Moving Picture World (Dec 1920)

612 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December * 1920 SETS THAT ARE BEING USED IN “THE MARK OF ZORRO” WHICH IS DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS’ LATEST PICTURE These buildings represent the type that stood in Los Angeles during the time ’when its destinies were in the hands of the Spanish. This picture will be released by United Artists Pathe Gains Wide Representation with “Ruth of Rockies” and “Phantom Foe” THE serials, "Ruth of the Rockies” and “The Phantom Foe,” are playing bookings which give Pathe a wider representation than at any time since the inauguration last year of the two-at-a-time schedule, it is stated. Through the medium of these two pictures, starring Ruth Roland, Juanita Hansen and Warner Oland, Pathe serials are showing to the largest public they have ever had, according to reports. According to a recent announcement, “Ruth of the Rockies” has outstripped all Ruth Roland’s former pictures in the quantity of bookings acquired previous to the close of its first run. The film is an adaptation of a novel by Johnston McCulley, called “Broadway Bab.” The combination of two such serial favorites as Juanita Hansen and Warner Oland in a mystery story containing a suggestion of the now popular subject of spiritism, is proving a highly successful attraction, and “The Phantom Foe” is registering a hit in all classes of theatres, the producers say. “Ruth of the Rockies” will be supplanted on the current program by “Velvet Fingers,”which will become the running mate of “The Phantom Foe” on December 5. Oakland Greets Loews State Theatre; Has Three Capacity Crowds in One Day LOEW’S STATE THEATRE, the latest addition to the big chain of houses conducted in the West under the direction of Ackerman & Harris, was opened at Oakland, Cal., on the afternoon of November 14, under the most auspicious circumstances. Three times that day the theatre, which has a seating capacity of 1,700, was filled to capacity and thousands were turned away. Opened Despite Labor Troubles The opening was not held on the date originally scheduled, labor troubles having interferred earlier in the year, but the change was not without its advantages, since the house was in a fully completed shape when it was finally decided to open the doors. Harry David, formerly manager of the Imperial, California and Portola theatres, San Francisco, is in charge and many of the interesting features of the lighting and furnishings were installed under his direction. The theatre is in Pompeiian design and “SIMPLEX PROVES IT TO MISSOURIANS!!” The Largest Theatre in the West is the 4,000 Seat Missouri Theatre, St. Louis. Opened with SIMPLEX this effect is carried out in an interesting manner in stage decoration, in color schemes and even in the attire of ushers. It presents a bright and colorful apeparance in Pompeiian reds, greens, purples, blues and yellows, in pure color, but so skilfully blended that there is no hint of garishness. A frieze of graceful figures is supported by the huge Doric columns forming the proscenium, while Pompeiian figures decorate the four panels which form the square dome ceiling. The drop curtain used as a background for the orchestra concert set represents a water scene, with a smoking volcano in the background. The loge section is in the balcony and there are boxes on either side of the stage. Rest rooms for men and women are conveniently located on either side of the lobby and there are lounging rooms to accommodate the overflow crowds. Trained Organization The bill included Griffith’s “The Love Flower,” Buster Keaton in “One Week,” Pathe News, Literary Digest and three selected acts of vaudeville. Maurice Lawrence and his twenty-five piece orchestra made a big hit, especially in the stage concert numbers. Manager Harry David has been especially fortunate in gathering a training organization about him and much of the success of the opening was due to the perfect manner in which the event was exploited and to the handling of the big crowds. He has an unusual capable assistant in the person of Irving Long, for nine years with the California and Portola theatres, and his exploita tion staff has also had metropolitan experience. The opening event was attended by many film men from San Francisco and the lobby and lounging rooms were filled with floral offerings. Broadway T heatre Opens in Danville, Virginia The Broadway Theatre opened in Danville, Va., Monday, November IS. It is owned and operated by the Southern Amusement Company, has a seating capacity of 750, and is said to be luxuriously appointed. Officers of the company are C. M. Vanstory, president; John F. Pryor, vice-president; J. C. Hester, secretary, and George W. Pryor, treasurer. Ken E. Finlay, representing the Southern Amusement Company, made an address at the opening of the theatre reviewing the advancement of the motion picture industry. Clean-Up Campaign The Washington (D. C.) Exchange Managers’ Association has begun a campaign against the practice which seems to have sprung up in the exchanges and projection booths of the theatres, of permitting scraps of moving picture film to lie around, be thrown in refuse piles or be given away. In order to entirely comply with the fire laws of the District of Columbia, and upon the request of the Fire Department, on and after this date no film will be mixed with trash or be given to anyone, whether or not connected with the theatre, but such film be returned in the case of reels. from which it is was taken. iVlk v.u. ’a ''In the Jhadow of the Domev a A David G. Fischer Production