Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1915)

July 24, 1915 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD DALLAS THEATER CHANGE IN POLICY A SURPRISE. By S. G. Parker, Dallas Correspondent of Moving Picture World. A SURPRISE was sprung in Dallas motion picture circles when it was announced that on July 11, the Queen theater would run Mutual pictures exclusively. The Queen has been running Mutual Masterpictures, General specials, "The Goddess," V-L-S-E, etc., and this change to Mutual exclusively was not expected i and hit the trade with quite a surprise. The Queen is owned by a corporation headed by E. H. Hulsey, and is under the management of L. G. Bissinger. Mutual • pictures and stars are well thought of in Dallas, and usually draw good crowds. LONE STAR NOTES. During the absence of Manager Leo F. i Levison of the Box Office Attraction Co., ! distributors of Fox productions, in Dallas, the office force has put forth special efforts to increase the amount of business. They have succeeded to such an extent 1 that Mr. Devison will be glad he has such assistants. F. A. Tomes is in charge during Mr. Levison's visit to New York attending the Fox Film exchange men's convention. Fifty-cent photoplays in Dallas will remain a thing to be hoped for. The Washingtdn theater, Dallas, under the management of Gus Carter, opened a ten-day engagement of "The Eternal City" June 28 at 25 and 50 cent prices. These prices were in effect for three days when they were changed to 20 and 35 cents. On July 6, they were 15 and 25 cents. This is the top-notch for motion picture houses in Dallas, with any success. The popularity of one Charlie Chaplin, in Dallas, is shown by five houses running Chaplin pictures in one day. The Queen and Feature were both showing the late Essanay "Work," while other five-cent houses were running new prints of "Doe and Dynamite," "The Property Man" and "By the Sea." All of the theaters enjoyed a good business, with the Queen and Feature stacking 'em. Exhibitors in the larger cities of Texas are almost unanimous in their opinion that serials do not bring any increase in patronage, and it is a rather hard proposition for a road man to secure bookings on serials in those cities. "The Goddess" is running at the Queen, in Dallas, "The Black Box" at the Newport and the Hippodrome has just finished "The Exploits of Elaine." The Roseland theater of Dallas has been leased by the Dalton Brothers, formerly managers of the Old Mill, Orpheum and Happy Hour theaters in the same city. They have inaugurated "Ten-Cent-Vaudeville-and-Pictures" and are getting good business in the 300-chair house. On July 5, the home of Dave Reed, president of the Metro Pictures Corporation of Texas, at Dallas, was visited by the Stork and "Daddy" David now hurries home very early every afternoon to play with the little girl. Her proud father and mother have not yet named her, but it has been persistently rumored that the reason for this delay is that Dave insists she should be called "Metro" while Mrs. Dave says she thinks it would be better to name her "Olga" after Mme. Olga Petrova. of Metro Pictures. Albert Russell, secretary of the Metro, says he is hoping the newness of having a baby in the family, as this is Number One for Mr and Mrs. Reed, will soon wear off, so Dave will not spend all his time telephoning home "to see how the kid is." Rumor certainly travels fast! Two weeks before the announcement of the "AitkenGriffith Ince Sennett" combination, and the selection of Fruehler as head of the Mutual, exchange men in Dallas were talking of the probable future of the Mutual with "the remainder of 'em" and the line-up of the N.T.M.P. and Aitken forces; for it was common gossip that a split was coming. One exchange man is forecasting tnat before thirty days an announcement will be seen stating that two large in dependent producers will be aligned with the new Mutual program; and almost every exchange-man has a different view. H. T. Murray, known as "Uncle Tom" Murray, opened his airdome at Alvord, Texas, two weeks ago; and was in Dallas last week buying a $1,600 Wurlitzer instrument and two new machines. R. W McEwan, formerly part owner and manager of the Majestic theater, Hillsboro, Texas, has forsaken the exhibiting end to become aligned in the supply business, having sold his interest in the theater to his partner, B. A. Lawrence, and taken up duties in the concern, R. D. Thrash Film Company, in Dallas. JACKSONVILLE NEWS NOTES. By J. Melvin Andrews, Jacksonville Correspondent of Moving Picture World. THE New Arcade theater will open next "week with high-class motion pictures and singers, Jesse D. Clark, who has been at the Grand, has been transferred to the new house as local manager and is now putting the finishing touches on in order to be ready for the opening. "Dan" Michaelove succeeds Mr. Clark at the Grand. Mr. Byron Bryan, who is now in charge of the "Rooster" exchange, has just returned from a trip throughout the southern part of the state and reports business only fair. It seems that a good many houses are closing for the summer, but prospects for the season look very good. Business in the city for the past week has been badly handicapped, on account of the heavy rains which have been prevailing over the South; not a day has passed for the last week without one or two hard rains. "The Isle of Regeneration," the six-reel Vitagraph Blue Ribbon masterpiece which scored such a decided hit at the Imperial theater a few weeks ago, played a return engagement at this popular house on last Tuesday to capacity business regardless of rain, as also did "The Goddess" on Monday and "The Sins of