Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

2168 Motion Picture N e MEN AND EVENTS IN THE FILM CENTRES With "News" Correspondent; ITEMS OF THE E X C H A N G ES AND T H E A T rYs KANSAS CITY Conclusive proof that the motion picture theatre attendance is again back to normal was evidenced in Kansas City last week. Playing only ordinary attractions, virtually every downtown firstrun house played to a capacity attendance all week, despite strong vaudeville and other theatrical competition. Perhaps the most outstanding triumph of the week was that of " The Fall of Babylon," which established a new record at the Pantage Theatre. The regu iar playing schedule was set ahead two hours by Manager J. J. Cluxton. A triple tie-up between D. W. Griffith, the Pantage Theatre and the Kansas City "Post " did much towards packing the house for a week's run. The S. & T. Film Company, which has been handling " The County Fair " as a road show, have turned over the distribution of the picture in eastern Missouri and Kansas to the Standard Film Company of Kansas City. The film will be handled for Iowa and Nebraska bv the Liberty Enterprises of Omaha, Neb. The First National and Educational Film Exchanges Kansas City branches moved into their new building last week at 1712 Wyandotte street. The new home has been built to accommodate a large supply and the shipping and advertising departments have been arranged to meet the exhibitors' demands for " service," according to E. C. Rhoden, manager of First National. " Disraeli," George Arliss's latest release has been pronounced " wonderful" by the Kansas City Board of Review, according to the United Artists' Kansas City branch office. " The Three Musketeers " also came in for its share of praise, according to L. J. Doty, assistant manager of the Kansas City branch, who asserted that out of the last fit; teen productions that the " scissors " had been used on only two. W. E. Troug, manager of the Kansas City Goldwyn office, reports that many exhibitors in that territory have taken advantage of the oflers for Goldwyn Week beginning October 23, and that a. large number of week's bookings have been received. SAN DIEGO A Robert Morton organ has been installed at the Rialto Theatre by Manaceis Harry Payne and Jack Wall, and the first public selections on it were rendered in connection with the showing of " "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," which was brought back to San Diego to meet the public demand after its first production at the Spreckels Theatre. Robert C. Bruxton, formerly associated with the Strand Theatre in New York city and more recently with the Mission Theatre in Los Angeles, is the new organist at the Rialto. If present plans are fulfilled another motion picture house will be opened to the public during the first week of November. This will be the Mission Theatre, which is the new name that has been given to the remodeled Isis Theatre, which has been used for road shows for many years. The Mission Amusement Company has been incorporated, with capital stock of $100,000, to hold the lease on the property and operate the new house. Associated with the company is H. H. Homer, who. for a time, was house manager of the Superba Theatre here. He will occuny a similar position with the Mission Theatre. The Plaza Theatre succeeded in getting the first showing in this city of the Dempsey-Carpentier pictures, which Manager Russell Rogers put on for a ters," which is being filmed th: the Berkshire section of westerr chusetts. WESTERN NEW YORK Marcus Loew comes to Buffalo day, October 17, with a carload oil tion picture and stage stars, to I the newest addition to the Loew tl the Buffalo State. Mayor BucI scheduled to turn over the key o [ city to Mr. Loew. There will parade of the Rotary and Kiwanis at the head of the picture stars ill morning, a luncheon in the stars' ll at the Lafayette .Hotel at noon, iil tion of the State and sightseeing tl afternoon, and the gala opening monies in the evening. The prices at the new State will Orchestra and front balcony, 40 c| rear balcony, 30 cents. The policif be feature photoplays and vand^ Al Beckerich, formerly manager o| Olympic, will be manager of the L Terry Turner of the Loew put Ity forces, handled the opening pu' for the house. The State has i capacity of 2800 and is one of ■ elaborate theatres in the Loew chi Prince Zerdecheno of Kurdestan, Asia Minor (at right) greets Norma Talmadge at her studio. At the left is Wazier Lucas, secretary to his Royal Highness week at 5O-75-$1.00 prices, with a big attendance. OKLAHOMA CITY H. H. Maloney, for the past seven months manager of the Rialto and Star Theatres at Denison, Texas, has been appointed by the Southern Enterprises, Inc.. as manager of the Palace Theatre at Dallas, Texas. W. H. Harwell, formerly manager of theatres at Atlanta and Beaumont, succeeds Floyd Stuart as manager of the Old Mill Theatre at Dallas. E. P. Carpenter