Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

1110 managers are practising economy at he wrong end of the business, according to Mr. Hager. “Patrons are demanding more for their money,” he asserted. “It is the best policy not to cut down on the quality of pictures but cut down expenses at the other end of the work in order to keep business.” J. T. Moran, who was formerly with the Universal exchange as salesman, is returning to that position after an absence of some time. Des Moines HARRY L. ROYSTER, exploitation manager for the Famous Players Exchange at Des Moines, is transferred to the Cleveland Branch, where he takes the place of Max Doolittle, sent to the Minneapolis Branch which is his home. Mr. Royster is replaced in Des Moines by John Ingram, who comes to Des Moines from New York, and before that was manager of the Rialto and Palace Theatres in Denver. The Universal exchange, Des Moines, expects E. J. Smith to arrive from New York to aid with the exploitation and placing of “Foolish Wives.” The Argus Enterprises, Inc., which have had a branch in Des Moines for over a year are reducing overhead and consolidating this branch with that at Omaha. R. W. McEwan will still travel for Argus and make his headquarters at Omaha. Jack Kurry of the advertising department has been longest with the Famous Players Exchange in Des Moines. He has been in this j position for four years. Louis Jacobs of Century Comedies was the most recent visitor at the Universal studios, Des Moines. J. A. Muchmore, formerly branch manager for the Famous Players at Des Moines and now representing the Kansas City branch, visited the Des Moines exchange this week. Buffalo RC. FOX, Select manager in • Buffalo, has returned from a trip to Rochester and Syracuse where he reports exhibitors contributed large sums in the exchange’s drive for collections. While in the two cities Mr. Fox also signed up a large number of contracts. Sam E. Morris, general manager of Select, has written Mr. Fox a letter complimenting him on the large number of rentals secured by the Buffalo office during the past few weeks. Mr. Fox announces that Elaine Hammerstein in “ Why Announce your Marriage,” will be the feature on the opening bill at the new Lafay The “wrecking crew” of Pathe's Buffalo exchange. Left to right, Louis Schindler, cashier; Bill Wittneben, Rochester representative, A1 Teschmacher, booker; Jack Thomson, Associated Exhibitors’ representative; Basil Brady, city salesman; W. A. V. Mack, branch manager, and Fenton Lawler, representative. (Continued front page 1109) that the new Strand was a splendid theatre building and all that was necessary was to get the people to come to it. Noting that lobby displays were seldom, if ever, used in Dubuque theatres, he began to put into being some of his ideas as to just how a real theatre should look. During the summer months he erected a picturesque lattice, entwined with flowers, in the main lobby. Then he transformed the inner lobby into a sunken garden by means of a clever arrangement of the drinking fountain and wallboard. Then, in winter, his inner lobby took on the appearance of an oldfashioned living room, with a mantel, a fireplace and cozy seats near the hearth. The lighting effect was a subdued red. Of course, all of this took a great deal of time and work, but it brought results. People began to talk about his lobbies; then the newspapers took it up and the result is that today, the Strand is rated as Dubuque’s best theatre. Now, here are just a few of the things Manager Burlingame has done since he took charge of the Strand : He was the first Dubuque theatre manager to add pep and variety to his program by introducing a singing or dancing sketch now and then as a treat for his patrons. He was the first manager in the city to consider the possibilities of having girls act as ushers. The Strand now has three young lady ushers. He was the only Dubuque theatre manager wso decorated his theatre during the holidays. He spent days substituting green and red lights for the white bulbs on the exterior of the mammoth building ; he erected a special Christmas lobby display which included a trimmed Christmas tree and arranged for a program of Christmas carols during the performances. Another of his ideas was the hanging of a gorgeous pair of tan and black curtains on the stage, before the screen. With the opening of the picture, the curtains are parted; they are closed at its conclusion. While one or two of the theatres have curtains, the Strand was the only one to use them in this manner. In addition to these features, Mr. Burlingame has erected numerous lobby displays which have attracted attention all over the state. Among the recent displays was a striking lobby used during the showing of “ The Sheik.” ette Square theatre, which opens Feb. 20 in Buffalo. Maurice A. Chase, manager for several years of the Buffalo Universal exchange, has been appointed district manager of the eastern division, with supervision over the Universal offices in Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Pittsburg. Mr. Chase will make his headquarters in Buffalo, announced in a former edition of the News. Mr. Price is sending tures going like a house afire. Walter Price has not joined the Buffalo staff of R-C Pictures as Frank S. Hopkins has been appointed sales manager in the Albany territory by Mr. Chase. Jess Kaufman is now a special representative out of the Buffalo exchange. M. H. Markowitz, manager of the United Artists’ office, screened Nazimova in “A Doll’s House,” for Harold B. Franklin, managing director of Shea’s Hippodrome last Thursday evening. Mr. Mar Motion Picture N e w i kowitz reports business boomint f and all of the company’s big fea his family to Atlanta. He is seek ing a connection in Buffalo. Mr Price was formerly with Metro. John Sitterly and George Witze have resigned from the sales stafl of Nu-Art Pictures. President Fred M. Zimmerman reports Burn ’Em Up Barnes,” breaking booking records at his office. Cleveland TAMES B. REILLY, well known *J locally as manager of the Cleveland Realart exchange as long as that office was maintained, and latterly manager of the Cleveland Robertson-Cole office, has resigned from that position to represent the American Releasing Corporation in the northern Ohio territory. No definite arrangements for a permanent office for the new company have yet been made. H. W. Murphy booker of the local Robertson-Cole exchange is acting manager pro tem until a permanent appointment has been made. E. C. Jensen field representative for Robertson-Cole is in Cleveland and will remain here until a new exchange manager for the local office has been named and duly installed. H. M. Forman traveling auditor for Robertson-Cole has been in Cleveland all week going over the local books. Harry L. Royster has been made i publicity manager of the Cleveland exchange of the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation. Mr. koyster follows Fred. E. Walters who has ? been transferred to the New Haven ] office of the F. P. L. Corporation. | W. F. Seymour Central Division j Manager for the W. W. Hodkinson j Corporation covering the Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Pittsburg exchanges has changed his headquarters from Chicago to Cleveland. Cleveland is more centrally located than Chicago and by the change, Mr. Seymour can keep in closer touch with the details of distribution. “Doc” (E. C.) Holah, manager of Wid Gunnings Cleveland office was in New York this week. Dan Phillips, former booker at the Cleveland Paramount exchange is now in charge of the booking : department of the local Vitagraph office succeeding William Ruddy. J. S. Cagney, formerly with . Hodkinson, is now covering the Toledo-Lima territory for Vitagraph. W. A. Hoffman at one time manager in Ohio for the American Film Company, has joined the Vitagraph sales force, and is covering the Columbus territory. E. J. Smith, Eastern District manager for the Universal Film • Company with headquarters in ; Philadelphia, was in Cleveland for ' a day last week. Smith was given a royal reception by exhibitors and exchange managers.