Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

48 Motion Picture News October 4 , 19 3 0 ^S %X> $\r^6^ ^5 5* -III li w .,.—--_ 1 ■ '!''' -~-» JL , 1 i *■::;■? , ,*'• Kg 1 J; J li MBBBri^H ~*1 ..... -"^Si^* i n--r, 2 ' v^ ■&. Pf.W!y r — - _ ... . -fr;fi Cliicago Theatre Grosses Hit By Color Problem Chicago — Chicago's "color" problem which in years past has caused plenty of consternation to south side theatre owners is rearing its head in new neighborhoods with the invasion of the near southwest and west sides by colored population. First to feel its influence has been the Broadway Strand, in whose neighborhood the colored population has been on the increase for several years. In the past, the gentlemen of color — and their ladies — have been despatched to the balcony in this theatre. Recently, however, the climax which was threatened for some time was precipitated by the arrival in the neighborhood of colored families of means. These insisted on obtaining main floor seats, and when advised that they "would have to wait lor them" one disgruntled personage wrote to Congressman Oscar De Priest, colored stormy petrel in the House of Representatives from the First Congressional District of Illinois. De Priest wrote Essaness Theatres, operators of the Broadway Strand, that further evidences of discrimination against colored patronage would result in investigations and possible law suits. Since that time colored persons who wished were admitted to the main floor of the theatre, with the result that white patronage has been threatened. The problem presented in this instance is that the neighborhood, being only partly populated by colored persons, cannot support a house that is obliged to depend entirely on colored patronage, so a change-over of this nature is out of the question. Aggravating the situation is the possibility that, if enough of the colored patronage insist on main floor seat Sweet Thing Chicago— The first night the manager noticed him he was rushing from the theatre with a bloody nose. It seems the gentleman seated next him had jabbed an elbow into his face. The second night, highly outraged, he rushed up to the manager complaining that a woman had made advances to him during the performance. "I would advise," said the manager, stroking the wronged one's hand, "that you attend our Saturday children's matinees." Booming Chicago — The Chicago offices of National Screen Service has been doubled in scope during recent months. All departments of the office have been appreciably enlarged to care for the accounts from some twenty odd branches which are now concentrated here. Directing the vastly increased activities of the company here is Hal Young, known from coast to coast Hal Young as one of the best hosts in the Chicago film business. And with reason. ing, the whites will eventually abandon the house entirely. The Broadway Strand is situated on Roosevelt Road near Paulina St., the near southwest side. This neighborhood has been witnessing a colored invasion for the past several years. At present it has attained formidable proportions. The same is true of the near west side neighborhoods in the section bounded by Lake St. and Grand Ave., from Morgan west to Leavitt. In consequence, the same problem with which the Broadway Strand is faced exists in greater or less degree for every theatre in the city's two new colored sections. These theatres include the Irving, Paulina, Madlin, Vista, Orpheus, Model and Hub. Old Situation All Over Again The same situation confronted south side theatre owners in years past when the colored population overflowed the hypothetical boundary at Thirty-ninth Street and moved southward, pressing the whites before it. The colored "boundary line" has now advanced to Fifty-fifth Street along South Parkway and Indiana Ave., and the intermediate territory. As this trend developed, managers were obliged eventually to convert houses lying in the path of the negro emigration into all-colored theatres, but not without temporary loss of important revenue and permanent loss of property value. Ultimately, in this densely-populated colored section, negro patronage was in sufficient volume to make the theatres pay, but during the period of the transformation of patronage it was not. Ascher Bros, were the greatest sufferers from south side colored expansion. Today, owners of theatres in the path of the new colored migration are face to face with the same hazards. Unemployment to Be Aided by W. E. Construction Plan Chicago — C. L. Rice, vice-president in charge of the Western Electric Hawthorne plant, announces that if conditions prove favorable he will authorize construction of a new building for which the company has no use at this time in order to aid local prosperity and alleviate the unemployment situation. Rice's statement is modified only by the executive's statement that "numerous reports have been received of prevailing low cost of building construction," and his admission that, although the company may not require the extra space at the moment, future needs will make it a necessity. "The order for construction." says Rice, "will depend upon the cost of building now, as indicated by the bids submitted, as compared with the cost of construction at a later date when building conditions may be more nearly normal." Sid Myers Resigns Chicago — Sid Myers, general manager of the Fox Chicago theatres for the past several years, leaves that post this week. Executive direction of these theatres is now under H. J. Fitzgerald, division general manager of Fox Midwesco with headquarters at Milwaukee. Roy McMullen. former manager of the Fox Sheridan Theatre, Chicago, becomes Chicago office manager. Grace Gets Chicago Branch Chicago — Elmer Grace is new manager of the Tiffany Exchange here following resignation of Henri Ellman, who was district manager as well as head of the local branch. The district now is in charge of Joe Merrick, former sales manager of Educational. What a Break! Chicago — The Avon, closed for the summer, had been advertising a reopening date for many weeks. A few days prior to the date set, Essaness closed its Embassy theatre in the same neighborhood. "Swell," smiled Elmer Benesch, owner of the Avon. "A break at last." But on the day the Avon opened Essaness, with much fanfare, reopened the Embassy.