Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

January 12, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 83 What Theater Men Are Doing NEWS OF EXHIBITORS WHO ARE SUCCEEDING— ARE YOU ONE? This department of Motography specializes in giving to exhibitors stories of the accomplishments of successful theater managers. If you have attempted any experiments and they have succeeded or failed write Motography about it. Halifax Theaters Stunned By Disaster Some of the Picture Houses Must Be Rebuilt and Others Will Be Repaired at Enormous Expense MONTREAL exchange managers have received word from Halifax that a number of moving picture houses of the stricken city may not be re-opened for many months. The King Edward Theater will be closed until the summer, according to a reported decision of the management, while the Empire Theater building has been condemned because of the serious damage sustained. This will have to be rebuilt. The Casino Theater was damaged to the extent of $3,000. The Imperial, Strand, Orpheum and Academy may be opened late in January as they were only slightly damaged, yet it is considered bad policy to attempt to present any kind of pictures until the local situation clears up. The Strand and Academy were used as shelters for the homeless for several weeks. Steps have been taken in Montreal to raise a fund for the moving picture men of Halifax who will undoubtedly be jobless and penniless for some time to come. The front of the Rivoli, New York's newest and most beautiful playhouse. Puts Program Value Up to Public The Christmas week program of the Manring and Brownie theaters of Middlesboro, Ky., was an artistic eight-page booklet printed in red and green with holiday embellishments on every page that added to its attractiveness. Under the heading. "Big Things for the Holidays," the management of the two theaters announced: , "Naturally enough, everyone expects 'big things' at their local picture shows during holiday week. Months ago we got busy on this very matter, for we knew we would be disappointed if we waited until the last minute to book our Christmas offerings. The result is: A program that cannot be equaled, at any price, throughout the entire week. Our only fear is that we are spending too much money for the size of the town, but we are depending upon absolute capacity business to pull us out. One glance at our program will convince you its equal has never been offered in any one week, or month, for that matter. We also respectfully call your attention to the fact that, although the two Christmas day offerings are 'special' in every sense, there is no advance in prices for either picture. We do this because we want every family in Middlesboro to enjoy these magnificent productions." Tom Moore Extends His Theater Holdings Tom Moore, the largest exhibitor in Washington. D. C. and head of Moore's Theaters Corporation, has put through a deal to absorb the Metropolitan Theater Company. This consolidation gives the Moore concern five big film houses in the downtown section of Washington besides the seventeen theaters originally owned or planned, forming by far the largest combination of amusements the capital has ever known. Of the capital stock of the new firm $1,200,000 is owned by Moore, with the rest divided between Tucker K. Sands, Fred S. Swindell and Albert Muehleisen. It is understood that the operation of the circuit will be on a wholesale basis, resulting in lower operation expenses, improvement in the quality of films presented, and probably a reduction in price to the public. Plans are now under way to extend the circuit into Maryland and Delaware. Gives Free Shows for Children In Richmond, Va., a syndicate operating several theaters is giving Sunday afternoon entertainments for young people and children of the orphanages, children's homes, settlements and other classes of institutions, using selected pictures. These entertainments are given free, the manager believing that he owes this to the unfortunate young people of the city as a free-will offering. Highclass pictures, chosen from the selected lists of the National Board of Review, are used. The manager of this group of theaters, the Wells Theater Syndicate, is proposing to provide a free Sunday afternoon program of motion pictures for the soldiers from the neighboring training camp and the people of Richmond in the John Marshall High School auditorium.