Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1923)

2596 Motion Picture News IN THE accompanying photograph there is presented one of the old-timers in the business in New York state— Frank X. Breymaier, the present manager of the Barcli theatre, in Schenectady. Mr. Breymaier started in the business some seventeen years ago when he managed the Orpheum theatre in Schenectady on which the present Strand is located. In these days, Mr. Breymaier gavea program of vaudeville and pictures. Later on, he transferred his energy and affections to John J. Walker and opened the Lincoln, in Schenectady, remaining for a year, and then going back to the Orpheum where he remained for some little time. Mr. Breymaier next went to Francis X. Breymaier Amsterdam where he looked after the Clapp houses. When Mr. Walker built the Barcli, he lost no time in again securing the services of Mr. Breymaier as manager. For four or five months this past summer Mr. Breymaier handled the Griswold in Troy, when it was under lease to Benjamin Apple. With R. V. Erk, of Ilion, becoming owner of the Barcli, Mr. Breymaier once more returned to familiar surroundings. The Strand theatre, in Carthage, scored heavily the past week in a Fashion Show, which jammed the house to its doors each night. Models were brought from New York City. Sol Manheimer, now manager of the Avon theatre in Watertown, played the part of host to Lou Golder and Frank O'Brien, both of New York in a duck hunting trip, along the St. Lawrence river. All records at the Leland theatre in Albany went by the board during the past two weeks when "Little Old New York " absolutely packed the house for twelve days. According to Mr. Perrin, manager of the house, the picture took in more than any one ever shown over a like period in this city. Operated upon for the ninth time in five years, Mrs. Vic Bendell, wife of one of the best known film salesmen in this section, is recovering at one of the local hospitals. Frank Hopkins, local manager for Universal, and better known as " Hoppie," turned a fine trick one night last week, when he sold R. V. Erk, owner of the Barcli theatre in Schenectady, no less than 48 pictures. The Hippodrome in Carthage, which has been dark for the last few months, is once more open and will run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Frank Bruner, manager of the Pathe exchange here, wears a broad smile by reason of the fact that on a visit to Myer Schine, in Gloversville the past week, he sold " The Chronicles of America " for the entire Schine circuit as well as 32 comedies. There has been no successor yet named as manager of the F. B. O. exchange in Albany. L. George Ross, who resigned last week, and left for New York City, came back to Albany with Mrs. Ross one day the past week, and drove the family car back to the metropolis. Among the Albany film managers in New York last Saturday were Frank Bruner, of the Pathe exchange ; Victor Bendell, of Hodkinson, and Frank Hopkins, of Universal. Arthur Whyte, who does the booking for the Proctor houses, received convincing proof one night last week as to the drawing power of "The Call of the Wild" when booked along with a vaudeville program. Mr. Whyte dropped over to Proctor's Grand just about the time the vaudeville was over. The picture possessed such a strong appeal that 90 per cent, of the audience remained in their seats. J. M. Moran, who runs a theatre in Coxsackie, has taken over a house in New Baltimore, a nearby village. Charlie McCarthy, of Hoosick Falls, has just booked twenty pictures at the First National exchange here, and is planning to give the residents of his village the best entertainment since he opened his house. Exhibitors in villages along the upper Hudson, and its tributaries, are complaining of poor business these days due to the fact that many of the paper mills have been forced to close down through low water conditions. Lew Fisher, of Fort Edward, is one of those affected. Mr. Fisher operates houses in Fort Edward, Fort Ticonderoga and Port Henry. When it comes to hitting the bull's eye, few exhibitors have anything on Louis Buettner of Cohoes, either in buying film or in the woods. Mr. Buettner, who is spending two or three weeks in the Adirondacks, bagged a deer the other day, being the first in his party to be successful. Morris Silverman, of Schenectady, owner of a couple of houses in the Electric City, was given a place on the Board of Arbitration of the Albany Film Board of Trade last Monday. But the sad part of it all is that the appointment was for but a dav. Every exhibitor in northern New York will be glad to learn that "Lightning" Bissell. of the Goldwyn exchange, is once more back on the job following an operation for appendicitis, which in turn was followed by an attack of pneumonia. According to all reports that veteran showman, James Papayanakos, who with his brothers made a mint of money in Watertown, and then disposed of their holdings, is anxious to get back into the game, and in fact is" looking around for a theatre which does not have too much in the way of opposition. When Harry Symansky of the Lincoln, in Troy, laid down a good sized check for " The Green Goddess," he made no mistake, for the picture went over last week with a record of having one of the largest box office returns in many a week. Things are going smoother between the exhibitors and the exchanges of this section. This is largely due to the influence of the Albany Film Board of Trade. " The Covered Wagon," running all last week in Albany, at admission prices ranging from 50 cents to $1.50. settled the much mooted question as to whether or not a city of 1 1 5,000 inhabitants, with plenty of good theatres and pictures, could support a picture such as " The Covered Wagon " at the prices asked. The picture played to capacity business, both matinee and night throughout the entire week, holding down the boards at Shnbert's Canitol theatre. Word reached here the past week that H. E. Wilkinson, former manager of the Lincoln theatre, in Troy, and who resigned that posi tion to become manager of Warner Brothers' exchange in Buffalo, had resigned that position. Jack von Tilzer, who looks after the interests of Associated Exhibitors over this state, was in town the past week, and joined a little talkfest at the Hotel Ten Eyck, which included Frank Bruner, Vic Bendell, Ira Cohan, Frank Hopkins, and others. Through a benefit put on_ with the Albany District Council of Masons, the Mark Strand theatre attracted many members of the order during the past week, over 800 being present during the first two nights. There was a similar arrangement between the theatre and the Monday Musical Club, of Albany. Colby Shaw, former director of the Mark Strand orchestra, m Albany, is now on the west coast, according to postals received here from St. Louis. " Pioneer Trails," with plenty of exploitation, including six real Indians, smashed house records at the Albany, in Schenectady last week. Jimmy Sper, who used to make Albany his headquarters, but who lately went to Buffalo, is said to be the new manager for Warner Brothers in that city. Bill Shirley, managing director of the Albanv, Strand and State theatres in Schenectady, _ showed good judgment on Armistice' Day, 6y using a reel showing the return if the Schenectady boys from the front. WANTED! SalesmenExecutives! Want 25 A-l men who possess unusual sales and executive ability, and have a thorough knowledge of film values. Applications must be made by mail only, and will be treated with strictest confidence. WARNER BROS. 1600 Broadway New York City