floyd Brown, Indianapolis manager of First National, was visiting Chicago this week, and while here called on bookers of circuits which operate theatres in his territory. R. Hinard, of Lebanon, Illinois, expects to have his new theatre, The Gem, completed and ready for business by the first of May. This will give Lebanon a first-class movie-house, which is said to be much needed. John Weigler, manager of the film business of the S a u v a g e Amusement Enterprise, Alton, Illinois, has had the misfortune to lose his son. Spyros Skouras, well known St. Louis theatre man, and holder of the First National franchise there, was in Chicago last week and while here visited Sam Katz and looked over the presentation at the Chicago theatre. H. W. Pitner, of the Rex theatre, Fairfield, Illinois, is undergoing treatment at the hospital at Olney, Illinois. Mr. Peter J. Schaefer, of Jones, Linick & Schaefer, is now in Paris, according to latest word received from him. He had been spending some time in Berlin, and witnessed first hand the results of the French seizure of the Ruhr Valley. He expects to remain abroad for at least two months more. John J. Jones, who has been confined to the Wesley Memorial Hospital with an abscessed ear, was sufficiently recovered to leave for his home the early part of the week and it is expected he will be back on the job within a few days. Another Jones, Linick & Schaefer official, who has been laid up with the grippe, is General Manager Xorman Fields, who has been forced to be away from his desk for several days. Arthur Schoenstadt, of Schoenstadt & Sons, is scheduled to arrive at a European port this week, aboard the Berengaria, and expects to be gone for some months. It is a combined business and pleasure trip and while abroad Mr. Schoenstadt expects to study the picture situation and foreign conditions A. L. Brentlinger has resigned as a member of the board of directors and manager of the Indianapolis office of the Consolidated Realty & Theatres Corporation, and the Indianapolis office will be merged with the Chicago branch, which is located at 332 S. Michigan avenue. It is understood that Mr. Brentlinger did not wish to make his headquarters in Chicago and for that reason handed in his resignation. A sales office, however, will be continued in Indianapolis. Ralph Crocker, of the Star theatre, Elgin, reports that " The Third Alarm " did a tremendous business at his house, both on opening day, which was Sunday, and on Monday, which is usually a dull day for Elgin motion picture theatres. The fine co-operation secured from the fire department in putting the picture over, and the big exploitation campaign worked out by Exploiteer Kramer, of F. B. O., in co-operation with Mr. Crocker, brought the crowds in and caused a hold out constantly during the run of this feature, which, Mr. Crocker reports, pleased his patrons. Around the Trade ILLINOIS Motion Picture The*• atre Owners have tried casting their bread upon the water, and in the words of the old prophecy it is returning to them many fold. Following is the letter mailed to leading theatre men in the Chicago territory with a real one dollar bill enclosed, which is calling forth prompt replies : " Knowing your time is valuable — it will take only five minutes of your time to reply to this letter, for which please accept our payment of one dollar, which is attached hereto : " Do you believe an organization of all theatre owners in Chicago film distributing zone would be of mutual benefit to its members? Yes — Xo — " Do you believe that legislation of any kind adverse to the interest of the exhibitors can be more successfully combatted by a solid organization than by individuals? Yes — No — "Are you willing to ally yourself with such an organization? Yes — No — " If this interests you will you favor our organization by becoming a member? Yes— No — " (On Return Page) I am enclosing check for the following houses for : Fees Dues for 1922-23 (Strike out fees if you are a member.)" The first answer received was from Aaron J. Jones, president of Jones, Linick & Schaefer, who said in part : " Yours of the 21st received with dollar enclosed, which the young lady who is writing this letter is taking to buy candy with. In reference to all of your questions I would answer Yes, Yes. " Enclosed find checks as requested." The checks mentioned by Mr. Jones amounted to $150, covering the dues for the Orpheum, Lyric, Rialto and McVickar's. Officials of the Illinois Motion Picture Theatre Owners are pleased over the interest shown by exhibitors in the questionnaire sent out for the purpose of assisting the Department of Justice in collecting information on the activities of the Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers, and have already received more than one hundred questionnaires fully filled in. It is thought that the information obtained by this means may cause the Department of Justice to take action against the Society, and all exhibitors are urged to fill in and return the questionnaires to the headquarters of the I. M. P. T. O. at 752 South Wabash Avenue immediately. The Le Claire theatre, the handsome new house at Moline, Illinois, was opened on February 24th with Sam Levine, well known in Chicago through his former connection with Jones, Linick & Schaefer, as manager. " Jazzmania," Mae Murray's latest release, was the opening feature, and a great crowd attended the premier performance at the Le Claire theatre. Second Fiddle " ad used by the Parkway, Baltimore Charles A. Niggemeyer, who now is putting on the presentation and special numbers at Jones, Linick & Schaefer's McVickar's theatre, is rapidly forging to the front and making a reputation for himself as a master along this line. " In a Nobleman's Garden." last week's presentation at McVickar's. was declared by many picture critics as one of the most artistic and effective ever staged in Chicago.