Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

96 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. VI, No. 2. Micnigan Exhibitors Convene at Detroit Motion picture exhibitors of Michigan met in their first annual convention at Detroit, July 11 to 13. About a hundred exhibitors were in attendance, of which about half were licensed and half independent. The Burns hotel was made convention headquarters, while the meetings were held in Turner hall. The Detroit Moving Picture Association, through its secretary, F. H. Baumgartner, called the state meeting. It was announced that the purpose of the convention was to consider the grievances of the exhibitors with a view to remedying them by concerted action. Officers elected for the ensuing year were: Peter J. Jeup, Detroit, president; H. F. Towser, Lansing, vice-president ; William L. Levy, Detroit, secretary ;. Carl Ray, Muskegon, secretary. Secretary Levy, J. J. Reeder and B. L. Converse were selected as delegates to the national convention at Cleveland. The Detroit Association entertained the visitors with automobile tours and dinners and made their visit well worth while, if only from the pleasure standpoint. A number of manufacturers' representatives were present, among whom were: A. M. Kennedy, American Film, Chicago; David Horseley, Nestor Film, New York; John Hardin, Edison Company; M. Dintenfass, Champion Film, New York ; L. Clark, Enterprise Optical Company, Chicago; I. Bernetein, Yankee Film Company. Among the Picture Theaters ROLL OF THE STATES. ALABAMA. Articles of incorporation have been filed for the Picture Play Amusement Company of Montgomery. The capital stock is $10,000 and the incorporators are Arthur Hirscher, John A. Haardt and H. C. Farley. The company has acquired the Empire and Empress theaters of that city. The Crown Theater, one of the handsomest and most thoroughly equipped moving picture theaters to be found anywhere, was recently opened on Dauphin street, between Jackson and Joachim streets, Mobile. The seating capacity of the house is 400 and no pains have been spared to provide for the comfort and safety of its patrons. There is an excellent ventilating system consisting of two seventy-inch blowers propelled by a ten-horse power encased motor, which furnishes a continual supply of fresh air to all parts of the house every two and one-half minutes. The operating room is encased in asbestos pressed boards one-quarter of an inch thick, making it thoroughly fireproof. All lights in the theater are handled from the operating room and the stage by a system of remote control, thus practically eliminating all danger from fire. The lighting system consists of tungsten fixtures set in uniform lily designs, which design prevails throughout the fixtures of the theater. For the convenience of those entering or ieaving during the performance, art glass light fixtures of a subduqd shade are arranged along the side walls of the auditorium. ARIZONA. J. M. Epstein of Prescott has leased a lot on Adams street, between First and Second avenues, Phoenix, on which he proposes to erect a modern moving picture theater at a cost of $8,000. ARKANSAS. The Little Rock Theater Company of Little Rock has been incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000. The directors are Fred G. Weiss, Clarence Weiss and Roy Thompson. The Lyric Theater of De Queen has been sold to Proctor & Ford, owners of the Queen Theater, who will discontinue the same. CALIFORNIA. The Pantages Vaudeville Circuit will erect a new vaudeville theater at Twelfth and Franklin streets, Oakland, at a cost of $175,000. Plans have been accepted and work begun on the Empress, a new moving picture theater to be erected in San Pablo avenue, Oakland, adjoining the Gell Theater, by A. S. and J. Cohn, who propose to give Oakland the finest moving picture house west of Chicago, if not in all the United States. The building will be of the Class A style — steel and concrete construction and absolutely fireproof in every detail. The estimated cost, including interior decorations and furnishings, is $35,000. The entire front of the building is to be of procelain castwork in bas relief, depicting masks and designs symbolical of the drama and all to be handsomely executed and cast in radiant colors with myriads of incandescent lights artistically arranged. Special attention will be given to ventilation and lighting. It is planned to have the house completed by October 1. The theater is strictly a moving picture house, but the plans show a richness and sumptuousness of detail usually found only in the most expensive theaters. A moving picture theater is being erected on Broadway, Fresno, by H. C. Capwell at a ' cost of $50,000, which will be leased by Turner & Dahnken, one of the largest film operating firms in the United States. The seating capacity will be 2,000 and the stage will be as large as that of any theater in the city. It is claimed this will be the largest moving picture house on the Pacific Coast. The Amusu, a moving picture theater at Toulon, has been purchased by Messrs. Hutchison and Emery, who will operate it under the name of the Princess. The Council of Los Angeles has passed an ordinance providing for the appointment of an advisory committee or board of censors which shall pass upon pictures before they are exhibited. The committee will consist of one member appointed by the Mayor, one by the Police Commission, one by the Moving Picture Exhibitors' Association, one by the Board of Education and one by the Civic League. The Empire Theater of Eureka, which has been closed for some time, will be reopened by Josh Vansant, the former owner. The Aerotorium is the name of the new moving picture theater at Avalon. The Hollister is the name of a new theater at the corner of Seventh and San Benito streets, Hollister, which will be occupied as a moving picture theater by Elmer Tompkins, who now operates the Opal Theater, about September 1st. COLORADO. The Paris is the name of a handsome new moving picture theater to be erected in Denver by the Paris Theater and Amusement Company at a cost of $75,000. It will be located on Curtis street opposite the old Curtis Theater and it is said will outrival in brilliancy anything on "Denver's White Way," as Curtis street is called. There will be a total of 6,000 lights, 1,000 incandescents in the big sign, 2,500 on the front of the building and 2,500 in the theater. Charles Smith, George E. Taylor and Harry G. Dunegan are the promoters of the company. DELAWARE. The National Film Distributing Company has been chartered to, purchase and lease, own or manufacture moving picture equipments. The incorporators are residents of Dover and the capital stock is $1,000,000. The Lions Films Manufacturing Company, Wilmington, has been incorporated with a capital stock of $75,000, to manufacture and furnish films for moving pictures. The National Moving Picture Advertising Company has been incorporated with a capital stock of $125,000 by F. M. Shive, S. F. Roberson and W. W. Pusey, all of Wilmington. Plans have been prepared for a new moving picture theater to be erected at Wilmington under the supervision of the firm of R. Topkis & Sons and others, which will be one of the most beautiful of its kind in that section. It will have a seating capacity of 1,000 and will be of Grecian style. FLORIDA. Harry Wadham will open a moving picture theater at Braden City.