Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

90 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 2. "Split Reel" Notes For Theater Men SNAPPY ITEMS OF INTEREST TO OWNERS AND MANAGERS Cold Decreases Business In spite of the fact that a heavy snow lay upon the ground for ten days continually, and the thermometer registered from 5 to 15 degrees most of the time, business at the Strand Theater in Nashville, Tenn., was decreased only 10 per cent, according to a statement made by Manager Carson Bradford. This is an exceedingly good record, in view of the fact that patronage was cut more than half in many houses over the city, with the suburban houses suffering proportionately. Manager Bradford exercised a piece of forethought at the beginning of the bad weather which saved him quite a tidy sum. A heavy canvas strip was secured and placed the entire length of the wide center aisle over the top of the plush carpet. As a result thousands of muddy feet which entered the house left their imprint upon the canvas, rather than on the carpet. This is a good plan to be pursued in muddy weather, such as follows a snow, especially in view of the fact that the false covering can be preserved for future Use. Veteran Goes to Canada Herb Jennings, a theater manager of twenty-two years' standing, has been appointed manager of the Flower Theater, Ottawa. This theater was recently taken over from F. Carling by the same interests which control the St. Denis Theater, Montreal, the Regent, Toronto, and other moving picture houses. Mr. Jennings formerly managed the Lyric Theater in Jamestown, N. Y., was an exhibitor of Los Angeles for several years, and has managed other houses. Many Houses Close Statistics on the moving picture situation in Indianapolis, Ind., show that twenty-three picture theaters have gone out of business in the last year. Most of the retirements have been due to increased taxes and decerased attendance. Nearly all of the playhouses forced out of business were in the outlying residential districts. Reports on business conditions in the downtown section of the city show a falling off in moving picture theaters' attendance of from 20 to 40 per cent. After Sunday Violators Warrants arc expected to be issued against the Sunday-closing law violators who kept their places of business open on last Sunday in Decatur, Ala. Officers made a careful survey of the various places open, even noting the fact that newspapers were being sold in front of a drug store. The "blue law" agitation in Alabama is worse this year than ever before. Special Children's Show in Chicago The Garfield Theater in Chicago recently gave a special ten-reel show for children, the program including Julian Eltinge in "The Clever Mrs. Carfax," Fatty Arbuckle in "The Country Hero," and Harry McCoy in a Keystone comedy, "Pearls and Perils." A single reel educational completed the entertainment. Theater Aids Recruiting In an effort to stimulate naval recruiting Ensign D. J. D. Coleman, who needed 442 recruits to complete his quota of 800 apprentice seamen, leased the Colonial Theater in Milwaukee, Wis., for an entire week recently, and gave free shows, including moving pictures, lectures and patriotic speeches. The plan was successful and many young men were induced to enter the navy during the week. Fire Destroys Theater One of the two moving picture theaters of St. John, Quebec, was destroyed by fire late in December. This was the house owned by Mr. Thuot and known as the Thuotoscope. He plans to rebuild the structure which was wiped out along with several other buildings. The Imperial Theater, in the same city, owned by A. Audet, was untouched. New House in Birmingham Birmingham, Ala., is to have a handsome new photoplay house, according to the plans of a local amusement company. The new theater will be of modern design, and will embody all the latest principles of fireproof construction, costing in the neighborhood of $15,000. The house will be known as the Savoy Theater. New $62,000 Theater In Harlowton, Mont., there is under construction the American Theater, which will cost $62,000. When completed it will be one of the finest moving picture theaters in that section of the country. The venture is being backed by R. E. Irwin and H. B. Myers. Spending $150,000 A total of $150,000 is being expended in the erection of the building that will house the new Thompson-Starrett moving picture theater in Pittsburgh, Pa. The new building will replace the old Harris Opera House. The construction work will be completed within a short time. Gives Money to Soldiers The Morse Theater, Chicago, gave its entire week's receipts — Christmas to New Years — to the recreation equipment fund of Company H, Three Hundred and Forty-third Infantry, stationed at Camp Grant, Rockford, 111. Newspaper Entertains Kids The St. Paul Daily News, following its annual custom, arranged a series of special theater parties for December 24 and 26. All youngsters under 12 years of age were admitted free to the Alhambra Theater where a special film program of interest to little folks was given for the two days. Warns Against Candles Motion picture theaters in Lansing, Mich., were used by the fire authorities to warn residents of the city against fire danger from placing lighted candles behind Red Cross service flags in windows. Slides were shown in every theater in the city carrying this warning. For Sale or Exchange Slightly used accessories needed in the Moving Picture Theaters This is the taking stock period of the year. Look over your inventory when you take it, and see what you have that you don't want to use this year. List the article with us, and we will run it under the above heading. State whether you want to sell or exchange the article for something else. What you don't want, some other exhibitor may need, and vice versa. In order to encourage the use of this department, a nominal charge of one cent a word will be made for each insertion, money accompanying order. This one cent a word rate will ho\ld good only until July 1, when the worth of the "For Sale or Exchange" department for slightly used articles, in a publication such as Motography, will have been demonstrated. A fixed rate will then adjust itself. Get in now, and help build the new department. It will prove to be a real convenience to exhibitors.