Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1917)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1711 Exhibitors News Interesting Information Concerning Moving Picture Men Gathered By Moving Picture World Correspondents Everywhere. MISSOURI. THE court of appeals planned for Kansas City baa been named by Mayor Jost. Tbe court will be composed of Dr. George H. Combs, a minister; Trigg A. Long, a fire insurance agent, and Battle McCardie, an attorney. Tbe court will have final judgment when the propriety of films shown in Kansas City is concerned. Fred F. tfcCltUQ will continue to act as censor, with authority to suppress pictures he regards as objectionable. The exhibitor may then appeal to the Court of Appeals, judgment of which will be final. Residents of Atchison, Kan., are exhibiting a good deal of pride over the advancement of Arthur Kane, now general manager of the Eclectic Feature Film Company. Mr, Kane makes his headuarters in New York. A few years ago, he was a leading exhibitor at Atchison, being manager of the old Palm Theater in that city. Mrs. Kane also is an Atchison product. Levo Broman bas opened an airdome at Marquette, Kan., the theater being redecorated for tbe formal opening. L. Jjean Sands, a well-known exhibitor, with several bouses in Missouri, has added tbe (rem Theater at Clinton, to bis string. Mr. Sands operates theaters at Warsaw, Windsor and Cbilhowee. A new airdome bas opened at Gentry, the orthodox theater being closed by the owners. The Granby Missourian, a weekly newspaper, has entered into an arrangement with tbe owners of the Cozy Theater of Cranby, whereby coupons clipped from the paper admit tbe bolder to the performance any day in the week, with the exception of Saturday night. A board of public welfare is provided for Pittsburg, Kan., in an ordinance recently introduced by the mayor. The board will consist of five members, and a salaried secretary. The latter will act as censor of the pictures shown in the city, other members of the board acting as a court of appeals to finally sit on protests. The case against eighteen proprietors and employees of motion picture theaters of Pittsburg, Kan., went to trial on May 29. The exhibitors are charged with tbe heinous offense of operating their bouses on Sundays. The moving picture men indicated their Intention of demanding trial by jury. Two Kansas City men hit upon the idea of making moving pictures of local events and showing tbem at local theaters. J. J. Brown and R. T. Miller recently launched their respective plans and as a result, Kansas City patrons of the silent drama are seeing all the sights at theaters. The innovation Is proving popular, and no difficulty is being encountered in booking tbe new productions. C. S. Edwards, a verteran of the motion picture industry and for the past five years with the Kansas City branch of tbe General Film Company, has tendered bis resignation and taken charge of the new Kansas City offices of the Eclectic Film Company. Mr. Edwards is a pioneer In the moving picture business, entering it about eight years ago. He was assistant manager of the Yale Company until October, 1910. when that concern sold to tbe General. At that time. Mr. Edwards joined tbe Kansas City branch of the General as assistant manager, later being made manager. His resignation was effective Jane 1. He immediately opened offices on the second floor of the Ozark building at 928 Main street. The Eclectic branch wil carry extensive tinea of supplies as soon as alterations in the new quarters are completed. Tbe General branch Is temporarily under the management of J. E. Willis, special representative of the rompany, with offices at Chicago. Mr. Willis will select Mr. Edwards' successor in the near future. The GUlham Amusement Company, which operates the GUlham theater at Thirty-first street and Gillham road, has filed articles of incorporation, the capitalization being fixed at $15,000. The chief stockholder Is Robert (Dusty) Bhoades. tbe former major league twirler, who has been In the moving picture business in Kansas City since be withdrew from the other National pastime. Other Incorporators are Cora Rhoades, H. E. Dean and Estella Dean. The Standard Amusement Company, which recently leased the Willis Wood Theater, will not open that house to tbe public before September 1. In the meanwhile, extensive alterations will be made, and the old theater will present an altogether new aspect when again ready for devotees of the pictorial drama. The Standard Amusement Company of Kansas City bas made shifts in its houses as the result of the recent departure of Joseph Spero. manager of the Alamo, for New York. N. J. Flynn will have charge of tbe Alama In the future. J. H. GUday will remain at the Twelfth-street Theater in the afternoon, but will be at the Broadmoor at night. W. J. Smith will supervise the Twelfth-street house in the evening. MURRAY. SAN FRANCISCO. npHE Parnassus Theater in tbe Sunset district, -I