the Mother," another Blue Ribbon Vitagraph masterpiece in five reels, on Thursday. This is the story for wrhich Miss Elaine Sterne was awarded the $1,000 prize by the judges in the New York Sun scenario contest, and judging by the attendance on Thursday and Friday this one would also play a return. It is reported that Mr. D. Holloman of Fort Pierce is now erecting a motion picture theater in this thriving little city, which will cost when completed about $15,000. There will be seating, capacity for seven hundred and will run Mutual program. A small boy created a panic at the Savoy theater one night last week when he bursted a malodor bomb; patrons were forced to leave the theater in double quick time. L. C. Oliver, the manager, who was in the house at the time, -was lucky in catching the boy in the act. He was turned over to the police department, who in turn handed him over to his father, who assured Mr. Oliver that he was severely punished. The free motion picture shows being given by the city in the park continue to be successful, thousands of women and children attending every Thursday night; music is furnished by the Boys' band, also the First Regiment band. The Republic theater doesn't seem to be doing so well since the change of policy last week; the price of admission makes no difference with the people here providing the attractions are good. Miss Reed, secretary of the Kalem company, left last week on her vacation. Miss Reed expects to visit many points north, returning here in about four weeks. "Wild Bill" Hopkins, who up until the present has termed himself the "unluckiest" man in the world, reports that luck has finally changed and he now thinks he is the luckiest man in the world. "Bill's" wife has inherited $25,000 and a ten-acre farm; pretty soft for "Bill." Mr. Hopkins was formerly with the Lubin Co. here and is a brother-in-law to A. D. Hotaling of the Lubin staff. 691 BUFFALO NEWS GOSSIP. By Billy Bison, Buffalo, 229 Oxford Ave., Correspondent of Moving Picture World. ' nr HE new Regus moving picture theater ■L at Chenango and Munsell streets, Binghamton, N. Y., seats 1,000 persons The Regus is described as one of the finest houses between New York and Buffalo. The front and side entrances are decorated with moulded figures which give an artistic tone to the building. The theater is fireproof throughout and the ventilation is of the highest order. The side walls and ceiling are literally filled with ventilators. There is a commodious stage and a fireproof operating room. The Globe moving picture theater, Buffalo, whose proprietor went into bankruptcy, has been closed for several weeks. The name of George Griffin appears in a recent casualty list sent out by the Allies from the European war zone. Griffin was at one time connected with the management of the Family moving picture theater of Welland, a Canadian town near Buffalo. He was related to the owner of the Griffin chain of Canadian theaters. The Bijou moving picture theater of Mt. Morris, N. Y., will be closed during the summer months on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights. Samuel W. Hippler, editor of the Sunday Illustrated Times of Buffalo. N. Y., a newspaperman of wide experience, is doing the press work for Erie Beach, a summer resort near that city. A moving picture show is among the features at this park. Edward Tranter, sporting editor of the Buffalo Enquirer, is press agent for Carnival Court, a Buffalo summer park, which has a moving picture show. A new front will be erected at the Golden Palace moving picture theater of Lockport, N. Y., by Henry F. Thurston, proprietor. An open air theater, seating 2,000 persons, will be built at Vassar College. The Hotel Sheldon of North Tonawanda, N. Y., which was damaged by fire, may be remodeled into a moving picture theater. The first public moving picture show ever held out of doors at Kenwood, N. Y., recently attracted a good atendance. Charles T. Taylor of Louisville will succeed J. M. Ward as manager of the Gayety theater, Buffalo. This house occasionally adds moving pictures to its regular program of burlesque. It is reported that a . moving picture theater may be built in the business section of Webster street and another near Schenk street and Payne avenue. North Tonawanda, N. Y. Business in this line has been stimulated as a result of a successful fight for Sunday shows waged by Henry Klinger, proprietor of the Oliver moving picture theater of that city. Mr. Klinger sought a license to operate his house on Sundays and the court granted his request. Mayor Rand of North Tonawanda opposed granting the license. The Mozart theater of Elmira, N. Y., has closed for the summer. E. Melville is building a moving picture theater at Interlaken, N. Y. Many attended the first open air moving picture show held this season in Union Club Park, Palmyra, N. Y. A film in the Empire theater. Cohoes, N. Y., recently caught fire but was extinguished before any damage was done. Patrons did not know of the accident, the operators having thrown the film out of a window. Free tickets to Saturday afternoon shows to the Lyric and Amuse-U moving picture theaters of Corry, Pa., have been distributed in the rural districts about that city. The purpose is to attract Saturday shoppers to Corry. The tickets have been given out by the Board of Commerce and Industry of that place. Arguments against Sunday moving picture shows were recently given in a sermon by the Rev. Horace G. Ogden of the First Methodist Church, Rochester, N. Y. Manager Denzinger of the Olympic theater. Buffalo, recently gave a free show for the benefit of many newsboys who sell the Enquirer of that city.