Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1274 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 LA. ULLRICH, well known to • exhibitors and exchange men of Chicago, and former owner of the Ben Hur» theatre, has joined Manager Martin's sales staff and is covering west side territory for Pathe in place of R. V. Nolan, who is now selling to circuits. The Chicago exchange of First National has announced a newlyformed plan to tie up the exploitation department with the sales force in such a manner as to be of material benefit to exhibitors. Every exhibitor, hereafter, will have the benefit of the services of the exploitation duo, Hoi Olver and Al Sobler gratis, and no house is too small or none too large to call on them for the service. In a recent issue of the News, it was incorrectly stated that Mr. Olver, who was formerly of Paramount, Goldwyn and Robertson-Cole exploitation forces and during the past year, exploitation representative of First National at Boston, had come to Chicago as assistant to Mr. Sobler. The fact is Mr. Olver was sent to Chicago by Ned Holmes, chief of First National's exploitation staff, to afford the local exchange the benefit of two representatives instead of one and there is no difference in rank between the two. General Home Office Representative A. W. Smith, of Associated Exhibitors, is in Chicago and will make his headquarters for the next four weeks at the Associated Exhibitors office in the Pathe exchange. Mr. Smith is co-operating with Branch Manager Harry Willard in putting over the important new releases of Associated, including the Lloyd pictures and other strong features which have recently been added to the program. Mr. Smith states, that for the purpose of stimulating public interest in the forthcoming Associated Exhibitor releases, a far-reaching national advertising campaign is to be carried out. Henri Ellman is covering the south side for Manager Harry Willard of Associated Exhibitors and is hard at work on Harold Lloyd's big feature, " Dr. Jack." Mr. Ellman has a wide acquaintance in Chicago film circles, having been connected with Chicago exchanges for many years. Another new Associated salesman is R. J. Morfe, who returns to associated to cover the north side territory' after having been connected with another concern for the past year and a half. Tony Philbin is now traveling western Illinois and Iowa territory for Goldwyn. " Down to the Sea in Ships," the remarkable whaling picture, which critics have hailed as a great production which marks another advance in the motion picture art, will have its premier showing at the Auditorium the week of April 1, and it is understood the Hodkinson organization will back it up with a strong advertising and exploitation campaign. Harry McDonald, of the New York office of Hodkinson, has been in Chicago for the past week working with District Manager Hurn and Manager Simmons on plans for its first Chicago showing. Harry Zinc, who for several months has been working in the booking department of Famous Players-Lasky Chicago exchange, has been promoted to salesman and will work with Edward Rosecan in the Indiana territory. Theodore Roberts, accompanied by his well known cigar, was the hit of the Palace bill this week and was accorded a great welcome by thousands of his admirers. A large party from the Paramount exchange occupied the first and second rows of the Palace at Monday night's performance and when Theodore appeared, arose and displayed a big banner, which stretched entirely across the house, which read, " Welcome Paramount Star, Theodore Roberts." Mr. Roberts was pleased and the audience applauded. The boys brought the banner into the house in sections concealed under their coats and the resulting surprise was a novety in what might be termed " indoor exploitation." Around the Trade «r\ R. JACK," which is generally \-J believed Harold Lloyd's greatest picture, shown in conjunction with Will Rogers' three-reeler, " Fruits Of Faith," packed them in at Jones, Linick & Schaefer's Orpheum last week and it is understood, broke all house records at this popular State Street theatre. At the present writing indications are that the second week will be even greater than the first, as Sunday and Monday's attendance was better than on the same two days of the previous week. At a meeting of the board of directors of the Illinois Motion Picture Theatre Owners, held on March 1st, Mr. A. J. Moeller, general manager of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, and of the national exposition, which is to take place May 19th to 26th, appeared before the board and asked for support of the project. After considerable discussion a motion was made by Director Glen Reynolds and seconded by Director W. D. Burford, that the support of the Illinois Motion Picture Theatre Owners be given