Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

March i o , 1923 1185 Seattle Exchange Briefs and Northwest News L. O. Lukan THE Allied Amusement Interests of the State of Washington, an organization that has been in existence for several years, but has not been active, is being reorganized here under the general direction of L. O. Lukan, of the Blue Mouse circuit. The organization is coming as a result of the realization on the part of state amusement men that a general organization for their own protection is a necessity. The membership includes owners and operators of film exchanges, motion picture houses, vaudeville and legitimate houses, baseball associations and cabarets. A local body of the organization is being formed in Spokane by Ray Grombacher and H. C. Lambach, and will eventually be drafted into the general state body. Fifty membership applications were received by Mr. Lukan in the first two days that he started the reorganization drive, and the membership of the body is expected to swell to large proportions in a very short time. Co-operating with Mr. Lukan is Joseph Muller, secretary of the body, and manager of the Palace Hip theatre. A treasurer to succeed George Hood, who left this city for the East recently, will be chosen soon. The worst snow storm that Seattle and the surrounding territory has experienced in the last seven years occurred the middle of February and played havoc with theatre business for two days. Traffic in the city was tied up for over twenty-four hours, and several motion picture houses were forced to operate with but a small percentage of their employees on duty. Quick relief from the effects of the storm was offered by the city, however, and business the following week resumed normal proportions. Only one large Seattle house was forced to change its bill in the middle of the week because of weather conditions. Oliver G. Wallace, famous organist from Grauman's theatre in Los Angeles, and more recently from the new Granada in San Francisco was expected to preside at the console of the YVurlitzer as guest organist when "Robin Hood" opened at Manager Leroy V. Johnson's Liberty theatre the end of February. Mr. Wallace achieved his first fame at the Liberty here several years ago, and arrangements were made by Jensen-VonHerberg to bring him back to his home city as a special attraction during the Robin Hood engagement. William Cutts, representative of the Universal film company, left the city recently for Los Angeles, after spending the past several weeks in Seattle and surrounding territory. On his way to the South Mr. Cutts expected to stop off at Portland and visit the Universal interests there. The week of February 18 was a local "Lon Chaney Week" in Seattle, so termed because of the fact that the actor was playing at three of the city's theatres. At Manager Frank Steffy's Coliseum he was featured in "Shadows." At the Neptune. Manager Ben Larson featured him in "Oliver Twist." Manager H. B. Wright, at the Strand, played "Quincy Adams Sawyer," -which included Chaney in the cast. F. M. Brockell, manager of distribution for the First National Exhibitors corporation is expected to arrive at the local exchange about March 5, on his first tour of the country. Mr. Brockell will arrive here after visiting other exchanges on the way to the coast, and will visit Vancouver, B. C, during his stay in the local territory, probably returning to the East at the end of his tour here. L. K. Brin, head of the L. K. Brin exchanges on the Pacific Coast, returned from New York this week, after a trip of several weeks. Mr. Brin was enthusiastic over the \\ arner Brothers pictures that he will handle (luring the coming season, and at present is busily engaged handling the personal appearances of Wesley Barry in this territory. Barry made his first personal appearance for Mr. Brin in Billings, Montana, last week, and after a tour over the local states, will come into Seattle the week of March 10, in conjunction with his latest picture, "Little Heroes of the Street." It has not been definitely decided at which Seattle house Barry will appear. A special trade showing was recently arranged by Louis Amacher, manager of the American Releasing .Corporation exchange for his latest release "The Bohemian Girl." The showing was given at the Liberty theatre, donated by the Jensen-VonHerberg interests for the occasion. Among the guests were exchange and theatre men, press representatives, and members of orchestras and bands in the city. A special music score was planned for the picture, and several special numbers were furnished by prominent musicians of Seattle. Bookings on the picture were to be arranged following the special showing. The "Fighting Blood" series of two reel features have just arrived in this city at the Film Booking Office exchange, and have been booked by A. B. Metzger, exchange manager, with the Jensen-VonHerberg circuit. The first of the pictures will run at Manager Frank Steffy's Coliseum theatre about March 3, and after that twice each month until their conclusion. In