Motion Picture News (Apr-Jun 1917)

3\22 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 15. No, 20 Cleveland Accords Harrington an Ovation National Organizer Rouses Enlliuaiasm Through Plain Exposition of Exhibilorn* Problems — Urges Unity — Resolution Against War Tax <QNLV IN UNITY IS THERE STRENGTH." That is what Fred Htrriiigton told the members of the Molion Picture Exiiibitors' League at a special meeting April 26. On his brief visit, en route to the coast, Mr. Hcrrington struck at the exils confioiiting the exhibitor and pointed the way t(. concerted action as a means to combat llicm, By sound argument, and a genuine interest in the exhibitor he strongly impressed his hearers. His address in part follows: " Ohio at present, numbers many organizations in the industry, each one suggesting a cure for its own ailments to the national headquarters. Hut here comes a proposed war tax on the show business, and a special license for playing copyrighted music in the show houses. One man alone can't overcome such legislative measures, but a body of men can work miracles. " It makes no difference how large a body is, so long as it is consistent and thoroughly in harmony, but if you want results, you must become a component part of the national organization, and stand by that body. If you don't belong because you don't ap piovc of what it is doing, then it is your duly to belong in order to help make it what you want it to be. " Standing aloof and looking on not only doesn't do you any good, but you arc hampering those who are endeavoring to perform the greatest good for the greatest numbers. " Cleveland is asleep, but it ought to wake up on the present war tax proposition. " Only legislation that makes it impossible for the small exhibitor to keep his house open is uprooting the foundation upon whicli the motion picture industry rests. This form of taxation, to be fought to a successful issue, must be fought not by the local leagues individually, but by the national league with the support and backing of the local organizations. Get together or get out of business." Mr. Herrington's forceful remarks stirred the league members to go on record with a resolution opposing any form of taxation on pictures for war purposes except a direct tax on net incomes. Hearty co-operation was promised the organizer in his efforts to bring about a better " get-together " spirit among the local exhibitors. EXHIBITOR PERSONALS ILLINOIS.— Jacksonville: M.m.iRcr Johnson of I'owcr 6U. rui ChicBijo: l<il,n I'. I F. K.,,"iiii,., ) timUr Ml V I " JlS.UUl'l, ' 111. ' 1 'u>. l' iiiciil SOUR I.I i J of \V. K. \ , Eait St. Loiiih II.. the Rcdmoii M = t ground at 5206-0. scats, for a reported «;4S,noo, subject to nvci nc.li closed a lease with t... ..^ „, .......i. buildinR for ten years, ending Jan. 1. 192/ Till* sdnimrr llu entire binhfinR will be nhiT.-.l. ,Mli.,K r.n.r.l. nrw floors jhU in, tlic stiiK. I..iin,.h ,1 |-,„ v.ni,lcvilk will be rcnwy\ .11.1 il,. > „i,,, kiiLiih of ilio building --.OU 1. ,1 H ill 1., iilkil with iitw opcr.T chnlr^. N,vv c;irii,-is nixd luniiiiirc will also rcpluce those now in iisc. The lobby and front of the Mnjeslic will be rebuilt and when eompleteil will be one of the prettiest in the stnte. " I expect 10 spend nbont SIO.OOO in the rearr.m(jemetit of the place." M.inagcr Redmon »aid, " mnkinf; it an exclusive pliotoplav theatre, with .-i sr.itint i.u.^uity of two thousand, and till l,ir>.'< -t rliuioplays that arc bein|i prodtu-.-! «ill ilui. l„ *ccn in East St. Lorn* as c.iih m ..Him c.ties and at the remilar Mnjrsiu i.im. " INDIANA.— Union City; U. E. J.ickson is now m ch^irce of the Stiir theatre at Union City. haviuR boiiRbt il recently, as was announced HI The Motion Picture News, He plans to show special features from time to time. An cxcelleiii musical program is also being arranoed. Winchester: J. M, Mills, of the Dreamland theatre, h.is leased the Irvin theatre and that playhouse is once more open to the public. Certain days of the week the Iniri will be used for showing motion pictures while on other days road shows will be the .Attraction. W»r»«w: Clarence Msish has purchased a thejitre in Chicago. 111., and. with his wife, leU last week to assume its mnnacement and they will make their home there. Mrs. Maish, who until a month a^o. was Miss Kathrvn Deaton. has had considerable experience in the motion picture business, having for a mimber o( years managed the Rov.il and the Royal-Grand theatre in tbi^ cit\ Sbc h.is proven herself very c.ip.-iblr lo ibis line Mr Maish is a younR umh of i-vciiiioirir Inisi ness ability. He h.i* been .i-i^oci.iied with his father. W. F. Maisb. in the manage meni of the Little Crow Mill in this citv He has unusual talent along .idvertisiiig lines. While their many friends in Warsaw will regret to hear of their removal from Ihe city, the best wishes of all will go with A. J. P. Lane, who has managed the hlcctric tbcalre for some time, has purchased ihc business and will take possession next Monday. Portage: J. S. Babcock. who recently bought the Majestic theatre from William Htlman, expects to reopen the place for business in the near future, IOWA.— ClarksviUe: T. A. Shafer has purchased llic only picture theatre in this town. Delta: Thomas Bitner has secured control of the Crescent theatre here. Oxford Junction: Joseph Hovlik, Jr., and L. \y. SIcy have purchased the motion picture theatre here and are about to give it a new name. Vinton: C. L. McGuire has recently taken over the management of the Palace theatre KENTUCKY .