Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

2682 Motion Picture News Butte Bulletins and Montana Trade It ems DLTTE is now in the midst of a Market *J Week and the Shriners are having a big circus affair and in consequence William J. Sullivan, manager of the Rialto and American theatres, two of the Jensen and Von Herberg string, is making exploitation history for the city in the campaign he is putting over for " Can A Woman Love Twice?" " Alice Adams " and " Poor Men's Wives." The manager of the Associated First National's branch exchange, Harry Sigmund, has just returned from a two weeks' trip over the state. Wm J Sullivan Mr. Sigmund made the highline trip, covering all the important towns but made a special effort to see exhibitors of the smaller and less frequented places along the First National circuit. While on the trip he was called by wire to meet Mr. Von Herberg, who was on his way to New York, so there was a strenuous and hurried trip to meet Mr. Von Herberg en route. After a conference of several hours, during which time they were together on the trip east, Mr. Sigmund returned to complete his circuit. Everywhere he was met with splendid cordiality and he is predicting 100 per cent business from this territory for First National in a short time. There have been three premier showings of " Within The Law " in important cities of the state for the First National theatres with the result that there have been enthusiasic bookings by exhibitors. At Great Falls the management of the Liberty theatre says that " Daddy " has given him the best " audience run " of any picture he has shown this season. Another First National attraction that is being received enthusiastically is " Slander The Woman." • Manager Jack Rue, of the Universal, is home again after a busy two weeks lining up bookings of the various exhibitors, with whom he placed " The Abysmal Brute," " Bavu," " The Shock" and "Trifling With Honor." Mr. Rue has been so much in demand with the numerous exhibitors that he is planning to see them oftener than usual or at least he will speed up on gas of a beautiful Haynes car and dash around in short order when his films are called for. It is a sporty model and will be a convenience when off on circuit tours, where it is almost impossible to spend so much time waiting for trains, when a car will do it in short order. Gorgon C. Craddock of Denver has arrived in Butte to enter the sales force of the First National. He is reported to be a valuable asset to any sales force and comes highly recommended as one of the alert, high-class salesmen. Chris Dahl, of the First National, drifted over to Seattle not long ago to sign up for a booking job, but the management here put one over on the Seattle force by urging him to return to Butte to rejoin the First National. Mr. Dahl is not only efficient and popular in his official capacity, but he is a baseball fan and Black Specks could hardly do without him, so the glad hand of a decided welcome is out at all times for Chris. Let us keep him in Butte. F. H. Smith, manager of the branch office of Paramount in Butte; J. A. English and J. L. McGinley, salesmen, left this week to attend a convention of Paramount salesmen, now gathering at Los Angeles. The sessions are to be held at Ambassador Hotel. J. M. Dunn, of Salt Lake, is back in Montana again. He is special representative for Universal in the exploitation of " Hunting Big Game." Exchange and Exhibitor News of Carolinas THE Charlotte Paramount exchange seemed almost deserted during the past week while all the chiefs and near chiefs were gone to New Orleans on the big hame office sales conference. From the Charlotte exchange the following were in attendance : C. E. Peppiatt, branch manager; M. W. Davis, sales manager: E. H. Crowell, chief booker. It was announced that Mr. Davis has been permanently transferred to the New Orleans office and will not return to Charlotte ; also that J. S. Cascallon. one of the zone managers of the local office, has, been transferred to New Orleans and will be succeeded by A. F. McMahon, a graduate of the recent school for salesmen, held in Atlanta. The Lumina open-air theatre at Wrightsville Beach, N. C, one of the most unique in the country, opens next Saturday, May 26. The pictures are given as an added free attraction to all visitors at the gorgeous " Lumina " dancing pavilion on Wrightsville Beach. The screen is situated a hundred feet out in the ocean, and the " customers " occupy a high cascade veranda built as a part of the large dancing pavilion, with accommodations for five or six hundred. The ocean breezes fan their brow, while the ever-changing landscape over the water serves in the place of the usual