Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS 23 CAPITAL AIRDOMES REAP SUMMER HARVEST Washington Outdoor Theatres, Large and Commodious, and Offering Attractive Programs, Draw Big Crowds — "Country Store" Used Effectively in Some Parts of Dw^elling Districts — Managers Arrange for Distribution of Prizes to Prevent Clash of Days Between Nearby Exhibitions special to The Motion Pictuke Kews Washington, D. C, July 38. WITH the intense heat under which Washington has been suffering, the airdomes have been reaping good business. The}are all large and attractive and the}' have supplied the desire of the public to keep out of doors and be entertained at the same time. Some of them offer as manj^ as six reels for five cents, while the more pretentious have a program of the same length for ten cents. The "country store" idea has pervaded the airdomes in some of the residential sections, which has courted public favor as well as caused keen competition. The only downtown airdome is Central Park, which gives an excellent show for ten cents, and its seating capacity for 1.000 is none too large for the demand. The entrance is unique, as it possesses a lobby, made brilliant by electricity, from which rises a broad flight of stairs about 8 feet high, at the top of which the park proper begins. An air of culture, courtesy and comfort pervades everything. One or two features with a couple of single reels form the program of comedy and drama. The projection is excellent, while two machines permit of no wait between reels. Central Park is under the able management of S. Shapiro, who is ever solicitous of the welfare of his patrons. ANOTHER large airdome is that of the Savo}^ Park, located in the northwest residential section, which has a capacit}' of 1,200. This is a tencent theatre, with five cents for children. An air of refinement is at once felt from the time the patron reaches C. A. Lehman at the gate until he again passes ^Ir. Lehman on leaving. A long avenue forms the entrance to the grounds, which precludes the disturbance which sometimes occurs when people come "into places of amusement. Subdued lighting makes eas} the finding of seats and does not affect the screen, which is set well into a boxed frame. The projection is among the best in the city, with a throw of more than a hundred feet. Savoy Park has been brought to its prosperous and attractive condition b}' ^lanager Edgar Tracy. Quite recentl} 'Mr. Tracj' has resigned to accept a position with the General Film Company in its southern district. His departure has been much regretted hy the patrons of the Savoy. He has been succeeded by Mr. Watson. Savo} Park may be considered the summer home of the .Savoy Theatre, for it occupies the spacious ground in the rear of this building, and in bad weather the house is used in place of the park. The music here ranks among the best in the city, being a select five-piece orchestra, seated in an attractive shell. N ^.lovies, which is the location during the warm weather for the Arcade Theatre. This is under the management of Theodore Crandall, who offers a six-reel program, including the big features, for ten cents, children five cents. !Much of the popularit}' of Garden ^Movies is due to the courtesj' and diplomacy of its doorkeeper. A. Adler. who has been identified with the Arcade since it opened, and who knows about everyone in the neighborhood, and keeps track of wives, husbands, children and sweethearts as thej' enter and leave the show. He is very useful, indeed. Under the management of R. H. Wood, the Standard Park is admirably holding its own in the northwest section of the city with a daih" change of program of six reels, including a feature. As a rule, three attractions prevail each week on special nights in the form of the Countrj' Store. One night maj consist of the distribution of tickets to resorts among the winners; another is known as "ice cream night," when orders from a quart to a cone become the prizes, filled by an establishment in the neighborhood: then comes the important evening of house furnishings. The Standard has a capacity of 1.200 comfortabh' arranged. with General Film Company reels prevailing. There is always a pleasant mixture of comedJ^ drama and educational. The "Adventures of Kathlyn" have been very popular. A NEIGHBOR to this is the Liberty Park, under the management of Biron Brothers, who also run the Libert}' Theatre. A program of the same length as the Standard is offered with the Country Store once a week, when the price of admission is slightly raised. The Liberty is a very artistic park, having a mounted stage before the screen, which relieves the barrenness so objectionable to the artistic eye. Still another airdome has an excellent patronage in this residential section in the Truxton, under the management of Dr. H. B. Coblentz. Here also is a Country Store weekly, so arranged that it does not clash with the other parks in the neighborhood. Some handsome prizes are offered on this night with a slight advance in price of admision. The Truxton Park always offers a good, well-balanced program, and Dr. Coblentz is the pioneer of motion picture exhibitors in his vicinity and has a large patronage. The Truxton has the advantage of being the summer locale of the Truxton Theatre, which houses the performance during bad weather. Perhaps the Davis Brothers have an improvement over the airdome in the form of the j\I Street open air theatre. Possessing all the comforts of air and space, this theatre has a roof, which protects the spectators from disagreeable elements, and especially the heavy dews which prevail here in August. AA'ERY attractive program is given with a weekly Country Store, which is quite an event in the* neighborhood. The Street Theatre is located in the residential section of Georgetown, is artistically arranged, and very comfortable. The Davis Brothers have served many years in the motion-picture business and know just how to please their patrons. W. H. Thomas has gone a step higher than the house just mentioned as an open air theatre in the Parkway. Situated in the heart of an aristocratic residential center, overlooking Rock Creek, the Parkway commands dignity and beauty. Its many spacious windows bring in a delightful breeze, and its lofty ceiling affords excellent ventilation, while its immense floor space for a seating capacity of 2,000 furnishes ample comfort. Dancing may be indulged in before and after the show, which is preceded by a musical program given by the ladies' orchestra. Additional musical attractions are presented, as was the case last week when "^lusical Randall," of the Keith cirucit, gave several xylophone numbers. Ice cream is served during the performance by the ushers. A neat program tells of the attractions for the week. THE Parkway has had many distinguished visitors from official and diplomatic circles. With an admission of ten cents. 'Mr. Thomas