-Princeton: T. N. Brewer has sold the Orion theatre to W. B. Akers, of Big Sniuty. Tenn The transfer was made a few days ago and Mr. Akers is now in charge. He intends making some very necessary changes by way of improvements and expects to bring the house to a high state of efficiency, Frankfort: The lease on the Capitol theatre has been purchased by D. D. Smith, owner of the Gem Picture Show, from the Capitol Theatre Company, Inc. Mr. Smith will close the Gem. a five cent, show. Saturday and will devote his attention to the ncwK aciiuired theatre. Manager R. L. McLean will continue in charge of the Cai-iiol theatre whose bnilding is the property of the City of Frank ort and had been leased to the tapitol Iheatre Company, composed of Fred J. pollc. D. Long. A. J. Reese and other l-oui8ville men. who control a number of theatres in Louisville. MASSACHUSETTS.-Bosion: Proprietor Moses H. Gulesian of the Huntington Avenue theatre, one of the best known men in the movie and theatrical business, has volunteered for service with the regiment formerI rcsnlent Knosevclt proposes to raise for i-^™!" ■ '".1 ^'''"B widelv Known in ilic trade. Mr. Gulesian is president ot Ihe Huntmpton Avenue Improvement Association and a prominent worker for the war relief of Armenia. MICHIGAN.— Port Huron: Herbert L Well last week purchased the Bijou Motion Picture thcitre .ind closed a five-year lease on the Majestic. Grand Rapids: With the sale of the lease last week the Crdumhia iheatre was transferred to iiic lenuilc Amusement company of this city. an.i tbc stock company now playing wVi ""il-" tJ'"*!'?" ''•^ Temple Plavers While E. J. Buckley will continue as bouse manager, Uo Rose, president of the Gold Stamp company of this city, and William L. Bibcr, general manager of the Acme Auin truck Sales company, will be general man" agcrs for the company. Others inicrcsu^ m the new ownership arc Esco Rosl, buy" for the Crohon & Rodon company and Phil Cohan, vice-president of the Gold Slamn company, *^ MONTANA.— Livingston: E. P. White of th. Strand theatre of this city, was ili Butt* for a few days attending to his bookincs and leaves for Chicago to attend to his hroi. theatre in that city. East Helena : C. A. Drummond and J R Depue have recently purchased the Scenic theatre of this city and have remodeled same under a new name. The Columbia." It has just been opened under its new management and is a hrst-class picture theatre. Hinsdale: F. J. Gath, formerly of Glasgow Montana, has purchased the theatre at Hinsdale and IS personally managing same NEBRASKA.— I>pland: Charles Johnson is planning to erect a new motion picture theatre here in the near future. O'Neill: Alva Blumnicr, of Crawford, has purchased the lease and equipment of the Star theatre here and will assume the management Orchard: Sam Johnson has leased the Rex theatre. OHIO.— Cleveland: S. W. Manhcim & Co., Garfield building, has leased for Arian Dessauer 10 J. H. Simpson the Plaza theatre, E. SSth* street and Payne avenue N. E., for ren years at an average rental of $1,500 a year. Mr Simpson, manager of the Ideal theatre, plans' to remodel the Plaza and operate it as a feature picture house. Ohio City: M. LeasenhofF has reopened the Princess theatre. Shows will be given on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights. The motion picture machine has been overhauled and the screen repaired. The management announces that it will not tolerate lounging loud talking or children running from one seat to another. Admission will be five and ten cents. Kenton: Starling Clover, of Kenton, and Leslie A. Johnson, of Dallas, Texas, have reopened the Empress theatre, which has been dark for some time. The new managers will run five-reel serials and have booked Bluebird, George Kleiiic, Gold Rooster, Pathe and Vitagraph features. Findlay: The Majestic theatre has been leased for a long term by local men. Philip Chamas has been named as manager of the house. Ihe Majestic has been closed temporarily for a thorough overhauling. OKLAHOMA.— Sapulpa: Ted Mason has taken over the management of the St. Denis t)icalre PENNSYLVANIA.— Philadelphia: The motion picture theatre, located at 2312 North Front street, was recently sold by the St. Charles Amusement Company to N. Emory Bartlelt for $?6.000. The property is ISx 100 feet and IS assessed at 560,000. TEXAS.— Edinburg: T. S. Simmons has purchased the Capitol theatre and will remodel same and add a eallery. Valley Mills: Carraway Bros, intend opening a new motion picture theatre here in the near future. Wellington: John T. O'Hearn, of Dallas, is having plans prepared for the erection of a theatre here to replace the one recently destroyed by tire. Victoria: H. A. Daniels has leased the Princess Iheatre from H. J. Hauschild and will personsuperintend its management. C. C. Butcnzer has remodeled the old Amusu airdome at Victoria and will now conduct it as a motion nicture house under the name of The Palace theatre. WISCONSIN. — Reedsburg: E, J. Dillenbach, who has owned and operated the Orpheum theatre for the past seven years, recently sold out to T. C. Johnson, of Mount Horeb, who assumed full charge May 1. Mr. Dillenbach has several propositions under consideration, but has not fully decided what he will do. ONTARIO.— Brampton: A. W. Griffen and his brother. Dr. W, A. GifTen, iointlv operate the (jiffen theatre here, and, in addition to the Universal weekly program, also use serials. iT. ? .?* present are showing " The Purple Mask and report a continuance of good business. Toronto: The York theatre, Yonge street, Toronto, one of the city's largest photoplay houses, announces that commencing with the current week the program will be changed daily instead of every other day, as has been the policy in the past. . George Vaughan has leased the Princess 'b^'^re. London, for five years and is booking Hluebird features. Mr. Vaughan succeeds Bill Stewart, who is going to devote all his time to the Patricia theatre, the newest London theatres. Dan McKinnon has taken over the North Bay House, previously run by the Gnfnn Amusement Company, and will use Universal program exclusively. J. C Campbell, ot the Wychwood theatre. Loronio, has disposed of his interests in that theatre.