Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

1906 Motion Picture News Test Out Your Fire Hose This Week Ohio Exhibitors Transfer Their Motion Picture Activities to Athens, Greece Gus Russellis, Their Projectionist, Visits U. S. to Study Mechanism of Simplex in Factory Fourteen years ago, John Pekras and Melto Phelos, who owned and controlled the extensive chain of " Paradise " confectionery stores in the Buckeye State, opened their first motion picture theatre in Elyria, Ohio. Less than a year ago, the Strand American, Dreamland and Colonial theatres in that same city, were sold to Owen Bannon by these two energetic men who not only stood out in confectionery circles, but in the Ohio group of exhibitors as well. One of the reasons for the selling out of their theatre interests lay in the fact that Mr. Phelos had made a pilgrimage to his home in Athens, and while there had sensed the tremendous possibilities tnrough the application of American methods of film distribution and exhibiting. The result of this survey is found in the formation of the Pekras & Phelos Film Company with offices at No. i Platia Kolokotronie, Athens, with a First National exhibitors franchise, together with a Simplex Projector franchise for Greece. This company has already spent some $900,000 in acquiring theatre propertie.>; in Athens which represent three houses with seating capacity of several thousand each. In order that the very best possible service may be rendered to Simplex users in Greece, the Messrs. Pekras and Phelos arranged that their projection chief, Gustavius RusseUis, should spend some time in the mechanical department of the Simplex factory. Mr. Russellis was for many Gustavitis Russellis, projectionist of Athens, Greece, who has been studying the Simplex machine at the Precision Company's factory years in charge of projection in the theatre circuit in Elyria, and is rather proud of the fact that he operated the very first Simplex to be installed in the State of Ohio many years ago. Mr. Russellis spent nine days in all at the Simplex plant, and when he sailed last \\'ednesday on the Greek Liner " Acro polis,' he carried with him, not only four complete Simplex machines and a most extensive collection of tools, jigs, and parts, but the wealth of knowledge gained first hand through his intensive course v/ith the Simplex experts in the rhany departments which help in producing the Vv'tU-known Simplex products. Indianapolis to Have New House Stegemeier Brothers of Indianapolis, Ind., are ready to start their $175,000 Terrace theatre, which will be located at 17-19 North Illinois street, Indianapolis. The house will be completed early in the spring. The theatre will have a frontage 1 of forty-four feet and will be 120 feet deep. It will have a seating capacity of 1,200. The auditorium will hold 500 persons. The projection booth will be suspended from the roof to avoid taking uf room that can be used for seating space. The front will be made of glazed terra cotta and will be well illuminated with flood lights. A restaurant will be in the basement of the building. The house will be leased to the Central Amusement Co \^onnegut, Bohn and Mueller are the architects. Plan $250,000 Theatre Building Comuntzis Bros., Morgantown, W. \'a. are planning to erect a $250,000 theatn office, and store building in that cit\-. Th( house will hold twelve-hundred people The building will hold a four ston, anc basement department store, and will hav( a three stor\^ and basement wing fronting on another street. Carl Reger is the architect. Float of Local 182, bearing Powers machines, in the Labor Day Parade at Boston, Mass. The new Arts theatre at Erie. Pa. Now a Benedict Announcement has been made of thi marriage of Joseph Cole Moulton, a mem ber of the Societj^ of Motion Picture Engi neers, to Miss Marie Andrews. Th. ceremony took place on September 3, 1921 Exhibit G. E. Lamp on Float The float of the Nicholas Power Com panv used in the Labor Dav parade b; Movie Local 182 I. A. T. S! E. was ar ranged by the Exhibitors Supply Com pany. Boston, Mass., distributors in tha locality and other New England district of Power's Projectors. This float has special interest because of the fact that : is the first public exhibition by any of th Locals of the new Power's G. E. Hig Intensity Arc Lamp. Clean Up — Fire Prevention Week — Clean UJp