Motion Picture News (Sep-Oct 1922)

October 21, 1922 2047 Kansas City Flashes Fate still is smiling kindly upon the anti-censorship proposal now before the constitutional convention of Missouri. The proposal, which would place the screen and press upon the same basis, was believed to be in great danger when an immediate action upon the measure was expected. However, as the matter now stands, other committee reports now are ahead of the Bill of Rights committee report, which carries the proposal, thus affording sponsors of the proposal more time to prepare for the presentation of the measure and combat any radical opposition that acts as a barrier. William Andlauer, official Kansas City cameraman for Pathe and the Newman theatre, who also has been making industrial films, has sold his interests to G. B. McGeary and will depart for New York to enter business. Howard Curtis, in charge of the photographing department, will continue with Mr. McGeary. Kansas City exhibitors have just completed one of the most prosperous weeks at the box office since the bygone war days. With the annual resumption of the Priests of Pallas at Kansas City came thousands of out-of-town visitors with easily as many “uneasy” dollars. Attractive and elaborate programs at all first run houses, as well as at the suburban theatres were rewarded by standing room patronage. Fire prevention, rather than fire extinction, in motion picture theatres was the keynote of the Kansas State _ Firemen’s Association convention in Salina, Kans., this week. “Fire chiefs are responsible for much of the disaster which has resulted from poor arrangements regarding motion picture operators and booths,” Thomas R. Johnstone of the Indianapolis fire department said. “They have been negligent and the fire chief who sees those things and takes no steps to alter them is as much a murderer as though he hit people over the head with an axe.” For the second time in two weeks, C. H. Burkey, owner of the Summit theatre, Kansas City, and a member of the M. P. T. O. Mi. executive board, was held up and robbed by bandits Tuesday of box office receipts, which he was taking to the bank. This time the amount was $217.50. As was the case week before last, two bandits jumped upon the running board of Mr. Burkey’s motor car and forced him to drive to the edge of the city, where he was robbed of his car and money. Springfield, 111., Items Lee Burnstine spent two days in St. Louis taking in the Veiled Prophets parade and transacting film business the week of October 5. The Strand will celebrate its first anniversary the week of October 8. The attraction booked is Wm. Fox’s “ The Fast Mail.” The Strand opened a year ago with “No Woman Knows.” The theatre has been ex Kansas City KANSAS CITY loses one of its best and most popular exploitation men in Howard Kingsmore of Paramount, who left Friday for Pawtucket, R. I., to assume the directing management of the Strand theatre, a Paramount. His appointment as managing directoi of the Strand comes as a reward that was due him. E. J. Neubeler is the new7 manager of Kansas City’s Hodkinson branch. The selection came last week with a visit to Kansas City by L. W. Kniskern, southern division sales manager. Neubeler has been in Kansas City only two weeks, having come from Buffalo, N. Y., where he was associated wdth Select. Coincident with this event, Tommy Taylor, for the sixth PAUL ROBEY, manager of Adel’s theatre, the Palace, was a visitor at the First National exchange this week. Mrs. Leslie Wehlan, wife of the exploitation manager of FamousPlayers at Washington, D. C., has been visiting relatives in Des Moines. Louis Clements, assistant in the accessories department for Famous-Players, resigned his position to go into business with an independent concern in Omaha. Copland, who takes Clements’ place, was formerly in the business office tremely successful, doing a good business since the day it opened. George Koehn, of the Empress, reports business as being on the increase since the mines have reopened. The Capitol is giving radio concerts daily in addition to its picture program. Ben Rovin has booked some tworeel Westerns to go with his Sunday and Monday programs. Ben’s patrons are strong for that kind of entertainment, especially on Sundays. The Savoy continues to make money for Louis Kerasotes. This theatre has long been one of the best money-makers in the city. The Lyric is making ready to install a new pipe organ. “Manslaughter” had a good week at the Princess. The Journal critic knocked the story but lauded the acting and production. The Lyric is making a lot of noise Over the coming of Mae Murray in “ Fascination,” scheduled for the week of October 8. “The Prisoner of Zenda ” is another big feature booked in at the Lyric. “ The Old Homestead ” comes to the Gaiety October 8. Norma Talmadge is due at the Princess the same time in “ The Eternal Flame.” The Vaudette will have “The Beauty Shop.” All'three are Watts