Moving Picture World (Jul 1920)

July 17, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 337 Southeastern News Will Have Exclusive Film, Building. WTT.T.TAM OLDKNOW plans the construction of a modern concrete building In Atlanta to house his film exchange business. Mr O.ldknow recently purchased from E. P. McBurney a site. 100 by 140 feet, at the corner of Cain and Walton streets, for $65,000, and will erect the building on this site Making War on “Movie Mashers.” Following the recent conviction in Atlanta of what the newspapers termed a “movie masher,” local picture houses are flashing signs on the screen warning careless young men that the management will go to any length to protect lady customers against mashers, and calling attention to the recent conviction of one man on that charge. This young man was heavily fined for trying to flirt with a girl in one of the Atlanta picture houses and the local managers are determined to put a stop to this nefarious practice. Bijou, Knoxville, Changes Hands. The Bijou Theatre, Knoxville, has been taken over by the Signal Amusement Company, of Chattanooga, a company which now leases and operates a number of motion picture houses in Tennessee. The house will not open again until next September, and will be under the management of W. E. Drumbar. Don P. Trent, manager for several years under the direction of Jake Wells, remains in Mr. Wells’ service, going to Richmond. Sudekum, Improving His Princess. A building permit has been issued calling for the expenditure of about $90,000 in the complete remodeling of the Princess Theatre at Nashville. Harry Sudekum took out the permit. He states it will be made into almost a new theatre, being completely changed throughout, and that the work will be completed in time for the house to reT open about September 1. The seating capacity is to be 1,800. Mr. Sudekum has also taken over the Orpheum Theatre, Nashville. May Have Chattanooga Censorship. The creation of a municipal board of censorship for motion pictures in Chattanooga will not meet with the approval of the Signal Amusement Company, which controls a majority of the houses in Chattanooga, it was learned when representatives of the company called upon the Associated Charities. This man asked that action in regard to the matter be deferred until the company could perfect a plan which, it was declared, would make the creation of a municipal board unnecessary. What this plan will be is not known yet. The Associated Charities has been active in trying to have a municipal censorship board created. Detroit Doings Furbishing Houses in Lake Resorts. WC. MELLANSEN, manager of the Bell, • Bijou and Princess theatres, Benton Harbor, and the Caldwell, St. Joseph, anflounces a big building and remodeling program for those playhouses. The Bell and Bijou are to be rebuilt and remodeled throughout, giving Benton Harbor two of the most beautiful and artistically appointed theatres in Southwestern Michigan. A contract has also been completed with the John Eberson Company for the work on the Bell, which will begin as soon as the Eberson has completed the theatre now building in Lansing for the Butterfield interests. The Eberson Company has just completed the new Regent theatre in Flint. New seats of especially comfortable design will be provided for the Benton Harbor Bell, this item alone costing $15,000. A large capacity, modern blower system will be installed to insure ventilation and cooling. A $10,000 organ is now being built to order, and with a ten piece orchestra, it will alternate in furnishing the desired musical accompaniment Plans for the remodeling of the Benton Harbor Bijou Theatre include the removal of the present stage and the installation of a new special picture stage setting; the decoration of the auditorium and building of a mezzanine balcony. The seating capacity will be increased to 1,200. “Fall of Babylon” Finishes Run. Closing what has been without doubt the most successful engagement in Detroit this season, "The Fall of Babylon,” MinterUnited’s big spectacle, finished its fifth and final week in Detroit at the Shubert-Detroit, June 3. It is significant that the receipts for the final week surpassed the previous week by $1,000. Jimmie Minter is entitled to all the credit in the world for putting over a picture that the wise ones predicted would be a “bloomer,” and it has proved without a doubt that supreme faith and confidence in the production, common sense showmanship in advertising, presentation, etc., plus everlasting sticking to it will put over any picture that has genuine merit to it. Carpentier Engagement Successful. Despite ad(verse weather, Georges Carpentier, “The Wonder Man,” completed a successful fifteen-day engagement at Orchestra Hall July 3. Despite very bad weather the first four days, during which time all show business in Detroit was off 75 per cent., the total attendance and box office receipts were all that could be expected. Bob Churchill, of Robertson-Cole, is well pleased. Washington Wisps Strand for Vandam Films. One of the biggest changes in many weeks is that involving the Strand Theatre, heretofore operated as a motion picture house by Tom Moore, which passed to new people the first of this month. The theatre is now undergoing extensive improvements which, when completed, will result in practically a new house in many ways. It will be opened July 12 at 