painted decorations of stage and screen. It is only a few steps from the mammoth dancing hall and is thronged every evening during the summer season. H. H. Anderson, who formerly owned a long string of Carolina theatres, and who recently associated himself with Laurence Lester in the operation of the Strand theatre, Charlotte has severed his connection therewith, Mr. Lester buying his interest. Mr. Anderson, however, has recently become associated with J. U. McCormick ana C. E. Peppiatt in a new and complete accessory and supply house to be located in Charlotte. Sam Richardson, one of the most unique figures in exhibitor circles of North Carolina, was a Charlotte visitor the past week. Mr. Richardson was once upon a time a big league baseball player, one of the star pitchers in his time. He came over to Charlotte to witness the opening series between Charlotte and Augusta. Arthur Lucas, district manager for Goldwyn, was in Charlotte the past week arranging for a location for the new Charlotte Goldwyn office which it is declared will be open within two or three weeks to serve the Carolina territory. Harry S. Allen, for the past three years general manager of the HowardWells, theatres, Wilmington, N. C, has secured a long term lease on the theatre at Sanford, N. C, and will take charge on June 1, removing his family to that town from Wilmington. U. K. Rice, general manager of the Piedmont Amusement Company, Winston Salem, was in Charlotte the past week introducing to the trade the new manager of his Broadway theatre. W. W. Grist, Jr. E. C. Huggins will be manager of the Star theatre at Rockingham, N. C, recently bought by the Rockingham Theatre Company. Jack Marcus is managing director of the theatres of this organization. Among the Carolinians who are this week in Chicago attending the national convention of the M. P. T. O. A. are Colonel Henry B. Varner, of Lexington, and R. D. Craver, of Charlotte. The Rose theatre, High Point, N. C, has recently been closed for extensive alterations and improvements. It is operated by William C. Mclnture. C. W. Gardner will reopen at Lincolnton, N. C, within the near future. Arnold B. Huff, of the Capitol, High Point, N. C, has installed a new American Photoplayer organ. It is rumored that B. C. Young will open a new theatre in Leixngton, N. C, the home town of Colonel Henry B. Warner, on or about June 1. William K. Jenkins, president of Enterprise Distributing Corporation, was a visitor in his Charlotte exchange the past week. Bob Ingram is now travelling Carolina territory for Educational Pictures. Bryan Craver, star salesman of the Charlotte First National Exchange, is a strong contender in the current National sales drive. The Al Lichtman exchange has closed in Charlotte, following the resignation of J. U. McCormick as manager. Theatre and Exchange Briefs from Canad AN important development in the personnel of moving picture theatres in Canada has been the appointment of John Hazza, formerly of Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, as manager of theatres for Western Canada of the Famous Players Canadian Corporation, Ltd., Toronto. This office carries with it the title of "Western Division Manager " of the prominent theatre organization and his headquarters will be in Winnipeg. Manitoba, where the corporation operates the Capitol and Allen theatres. Mr. Hazza, who is a native of Toronto, was the president and organizer of the Western Canada Exhibitors' Circuit some years ago which, later, became affiliated with Associated First National to represent theatres in all important centers of Alberta and Saskatchewan. When N. L. Nathanson organized the Famous Players Canadian Corporation, Mr. Hazza sold a half interest in his Edmonton theatre to the company and moved to Calgary where he opened and managed the new Capitol theatre, becoming district manager for Alberta and Saskatchewan as well. He has now moved to Winnipeg from which point he will have direct supervision of all F. P. theatres in Northern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Apart from theatre activities, in which he has ben identified all his life, Mr. Hazza is a horseman and breeder, a feature being a large polo pony ranch near Calgary, from which 40 polo mounts were recently snipped to New York City where they were quickly sold. In the annual report of the Provincial Treasurer for Alberta for the theatre amusement tax for 1922, just published, it is shown that the attendance at moving picture theatres in the Province during the year reached the 2,000,000 mark._ For the first time in the history of the theatrical business in Alberta, incidentally, the attendance at theatres in Edmonton exceeded that for Calgary theatres.