Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1460 Motion Picture News Albany Briefs and Eastern New York News HARRY GANS, who has been connected with the Albany exchange of American Releasing for the last two months as manager, left last Saturday for Buffalo, where he will be connected with the Hodkinson offices. Mr. Gans was at one time connected with First National. He will be succeeded here by Mr. Blancke, of Boston. William Smalley, who handles theatres in Cooperstown, Oneonta, Fort Plains, and elsewhere, spent three days last week along Albany's Film Row, booking for the weeks to come. F. B. O. exchange in Albany, handled by Vic Bendell, is resplendent in its new offices. Mr. Bendell is making his first trip this week to Utica and Watertown. W. H. Linton, hailing from Utica, but known to everyone as " Pop " Linton, was in Albany the past week. First National is doing a lot of exploitation around the Capital District these days, with A. L. Burks handling the job. Last week -Mr. Burks put over some good stuff in connection with the showing of the " Hottentot " at the Glove in Gloversville, and " Smilin' Through " at the Strand in Dolgeville. This week he is putting over " The Hottentot " at the Gem in Little Falls, and " East is West " at the Hippodrome in the same place. Sam Eckman, Jr., vice-president of Goldwyn, was in Albany last week, attending the censorship hearing. There is a rumor that the Majestic in Utica, now playing pictures, may go over to stock May 1. and that the Colonial, now a burlesque, may run pictures. In the drive which is now running between .Albany. Buffalo and New York First National Shoe store windozv display, tied up with "Adam's Rib" at Gratiman's Rialto and showing a "cave woman" type of footgear contrasted with that of today exchanges, A. J. Herman, manaeer of the Albany branch, still holds the lead. Morris Silverman, owner of the Happy Hour in Schenectady, celebrated his fifteenth wedding anniversary last Thursday, by giving a theatre party. Meyer Schine is now dickering with William Smalley for the Maxey in Oneonta, one of the most beautiful theatres in that section of the state. " The Hottentot " scored so well at Carthage, N. Y., last week that it was held over for a third day. S. E. Feld, a salesman for First National, who has been confined to his home in New York with the grippe, is back on the job. The Majestic, in Troy, N. Y., which will be opened under new management about April 1, will take the name of The Astor. Charles Walder is much elated these days through having booked the entire year's output of Goldwyn with Goldstein brothers at Springfield, Mass., who handle the Park theatre in Utica. Last week, the Albany exchange maintained by Goldwyn closed more business than in any single week since it was opened. There is a fight on between the Majestic theatre in Albany, N. Y., and one of the daily newspapers in that city. The theatre objected to the severe criticisms'^Cid to have been made by the newspaper and has withdrawn its advertising. Manager Herman, of the First National exchange, placed sixteen pictures to run sixteen consecutive weeks, beginning March 11, with Ben Apple, owner of the house, in a deal consummated last week. Schenectady theatres were tied up to some extent in their afternoon shows one day last week, through the fact that the man driving the truck from the Albany exchanges to the Schenectady theatres failed to wake up much before noon. By the time the film reached the Electric City, the wires leading to the exchanges were humming from disgruntled exhibitors. Summer resort towns in northern New York ire anticipating a banner business and the moion picture theatres are already placing their orders far in advance, seeking the highest type of pictures for the tourists. The houses in Malone, N. Y., have practically been booked solid for the entire summer. News of Boston and the New England States FILMS which have played Boston recently as special features are coming back again in short lapse of time at popular prices. " Robin Hood " played Gordon's Capitol^ Boston's newest' theatre the week of March 5, and next week the " Christian " will open at the Modern and Beacon theatres, owned by the same interests that have the Park theatre, where the film was featured at top prices recently. Boston's exclusive suburb, Brookline, has never allowed a motion picture theatre within its boundaries, but in the face of many previous failures, Howard Gray has petitioned the selectmen for a license to build and operate a 2,000-seat house at Coolidge Corner, the heart of the town life. The proposed structure will cost about $300,000 if it materializes. At a meeting last week the selectmen voted to refer the petition to the incoming board. State Detective Edward F. Horrigan, known to thousands in Massachusetts, having served as bodyguard to four governors, has been transferred to duty under Col. Alfred F. Footr. Display in the window of a Sydney, Australia, song shop for "Blood and Sand" at the Globe theatre commissioner of public safety, the man who passes on all motion pictures shown on Sunday in the state. Col. Foote said that the transfer took place merely in the routine of business. It is understood that Horrigan will assist in passing on the movie films. " When Knighthood Was in Flower " was given a special showing in the Veterans' Building, Concord, Mass., last Wednesday. The performance was for the benefit of the Near East Relief, and was followed by dancing. The Women's Club of Westboro, Mass., are preparing a campaign for the purpose of improving the motion pictures shown in that town. They are aided by the clergy, and the committee is headed by Mrs. George L. Meade. Manager J. H. Brennan of Loew's State theatre, Boston, had a special white carnation day last week during the run of Paramount's " The White Flower," starring Betty Compson. He gave the flower to all women patrons. Also he had the stage strewn with them all week, set off by a stage wide semicircle of flower filled vases. Exploitation Manager Deuserne of Arrow hit Boston Monday and immediately became very busy, for " The Streets of New York " opens simultaneously March 19 in Lowell, Lawrence, and Springfield, and rumor hath it that he has some ambitious campaign fined out. The film also opened the 14th in Boston at Gordon's Scollay Square and will later play several other Gordon houses. " Fighting Blood," according to members of the Boston Athletic Association, is a right scrappy picture. Manager Fitzgibbons of F. B. O.'s Boston office showed association members the first three rounds of the film Sunday srftetnoon at the club quarters, and they jiwt " lapped it up." " Fitz " of the F. B. O. has ab» secured Easter Monday as the opening date r-.r " Thelma," the picture adapted from Marie' Corelli's novel and starring Jane Novak, aUfrte Tremont Temple, Boston, for a three west's' run. Fox theatre, Spring{#7d, Mass., was the locale lor the world premiere of the William Fox production " If Winter Comes," on March 5. The town knew it was therq* for all papers carried two-column spreads, half a column deep. Renewed attempts have been made to have a showing of the Soviet propaganda motion picture, "Russia Through the Shadows," at some theatre in Springfield, but Mayor Leonard has consistently turned to the proposition an exceeding cold shoulder. He is quoted as saying that any further attempt is useless and that even if he saw the film he would still ban it if he found nothing knows " the local persons Edward Leonard objectionable, as he interested." Jean Acker (Mrs. Rudolph Valentino No. 1) held the headline place on the bill at Keith's theatre last week, as the Boston papers put it, chiefly because she was Mrs. Valentino. Robert A. Bertschy, for some time manager of the New Haven office, Associated Exhibitors, Inc., has now come to Boston as their branch manager. He is occupying the shoes so ably filled some time ago by Stanley B. Waite, who is now making things hum around the Boston Pathe office. "The Third Alarm" went over so strong in SprineficM, Mass., after fertile seed had been Ed Hurley, F. B. O. demon exploiteer, hi one of the most thorough campaigns the city has seen, that even the Mayor, Edwin P. Leonard, said that the film had enough thrills to last a year. Stephen Fitzgibbon, F. B. O. manager at the Boston office, got his finger in the pie, too, and was the recipient of a copy of the " History of the Springfield Fire Department," given him bv William J. Denver, president of the Springfield Veteran Firemen's Association.