Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS 37 iiHu'iiirniiiiiiiiiuii iimiriMiuiiiiniiiinirfini iiiiiiiti^':;t'u7iT)iNiiiHiiMi iirfiniiiiii iiiiiiiMtiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiitiitiiiiinmttiininimnuiUniii I LOUNGING CHAIRS DRAW PATRONAGE THIS shows how Manager Harry B. Hearn, of Atlanta, Ga.. has transformed his barren walls into a veritable paradise, and incidentally he is the man who has come into promi by Mr. Hearn. Other managers had tried it for motion pictures and failed. Mr. Hearn turned the lobby into a flower garden, and installed comfortable lounging chairs for patrons. He mflirnimminminfliniiniiiii iMiiiiiiiiiiMlllllllllltiniiiiriliiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiii ■oiiiiiiiffliiiiiiiuiiffli EDITOR'S NOTE. — It is the desire of "The Motion Picture News" to include under this heading novel advertising ideas, successful schemes in the management, decoration and equipment of the theatre— everything, in fact, done by the exhibitor to stimulate his trade. We invite every exhibitor to write us about any new enterprise he has; also to come to us for advice or information along any line. Address: Editor, "The Motion Picture News," 220 West Forty-second Street, New York City. A COOLING ATMOSPHERE THE summers in Hamilton. Ont., are pretty hot. Some theatres have ingenious cooling contrivances on that account in that city. The Red Mill Theatre, North James street, has a continual flow of water down behind glass steps of a staircase leading to the theatre which is situated above. The water has a cooling effect which is felt all over the house. D. E. Stewart, manager of the Red ^lill Theatre, states that no matter how hot, it draws the crowds. Griffin's Theatre. North James street, has a unique cooling device consisting of a large artificial fountain on the stage. There is also a miniature rockery, and electric fans blow the cooled air all over the house. The fountain is prettily' decorated with colored lights, and has a combined artistic apearance and serviceable effect. ^lany motion picture shows here rely on the electric fans. These fans are often placed too high up to make much change for the better and the theatres are, in consequence, almost deserted during the summer months. WORKING UP ADVANCE ENTHUSIASM ^Manager Al Sardino, of the Savoy Theatre, Syracuse, N. Y., is making sure that "The Trey o' Hearts" will be a money-getter from the very first showing. He has ordered 40,000 playing cards, trey of hearts, and has secured permission from the mayor to throw these cards off the top of various downtown buildings at such times as he may chose. The Syracuse papers will tell when the cards will be thrown, but will not tell for what purpose. On the cards will appear the following: "Watch for Me at the Savoy." Two hundred cards will bear this inscription: "Good for Admission to Every Shaming at the Savoy — Watch for Me." The cards will be stuck in conspicuous places about town, and it is natural to suppose that everj-body will be talking and wondering wh^t the "Trey o' Hearts"' will be. / THE STAGE OF THE GRAND OPERA H0T7SE, ATLANTA, GEORGIA nence by making the Grand Opera House "go" as a motion picture theatre. Recently Mr. Hearn set a new record for attendance when he showed Annette Kellermann in ' "Neptune's Daughter" to over 40,000 persons in twenty-four consecutive performances. The Grand Theatre, one of the biggest in America, had been dark for some time before it was taken over made the big theatre comfortable by inaugurating a splendid ice-air ventilating system and then remodeled the stage. The front of the stage is fenced by vine-covered trellis work, just back of which plays a fountain. Scattered over the stage are gorgeous palms and other potted plants. A ten-piece orchestra occupies the stage. HELPS THE ''CLEAN-UP'' COMMITTEE WHEN Thomas Scott, owner of the Airdome motion picture theatre at Jacksonville, 111., found out that the members of the "Cleanup Committee" of the city had a deficit in their treasury, he came with an offer to help them out. It was accepted in spite of the skepticism of many of the townspeople. Scott agreed to book "Les ^Nliser ables,"' the motion picture feature play adapted from Victor Hugo's novel, for two evenings and to give the committee half the proceeds of the entertainment. His offer was quickly taken up, with the result that lie had every member of the committee boosting for the show, and thus assured a large patronage for each of the two shows.