succeeds H. H. Maloney as manager of the Rialto and Star Theatres at Denison. The Dallas, Texas, branch of the F. B. Warren Corporation, under the management of Mack J. Sparks, reports big increase in business. Eire broke out in the Emiiire Theatre at Waxahachie, Texas. Sept. 28th. and destroyed fixtures and the interior of the building to the amount of $6,000 damages. Equipment and fixtures were owned by the Waxahachie Amusement Co., which operates the theatre, with onethird insured. The building, owned by Mrs. Pauline Graber of Breiiham, Texas, was not insured. R. H. Tomlinson and Andrew Willingham, both well known to Texas and Oklahoma film fraternity, have joined the Independent Film Service Company's Oklahoma City staff as salesmen. Willincrham will handle the Southern and Tomlinson the northern part of Oklahoma, selling the Independent offerings. Tom H. Boland has purchased for the First National Exhibitors' Circuit of Oklahoma " Out of Dust," a western frontier picture built up from Frederic Remington's famous paintings of the early days. Al Raymond just returned from Arkansas reports a big sale in that state of " The Adventures of Tarzan." The Orpheum of Tulsa, Okla., has booked the picture and will be on the schedule of Southern Enterprises for the entire circuit in Oklahoma and Texas. C. F. Willingham is now auditor for R. D. Lewis at Dallas Texas. He is .a brother of J. F., office manager for Independent Film Service. CONNECTICUT An intimated rigid enforcement during the coming months of the Connecticut statutes relative to unattended children visiting motion picture theatres and the appearance of children under twelve years of age on the stage in connection with motion picture-vaudeville programs is being closely and interestedly watched by the management of the innumerable playhouses throughout the state. An unverified report is that officers of the Connecticut Humane Society and other charities and correctional agencies have been for some time checking up on conditions, with a view to definite action a little later. In a considerable number of cities and towns of the State l^al police authorities are taking no action, leaving enforcement of the statutes to the state police, special police of. the Connecticut Humane Society and other allied agencies. The Redding, Conn., Moving Picture Company has been organized to furnish high-grade motion picture programs in that community. Shareholders in the new company contend that motion pictures are an essential in community life and to make the " old home town " attractive for a desirable type of residents. A board of six trustees has been elected by the shareholders, which in turn has elected H. C. McCollam. president; A. G. Barnett. secretary and treasurer, and P. Brett Nash, business manager. Paid up subscriptions to the stock of the companv amount to nearly $900. and it is desired to raise about $100 more. Mr. McCollam will build a small concrete addition to the Sanford gymnasium for housing of the apparatus. Earl B. Raifstanger. manaeer of the Mahaiwe Theatre at Great Barrington, Mass., is to appear in the picture " Sis J. G. Fater has resigned as H< jinson representative in Buffalo to ; -r a position on the First National staff in the same city. Mr. Fate ^ been covering the Buffalo territorto: Hodkinson for several months. Ij| new position he will represent Firsl tional in the Buffalo city and soil part of the state districts. Hope Hampton, star of " Star l| was in Buffalo last week, stopp" on her way to New York from ton, where she appeared at the oij of the new Pantages Theatre. Esf by Manager E. J. Hayes and Mr4 latour. Miss Hampton visited the large houses of the city. CANADA That theatre expansion in the c Montreal. Quebec, is going ahea rapidly was the opinion which w; pressed by Mr. E. F. .Albee • York, head of the United Bo • fices, during a brief visit to i: dian Metropolis on October Albee felt that there were t large houses for the present of 775,000 and, with many thfill, it was possible that the would become less substantia: of divided patronage and rever Directors of the various AUer. tre companies in Toronto, Ontarioj given notice of payment of dividcf shareholders to be made on Octob 1921. for the last quarter as foUo^ Dividend of one and three^lj per cent for the quarter is de ' preferred stock of each of the foil houses. Beach, College, Parkdalf Clair and Danforth theatres anfl "Temple Theatre Corporation, Lt| crating the downtown Allen ho A dividend of two per cent f j ouarter is also declared for holdl the preferred stock in Allen's Tl Theatres Ltd., which is the corp"! controlling the neighborhood Ane| atres in Toronto. Loew's Uptown Theatre, Torontj tario, which has been dark all si | was reopened on Monday, Octoll as the home of the Vaughan [ Players for the presentation of I drama. William Fox's " Over the HiT held over for a second week at th .erpie Theatre, Hamilton, Ontaria I