Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

February 25, 1922 1229 In the Film Centers Activities of Exchange Managers, Exhibitors, Salesmen and Others Albany RS. BENDELL, has been added • to the sales force of Select in this district. He is a brother to “Vic” Bendell, well-known throughout the territory. H. H. Hilsinger, of Cohoes, camera man for Pathe in the Albany district, will leave within the next few weeks for San Francisco, returning by automobile in the late spring. Mr. Hilsinger plans to film many of the scenic beauties of the country on his return trip. Vitagraph has added C. C. Charles to its Albany sales force. While in Albany this week, Irving Goldsmith said that he had done a big business with “ A Man’s Home,” and expected to duplicate it with “ Conceit,” which is booked for the near future. The Auditorium, a 1,200-seat house in Fulton, N. Y., has just 1 been opened by the American Woolen Company. John W. Stei venson will act as manager. Elmer Crownshield promises a new 800-seat house for Hudson Falls. Mr. Crownshield plans to build in the near future. L. L. Connors, who manages the Victory theatre in Cambridge, N. Y., attended the motion picture exhibitors’ convention in Albany last week. Before leaving on an extended European trip, B. W. , Burdick, president of the O'. H. Stacy Amusement Company, in Albany, N. Y., was presented with a handsome diamond Masonic ring by the employees of the company. Mr. Burdick will be abroad until some time in May, and will visit Italy, Turkey, Palestine, Egypt, France and England. Buffalo George a. faulkner has resigned as manager of the Buffalo Wid Gunning, Inc., Exchange in the Grand & Warner offices, Pearl street. The present sales staff has been dropped. H. C. Bissell, however, has been added to the Grand & Warner sales force. “ Hub ” Taylor has not as yet made another connection. The exchange is being continued in charge of a young lady, who is making shipments for the time being. Walter Price, former manager of the Associated Producers’ Exchange in the Queen City of the Lakes, has been appointed general (Continued in last column) Pen Sketches THE career of Roy E. Churchill, Kansas City branch manager of Robertson-Cole, has been a dynamic one. Two years ago Mr. Churchill entered the film game in Kansas City as R-C branch manager. A short time prior to that he had abandoned the insurance business in his native state, Nebraska. During his two years in Kansas City Mr. Churchill, as a member of the Kansas City Film Board of Trade, as well as an exchange manager, has won a host of friends. During R-C week in Kansas City, February 5-12, the Kansas City branch servedt more film than at any other time in the history of the exchange. A large percentage of Mr. Churchill’s intimate friends are exhibitors, with whom he is termed : “ A regular fellow.” WILLIAM KOCH, Veteran Minneapolis theatrical man, has been appointed manager of the State theatre. Mr. Koch has been associated with Twin City theatres for n years. He started as an usher in the old Princess theatre at St. Paul, and then worked as assistant and general manager of the Grand, New Aster, New Garden and Unique theatres in Minneapolis. Harry D. Barnes will succeed Mr. Koch as manager of the New Aster and Frank Murray of the State staff will be Mr. Koch’s assistant. BACK in igi2 and ’13 exhibitors in the Omaha, Neb., territory looked to E. C. Rhoden for prompt and efficient service from the shipping department of the General Film Company. This was the foundation on which one of the most popular men in Kansas City film circles started his career. With a goal for more knowledge still in a distance, Mr. Rhoden enrolled as a student in the University of Nebraska. After being discharged from the Army in 1918, Mr. Rhoden hit a high average with the A. H. Blank Enterprises, as territorial representative. Mr. Rhoden proved his ability so completely that when the A. H. Blank Enterprises were identified among the exchanges of Kansas City he was placed in charge of the Kansas City office. Following the consolidation of A. H. Blank and Associated First National, the responsibility of Mr. Rhoden was increased no small amount. And close friends of Mr. Rhoden assert that he has only begun to climb the ladder of success. $ ^ ^ manager of the Niagara Pictures Corporation, with offices on the third floor of the Warner Building, 257 Franklin street. Mr. Price announces that the arrest of George Williams in connection with the theft of some films, was a mistake, and he has been re-engaged as a salesman. David and Levi Ruslander are providing the financial backing for Niagara Pictures Corporation. Mr. Price is making a trip to New York to buy some new productions to add to the company’s list. A revival of “Mickey’ is being planned. Sydney Samson, manager of the Grand & Warner office, has closed the following week runs on “ School Days ” : Shea’s Hippo drome, Buffalo ; Strand, Syracuse ; Lumberg, Niagara Falls; Regent. Elmira; Regent, Dunkirk; Liberty, Corning, and Shattuck Opera House, Hornell. “Andy” Sharick, formerly a member of the Select staff, has accepted the post of secretary of the Chamber of Commerce in Gowanda, N. Y. “Andy” has been with Select for several years, acting both as exploitation manager and salesman. He was an able aid to Charlie McClintock. He put over an unusually large number of stunts throughout the territory, where he has a host of friends, who will be sorry to hear that he is leaving the industry. Richard C. Fox, manager of the Selznick Exchange, is feeling unusually good these days. It’s all because the Buffalo office topped the list in both the Operating Cost Efficiency and Film Rental Efficiency columns recently, being several hundred marks ahead of any other exchange in the country. Business must be good at Select, in spite of all this “ depression ” talk. Ray Powers, a relative of Pat Powers, is now office manager at the Paramount Exchange. Ray spent several weeks at the home office informing himself on Paramount policies. Mr. Powers was formerly assistant to Harry Lotz at the old Realart Exchange. Mr. Lotz, by the way, is reported to be doing unusually well with the Dempsey-Carpentier pictures in the Ohio territory. Ernest Leue has been assigned to cover the Rochester territory for Vitagraph. Manager John Kimberly is placing Vitagraph attractions at a large number of Buffalo theatres these days. HAROLD F. WENDT, who since the opening of Toledo’s Rivoli theatre has been advertising and publicity director of that playhouse, has resigned from that position to join forces with S. Barret McCormick at the Allen theatre, Cleveland, where he will handle the publicity for that theatre. (Continued on next page) Fred Myers, Jr., manager of the Fox office, announces that the Strand theatre has signed up for the Fox Specials, and will show “ Over the Hill,” second run the week of February 26th. The Vic(Continued on next page)