Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1917)

544 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Union, Boston Local 1S2, has adjusted its troubles and unionized, it is reported. A new Incorporation is the Stereo-Film Company, at Portland, Maine, for $250,000. The following are named as the promoters: Eben Winthrop Freeman, B. M. Wall and C. M. Drummond. Business Agent William Franke, of the Operators' Union, Boston Local 1S2, has returned from a trip to New York, where he acted as examiner of 300 members of an independent union, whieb has applied for membership in the A. F. of L., international. The Boston Post's Elephant Fund continues to receive hearty co-operation from moving picture theaters. This week Manager Charles F. Hodgdon, manager of the Princess Theater, Wakefleld, Mass., held a benefit and turned over $12.20 to the Post. Admission was five cents and the matinee was for children only. Manager C. J. Gorman, of the Roslindale, Mass., Theater, held his regular weekly benefit. Middleboro, Mass., is to have another moving picture theater or two, before long. Dr. F. L. Rounds intends to open a house on Thatcher's Row, and Edward Shaw is also about to open a theater here. The town at present boasts of but one moving picture house. Worcester, Mass., is to have a new theater to be devoted to photoplays, as Messrs. Murphy and Shea are building now on Milberry street. It is a onestory frame building, 90 by 40 feet. George Kleine is to present his "Quo Vadis?" in eight reels at Tremont Temple, Boston, starting April 20. There will be two exhibitions daily — at 2 and S p.m. An especially engaged orcbestra, including the Tremont Temple organ, will render appropriate music, and a lecturer will describe the scenes. Manager Bianchi, of the Premier Theater, Newport, Vt., and the Globe Theater, St. Johnsbury, Vt., is featuring Warner productions regularly at both houses. Mr. Bianchi reports business as being very good indeed. The St. James and Orpheum Theaters, Boston, both Marcus Loew houses, continue to heavily advertise the Klaw and Erlanger-Biograph features. The latest productions exhibited at these houses are "Seven Days" and "Woman Against Woman." These features are getting across in good shape, and appeal strongly to the audiences. "The Perils of Pauline" also is meeting with unqualified success at these houses. George Horan has bad plans made calling for a 1,400-seat house at Thompson Square, Charlestown, Mass. The new theater will play moving pictures and will be built as a strictly first-class fireproof theater. Sam &*rand has sold his interest in the White Amusement Company and is no longer associated in the ownership of the Academy Theater, Lowell, Mass. On Monday night, April 13, after the theaters closed, the Theatrical Stage Employees' Union, Boston, had its annual banquet at Lawrence Encampment Hall. The entertainment program was given by professionals from local theaters. The selectmen of Winchester, Mass. , found a divided sentiment regarding the propriety of permitting a moving picture theater In that town, when they gave a hearing on April 11, on the petition of Mrs. Oren C. Sanborn for a license for the theater. The superintendent of schools favored the granting of the license, but a member of the school committee was opposed to such action. A clergyman spoke in behalf of the petitioner, hut a representative of the Winchester Mothers' Association spoke in remonstrance. George C. Colt, of the school committee, objected on the ground that the concentration powers of the children would be affected, and that they would be thinking of the "wild and wooly West," rather than their lessons. He would not mind so much, he said, if but one performance a week were to be given, and that under the proper supervision, but, as he understood it, the plan was for several shows a week. N. M, Nichols, town truant officer, and custodian of school buildings, objected to the granting of the license, but stated that moving picture exhibitions might properly be given under the supervision of the school department. Mrs. N. M. Nichols, a member of the Winchester Mothers' Association, advanced the argument that it would be but another hardship added to the burden of the town's poor families, whose children would want to attend when the parents were not In a position to let them. Mrs. O. C. Sanborn, the petitioner for the license, attended the meeting, but did not take part in the discussion. She was represented by Ralph E. Joslin, former town counsel, who opened the hearing, and explained the nature of the shows to be run, saying that they were to be of a clean and educational nature. Among those in favor of granting the petition were: Rev. Joel H. Metcalf, pastor of the First Unitarian Church; Superintendent of Schools Schuyler F. Herron and Mrs. C. Zeublin. At the close of the hearing the selectmen took the matter under advisement, and will render their ultimatum later on. Maplewood, Mass. near Fall River, Is due to have a new moving picture theater on Peckham street, near Stafford.road. Work on the house is now well under way, and the house will be ready shortly. A. C. Morrison, proprietor of the Princess Theater, State street, Hartford, Conn., has