The Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1913)

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58 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD QUIMBY'S $60,000 EXCLUSIVE PICTURE HOUSE. The following excerpt is from a letter of W. C. Quimby: "If any dubious person should doubt that money invested in a comfortable, sanitary and fireproof moving picture theater for the exclusive presentation of photoplays is not a good investment, he ought to visit Zanesville, Ohio, and look over my new $60,000 moving picture theater." Judging from the number of beautiful photographs illustrative of interior and exterior views which Mr. Quimby has sent us, it looks as though Mr. Quimby had spent over twice the amount that he says he has, and they further point out the fact that Mr. Quimby's faith in the stability of the picture business is anything but weak. Owing to lack of space we are unable to publish but one photograph of Mr. Quimby's $60,000 photoplay palace. The plot of ground upon which the structure stands has a frontage of 70 feet and a depth of 132 feet. It is modern in every respect and is built of fireproof material throughout. Nothing has been left undone for the benefit of patrons in the way of convenience. Mr. Quimby opened his new house around the first of June, 1912, and has been playing to crowded houses ever since. He has turned crowds away in the summer and is doing it yet. People from neighboring towns come to his house in automobiles. It has a seating capacity of 750 persons. View of Entrance to Quimby's $60,000 Picture House. The lobby is beautifully lighted and standing in conspicuous places are neatly framed posters of the pictures constituting the day's programme. There are check rooms for women's and men's garments, wraps, etc. The checking system of the house is so perfect that a man may have his cigar checked and get it back in good condition when the entertainment is over. The ushers and attendants are examples of refined etiquette and neatness of appearance. As one sits in the luxurious leather opera chairs w:atching the pictures, he breaths nothing but the purest of air, for the ventilating apparatus of the theater is perfect. It is cool in the summer and the right temperature of warmth permeates the place in the winter. In justice to Mr. Quimby's excellent management, a word ought to be said of the music which he gives to his patrons When the theater was built he installed a $4,500 Wurlitzer Unit orchestra. After using this instrument for about six months, Mr. Quimby was so well pleased with it that as a Christmas present to his patrons he bought and installed a $3,5oo pipe organ. These instruments are played by a competent musician, and the audiences express great satisfaction over the music. Mr. Quimby has recently installed his own electric light plant, which is saving him about $150 a month. He was compelled to do this on account of the exorbitant rates charged by local lighting companies. Mr. Quimby is also the owner of other large houses playing to vaudeville and moving pictures. The admission prices to the new house are five and ten cents. MORRIS GRAND THEATER, HOT SPRINGS, S. D. The half-tone engravings accompanying this article are views of the Morris Grand Theater, Hot Springs, S. D. The house is owned and managed by Morris Block, one of the most enterprising and hustling exhibitors in the Western country. Hot Springs is a town with a population of about 2,500 and to have a $15,000 theater as the Morris Grand is going some. We are skeptical as to whether or not there is another town of its size which has such an expensive photoplay house. Morris Grand Theater. Mr. Block says his theater is a paying investment even though it is built in such a small town. "Although Hot Springs is a small town, it is by no means 'dead,' " says Mr Block. "It is one of the liveliest places in the Black Hills The local lodge of Odd Fellows recently attended the International Convention at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and Geo. Grossmith and Mr. Ed. Payne, actors well known to the states, have at last submitted to the camera and have been filmed in their very successful musical comedy, "Our Miss Gibbs," produced by a London company. Interior View of Morris Grand Theater. won a prize for being one of the best drilled Odd Fellow teams attending the convention. A thousand-foot reel of the Odd Fellows' parade at Winnipeg was taken and I immediately secured a copy of it.