which bas been closed for some time, has been opened under the direction of J. P. Schoenberger. Mr. Schoenberger is well known la the Coast moving picture field, being the owner of the Harry Whitney and "Lucky" Scott pictures of hunting big game In Alaska. The Forestic Theater, which was opened in the Sunset district a few months ago, but which has been closed for several weeks, has been re-opened by W. L. Hall. Ben S. Cohen, representing the Film Syndicate. Is here from Chicago to arrange for the release of the "Million Dollar Mystery." Several bookings have already been made and considerable Interest has been aroused in tbe production. The story will probably be handled by the San FTanclsco Chronicle, but arrangements for this have not been completed. X. K. Stout is to have charge of the production in the San Francisco field and Mr. Cohen will leave shortly to establish headquarters at Los Angeles. The Vitaslide Company, 70 Turk street, is getting a splendid volume of business from New York, a recent order from its traveling representative. Bernard Wolf, received by wire calling for one hundred slides. New ideas are being brought out regularly iu the factory, and the capacity of this is to be enlarged to care for the immense increase in business that is promised. The Motion Picture Exhibitors* League of San Francisco adopted resolutions at its last meeting condemning the present practice of certain of the local exchanges in renting its posters, declaring that tbe rates are too high and the restrictions un At a recent public auction held in the Palace Hotel, an offer of $S7,250 was made for the Princess Theater property on Ellis street, near Fillmore. This bas been submitted to the owners and will probably be accepted. Paxson Muir bas secured a permit from the Board of Police Commissioners to conduct a picture theater at $02 Courtland avenue, and this will be opened shortly. The Macograph Film Company has been reorganized and articles of incorporation were filed May 25. The directors of the concern are Walter L. McGinn, H. Von Hohenvest. G. E. Schneider, R. Becsey and J. P. Melners, the company being controlled by Mr. McGinn and Mr. Yon Hohenvest. The capital stock is placed at $200,000. This concern conducts a studio at Forest Hill, one of the most beautiful residence parks in San Francisco, and operates a school in connection with this. Tbe office space In the Claus Spreckels building has been enlarged and preparations are being made for staging a number of high class productions. The Larkin Theater will be opened at SI 6 I-arkin Btreet early In June by Joy B. Rothschild, a permit for this having recently been granted by tbe Board of Poilce Commissioners, which passes upon all applications of this character. Th second week's showing of "Tess of tbe Storm Country." at Grauman's Imperial Theater, has been fully as successful as the first and crowds were turned away almost every evening. Had Mary Pickford happened in town during this week she would probably have been met at the Ferry by one or two of the Tesses who have been so noticeable on tbe street of late. Dressed In the garb of the heroine of the story, and carrying a basket of fish, several diminutive Mnry Pi.-kfords have threaded their way thronga tbe crowded streete this went, makinc as effective a showing as any advertising "stunt" ever carried out by a local moving picture ' C. B. Price, who recently went to Los Angeles to take charge of the branch maintained there by the World Film Corporation, has resigned his position and left for the East, his place having been taken temporarily by William V. Wood, who travels for the firm In this territory. E. H. Puffy, assistant general manager there. Harry C. Drum, the new manager of the San Francisco office, arrived recently, coming by way of Los Angeles. 0. A. Alderman, recently of Butte, Mont., and well known through the Northwest, has accepted a position with the San Francisco office of the Eclectic Film Company, 67 Turk street. Work on the remodeling of the Globe Theater on Mission street will be started within a few days for Turner Sc Dahnken and It will be but a short time until this popular bouse will again be open. The commencement of the work has been delayed but contracts have been let and an extension of time secured from the Board of Public Works. The Eclectic Film Company, 67 Turk street, is fitting up a splendid exhibition room where exhibitors will have an opportunity of Inspecting productions before making arrangements for showing tbem. This will be the first exchange here to have its own exhibition room. A Simplex projection machine will be installed. The Globe Film Exchange has opened for business at 935 Market street, on the fourth floor of the Pantages Theater building, with a large stock of subjects. The business of this concern will be divided into two departments, one for features and the other a regular service department. The former will be devoted to state rights