Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

8 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 18. j\'o. 17 In and Around Denver THE " flu " epidemic is playing havoc with the picture business in the Rocky Mountain section. For the first time in its history Denver's celebrated White Way is dark, and may remain so two weeks longer. The situation in Denver is the same in every city and village in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho and part of Wyoming, all public places being closed by official state proclamations or orders issued by local boards of health. As a result of the closing of theatres, local exchanges have called in their road salesmen to partially offset the losses through heavy decrease in their volume of business. Just how soon the ban will be lifted permitting the reopening of theatres, schools and churches is a matter of conjecture. There are upwards of one thousand cases in Denver alone and several deaths have been reported. It is believed the epidemic is now under control in all territory tributary to this city. NEAR the close of the Liberty Loan campaign in Denver, the various exchanges which have been furnishing Liberty Loan prints got together and pulled off a big stunt to aid the drive. Several screens were erected on the spacious lawns surrounding the state capital building, eight machines were set up and a splendid showing of the entire twenty-five pictures was presented on Thursday evening, October 10. Although the event was hardly advertised at all, local fans to the number of fifty thousand, most of them standing, showed their appreciation by " sticking " until the screens flashed " good night." The evening was cold but might have been worse. WHEN the theatres are 'permitted to open again, programs will be resumed where they left off and little confusion is expected. It is believed, however, that every exhibitor will do a big business on account of the enforced vacation. THE Theatre Operating Company, which recently took over the Paris theatre, is taking advantage of the closing order to remodel that structure. Extensive alterations are now being made, which include an increase in the size of the lobby. When everything is completed it will reopen with Signor Cavalli's celebratel orchestra of twenty pieces. H. D. CASSIDY says he is busy outlining a campaign for the exploitation of the big war picture, " Lafayette We Come," and also the two-reel special, " The Red Triangle." THE Outing Chester pictures released through Mutual are now offered on the basis of one release a week for fifty-two weeks. Manager Cassidy reports a very gratifying business on the first fifteen releases, probably due to their being a very distinctive type. WILLIAM MORRISON, manager of the Princess theatre at Pueblo, was a Denver visitor this week. He reports a splendid business and was here to arrange for his holiday program. Mr. Morrison began his theatrical career at Madison Square Garden, New York, and is also well known in Denver and the West. GLEN F. MILLER has sold the Liberty theatre at Goldfield, Colorado, and is in Denver looking up a new location. WALTER S. RAND, district manager for General at Los Angeles, closed his business here last week and is now in Kansas City. The Mountain-Plains Theatre Supply Co. 1514-18 Welton Street, Denver, Col. • 106 So. 14th St., Omaha, Neb. 136 E. 2nd So. St., Salt Lake City, Utah Distributors for Simplex and Powers Machines. Everything for the Motion Picture Theatre. Also distributors for latest in Reels and Film Shipping: Cases. Write for Catalogue News of the Week in Portland THE big Wurlitzer organ was dedicated at the Majestic theatre Sunday, with an opening concert given by Wendell O'Day. The organ was especially designed to suit the sound conditions of the Majestic theatre, and has .been under construction for nearly two years. It has taken five months for it to be installed. O'Day is an organist of ability and was brought to Portland at quite an expense. He will be assisted by E. H. Hunt, a popular organist of the city. Packed houses greeted every performance and large crowds were turned away. The picture was " The Prussian Cur." A good advertising campaign featured the dedication of the organ. W. W. KOFELDT, exchange man, theatre manager, now in the Merchant Marine, is in Portland, and is picking up a few winners while waiting for his ship to come in. He has booked " Crashing Through to Berlin " and is planning the biggest advertising and publicity campaign that has ever been put across in Portland. It will be shown at the Star theater beginning October 12. Co-operating with him is the National League for Woman's Service. " Before I go away into the Merchant Marine," said Kofeldt, " I thought that I wculd like to take hold of one of the biggest things in sight and'put 'er over on the biggest scale that any thing has ever been put over." WALTER ARMSTRONG, manager of the Strand theatre, motored to Seattle during the week. MANAGER STEWART, of the motion picture theatre in Powers, Oregon, was in Portland last week, en route to St. Martin's Springs, where Mrs. Stewart will remain for some time. While in Portland, Mr. Stewart spent some time with Manager Baum of the Universal Exchange, and to arrange bookings for this fall on Jewels and Special attractions. W. L. TEUTSCH, who has been prominently connected with the Star and Peoples theatre for some few years, left Portland recently for the Oregon Agricultural College, where he will enter the Students Army Training Corps. Before he left he was presented with a beautiful wrist watch by his fellow employes of the Star and Peoples theatre. Mr. Teutsch has worked up in the theatre game, starting as an usher in the Peoples theatre. For the past two years he has been manager at the Star theatre, and since that time he has become the right hand man of Manager Stille, of the Peoples theatre. He is a keen lobby advertising man and a good live house manager. E. B. LAWSON, of Sutherlin, Oregon, has opened a thea'tre. C. H. CHETFORD has bought the theatre in Cheney. Washington. J. A. JENNINGS, manager of the Sunset theatre of Portland, recently turned over the theatre and its proceeds for the benefit of Company G-H of the Multnomah Guard, for the fund for dependents of the guardsmen who are enlisted and at the front. More than 250 are in active service over-seas. MRS. E. L. HUDSON, is managing the Globe theatre, in Albany, Oregon, during the absence of her husband who is in the army. FRANK KING, of San Francisco, is reopening the Columbia at Astoria, Oregon. THE People's Hip, at Butte. Montana, has added motion picture to its regular vaudeville programmes.