Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

April 21, 1923 1963 Trade Notes of the Connecticut Territory THE Capitol Theatre Corporation of Willimantic, Conn., has incorporated in that city, with an authorized capital stock of $150,000, to begin business with a capital of $20,000. The incorporators are Abe Davidson, P. A. Quinn and Sydney Synton. Purpose of the corporation is given as construction and operation of modern motion picture houses in that city. For some time Mr. Davidson has been negotiating for a centrally-located site for this purpose. It is reported that he has secured the property he has desired. Star's, Inc., of Bridgeport, Conn., has incorporated, for amusements and theatrical exhibitors, with an authorized capital stock of $50,000, to begin business with a capital of $2,800. The incorporators are May E. Hogan, Pearl D. Morgan and Thomas P. Gleeson. Margaret Courtot, leading woman in "Down to the Sea in Ships," which has been playing at Fox's theatre at Springfield, Mass., is to be one of several stars scheduled to appear at the ball of the Springfield Motion Picture Operators' Union ball April 18th. The union has entered definite contracts for several noted figures in filmdom and has agreed to pay a substantial sum for their appearance. Among those scheduled to appear are Miss Courtot, Virginia Pearson, Mary Anderson, Edward Earle and Sheldon Lewis. An attempt will also be made to secure the appearance of Tom Moore. Since picture stars have sometimes been billed to appear at past occasions of this kind and have failed to do so, officials of the union explain they have gone to the trouble of having contracts drawn up for their appearance this time. Any star who agrees to attend the ball this year and fails to do so will be walking upside down in the next picture he or she shows in here, members of the union state. If the Norwich, Conn., Common Council adopts an ordinance now before it for consid eration, owners of theatres, amusement and dance halls will have to keep their buildings heated to at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit next fall and winter, or be liable to a fine of not more than $50 for each offense. The proposed ordinance was introduced at the April meeting of the council, May 7 being designated as the date for a hearing. It is said that the proposed ordinance has resulted from numerous complaints during the past winter to effect that Norwich theatres were often much too cold for comfort. The shortage of coal is considered to have had something to do about it. However, many Norwich people feel that the theatres and other places of amusement should be kept warmer than they have been in the past. Proprietors of motion picture houses, especially those leasing the property, are much interested in and supporters of the proposed ordinance. Oklak oma City Items and Southwestern News THE Liberty theatre at Oklahoma City, Okla., has abandoned stock and vaudeville temporarily and is showing feature pictures at 10, 20 and 30 cents admission prices. Miss May Bogges of the R. D. Lewis Film Co., of Dallas, Texas, and R. L. King, agent of the American Express Co., at Piano, Texas, were married at Piano, April 1st. The couple will be at home in Piano after a brief honeymoon tour. P. M. Deston took charge of the New Orleans, La., Goldwyn branch, succeeding J. W. Pope, Jr., resigned. Don Douglas, general sales manager for R. D. Lewis Film Co., at Dallas, Texas, has resigned. His successor has not as yet been appointed. Tom Bailey has been appointed special sales executive for the Famous-Players-Lasky Players for Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana, work ing out of New Orleans. The Blizzard Sales Company at Dallas, Texas, has moved its offices into the quarters of the Phil H. Pierce Co., at Dallas. Mrs. W. E. Roberts of the Paramount theatre, Sulphur, Okla., was a film visitor, purchasing several new pictures. Dudley Tucker was here from Bristow, Okla., the first of the week. Manager Davidson of the Majestic theatre at Enid, Okla., shopped in Oklahoma City the first of the week. Manager Jensen of Paul's Valley, Okla., purchased new pictures in Oklahoma City this week. Manager Hornbeck of the Yale theatre at Yale, Okla., visited Film Row. Josh Billings of the Billings theatre, Norman, Okla., was a Film Row visitor in Oklahoma City the first of the week. Bert E. Graetz is the new branch manger of the Southern States Film Co., in the Dallas, Texas, office. Manager Rowley of the Best theatre at Hillsboro, Texas., was a film shopper during the week at Dallas. Manager A. B. Moman of the Odeon theatre, Shawnee, Okla., was a Dallas, Texas, film visitor during the week. Manager Lightman of the Princess theatre in North Little Rock, Ark., visited in Dallas, Texas, the first of the week. Manager Lewis of the Palace theatre in Wylie, Texas, visited in Dallas the first of the week and purchased several new pictures. Manager Fred Chavey of the Palace theatre at Cleburne, Texas, was a Dallas, Texas, vis~ itor and purchased new pictures. Manager Sam Howard, a showman^ at Cameron, Texas, was a Dallas, Texas, visitor the first of the week. Portland, Ore., Exhibitor and Exchange Items CARL LAEMMLE, president of the Universal Film Company, came to Portland Sunday night, April 1, remained over Monday and quietly moved on with his daughter, Rosabelle, and their party for the North. In the meantime he looked about a bit, visited the local Universal exchange and the new Columbia theatre, which he owns, and chatted with J. A. McMeekin, exchange manager, and William Cutts, manager of the theatre. He expressed delight at the appearance of the Columbia, which was thoroughly redecorated when Cutts took charge. W. S. Wessling, western district manager for Pa the Exchanges, Inc., has returned from an eight weeks' tour of the territory on which he applied himself especially to the interests in Washington and Idaho. From Spokane, where business has frequently been reported slow, Wessling brings report of increasing activity, with the resultant welcome reaction on exhibitors. Wessling makes his headquarters in Portland, lives at Oswego, a suburb, and spends his spare moments while at home in salmon fishing on the Willamette and encouraging a winning streak in the Oswego baseball team. Josephine Dillon, formerly attached to the Metro studio scenario and technical departments, addressed members of the Oregon Writers' League recently, giving them tips on scenario writing and revealing the inner workings of the departments with which she was identified. Salvatore Santaella, director of the popular Rivoli theatre orchestra, has returned from San Antonio, Tex., where he and Mrs. Santaella spent a month visiting relatives. On his trip he visited leading picture theatres and admits that, except for size, the local orchestra can show a commendable quality by comparison. Prefacing his action with a statement that "You are paying too much for your movies," A. C. Raleigh, manager of John Hamrick's Blue Mouse theatre, precipitously lowered admission prices effecitve Saturday, April 7. The scale had been 35 cents for matinee and 50 cents evenings, with correspondingly higher fees for loges. The new prices are 25 cents for matinees and 35 cents for evenings and all Saturday and Sunday shows. The first program under the new schedule features "Nero," the Fox spectacle picture. Warner Bros.' "Brass" has been booked by Gus A. Metzger, owner of the Rivoli theatre, for early showing. First National's sales and office force of the Boston exchange: John B. Magann, A. P. Bibber, James J. Byrne, Rose Ruben, Miss C. C. Jones, Helen Coughlin, Thos. B. Spry, John F. King, Dorothy Frend, Mary Burke, Celia Goldberg Harry Spingler, Marion Smith, Nyman Kessler, Elisabeth Kneeland, Grace MacDonald, Frances Welch, and Nathan Ross