houses. Film Centres time, re-joined the Kansas City Hodkinson force So rapidly is business increasing with Truly B. Wildman, manager of the Kansas City Enterprise office, that three additional salesmen have been put on the road, R. J. Rogers, in the Missouri territory; J. H. Minns and John W. Mangham, jr., in the Kansas territory. One of the largest contracts ever closed by an independent exchange in the Kansas City territory was made last week when Samuel Harding of the Liberty theatre, Kansas City, and president of the Capitol Enterprise, contracted with A1 Kahn of the Crescent exchange for Warner Bros.’ eight big specials which will be shown at the Liberty and all Capitol Enterprise theatres. at Universal here. Faulkner, special representative for Famous-Players, is in Des Moines to help in the moving of the exchange into their new building at 1117 High street. Moving day is set for about Wednesday, maybe Tuesday. John F. Friedl, of FamousPlayers exploitation, has been putting on some winning exploitation stunts in connection with a style show with “ The Bonded Woman,” Miss Bonnie Murray, Iowa’s winning beauty of the state fair, appearing for the style show. The Chatterton has been dark since “ Orphans of the Storm.” No further film bookings have been made known. Minneapolis Personals Joseph M. Feldman has been appointed manager of the Minneapolis American Releasing exchange, succeeding Frank Mantzke, who has been made district manager of the company with headquarters in Ch cago. Eph Rosen, manager of the Minneapolis Universal exchange, was honored the week of Oct. 2 by “ Rosen Week,” with 422 theatres in the territory participating in a rush of bookings. “Let’s Pin a Rose on Rosen” was the slogan of the Universal employes. Max Doolittle, Paramount exploiteer, was taken sick while at Sioux Falls, S. D., and forced to return to his home in St. Paul, where he is convalescing. The two biggest contracts in the history of the Hodkinson exchange are claimed by Earl Reynolds, manager of the branch, who closed the larger of the two with the Ray theatre Dickinson, N. D., and Tack Flannery, special representative, who closed with the Strand theatre, Duluth, for 50 weeks. Reynolds’ contract will run for a year and a month. Des Moines Notes W. F. Smith, of the Colonial theatre, Clarion, reports that he likes the fall lineup of pictures and that he’s glad to see the time of the fall opening here again. Dr. Bill Pence, manager of the theatre at Columbus Junction, also takes a flier in scenario writing. F. J. Hemke, manager of the Strand theatre, Pomeroy, completed the second coat of paint on his home this week. It was just last June that he sent out the “ At Home ” cards. J, E. Craven, Crystal theatre, Kellogg, was a visitor at the Universal exchange last week. Mr. Craven has reason to believe that he will be a member of the State Legislature. He is not taking any chances and his coming campaign will be elaborate and thorough. Theodore Braynt, manager of the Gem theatre, Oelwein, has secured the lease of the large theatre at Independence, Iowa, from E. A. Boss, of the Boss Hotels Company, who purchased the Gedney Hotel which houses the theatre within its building. The theatre has been elaborately redecorated and rewired and it has a new entrance way. It looks quite metropolitan. It was christened the “ Grand ” and opened September 4. Seattle Snap Shots George E. Bradley, publicity and exploitation director for the Seattle and Portland Universal Film Exchanges, Inc., returned to this city a few days ago after a short trip to Bellingham, Blaine and one or two. other small towns near Seattle. While in Bellingham Mr. Bradley attended the reopening of Fred Walton’s American theatre, which has just undergone $12,000 worth of repairs. In Blaine Mr. Bradley was the guest of Charles Grieme at the Ivan L. theatre, one of the most beautiful small town film houses in the local territory. The news has just been made public that John Hamrick, local theatre man, has recently acquired ownership of the Star and Liberty theatres in Astoria, Ore., making a total of three of the four houses in the town that are owned and operated by Mr. Hamrick. A month ago he opened the new Blue Mouse theatre in that town, and his acquisition of the two other houses leaves only the Columbia, a second run house, under outside ownership. Gene O’Keefe, who was placed in charge of the Blue Mouse upon its opening, has also been given charge of the Star and Liberty. These two houses were formerly owned by Cy Danz, and were sold by him to Mr. Hamrick. The theatres are undergoing repairs at the present time, the Liberty being closed and being to a great extent remodeled. Arthur Hile, a theatre man well known in this territory, and most recently connected with the Ansonia Amusement company of Montana, has just joined John Hamrick’s organization in this city, and is at present situated in the Blue Mouse theatre. With the Des Moines Branches