taken a ten-year lease on the new theater, to be built on the site of the old Auditorium building, on Asylum street, which was destroyed by fire recently. The plana call for an absolutely fire-proof house with a seating capacity of 1,700. Mr. Morrison expects to t»T» the house ready for opening on October 1. The house will be an exclusive feature photoplay theater. Walter Preston, manager of the New Bedford Theater, New Bedford, Mass., recently held one of his famous annual clambakes, attended by people from all nearby points. L. A. Atwater, sales manager of the Nicholas Power Company, and Fred. W. Swett, traveling in the interests of the Power's machine, attended and report they had a gala time. Polis Theater, New Haven, Conn., has installed a stock company to work over the spring and summer. Mr. Mo.vJey Bliumenberg, manager of the New Pct^t-i land Theater, Portland, Me., has secured the feature picture, "Smashing the Vice Trust," and will headline it the week of April 20. Sol Rose, manager of Fox's Theater, New Britain, Conn., is doing a good business with pictures only; no vaudeville being used. An orchestra of ten pieces has been installed. The Universale "Trance in Souls" played the Merrimack Square Theater. Lowell, Mass., to capacity trade April 6-11. Manager F. J. Carroll is finding business good here. The Opera House, Mllford, Mass., is closed, and it is not known what will be offered here in the future. Many different policies have been tried, with little or no success. Geo. J. Applely has left Boston to manage the Mutual's branch at Portland, Me., whither it was moved from Waterville. New Hampshire and Vermont exhibitors will he served from the Portland branch, as well as Maine exhibitors. The week of April 20 is scheduled as Old Home Week at Poli's Theater, Springfield, Mass., and a special program of vaudeville and pictures has been promised. E. L. Knight, manager of the Bijou Theater, Springfield, Mass., plays feature films regularly. "The Squaw Man," in pictures, attracted big crowds to this house last week. Balkan War pictures were shown at the Orpheum Theater, at Haverhill, Mass., on Friday night, April 3, to big Teturns. The closing of the Pastime Theater. Boston, due to the widening of Avery street, has been put over a couple of weeks, and this house will not shut down until April 19. Manager J. A. Eslow, N. E. Universal Film Exchange, Boston, finds that his new educational department is in great demand by churches, social organizations, civic leagues and other bodies wishing to show moving pictures of an educational flavor. Although this department of Mr. Eslow's has only been in operation a short time, it has rapidly leaped to the front in amount of business being done. Louis Paley is shortly to open a new theater at Grafton, Mass., to be devoted to photoplays. The house really will he in North Grafton, on Main street. A three-'Story building is being erected, in which a theater, 40 by 70 feet, will be conducted. Mr. Paley had some trouble to convince the municipal authorities that a license should be granted, but he finally carried his point. HENRY. SAN FRANCISCO. THE magnificent new moving picture house to be opened shortly by Ben Michaels in Broadway, near Stockton street, will be known for a time as the New Theater. A contest will be held soon and a prize of $25 will be awarded to the person suggesting the most appropriate name. This Is to he something typical of the North Beach section and only those living in that district may compete. The building is a three-story structure and will he one of the largest moving picture houses in the city. The film "Samson," which has attracted so much interest here, has been booked for Grauman's Imperial and will be shown at an early date. The Theatrical Treasurers' Club gave its annual benefit performance for the sick and charity fund at the Cort Theater on April 3, practically every theater in the city contributing. Douglas Crane and his wife, and their manager, Fred Belasco, have secured an injunction against the Popular Amusement Company, owners of the Portola Theater, and the R. O. Film Manufacturing Company, to stop a display of moving pictures showing the dancers in action. It is alleged by the complainants that while they were dancing the tango on the roof of the St. Francis Hotel on March 21 for the purpose of being photographed for for the benefit of a charity performance for the Happy Day Home, a moving picture operator for the R. O. Film Manufacturing Company surreptitiously got within range and caught the dancers from start to finish. Ralph Pincus, of the amusement company, states that he bought the films from the company without any knowledge of the circumstances as alleged by the tango dancers and Fred Belasco. P-i-lusro declares that the exhibition of the pictures has injured the drawing power of the Cranes as a theatrical attraction to the extent of $10,000 and asks for damages in that amount. He also asks that the film manufacturing company turn over to the Court all the films they took, so that they may be destroyed. The case will come up shortly in the Superior Court before Judge Seawell. A co-partnership has been formed between D. L. Gilmore, L. M. Kaiser and George Breck and a