Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1923)

2598 Motion Picture News ashingfton THE employees of the Harry M. Crandall theatrical organisation in this city have formed a four-club bowling league that has already developed spirited competition. Fritz D. Hoffman, comptroller of the Crandall theatres, is president of the league ; A. G. Fleet, of the accounting department, is secretary-treasurer; Paul B. Davis, auditor, is vice-president and Sol Rosenberger, construction manager for Crandall's new Ambassador and Tivoli theatres, is business manager. The team representing the Comptroller's office is composed of Fritz D. Hoffmann, A. G. Fleet, J. C. Skelly and Paul B. Davis. The construction department is represented by Sol Rosenberger, W. Turpin, J. Garry and J. B. Sherwin. The Crandall film exchanges are represented by Bob Smaltser, George Payette, Eddie Sherwood and Al Pohlman, with a miscellaneous representation of the Crandall chain comprising Messrs. Sherman, McCormick, Evans and Raywid. Alleys are reserved for every Thursday night at the Georgia avenue Market alleys, 3712 Georgia avenue, N. W. Two of the solo artists attached to the Harry M. Crandall musical organization in the Capital participated in the program broadcasted by the WRC station of the Radio Corporation of America, last Wednesday night. Miss Viola T. Abrams, harpist at Crandall's Metropolitan theatre, put a cycle of solos in the air and Max Pugatsky, accompanied by Roy Kuhn on the piano, represented Crandall's Savoy theatre on the program. Captain Kleinschmidt's Adventures in the Far North," which has created such widespread comment as the companion feature of Harold Lloyd's "Why Worry?" at Crandall's Metropolitan theatre last week and this, was completely reedited and given a new continuity by John J. Payette, assistant general manager of the Crandall theatre, in charge of presentations at the Metropolitan. Last week's issue of the Americanization Bulletin carried a long and enthusiastic article upon the value of the visual instruction classes being held for the benefit of the Americanization School of the District of Columbia every Tuesday afternoon and evening. This work is attracting nation-wide attention. Abe Dreisner of Washington Theatre Supply Company, returned Tuesday from the final supervision of the new projection and other installations, furnished by him to the new National, the Pryor Bros.' house that opened Monday night, November 12, at Richmond, Va. Reel-row rumor has it that Dan Loeffler, former booker at F. B. O. and Vitagraph, has not only entered the matrimonial ranks since his retirement but has followed the long trail to Hollywood, and joined forces with a film exchange there. Alfred Lunt, erstwhile film favorite and creator of the role of " Clarence " in the Helen Hays production, has been playing here all week in " Robert E. Lee," the new Drinkwater vehicle. The Washington zone unit of the Exhibitors' Alliance is awaiting with interest the first meeting at the office of Mr. Crandall, on November 28 of the Executive Council of this unit of which Mr. Crandall is pro tern chairman. One big event occurred in local exchange circles, last Monday, when George Lenehan, manager of United Artists exchange here, resigned. He was immediately succeeded by his star salesman, G. Tracy Cunningham, known in film circles as " Trace." It is rumored though not confirmed that " Trace " celebrated by getting the gilded bachelor idea out of his system and entering the bonds of matrimony. Manager Joe Young and his adjutant, Al Palmer, of Preferred Picture exchange here, are highly elated over the booking of their western spectacle, Owen Wister's " Virginian," as the bill for the bill for the third week of the President's new films of distinction policy. The New National, at Richmond, begins its second week, Monday the 19th, with an engagement of William Fox's, " If Winter Comes," direct from its strenuous two-week sojourn at the President theatre, Washington. The Charles Chaplin directed " A Woman of Paris " was held over for a second week at the Columbia. Likewise Harry Crandall decided to bill " Why Worry," Doc Lloyd's latest, for a full second week. For new film offerings Washing ton gets this menu : " The Hunchback of Notre Dame," limited engagement starting Sunday afternoon at the Belasco, November 18; " Stephen Steps Out," the initial appearance in full length films of " Doug " Fairbanks, Jr. This is the Southern premiere of young Doug. Manager Beattus intimated that he hoped to have Jackie Coogan here in person, in the first of the Coogan-Metro pictures, for showing at either the Palace or Columbia. Then Marion Davies in " Little Old New York" goes into the Rialto this same Sabbath afternoon. The Ambassador offers on Sunday and Monday, House Peters in " Don't Marry for Money." The Strand offers " Crooked Alley," the first filmized " Boston Blackie " story to