and Out of tlie Cleveland Exchanges SEVENTY-EIGHT THOUSAND Clevelanders paid admission to see " Robin Hood " at the Stillman theatre during the first two weeks of its run, now at hand. That beats the record of the Stanley theatre, Philadelphia, which announces 60,000 paid admissions in two weeks. It also beats the Los Angeles run of seventeen weeks, with an average of 15,000 a week. The picture played to as many people in Cleveland in two weeks as it did in Los Angeles in five weeks, according to statistics compiled in the offices of the Loew's Ohio theatres. Crowds stood in the Stillman theatre for more than an hour every day, waiting to get past the gendarme who does the admitting. Many people have seen the picture again and again. From present indications it will run at least another two weeks. Possibly longer. Martin Smith, president of the M. P. T. O. A. of Ohio, is in Hot Springs, Ark., taking the first vacation he has had in several years. Manager Hoganson, of the Alhambra theatre. Toledo, was so well pleased with the business on "The Town That Forgot God" that he is holding it over for a second week. Actions speak louder than words. And an extended engagement is more praise than a page of gilded words. The Majestic theatre, Cleveland, has changed hands. A. Nyergesa has sold the house to M. Carig. George Dixon, of the Empress and Metro theatres, Toledo, was conspicuous as one of the few of out-of-town exhibitors in the Film Exchange Building this week. J. J. Mellert, for some years connected with the Shaw-Hayden theatre, Cleveland .has bought the Clark National theatre, 5202 Clark avenue, and is devoting his entire time in establishing an entente cordiale between his hquse and his neighbors. Gene Ochs. formerly assistant manager of the Allen theatre, is now managing the ShawHayden. Charles Barbian, of the Waldorf theatre, Akron, is the first Ohio exhibitor to play " The ex-Kaiser in Exile," released through Hodkinson. George Schade, of Schade's theatre, Sandusky, is a close follower. C. W. Miller, of the Hippodrome, Youngstown, took occasion to write to M. A. Lebensburger of the Standard Film Service Company that " Shadows " is a fit successor to " Rich Men's Wives " and that it drew capacity every play date." It is stated that the Colonial theatre, Elyria, is closed. The Colonial was under the management of O. J. Bannon. George Erdmann, office manager for Associated First National, has a letter from the manager of the State and Regent theatres, Pittsburgh, stating that the Douglas MacLean picinre. " Bell Boy 13," took in the second largest number of admissions since the house (State) opened. Ralph Hayes, assistant to Will Hays, was in Cleveland last week to attend a celebration of the Cleveland Trust Company, with which he was formerly connected. Hayes did no movie business while in the city. Arthur B. Lamb, Metro exchange manager in Cincinnati, has resigned and has gone to the west coast on account of his wife's poor health. C. B. Osborne of the Metro Omaha exchange succeeds Lamb in Cincinnati. S. A. Mclntyre has been transferred from Atlanta to follow Osborne in Omaha and E. S. Burke, former assistant Metro manager in Dallas, Texas, has been appointed office manager of the Atlanta exchange. W. J. Fitzpatrick, of Pittsburgh, has come on to Cleveland to join the American Releasing Company's sales force in Ohio. W. J. Slimm, president, and George P. Jacobs, general manager of the Western Picture Company, of Cleveland, are in New York on a buying spree. Herman Garfield was discovered in town one day last week. Garfield first introduced " The Parish Priest " to Ohio. This was followed by " Ten Nights in a Bar Room." E. C. Fielder is no longer connected with the Progress Pictures Company. Fielder was originally general manager of the organization of which J. S. Jossey is president. Fielder's new interests takes him far from the field of motion pictures. Howard Frankel, of the Majestic theatre, Columbus, came up to Cleveland this week to give the local play houses the once over. A. J. Buck, of the Colonial theatre, Fostoria, was resigtered among the exhibitor guests this week. It is said that George Ryder and Walter Kulp are no longer managing the Strand theatre, Cleveland. The theatre is now under the management of the owner of the building. C. L. Peavey, local Hodkinson exchange manager, has issued invitations for a private screening of " Down to the Sea in Ships," to take place at the Allen theatre, Cleveland, on the sixth of March, at the close of the regular program. There's to be a private screening of the picture in Toledo, soon after, and that's to be followed by another one in Youngstown. H. L. Art, a newcomer in the picture field, has joined the local Vitagraph exchange as sales representative, covering the western portion of the state. Dan Stearns, long-time city sales representative of Vitagraph, now occupies a similar position with the Cleveland Universal exchange. Harry Charnas, president of the Standard Film Service, is back in Cleveland, after a fourweek sojourn in New York.