Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1921)

134 Motion Picture Newt MEN AND EVENTS IN THE FILM CENTRE S With "News" Correspondents ITEMS OF THE EXCHANGES AND THEATRES CANADA A crisis has been reached at Hull, Quebec, over the division of the amusement tax which is collected from theatre patrons on the new basis of 10 per cent of the value of admission tickets. The Quebec Provincial Government arranged some time ago to hand back SO per cent of the revenue derived from the various municipalities through the amusement tax, this portion to be used for local charities. The government, however, has withheld this share from Hull, the third largest city in the Province, however, because there is no established charity institution in Hull, cases being sent to a home in Ottawa, the neighboring city. Although the city of Hull pays for the maintenance of these charges, the Quebec Government refuses to hand back the share of the tax to cover the cost on the ground that the charity is not conducted in Hull. The civic authorities are up in arms over the matter and claim that the government is taking advantage of a technicality. In the meantime, the theatre patrons are paying the heavy tax. Harold Vance, one of the pioneer exhibitors of Eastern Canada, has once more become established as the manager of the Casino theatre in Ottawa after an absence of about a year during which he assumed control of the Strand theatre, Ottawa, and later went to the Ottawa Russell. Vance has acquired an interest in the Casino which he successfully operated for many years. The Casino is still a very popular house. After less than two months as a stock theatre, the Russell theatre, Ottawa, Ontario, has reverted to its original policy of presenting dramatic road shows as well as special film attractions at frequent intervals. James T. Moxley has resumed personal management of the theatre. Sunday band concerts in moving picture theatres of Winnipeg, Manitoba, have become the popular feature and the holding of these concerts has not been hindered by the local authorities. Last Sunday, no less than four concerts were held in as many different cities. The band of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry entertained a packed house at the Capitol theatre, while the United Veterans' Band appeared at the Walker theatre. The Winnipeg Light Infantry Band was at the Pantages and the Army and Navy Band gave an entertainment at the Alhambra. The Montreal Daily Star, in a short editorial on December 10, urged the organization of a board of exhibitors to censor the Quebec Board of Moving Picture Censors. " They need it," declared the paper. OKLAHOMA CITY The controversy that has been existing between First National Exhibitors' Circuit and Associated First National has been settled. According to Tom H. Boland of Oklahoma City, the whole slate has been wiped clean by the purchase of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit by Associated First National with consolidation effected December 3 subject to existing contracts. From then on Associated First National distributes all First National pictures. C. A. McFarland, manager of the Queen theatre, was acquitted at Houston, Texas, December 1st, of violating the state Sunday-closing law. The case was tried in the Corporation Court before a jury of six men. Six cases against other moving picture managers in which violations of the Sun day-closing law is charged, have been reset for December 15th. Much interest is being manifested in the results obtained in the trials of the six untried cases. L. L. Dent, district manager of theatres for Southern Fnterprises of Atlanta, Georgia, transacted business in Dallas, Texas, last week. At a meeting of the ministerial alliance held in Tulsa, Okla., Monday, resolution was adopted to wage a fight on Sunday shows in Tulsa. Billy Sunday, the noted Evangelist, is holding a revival in Tulsa, and is behind the movement. The annual Methodist conference at Pine Bluff, Ark^ adopted resolutions Saturday, urging Congress to pass the proposed law forbidding operations of trains and newspapers on Sunday and requiring closing of all business, including moving picture theatres and other places of amusement on Sunday. P. K. Johnston has been appointed branch manager for the Fox Film Exchange at Dallas, Texas, and -A. Coe Buchanan, branch sales manager. W. A. Gibson, formerly of the Electric Sales Co., has opened an office at Dallas, Texas, and will distribute electrical products in the Southwest. A part of his line will include items used by motion picture theatres. The Trouco Theatre Supply Co., representing R. D. Thrash of Dallas, Texas, has opened an office in Enid, Okla., and will handle a complete line of projectors, screens, signs and lobby equipment. troit looking over the situation and conferring with Detroit resident manager, H. W. Travers. Mr. Trowbridge speaks encouragingly of business, saying it is showing improvement all over the country. Dave Warner has arranged for the presentation of "Why Girls Leave Home" at the Fox-Washington theatre, Detroit, starting some time in January. The en gagement is to be indefinite. John H. Kunsky will start the New Year at the Adams theatre, Detroit, with " The Four Horsemen " and will follow with " Theodora." MINNEAPOLIS The sensational foreign picture, " The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," which has caused much comment throughout the country, is showing at the New Lyric this week. The New Lyric was leased by Goldwyn from the Finkelstein and Ruben interests for the week's showing. Newt Davis, local Goldwyn manager, has charge of the presentation. The Auditorium theatre and two adjoining shops in Superior, Wis., were totally destroyed by a fire which is said to have been due to an overheated furnace in the theatre. The estimated loss is $18,000. E. E. Reynolds, well known film man in the Kansas City territory, this week succeeded C. A. Gordon as manager of the Minneapolis Hodkinson branch. Mr. Gordon, the retiring manager, will be a special representative for the Hodkinson company in this territory. One of the biggest state-rights deals ever put over in this territory was announced this week with the formation of the Pyramid Film Company of Minneapolis. Harry Rathner, Carl R. Michel and Guy W. Dawson, all well-known film men