to Mr. Moeller in his effort to make the exposition a success. While some of the members of the Illinois Motion Picture Theatre Owners were dissatisfied with the manner in which the exposition proposition had been handled by the national organization, and the failure of that organization to give the matter into the hands of the Chicago men, it is believed that this has been smoothed over and that with a more thorough knowledge of the conditions that confronted the national organization in arranging the exposition, the Illinois men are now ready to give hearty co-operation to the project. Cecil De Millc sent the following telegram from Hollywood to Aaron J. Jones, in reference to the opening of A.dam's Rib, at the new McVickcr's theatre this week: "With fond memories of the memorable old house where stage plays by my father, my brother and myself have played many performances, I am delighted to hear that my latest film production, ' Adam's Rim,' is to open in the new McVicker's on March 5th. Best wishes to a firm which is perpetuating in new guise the fine theatrical ideals which made the old McVicker's one of the world's most famous theatres." Old timers will remember that it was at McVicker's that William De Mille, father of Cecil and William C, made his debut as an author with "The Charity Ball." "The Girl I Left Behind Me," also had its premier at McVicker's. The showing of " Adam's Rib " marks a change of policy in the new McVicker's as Jones, Linick & Schaefer's executives after viewing this feature felt that it was of such excellence that it should be held over for two weeks, this being the first time that any feature had been shown more than one week in this house. The National Theatres Corporation is preparing plans for a three thousand seat theatre to be located at the corner of 79th and Halsted streets. It is reported that construction will begin early this summer. The growing importance of motion pictures has received signal recognition from Marshall Field & Company, who have -erected a small motion picture theatre in their book department, wherein trailers from motion picture features, based on famous novels, will be shown daily from 11 :00 A. M. to 4 :30 P. M., and explanations of how photoplays are made from books will be given the patrons of the world's greatest retail store. Scenes from " The Covered Wagon," " The Stranger's Banquet," " The Christian," " Main Street," and other photoplays based on Grossett & Dunlap publications, will be the first to appear on Marshall Field & Company's screen, and personal appearances of authors and motion picture actors and actresses will be arranged from time to time. E. C. Ketchaxn, representing Grossett & Dunlap, negotiated the tie-up with Marshall Field & Company, which will mean valuable publicity for the motion picture industry, as well as the publishers. Max Balaban. of Balaban & Katz, has returned from California, where he put in a couple of weeks visiting with the Hollywood film celebrities and watching pictures in the making. A house warming party was held at the new Paramount exchange, 1327 S. Wabash Avenue, on Tuesday evening, under the auspices of the Paramount Pep Club. The evening was enjoyably spent with music, dancing and refreshments and the many guests of the club had an opportunity of inspecting the commodious and finely equipped exchange, which is now the Chicago headquarters of Famous PlayersLasky. Sol Fichtenberg and Max Schwartz opened their handsome new Capitol theatre at Kedzie and Lawrence avenues, on Wednesday evening, and got way to a fine start. This is the old Albany Park, which has been closed for several years, but in reality is a new house, as only the old walls were utilized. The magnificent furnishings and equipment installed and its artistic decorations make it one of the finest outlying houses in the city and its policy will be in keeping. Special attention will be directed to giving its patrons the best in music and a Kimball orchestral unit organ has been installed, which is the first of its kind to be put into a Chicago theatre, as well as being one of the largest instruments in a local motion picture house. Ralph Crocker, of the Sta/ theatre. Elgin, did such a big business during the original three-day booking of " The Third Alarm " that he held it over for two additional days, during which the big business continued. The fire department tie-up and the numerous other stunts Mr. Crocker put over, in co-operation with Publicist Kramer, of F. B. O., kept the city of Elgin on the qui vive during the entire run and it is safe to say that there wasn't a man. woman or child in the city wh' didn't know about " The Third Alarm," and a large percentage of them went to see it. Jones, Linick & Schaefer have signed up Nora Bayes to appear at McVicker's theatre for one week, starting March 19.