subjects. While In the East recently Marion H. Kohn, general manager of the firm, secured the Pacific Coast sales agency for the Underwood & Underwood photograph views released through the Elliott Service Company. Mr. Kohn plans to establish a branch exchange at Los Angelea earl; in July and later will open another at Seattle. Wash. The California Motion Picture Corporation recently 1 the consent of the Federal authorities to take moving pictures on Angel Island, where the iiuarautine station is located, and several scenes In one of its first productions were enacted there. business with Warner's Features has increased fully one hundred per cent, on the Pacific Slope during* thf past three months and J. L. Warner, who bas bad charge of tins territory for some time, Is leaving foe New York well satisfied with the manner in which this < on. em's productions are being received. A s. Hyman, tbe new manager for the San Francisco branch, arrived here recently and has made a short trip to Los Angeles. The National Film Producing Company, 111 Turk street, has just completed the taking of 1200 feet of scenic film for the Lake Tahoe Transportation Company. Pictures were also taken of the first automobile to pass over the Summit, In tbe Sierra Nevada mountains, during tbe present season, an honor much striven for. Moving pictures were also taken of tbe opening of tbe new ball park at San Francisco. E. N. Dusenberry of this firm has had considerable experience in taking pictures from aeroplanes and has a large amount of work of this character In view. C. E. Ellis, formerly of the Unique Theater. Taft. Cal., has disposed of his interests to U. E. Jackson and is now operating at the Ed*6on Theater, Newman. The Peralta Theater has been opened at Fourteenth and Peralta streets. Oakland, by J. M. Samuel. John's Theater will be opened at Elmburst about the end of June. This Is a new and splendidly equipped house. The Jewel Theater at Palo Alto. Cal., Is now being conducted by C. J. Russell, Jr., and L. A. Wetzel as the Bijou. The Adeline Theater, Seventh and Adeline streets, Oakland, Cal., has been opened by K. Sudaha and A. Saba. A. D. Bynon, formerly of the American Theater, Willows, bas disposed of his Interests in this and has opened an airdome in the lumber town of Weed in the northern part of the state. F. M. Burgi bas purchased the American Theater at Willows and has changed the name to the Princess. The Bijou Theater has been opened at Visalla by G. S. Yamaucbi. Plans for the new theater of Turner & Dahnken at Watsonville have been revised and arrangements have been made for seating 1200 instead of 1000, as at first planned. A. Richards, formerly In vaudeville, has taken over tbe Gem Theater. Santa Clara, Cal. James M. French has disposed of bis moving picture theater at Sissoo, and Is planning to take a road show through Northern California during the summer. Work has been commenced on the enlargement of the Varsity Theater, University an San Pablo avenues, Berkeley, and when this is completed the seating capacity will have been increased to 700. The owner of this attractive and well patronized house is C. L Mehrten, treasurer of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of California, and one of the pioneer exhibitors of the state. Mr. Mehrten fntered the moving picture business with a traveling show about ten years ago and has kept pace with its manv developments since then. He bas a long-term lease on the Varsity Theater and has placed it well In the lead of the amusement bouses of Berkeley. Work Is to be commenced early In July on the additions to tbe Lorin PhotoplayTheater at South Berkeley and the capacity of this bouse will be greatly enlarged. Tbe National Photoplay Company has been Incorporated at l.os Angelea with a capital of $70,000. tbe directors being C. P. Larsen. A. E. Garcia. J. Jacobs, M. Fabian and R. Allen. The Santa Barbara Motion Picture Company has been incorporated at Santa Barbara. Cal.. with a capital stock of $20<>.000 by Lorimer Johnston, A. R. Kdmonson. II, M. A. Postley. Clara B. Vail. E. J. Caroline Johnston and O. W. Boeseke. Articles of incorporation of the Ameriea-Europa Film Co.. have been filed at Los Angeles by G. J. Slnebv. R. E. Nathansohn, Mrs. Cora Rose. K K. Wiley and J. P. Keogh, tbe capital stock being placed at $75,000. The Universal Screen Company has been Incorporated at Los Angeles by G. Hessler. A. Bloomberg. R. Mavs and A. Dodge, with a capital stock of $20,000. ' After June l.*> all places of amusement at Dinuba, Cal., will be closed Sundays, an ordinance to this effect bavins been passed by the city council. Moving picture shows come under the ban. A communication wn* recently received from H. J. Loken. of the First Christian Church of Berkeley, for permission to operate a moving picture machine In that church. At the request of the council Everltt Nortbrup. deputy marshal and representative of tbe fire underwriters, presented a communication setting