recently perfected lantern slide is being placed on the market, the business being conducted under the name of the Vitasllde Company. The slide that is being manufactured is the invention of E. L. Gilmore, and is the first improvement that has been made in lantern slides in many years. Id appearance it is the same as other slides, but when placed in position objects come into view and pass away with no attention from the operator. The invention has been thoroughly tested out in local theaters and the device is already in demand where known. L. M. Kaiser, of the new firm, is a member of the optical firm of Hirsch & Kaiser, and George Breck is one of the pioneer dealers in projection machines on the coast. Offices have been established at 70 Turk street and a factory is in operation close by. The California Film Exchange, Inc., is enjoying such an increase of business that it has been found necessary to add to the office space at 54 Seventh street, and the booking force has been enlarged. Charles Baer is now head booker, succeeding David BershaD, the other bookers being A. Markowitz and Vern. Moore. The Turner & Dahnken Circuit has hooked the Universal "Lucille Love" pictures. The change in policy inaugurated recently by the Empress Theater whereby moving pictures are featured exclusively during certain periods of the day has proved to be successful so far. "The Gangster" has been shown this week and Keystone comedies have also been featured. T. Gibson, who conducts the Rex Theater at Ukiah, Cal., was in San Francisco this week and made arrangements while here to secure Continental features. Conditions are reported to be excellent in Ukiah and vicinity. J. Ratto, who conducts theaters in Jacksonville and Sutter Creek, thriving cities in the old mining section of the state, was in San Francisco recently on a business trip. The California Motion Picture Corporation has secured the services of Charles Kenyon, author of "Kindling," to adapt a number of plays and other literary works to suit its requirements for production. With the Keenograph Company, of Fairfax, about ready to commence operations on a large scale and with the big studio of the California Motion Picture Corporation near San Rafael now approaching completion, Marin county commences to loom up as an important factor as a producing center. Another large concern will open there before summer, according to present plans. The Eclectic Film Company is having work rushed on the fitting up of Its offices at 67 Turk street, San Francisco, and the first release of film will he made shortly when fifteen copies of the "Perils of Pauline" will be placed In as many local houses. Frank L. Hudson, manager of this branch, has been working at high pressure since his arrival here to make the new policy a complete success from the start. The Colonial Theater, at Willows, Cal. , was opened on April 4 by Lewis & Wisecarver. This is a very handsome house, seating about 500, and equipped with high-grade opera chairs and a firstclass mechanical equipment. The theater opened with a Mutual service and Continental features. A. T. Cunnard, of Taft, Cal., expects to have his new airdome In operation about the middle of April. The old skating rink at Lindsay, Cal., is being remodeled and will be occupied by the Liberty Theater when the work is completed. The roof Is being raised four feet and other improvements made. The house will have a seating capacity of about 900 and will be ready for occupancy about the middle of April, when it will be opened as a moving picture theater. A movement is on foot to open a new theater at Woodland, Cal., this to be one of a number to he operated in the Sacramento Valley by a new amusement circuit in which Henry Laugenour is interested. Mr. Laugenour is the father of Hazel Bess Laugenour, who has won fame as the first girl to swim the Golden Gate at San Francisco. Wallace Clark, 1131 Oakland avenue, Oakland, Cal., has taken out a building permit for the erection of a one-story photoplay theater at Fourteenth and Peralta streets. Extensive improvements are being planned for the Theater Fresno, Fresno, Cal., this summer. New cooling, heating and lighting systems are to be installed and the house will be re-decorated and new furniture put in. This theater is conducted as a vaudeville and moving picture house. Contracts will be let shortly for the erection of a theater at Modesto, Cal., for W. R. Mensenger. This will cost about $100,000 and will have a seating capacity of 1,000. It will be devoted to regular theatrical attractions and moving pictures. The Rex Theater, Clovis, Cal., recently gave a free performance when moving pictures of Big Creek , one of the scenic attractions of Fresno county, were shown. The Oz Film Manufacturing Company has been incorporated at Los Angeles by L. F. Baum, L. F. Gottschalk, C. H. Rundel, H. M. Halddeman and F. J. Baum, the capital stock being placed at $100,000. The Franklin Street Theater Company, which recently took out a permit for the erection of a $50,000 photoplay house on Franklin street, near Fourteenth, Oakland, Cal., has leased the building for twenty years to Salt Lake City parties, headed by Charles W. Midgley. The new house will seat 1,200 persons. CHURCH.