in this district, are associated in the company. The Pyramid Company has secured exclusive rights to distribute Western Exploitation Pictures Company, of Los Angeles, products. They have also taken over the distribution of the pictures controlled bv De Luxe Pictures Company and the Masterpiece Film Company. Rex Beach has agreed to come to Detroit for three appearances, December 18, 19 and 20, in connection with his picture, " The Iron Trail," which opens on the 18th at the Medison theatre. It will be the first time Mr. Beach has ever appeared before the Detroit public. Eddie Murphy, former manager of the Gladwin Park theatre, has joined the sales force of Wid Gunning, Inc., Detroit branch, and will look after city sales. MICHIGAN Telegrams from all over the state have been pouring into Lansing, Mich., extending heartfelt sympathy to Claude Cady, of the Gladmer and Colonial theatres, and president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Michigan, over the sudden death of his wife. C S. Trowbridge, assistant general sales manager of the United Artists Corporation, is spending a few weeks in De F. J. Nugent, former salesman out of the Cleveland office of Metro, has been appointed manager of the Detroit Metro office, succeeding Clair Townsend, resigned. W. C. Bachmeyer, district manager for Metro, announced the changes while in Detroit last week. theatre, Buffalo, last week when " Why jirls Leave Home " was sh> wn that Man. ager E. O. Weinberg, for the first time in the history of the house, held the picture over for four more days. The Strand will put on " Little Lord Fauntleroy " for a two week run at Christmas time. Mr. Weinberg is advertising the attraction as " The Strand's Christmas Gift to Buffalo." The Pittsburg branch of the Famous Players-Lasky Corp., recently presented H. A. Ross, division manager with headquarters in Detroit, with a beautiful loving cup. The cup now adorns his Detroit office and Mr. Ross prizes it very highly. The presentation was made while the 35 salesmen of the Pittsburg, Detroit and Cleveland branches recently convened in the latter city. FLORIDA The merchants of " Upper Franklin Street " in Tampa, Fla., have formed an association to boost that section. At a recent meeting a resolution was passed, to work for, and secure, a motion picture theatre in that section. If they will show Manager C. D. Cooley of the Consolidated Amusement Co. that they will support a house in that neighborhood, he will no doubt give them one pronto. Charles A. Price, manager of the Park theatre, Brooksville, Fla., whose house was damaged by the hurricane, is making a tour of South Florida with a stateright feature while his house is being repaired. WESTERN NEW YORK Harold B. Franklin, managing director of Shea's Hippodrome, Buffalo, discussed the evils of censorship before the congregation of Oak Grove Community church, last Sunday evening. Fred M. Zimmerman, president and general manager of Nu-Art Pictures Corporation, and proprietor of the Avondale theatre, North Tonawanda, N. Y., is offering his patrons some great holiday programs at his picture house. " The Sheik," " The Queen of Sheba." " The Three Musketeers," and pictures of like calibre, are certainly appreciated by amusement seekers in the lumber city. Frank E. McAvoy, brother of May McAvoy, Realart star, has resigned from the Buffalo Realart exchange to accept a position on the Select staff in the same city. W. C. Bissell has also resigned from Realart. T. W. Brady, former manager of the Uuffalo F. B. Warner exchange, and in the past head of the Queen City of the Lakes' Select and A. P. offices, has accepted the sales management of the Buffalo Hodkinson exchange, 145 Franklin street, succeeding Howard Boyle. Mr. Brady took office December 12. Harry Buxbaum, S. R Kent and F. V. Chamberlain of the Paramount home office were in Buffalo last week to attend a dinner Thursday night at Stein's in Orchard Park, N. Y., given by the executives for Allan S. Moritz. Buffalo manager and his sales force, who turned in a record breaking amount of business during " Buxbaum Week." Sol Mannheimer, who> has been a member of the Buffalo Goldwyn sales staff for several years, has resigned to accept a position as general manager of the recently acquired Robbins Amusement Company houses in Watertown, N. Y. Mr. Mannheimer will look after the Olympic, Antique and Palace, formerly owned by the Papyanakos Brothers. Nate Robbins will formally open the three theatres on Christmas Day. He has invited members of the F. T. L. M. Club of Buffalo to Watertown to join in the celebration attending the opening. Fred M. Zimmerman, Nu-Art president, represented the F. I. L. M. Club of Buifalo at the meeting of the executive committee of the state M. P. T. O. A. in Utica last week. Howard J. Smith. Richard C. Fox, M. A. Chase and M. H. Markowitz were other Buffalo film men in Utica during the meeting. KANSAS CITY J. J. Milstein, formerly with the F. B. Warren Corporation, has taken over the management of the Kansas City W. W. Hodkinson branch, succeeding Ralph Simmons, who was transferred to Chicago. Mr. Milstein came to Kansas City from Denver. Business was so good at the Strand The following new houses, changes in management and improvements in thetres have been announced in the Kansas City territory in the last week : Dunbar theatre (colored) Kansas City, Kan., owned by R. Finklestein, undergoing improvements amounting to $20,000, including a balcony and new pipe organ; Star theatre, Altoona. Kan., formerly managed bv C. D. King, taken over by H. M. Welk ; Kansas theatre, Wichita, Kan., owned by Charles Barron, opened to public; new 1,500-seat house in Carthage, Mo., being erected by G. W. Bays and Cy Crane. SPOKANE Three hundred and fifty children, brought from Spokane orphanages as the guests of the Clemmer management, saw the premiere run of " Little Lord Fauntlerov " on a recent Saturday morning. The" Knights of Columbus supplied transportation for the children from St. Joseph's, the Masonic lodges for the children from the Hutton Settlement, the G. E. K.'s for the Church Home for Children, the Rotary club for crippled children and the Elks for the Spokane Children's home. A baby polar bear, only 16 inches long and weighted down witk long white hair, was a special stage attraction for the children's matinee.