Motion Picture News (Jun-Aug 1920)

July I y , 1^20 Cecil E. Mabcrj't newly appointed Chicago manager for Goldwyn, to Jill the vacancy made by the resignation of Ike Van Ronkel, has arrived and assumed his duties. Mr. Mabery has been manager of GoldAvyn's St. Louis Exchange for the past two years and is one of the most popular men in the organiza C. F. Metzger, who is erecting a new 900 theatre at Ptymoutli, Indiana, to be called the Rialto, reports that the house will be ready lo npun about October 1st. Mr. Mtlzyir is also owner of the Denuicr;ii, a live daily paper of Plymomh, and should be able to get plenty of publicity. He also has purchased the Orpheum and will operate that theatre as a high class moving picture house. Harry Sherman, well known independent producer, is spending a few days in Chicago on business and incidentally was able to have a little pleasure on the side by attending the LeonardWhite bout at Bcntor. Harbor on Tuesday of this week. D. M. Vandawalker, manager of Hallmark's Chicago Exchange, went to Carolina Mountains to spend the Fourth with Mrs. Vandawalker and will make a flying trip to New Yurk before he returns lo Chicago. Word comes from Rochester, New York, that Sprague Green, old time theatre manager and film salesman, for many years connected with the Cropper Enterprises, is improving in health. Mr. Green went to Rochester some time ago to be with his mother and recuperate from a long illness. J. L. Friedman of Celebrated, who is president of the Federated Film Exchanges of America, will attend a meeting of officials of that organization in New York on Monday, July 12th. The meeting is called for the purpose of appointing a general manager of Federated, and an announcement of thf appointment will be made immediately after the meeting. Several of the industry's big men are being considered for the position. Hallmark's Chicago Exchange cfTices have been removed from the Mailers Building, where they have been located for sometime, to the fourth floor, 63 E. Adams street. The new quarters are commodious and convenient as they are located in the heart of the downtown district. Hall mark, it is understood, \h taking a year's lease and later may be one of the exchanges to ](,cate in what promises to be " Exchange Row " on South Wabash avenue running from the 800 through the 900 block. Hallmark will continue to handle its films at L'niversal Building at Jefferson and Congress streets. D. Robinson, Peoria's leading exhibitor, was a Chicago visitor ihis week and stated that work on the New Madison Theatre, in which he is interested, is proceeding rapidly and that the house is scheduled to open early in September. The Madison is to seat over 2,000 people and will cost approximately $350,000. Mr. Robinson states that the finest architects and decorators In the country are collaborating lo Chicago and the Mid West Covered By L. H. MASON make it a model house and in their designs arc seeking elegance and beauty, rather than massivcncss, the general design of ihe theatre being what is known as the Adams iypc. Mr. Robinson and his associ; les also own the Apollij, Princess, Duchess, and Hippodrome, all located in Peoria. Maurice Choynski, president of the Allied Amusements Association, departed from Chicago last Saturday in his automobile for one of ihc Michigan lake resorts and is planing to take a sixty day vacation, Chicago theatre managers are practicing daily for the golf tournament to be held at Idlcwild Country Club on July 16th with Peter J. Schacfcr, holder of the record for last season, master of ceremonies. One of the feature matches of the day will be one between Max and Harry Ascher and some classy golf is sure to he shown when brother meets lirolher. Prizes ranging from a Kimball piano to an annual pass to Schocnstadt's theatres, have been put up for the contestants and luncheon in the clubhouse will be provided. Among the movie men expected to participate in the tournament are: Frank A. P. Gazzola, Imperial Theatre; Thos. Ed. Bealty, Englewood theatre; R. E. Rayficid, Calumet theatre; Mr. Clark. Empress theatre; Frank J. O'Donnell, National theatre ; Warrtn Irons, Haymark«-i theatre ; J. W. Roth, Kedzie theatre ; Lewis F. Ncwhafer, Consumer. BIdg. ; Harry Ascher, Max Aschrr, Frank Schacfcr, Fred Schacfcr, Avi Schoensladl, Nate Ascher, Harry Mitchell, Empress theatre; Aaron J, Jones, Peter J. Schacfcr, Adolph Linick, and R. C. Scery. A I. Steinberg, publicity and exploitation expert, who has earned an enviable reputation for himself among the exhibitors throughout the territory for his live wire exploitation stunts and advertising campaigns, has entered business for himself and opened an office at 506 S. Wabash avenue, with several good sized advertising and publicity accounts on his books. We have with us this week, Thomas Fisher, for many years riding instructor and general utility man at Vitagraph's Eastern Studios, who is walking from Coney Island, a i New York, to Los Angeles to win a thousand dollar bet nindc with a member of the Keystone Field Club at Wilmington, Delaware, Tom is working his way but has fared well so far, and declares that although he is vu\y four feci eleven and three quarter inches tall, he will not luwc [o stretch his legs to make Los Angc-lcs within seven nionlhs, the linu' limit under ihc terms of the wager. Ike Van Ronkel, whose announcement as to his future plans has been awaited with interest since his resignation as Chicago manager for Goldwyn intends to open an independent exchange in Chicago with a iiumbtT of branch ofliecs operating throut^lioui ilie southwest. He is being kept liusy by his many friends who arc congratulating him on his decision to go into buisiiicss for himself and predicting that his popularity and long film experience makes success a certainty. Van Ronkel will remain at the Chicago office of Goldwyn for a few days assisting Mr. Mabery, the new manager to get started and then will leave for a month's vacation with his family at Atlantic City before starting work on his new exchange system. Theatrical Post, 646, of the American Legion will give a luncheon and cntertKinnient to all inrmbcrs on Fridny, July 16lh ot the Uuivcrsul ExchiUiRC niul exhibition rooms at 220 S. Slate sireei. Members nnd those wishing (o join the post are invited to hUcikI, nnd are requested to mail notice of reservnlion.s lu Nat Wolf. First National Kxchanuf, Adjutiint; Kddie Trim, West l<nd llienirc. Commander, or Martin Suxc, Puntheon theatre, vice commander. Chicngo MAnnger Cnrt Maithill of Keelcraft, is very much uleascd ''\ ihc news that Leon Errol, (lie popiil.li' vatidevilli' star, hits answered ilu hire uf the screen nnd will .littiise his nurlh vin the ciiicnta unite as ilic feature in ii two reel lonu-dy, eiilitliil " HiiffBhiB," which will be reltascd shortly by Rcelcrnfl I'liiiins Cm piMiiiion, ns a part of the Royal Comedy scries, The Lunn Amusemeni Comnnny of l.i\ {''ayritc, Indiana, is mnkiiiK ritpid strides, Kxi-avillion was slatted last week for iheir new 2,000 seal ihealre and they rect-nlly look over the Ivase of Ihe Family iliratre which they will opernle. 'i'he Luna AnniBcnu-nt Company also uwdb the Lima at Ln I''nveiic niul controls the Luna nl Kankakee and Lyric n( Fort Wayne. IJilly Well, llic comedian, has mrivt-d III Chicago from the const and ii is untlersioud will make IiIh hendoiiariers here for sometime. President Maurice Snikhi of Century I'ilm Coinpany. is cinlcd over the niaiij^ booking.^ fieing ctoKcd on " The Square Shooter, featuring Harry Carey and declares it is one of ihe best booking attractions ever handled by Ihe Century. Father Pador of the Merit Film Company, Chicago, will have lo show some speed or Son Pador, in charge of Merit's Indianapolis of< ficc, will heat his records as a salesman, as reports reaching ChicaffO indicate that young Mr, Pador is making a phenomenal sticccsB. Pft/K/nount {>ic'