appear on a Washington screen. To offset the effect of the National opening last week in Richmond, the Colonial theatre there played the Metro-Fred Niblo " Strangers of the Night" all week. During the week the News-Leader leased the Strand for four days to run a four-day Gold Metal cooking institute for Richmond housewives. Wilmington, Delaware, had the privilege of a five-day showing of " The Hunchback of Notre Dame." Charles S. Penson, formerly manager of supplies at the home office of Universal Film Exchanges, New York, is now attached to the sales department of the Washington exchange of Universal. C. J. Baugher is building the new moving picture theatre at Staunton, Va. oines NATE CHAPMAN, manager of Inglert theatre at Iowa City, has been ill for the past two weeks. Milton Frankel has been appointed salesman for Block C in Iowa for Pathe. He was previously associated with Universal. While other staffs are being cut down Pathe has found it necessary to add to their force. Dessie McDaniel, typist, is also an addition to the Pathe staff. A change in the personnel was also effected when Alice Galloway, biller, resigned because she was going to California — she and her husband are driving out. She is replaced by Isadore Polonetzky, as biller. Harry Melcher, who was manager for Hodkinson in Omaha, is now in Des Moines and will probably be acting manager of the Lincoln theatre of which he is part owner. W. O. Galloway visited Des Moines on his maiden trip for Columbia pictures. These pictures are released by independent exchanges at every place but Omaha, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Kansas City and Denver. These are all supplied through the Omaha exchange which is just opened. A. J. Nichols, district manager the Famous Players, visited Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City last week. He won promotion from the managership of the Des Moines exchange. Millersburg is an island Iowa town that is nearly 100 per cent movie fans. A special picture shown in this little town which has but seven or eight stores commands two bits to four bits and the whole town turns out for the picture. Charles E. Hamilton, cashier for Goldwyn, moved into his new bungalow. He is a blushing bridegroom of six months. A housewarming is scheduled for an early date. Matt N. Osborn, doorman for the Rialto theatre in Des Moines, has been ill for the past ten days. Grippe has him in its clutches. H. J. Miller is acting as doorman during his absence which makes it rather confusing as the other doorman's name is J. H. Miller. R. H. Parmenter, originally shipper for Pathe, has returned to his old job. Visitors at the Des Moines exchanges were Exhibitor Treloar of Ogden and Mr. and Mrs. Anderson of the Princess theatre at Boone, and Pike of the Family theatre at Pershing who stopped in at the Pathe office, John Waller of Osceola, and Cheeney of North England, J. W. Allstodd of the Lyric theatre at Fort Dodge who called to see Kahn of Educational, and Jannigan of the Strand at Leon who reported at Goldwyn's headquarters. Manager Thomas, of the Des Moines theatre, is also looking after the Capitol theatre while effort is being made to find a man for the place. Ed Helmts, formerly manager of the Strand theatre in Des Moines, was joined in California by Mrs. Helmts and her mother. Helmts made the trip out by automobile. Manager Reingold, of the Goldwyn exchange, was at a conference in Omaha last week with J. R. Granger and conditions in the territory were reported decidedly good. W. E. Truog, district manager, was also at the conference. Goldwyn is arousing considerable enthusiasm with its continued production of big features. Manager Young, of F. B. O. in Des Moines, reports that the stork visited his happy home this week. Manager Hrobak, of the Crystal theatre at Anamosa, has closed his house. The Crystal is out of the competition indefinitely. Slater O'Hara of the Orpheum theatre at Fairfield, has taken over the management also of the Rex theatre at Albia. Famous Players in Des Moines will have' no special exploitation man until after the first of the year, probably. John Kennebeck, who has held this position for the past year, has been placed in charge of exploitation for all the Australian branch exchanges. He'll spend Christmas on the boat. Al. Prosser, salesman for Pathe, who was in a bad smashup some weeks ago, is almost completely recovered from his various injuries. He was considerably cut but luckily escaped internal injuries. Repeated attempts to rob the safes of theatres in Des Moines have not proved successful with the exception of the Royal theatre which was robbed of $500 some weeks ago. Thieves who visited the Rialto theatre were unable to locate the safe. They blew the lock off the office door and ransacked the place but no trace of the hidden safe could they find. 220 WEST 42 STREET NEW YORK PHONE CHICKERINC 2 937 ALLAN A.L0WNES PRES.