Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

1230 Motion Picture News toria has booked the whole works including the super-productions. Joseph H. Berdel, former newspaper man, is finding the “ fillum bizness ” much to his liking. He is doing a lot of traveling these days, covering percentage engagements “ in the sticks.” S. V. Phelps, representing the Exhibitors’ Fund of Los Angeles, was in Buffalo last week placing the Screen Weekly, which will be handled in Western New York by Grand & Warner. Washington The superior film distributing COMPANY have just opened an exchange at 505-507 Mather Building, to handle productions on the State Rights market. The parties back of the company have had considerable experience in the requirements of this territory, having been with the big companies in their local exchanges for several years. The consolidation of the Realart Exchange with Local Famous Players Exchange is about completed. The former headquarters of Realart in the Mather Building have been leased to Mr. S. Berman, of Philadelphia, distributing Warner productions. Mr. Harry Coffey, manager of Empire Film Distributing Corporation, has been on a six weeks’ trip in North and South Carolina. The question of a building for the exchanges to conform to the fire regulations of the District of Columbia is still very much to the fore, as something must be decided on by the first of March and actual operations of some kind in evidence according to the official ruling. Mr. C. W. Linkins and others are negotiating with the exchanges for the erection of a building or a series of buildings. Seattle JT. SHEFFIELD, secretary and • treasurer of the Greater Features Corporation, of Seattle, was recently elected president of the Northwest Film Board of Trade for the year 1922. The membership of the Northwest Film Board of Trade includes representatives of the film exchanges of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The Greater Features Corporation is a Seattle institution whose growth has been rapid and whose activities now cover eight Western states, with branch offices in their principal cities. Jack Lannon, of Seattle, is president of the corporation. Leon D. Netter, after sixteen months in Seattle as manager of the Seattle exchange of the Educational Film Company, recently received a substantial promotion to general manager of the New York office of that company. Netter left Seattle the end of January for the Eastern coast, making the trip by way of California, where he intended making an informal investigation of film conditions there. This cut shows the staff of the Boston Associated First National Exchange. Manager Tom Spry stands in the center— foreground Wendt comes from the McCormick school of showmen, having been “ discovered ” by the manager of the Allen when the latter was directing the opening of the Toledo theatre. Previous to his entrance into the field of amusement, Wendt was a newspaper man. Allen S. Moritz Lakes. He has ALLAN S. MORITZ, president of the Buffalo Film Board of Trade, is celebrating his first anniversary as manager of the Paramount exchange in that city, by breaking all records for bookings in the history of the office. Mr. Moritz came to Buffalo from Washington and has made an enviable record at the F. P.L. headquarters in the Queen City of the only one failing — he drives a Ford. J. A. Gage, who has also been connected with the Seattle office of Educational Films for several months, succeeded Netter as manager. Charles Bridges has just taken the position of assistant manager of the Columbia theatre. Robert Bender, former assistant manager, is now editorial secretary at the University of Washington. Bender, however, continues to handle the publicity for the Columbia. Stanley Orne, who gave up the position of assistant manager about five months ago, is now editor-inchief of the University of Washington Daily. Kansas City JOE Silverman, Kansas City representative for Wid Gunning, has been named as successor to Joe Bloom, former branch manager. Mr. Bloom, who was forced to resign because of ill health, left last week for Modesta, Cal., where he and Mrs. Bloom will rest for several months. Handicapped in the past insufficient floor space, the Kansas City Universal branch will move from the second floor of the Film building, March 1, to its new quarters at 1710 Wyandotte street, former Realart offices. “ Way Down East,” “ The Three Musketeers” and “Little Lord Fauntleroy” are doing a capacity business in the Missouri and Kansas territory, according to T. Y. Henry, Kansas City United Artists branch manager. Glenn Klock, owner of the Colonial theatre, Pittsburg, Kas., after a week’s run of “ Way Down East,” wants a repetition of it, stating that it brought in the only real profit of many weeks. More film than at any time during the history of the Kansas City R-C exchange was served during R-C week, February 5-12, according to Roy E. Churchill, branch manager. Kansas City, St. Joseph, Mo., Topeka, Kas., Wichita, Kas., Sedalia Mo. and many other larger towns in the Missouri and Kansas territory played R-C pictures. Plans for opening offices of the Liberty Theatres Corporation Film Exchanges of Denver in Kansas City were completed last week. The new concern will be housed on the sixth floor of the Film building. Besides owning and distributing “His Nibs” for Western Missouri and Kansas, George A. Levy, president and manager, has announced “ Shadows of Con science,” starring Russell Simpson, for immediate release. M. E. Williams, a veteran film man in the Kansas City territory, . will be in charge of the sales department of the new corporation’s Kansas City branch. j Harry Graham, Kansas City Pathe branch manager, after an illness of four weeks, has again assumed active charge of his office. Mr. Graham was a victim of a diphtheria epidemic which spread throughout Missouri and Kansas. J St. Louis WB. TAYLOR, of Paducah, • Ky., was buzzing around Picture Row. He plans to re-open the Orpheum at Paducah very shortly, and was arranging his programmes. Henry Bollman, who is said to be the youngest picture producer in the world and possibly the Solar System — that’s taking in enough territory — is in town in conjunction with the showing of " The Light in the Clearing ” at the DelMar, Congress and Criterion theatres. Barney Fegan, of the St. Louis Independent Film Exchange, is recovering from a near attack of flu. Robert Werth and Albert Goettler have hit the high grass armed with a bundle of Metro contracts. Charlie Werner put them on the road last Monday. Werth was formerly with Pioneer, while Goettler’s last love was Associated First National. New York should learn something. Floyd Lewis, late Realart manager; Sam Harris, of Pathe; Samuel Werner, of United Film Service, and Spyros Skouras, of Skouras Brothers’ Enterprises, are all on Manhattan Isle at one and the same time. Call the F. I. L. M. Club, of St. Louis, to order Floyd. St. Louis filmdom is just recovering from the annual mask ball of the Film Exchange Employees of St. Louis at Arcadia Dance Hall, 3515 Olive street, last Wednesday. Some event. And as they say, a good time was had by all. Twentyone prizes (count ’em) were awarded for the fanciest tnd funniest costumes. Never again! Until next year. Eddie Dustin, late manager for Hodkinson, is in the St. Louis Mullanphy Hospital. He is somewhat improved. C. D. Hill is proud of the new Wid Gunning home, 3630 Olive street. It formerly was the Realart headquarters. Tom Curran, of Arrow, is in our midst. “ Ten Nights in a Barroom ” holds the screen at the William Fox Liberty. Tom is the heavy man to see that it hits on high. He got away to a good start. Of course, he wouldn’t object if local exchange managers insist on signing contracts for available Arrow productions. Oh, my no! He might even furnish the fountain pen.