Motion Picture News (Sep-Oct 1923)

September 8, 1923 «npHE COVERED WAGON" will open the A American theatre, Seventh and Market streets, St. Louis, on September 16. Following a short limited engagement of the film the theatre will return to its old policy of presenting attractions sponsored by A. L. Erlanger, David Belasco, Charles Frohman, Charles Dillingham, Henry Savage, George Cohan and other celebrities of the musical comedy and dramatic world. The Stewart & McGehee Construction Company of Little Rock, Ark., has started work on the New Saenger theatre in Pine Bluff, Ark. The theatre will stand at Second avenue and Pine street. The building permit calls for an expenditure of $168,000 on the building exclusive of furnishings and equipment. A dispatch from Petersburg, Ind., August 19 stated that John Chamberlain, 55 years old, of that city laughed himself to death while viewing a motion picture. According to Charles Preston who sat next to Chamberlain during the screening of the film Chamberlain laughed uproariously throughout the picture, and near its close suddenly toppled over. Preston summoned ushers who carried Chamberlain to the door for air. St, Louis He was dead when a physician arrived. A coroner's inquest revealed that he had died of apoplexy induced by the excessive laughter. J. Joscak, Jr., formerly in charge of the William Fox West Coast studios and recently manager of one of the string of houses operated by the Fox interests in New York City has succeeded Harry Greenman as manager of the William Fox Liberty theatre in St. Louis. The liberty reopens on September 1. Greenman has been transferred to Chicago, where he will have charge of two Fox theatres. Sam Henley, manager of the Associated Exhibitors office at Oklahoma City passed through St. Louis on a tour of the West. He formerly was with the First National and other exchanges here. Russell L. McLean, sales manager for First National is spending his vacation in Atlanta, Ga., with his family. They preceded him by several weeks. Harry Weis, Associated First National manager, spent the greater part of the week out in the territory. Jules A. Laurent had a very successful opening of his Lyric theatre, Mounds, 111., on Satur 1223 day, August 11. Laurent, formerly a film salesman, purchased the Lyric a short time ago. Messrs. Fraserra and Frasina, owners of a string of theatres in the vicinity of Taylorville and Carlinville, 111., were visitors of the past week. J. Spaulding, of Mattoon, 111., was seen moving along Picture Row. Charles Barber of the Electric theatre, Tilden, 111., was another caller of the week. It is rumored that before another week rolls around two of the local independent exchanges will have merged. For obvious reasons no announcement will be made until the deal has been closed. Out-of-town exhibitors who came in during the week were : Mrs. Frank Paul, Marvel theatre, Carlinsville, 111. ; Harry Redmond, Majestic theatre, East St. Louis, and John Jianokoplos, Grand theatre, Alton, 111. Returns for the Eddie Dustin benefit are still being received by Claude McKean, treasurer of the fund. Any exhibitors, film peddlers, exchange managers or others of Eddie's friends who overlooked doing their bit can still get in line by forwarding same to McKean, care the Fox Exchange. 3312 Olive street, St. Louis. Film Flashes from the Florida Territory EJ. WALTON, manager of the Rivoli • Theatre, in Ybor City, has been away for five days on a vacation. He drove, with his family, to Daytona Beach, with stops at the towns en route to look over the show shops. George Alman, representative of the Southern States Film Co., was a Tampa visitor this week. Business must be fine with George, as he has discarded his Ford Coupe and now sports a nifty Studebaker. G. E. White, of Mulberry, has sold his theatres in that city and Brewster, to M. J. Whidden and H. C. Cooper. Mr. White is taking his first vacation in the several years he has operated the houses. Yeggs are given the credit for the robbery of the office of the Postal Telegraph Company in Dade City. The office is in charge of Mrs. Edna Gaskin, whose husband operates the Colonial Theatre in that city. About half of the stolen money belonged to the theatre. Cameramen for the Fox News left Tampa this week on one of the boats operated by the Nulton Fish Company, for a week's trip to Dry Tortugas, the fortified island lying about 70 miles from Key West, where they will film the operation of catching red snappers and other deep sea fish. The Tampa Times is giving an " Old Timers " picnic at Gidden's Shoals next Saturday, and the cameramen for the Weeklies are to be on hand to shoot a number of special stunts that are being arranged for them and should be interesting. John B. Carroll, manager of the Victory, Tampa, had the Community Players at his house as a big special attraction. Under the direction of Earl Stumpf, 71 singers appeared upon the stage in a fine program of solos and choruses. Mr. Melvin, manager of the five St. Petersburg theatres of the Southern Enterprises, has been on an auto tour through the State. He passed through Tampa last Wednesday, headed for home. J. H. McLaughlin, who was transferred from Tampa to take charge of the Sarasota Theatre, at Sarasota, when the Florida Enterprises took over that house, just naturally can't keep away from the big South Florida metropolis, so he motors to Tampa each Sunday. Mack says that he has 'em coming fine down there. Jack Frost, manager of the Strand, and John B. Carroll, manager of the Victory, Tampa, have extended a standing invitation to the kiddies of the Children's Home to visit either of their theatres twice each week. It is a most generous offer, and will mean a whole lot to the inmates of this institution. THOMAS H. BOLAND, the popular manager of the Empress theatre at Oklahoma City, left August 22nd, for New York City where he goes to attend a meet of the officers and directors of First National. He will be gone for about three weeks and will visit a number of other Eastern cities before returning home. Manager Wallace Walthall of Enterprise Distributive Corporation at Oklahoma City has returned home from a trip over his territory and reports big business obtained. T. R. Richards has been appointed booker for Enterprise Distributing Corporation at Oklahoma City succeeding M. M. Holstein, resigned. C. E. Kessnich, district manager for Metro and George F. Wassell, auditor were in Oklahoma City during the week supervising the opening of their new Oklahoma City office. S. R. Kent, general manager of FamousLasky Players visited with the Oklahoma City office during the week. L. D. Shannon, manager of the Blue Mouse theatre, Depew, Okla., shopped on Film Row in Oklahoma City, Okla., during the week. The Gem theatre at Sherman, Texas, is installing a new Blizzard cooling and ventilating system. Manager R. S. Ferguson has pruchased a new Gardiner screen for his theatre at Marlin, Texas. The new Palace theatre at Stephens, Ark., was opened by Manager Hopson this week. Manager C. A. Lick of the New theatre at Fort Smith, Ark., was a Dallas visitor during the week and purchased new pictures. Manager Q. R. Thompson of the Princess theatre at Houston, Texas, was a Dallas visitor during the week and purchased several new pictures. Manager W. O. Walker of the Opera House at Schulenburg, Texas, purchased several new pictures in Dallas during the week. The Mission theatre at Eldorado, Ark., has closed to renovate, decorate and re-paint. A new $5,000 pipe organ will be installed. The Queen theatre at Galveston is being renovated and made new throughout. The Tremont theatre at Galveston is being repainted and redecorated. The People's theatre at Port Arthur, Texas, is installing a new $10,000 organ. The Lyric theatre at Sweetwater, Texas, has been leased by Marley Sadler and will be renamed the Lone Star, with R. B. Ellis, manager. A new theatre will be erected on the present site of the Grand theatre at Searcy, Ark., to cost $15,000. Dr. C. S. Rinehart has let contract for a new theatre and office building at Camden, Ark., to be erected in the near future. Mrs. E. M. Billings will erect a new $100,000 fireproof theatre and apartment house at Enid, Okla., in near future. C. L. Peretto has opened his new Queen theatre at South Fort Smith, Ark. The house seats about 300. A new Grecian theatre will open at Sulphur Springs, Ark., in near future.