1:30 p. m., with a program of high class vaudeville and first-class motion pictures. A. T. Sparrow, manager of the Empire Theatre, is to be general manager of the Strand. Jack Keenan, formerly manager of the Avenue Grand Theatre, is to be house manager. Both of these men have had considerable experience in the motion picture business. Mr. Keenan assumed the management of the Avenue Grand when it was opened by its previous owners. Recently he took over the Regent Theatre, on Eighteenth street. Arthur J. Manvell is to be musical director. Grievance Committee Recesses. The Grievance Committee announces that no further meetings will be held until the regular meeting date in October. During the recess period Harry M. Crandall and George Fuller, representing the exhibitors and exchange managers, respectively, will do whatever is possible to bring about the amicable settlement of any disputes that may arise between the various branches of the industry. Vacations Are in Order. Larry Beatus, of Loew’s Palace Theatre, in this city, and Harry Bernstein, who looks after the Wells’ interests in Richmond, Ya„ will spend a two weeks’ vacation at Atlantic City, N. J. It is understood the mayor of the town is having a new key made to present to these film men. Manager Eastwood’s Popularity. Thomas M. Eastwood, manager of Crandall’s Knickerbocker Theatre, received another present from admiring friends last week. He already sports a sterling silver belt buckle and carries a handsome card case, remembrances for assistance rendered societies holding benefits at his house. Now the congregation of All Souls’ Unitarian Church has been added to the list. Pending the erection of a new edifice, the congregation has been holding services in the theatre. At the regular service on Sunday, Mr. Eastwood was called to the pulpit and presented with a scarf pin of platinum and pearls as an evidence of appreciation for courtesies extended. The presentation was made by the pastor, Rev. U. S. G. Perce. Buffalo Bulletins Romaine F’ielding in Buffalo. ROMAINE FIELDING was in Buffalo week ending July 3, appearing in person in connection with the showing of “A Woman’s Man,” at the Lyric Theatre. On Wednesday he spoke before the members of the Kiwanis Club in the Hotel Statler on motion picture making, and the same afternoon presided at a camera test on the roof of the Michael J. Leo store of the score or more of fair Buffalonians who entered in the beauty contest put on by Manager Charley Bowe. Mr. Fielding and Dan Savage, of the Empire State Film Company. The “beauty” stunt got a lot of newspaper publicity. Special Show for Kiddies. Harold B. Franklin, managing director of Shea’s Hippodrome, was the host to over 1,000 kiddies at a special performance on Thursday morning, July 1, when the films shot by the Hippodrome camera man of the Buffalo Enquirer Portside Column conductor’s outing for poor children were shown on the screen in addition to the regular program. On City Planning Committee. Ira M. Mosher, manager of the Palace Theatre and president of the Buffalo Theatrical Managers’ Association; Harold B. Franklin, manager of Shea’s Hippodrome, and Dr. Peter C. Cornell, manager of the Majestic Theatre, have been named to represent the managers’ association in the City Planning Association, made up of representatives of all local civic associations. Lo«w Plans Are Filed. The Loew Theatre plans have been filed with the Bureau of Buildings. The plans call for a structure _to cost $200,000, and offices will be included in the building. Work has begun on the structure. West Leaves Regent. “Billy” West has left the Regent Theatre, with which he was connected for several years, with a brief respite, when he managed the Star Theatre. “Billy” expects to join up soon with a local film exchange or as manager of a film palace. Health Film at Empire. The Empire Theatre was reopened for the week of July 4 for the presentation by local interests of “The End of the Road,” which was endorsed by Health Commissioner Francis E. Fronczak, following a private showing of the picture on Wednesday, June 30. Winegar Back from Seattle. Elmer C. Winegar, manager of the Central Park Theatre, has returned from the Seattle Shriners’ convention, where he went with the local delegation to make a film history of the trip. When completed the picture will be shown throughout Western New York, the Buffalo Temple planning to take a special train on “Boosting Buffalo” tour. While in the West Mr. Winegar visited some of the leading theatres on the Coast. Philadelphia Paragraphs High Hopes for Delmar. ACK DELMAR, of the Stanley Company, will shortly assume his new duties in New York, where he confidently expects to add to his long list of successes in the film business as representative of the Stanley Company of America. The consensus of opinion of the Pennsylvania exhibitors regarding Mr. Delmar is that he is a man who can confidently be trusted to give every one in the exhibiting business a square deal. Mr. Delmar has had a long and successful career in Philadelphia, and leaves with the best wishes of all his business associates. Film News and Personals. The Lyric Theatre, Shippinsberg, Pa., has closed for the summer, and will undergo extensive improvements. Manager Adams will also have a beautiful new lobby built in connection with other alterations to be made. The house will be entirely overhauled.