Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

1 1J4 Motion Picture News MEN AND EVENTS IN THE FILM CENTRES With “News” Correspondents ITEMS OF THE EXCHANGES AND THEN TREE BALTIMORE Two Baltimore theatres — the Parkway and the New, both of the C. E. Whitehurst interests, have undergone a change in policy. Instead of each theatre showing a special first run for one week both will play the same two simultaneously. The switch, while giving each house twice as many pictures weekly and thus annually, in reality requires only a duplication of the films booked. In one year both houses will play 102 films, the same aggregate under the plan of booking one and different shows for the two places. “ It’s a permanent move,” said Louis A. DeHoff, booking agent for the Whitehurst interests, “ and was forced by our inability to get big first runs. The New and the Parkway are so widely separated, the former downtown and the other uptown, that we believe the new plan will operate more advantageously.” H. S. Jefferson, manager of the Parkway, is of the opinion the change will be beneficial. “ One of the big features of the move is that our patrons have a choice. We have a double hold, so to speak.” SEATTLE A complete 10 reel copy of the William Fox film “ Over the Hill,” valued at $1,000, was stolen in Seattle on Wednesday, Jan. 25, from the College Playhouse, where the picture had just finished a short run. Private detectives and city police investigating the case found no clues. They were proceeding on the theory that the robbery was perpetrated by the international film theft gang that has been so active in all parts of the country recently. The film was in the possession of Raymond Geddes, manager of the University district house, who reported that he had taken it home in his auto to keep during the night. Geddes left the film in his garage all night, it is declared, and upon opening the garage the following morning found the films gone. This is the second robbery of this nature to occur in Seattle during the past month. On the night of December 28, 1921, copies of “ The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse ” and “ The Conquering Power,” valued at $100,000, were stolen from the vault of the Metro Pictures agency, and so far no clues have been found in that case. CLEVELAND By special arrangement with S. Barrett McCormick, managing director of the Allen theatre, Cleveland, Frank J. Zimmerer, art director for the Allen theatre, has become Director of the Department of Stage Craft and Scenic Decorations in the School of the Theatre, 10550 Euclid avenue, where classes are being conducted. The Wind-A-Meer block, East Cleveland, including the Wind A-Meer theatre, a 1,000 seat first-run motion picture theatre, has just been purchased from G A. Siebanoler, by Myer Fine of Cleveland and the Silverman brothers of Altoona, Pa. Mr. Fine is one of the principal owners of a chain of local movie houses. The Silvermans are prominent Altoona exhibitors. Simon Silverman will take over the active management of the theatre. Approximately $1,500 was stolen from the safe of the Ohio and American Theatre Company, with offices at 122 West Fifth street, Cincinnati. The door to the office was jimmied, and the contents of the safe, representing the Saturday’s receipts from five motion picture houses which the company controls, were stolen. WESTERN NEW YORK Sam Carver is representing I. H. Herk in the management of the Academy, Buffalo, under its new picture policy. The Academy burlesque policy ended Saturday, February 4. First-run pictures are now being shown, with three changes a week, Sunday, Monday and Thursday. The Empire is also continuing under the management of Mr. Carver. Miss Dupont appeared at the Criterion, Buffalo, this week in connection with the presentation of “ Foolish Wives,” and Miriam Battista was at the Loew State in person. Sol Myers is now house manager at the Criterion, Buffalo, succeeding Vincent McFaul, who was manager under the Shea Amusement Company direction of the house. Max Spiegel and company have leased the theatre and will probably start burlesque in it next season. In the interim pictures will be shown, it is reported. “ Foolish Wives ” is the current attraction. Fire did several thousand dollars’ damage to the new Capitol theatre in Oswego, N. Y., January 30. Some 500 patrons filed slowly out of the house as the operator continued to show the picture. The blaze originated in the heating plant in the rear of the auditorium. The Capitol is Oswego’s largest motion picture house. Yeggs entered the Lyceum theatre, Rochester, in broad daylight and after assaulting the janitor, attempted to rob the safe, but were scared away. Morris Fitzer of the Empire, Syracuse, was a Buffalo visitor last week. He came to town with Henry W. Kahn of Metro and while in the city viewed “ Peacock Alley,” at the Metro exchange. Other exhibitors in the city were E. C. Peters of Hornell, Charles Shattuck of Hornell, M. Woods of Jamestown and Henry F. Kurtz of Rochester. Nate Robbins has purchased two houses in the Buffalo territory, west of Syracuse, according to word arriving in Buffalo. The names are not divulged. Mr. Robbins owns a string of theatres in Watertown, Syracuse and Utica. James A. Bailey is putting on some strong programs at Keith’s theatre on lower Main street, Buffalo. Serials always have a prominent place on the bill. “ Tarzan ” and “ The White Eagle,” are now being shown. 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