Moving Picture World (Jul 1919)

262 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD July 12, 1919 ELABORATE BUFFALO HOUSE IS PLANNED The Shea Amusement Company Will Expend Over One Million Dollars on a New Picture Theatre PLANS are progressing for the erection by the Shea Amusement Company of a large, elaborate motion picture house. The cost of the structure, according to Harold B. Franklin, managing director of Shea's Hippodrome, will be $1,125,000. The same architects who designed the State Lake Theatre in Chicago have designed the Shea house, which will be called the Metropolitan. It is expected that actual work will begin within the next few weeks and the theatre opened to the public in the spring of 1920. The Metropolitan will have many innovations in theatre construction, several of them being original ideas of Mr. Franklin. The house will be devoted exclusively to motion pictures, and the policy at the Hippodrome will be changed to high-class vaudeville and pictures. The only thing now pending is the closing of the deal for the site, which will be announced within a few days. Strand Films C. of C. Cruise. The Strand Theatre is co-operating with the Buffalo Evening News in the production of a local news reel each week under the title of the News-Strand Pictures. Recently the Chamber of Commerce members, 500 strong, went on a boosting cruise to Cleveland, and the Strand cameraman went along. Thursday, June 26, the 2,000 feet of film “shot” on the trip was shown in the Strand after a great first-page announcement by the News. The Strand audiences consisted almost exclusively of “big business” men for the three days that the films were shown. Vibbard Goes Touring. N. Vibbard, manager of the sales and accessory department of the Famous Players-Lasky branch, is making an extended trip through territory included in the exchange’s domain, and reports to Manager R. C. Fox that in spite of the warm weather exhibitors are well satisfied with the business outlook. Sharick Exploitation Manager. Andrew J. Sharick, former member of the Buffalo Enquirer reportorial staff, and more recently publicity director for the local T. M. C. A„ is working out of the Buffalo Select branch in the capacity of exploitation manager. Mr. Sharick’s office here will be at 176 Franklin street. He put over the exploitation of “Bolshevism on Trial” at the Family Theatre the week of June 15, with the result that the Family enjoyed record-breaking business. Mr. Sharick obtained letters of endorsement from the Governor of the state down to the mayor, all of which were published in the Family advertisements. Mr. Sharick will cover a large territory. Fox Witness at Syracuse. R. C. Fox, manager of the Famous Players Exchange, went to Syracuse, Sunday evening, June 29, to testify at the trial of Van Amman and Han ' Frohman, held in that city on bail in connection with disclosures that Syracuse has been the trading place during the past year for films stolen from all parts of the country. The local Paramount branch has suffered more than any other office, says Mr. Fox. Prints of Caruso in “My Cousin,” “Hashimura Togo,” Wallace Reid in “Nan of Music Mountain” and one reel of “Hide and Seek, Detectives,” have been stolen and never recovered. New Houses Projected. New houses projected in western New York follow: Hutchinson and Strautz have filed plans for a new motion picture theatre in Rochester. The Outlet Company, 11 and 13 West street, Lockport, will build a film house in Lockport, N. Y. E. and G. Moyer have completed plans for a motion picture theatre at Main and Green streets, Herkimer. Plans have been filed for alterations to the Armory Theatre in Binghamton. According to reports the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, F. & A. M., with headquarters at 46 West Twenty-Fourth street, New York City, is planning a new theatre building in Utica. Cool Breezes at Hippodrome. Harold B. Franklin, managing director of Shea’s Hippodrome, has transformed his theatre into the coolest place in town. The lobby clusters have been covered with rich cretonne indirect lighting system shades. fern baskets suspended from the ceiling, lattice work replaces velvet curtains, the orchestra personnel garbed in palm beach, cretonne cuftains placed in the several openings on the stage and countless fans hidden about the theatre. When Buffalo is hot fans start for the Hippodrome. Film Building Needed. One of the best things some man with money could do in Buffalo would be to erect a film building in which all the local exchanges could be housed under one roof. At present the offices are scattered all over town, and by the time aq exhibitor gets around to all of them he is ready for bed. The proposiiton has been discussed several times, but has always gone up in smoke. The builder would not have to advertise space very long once the structure was started. The building would be rented the moment the first spade full was turned over. Famous Players Changes. C. J. Dolan, for several years connected with local exchanges, has joined the local Paramount branch as salesman. Bert B. Barnett has been made booking manager of the branch. Mr. Barnett has been with the company fourteen months. Reports Business Booming. “Eddie” Hayes, manager of Exhibitors Mutual branch, reports business booming in his office. Mr. Hayes has recently engaged William G. Schmidt as salesman. Denver News Letter Business Is Good in Colorado. "XT EVER in the history of Colorado has N the motion picture industry been as prosperous as at present. The fact that Goldwyn and Select have opened new general offices in Salt Lake City, which controls this district for those two concerns, exemplifies the fact that the game in this state is growing by leaps and bounds. The Pathe Company recently enlarged its offices in this city, and the Denver Film Supply Company was forced to seek larger quarters. Reports from rural districts throughout Colorado are that the motion picture business is better today than ever. From scattering districts come reports that eleven new houses have been opened since May 26. Exhibitors from southern and western Colorado are daily visitors to Denver exchanges for the purpose of securing guaranteed showings for the summer months. Banford Goes to Salt Lake. W. H. Banford, formerly assistant manager of the Chicago branch of the Goldwyn Corporation, has been appointed manager of the new Goldwyn offices to be opened at Salt Lake City on July 1. Banford made a recent trip to Denver, where he engaged the services of H. Bradley Fisk, of the Denver office: Orale Barrett, formerly of the local office, and Miss Irma Jefferies, formerly of the World Pictures Corporation. The trio returned with Banford to the Mormon City, and will take up positions there. Screen Club Holds Outings. The Rocky Mountain Screen Club, composed of all the city’s exhibitors, gave a picnic on Saturday, July 28, camping out in one of the mountain parks. More than fifty persons attended the event. Brewer Branches Out. N. G. Brewer has returned to Denver after purchasing the Lyric motion picture theatre at Sidney, Neb. Brewer is also owner of motion picture theatres in Chapelle, Neb., and Peach, Colo. Cedar Ridge House Sold. The motion picture theatre operated at Cedar Ridge, Colo., for several years by R. M. Owen has been sold by Roy E. Steele and J. L. Accola, who have taken immediate possession. Eltuss Succeeds Colm. Ben Colm. associate manager of the Film Clearing House, has been succeeded by William Eltuss, of Philadelphia. Colm “A Man’s Country” Set, Showing That the “Country” Might Be a Dance Hall. Such is really not the case, however, in this tale of ’49, a Robertson-Cole feature distributed by Exhibitors Mutual.