Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1923)

November 3, 1923 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 121 West Coast Theatres Make Changes at San Francisco A Receiving Station Bessie Mack, who writes publicity for A. M. Bowles, general manager of West Coast Theatres, Inc., of Northern California, has placed Charles M. Pincus in charge of Loew’s Warfield Theatre, succeeding Hal Neides, who has been in charge since the opening of this house. Mr. Pincus needs no introduction in this field, having for years been with the Herbert Rothchild Entertainment as manager of its leading houses and for a time director of publicity for the chain. He was with the Portola Theatre more than ten years ago and was transferred to the California Theatre when this house was opened under the direction of Eugene H. Roth. For the past few months he has been in charge of Loew’s State Theatre at Los Angeles. Charles M. Thall, who has been director of publicity for West Coast Theatres, Inc., of Northern California, has been promoted to the position of assistant to General Manager Bowles, and in turn his former duties have been turned over to Frank Whitbeck. D. M. Vandawalker, Jr., for a time connected with the San Francisco branch of Universal, has joined the staff of George M. Mann, who conducts a chain of theatres in the northern part of the State. He will make his headquarters in San Francisco. M. TT. Newman, western district manager of Universal theatres, has returned to San Francisco from a trip to the Northwest, where he arranged hookings for the theatres operated there. He will leave shortly for Los Angeles to meet Carl Uaemmle, who has arrived on the Coast for a short stay. “Why Worry?” is In its fifth week at the new Cameo Theatre and the end is not in sight, there having been no signs of a falling off in patronage. For the next attraction Carl Laemmle has personally chosen “Thundering Dawn.” Manager Jack Howard is working on a prologue that promises to he a winner. Fred Decroteau, a recent arrival at San Francisco from Massachusetts, where he had charge of several houses for the New England Amusement Co., has been placed in charge of the Class "A” Theatre on Fillmore street, operated by Mrs. C. W. Muir. The house is being renovated and at the conclusion of this work Mrs. Muir will leave for an extended eastern and southern trip. Walter Barusch, of the publicity department of the Herbert L. Rothchild Entertainment, Inc., is throwing an unusual lot of abandon into his work these days, the exuberance being occasioned by the arrival of a wee daughter to grace the Barusch home. The Herbert L. Rothchild Entertainment. Inc., has temporarily suspended its policy of not advancing prices at the Imperial Theatre for any attraction and will increase prices for the forthcoming showing of “Little Old New York” and “Greed.” The Hyde Park hand, of Hyde Park, Mass., an organization of disabled World War veterans financed by Marcus Loew, attended the fifth annual American Legion encampment at San Francisco and marched in the big parade with a banner inscribed : “Thanks to Marcus Loew.” In compliment to their benefactor the visitors played at Loew’s Warfield Theatre twice a day during their stay and also serenaded the Metro exchange. The Alexandria Egyptian Theatre on Geary street, San Francisco, is rapidly nearing completion and will be opened late in November. Ben Black’s Band has been engaged for a period of six months. Clarence Brown, director of “The Acquittal,” was a recent visitor at the Cameo Theatre, San Francisco, and advised Manager Jack Howard that he was searching for locations for several forthcoming productions, Preliminary construction work has been commenced on the picture theatre to be erected on Foothill Boulevard, Oakland, Cal., for Max Blumenfeld. Mrs. A. J. Twilegar, whose theatre at Goldfield, Nev., was destroyed some time ago in the fire which razed that city, has erected a theatre building of stone and will open this within a short time. The seating equipment has been furnished by Walter Preddey, of San Francisco. The Hotel Vendome at San Jose, Cal., has put in picture equipment to furnish entertainment for guests. The Franklin Theatre, Oakland, Cal., is now being conducted under the management of L. B. Gross. Changes are being made in the lighting, seating and ventilating facilities. The program will be changed twice a week and prices have been reduced to 20 cents for matinees, except Sunday, and 30 cents for evenings and Sunday matinee, with 10 cents for children at all times. Sam Dubois, of Dos Palos, Cal., is inspecting theatres in the San Francisco field with the idea of building a new house in his home town. Efforts were made to wreck the Virginia Theatre, Virginia City, Nev., on the morning of October 11, use being made of a charge of dynamite. The full charge failed to explode, but the interior of the house was ruined. General Manager C. Floyd Hopkins, of the Wilmer and Vincent interests in Harrisburg, Pa., has been honored by the unanimous vote of the members of the Chamber of Commerce of the Capital City electing him to the presidency of that body. Proprietor Samuel Blatt of the Owl Theatre, Twentieth and South street, has become associated with the Hodkinson exchange and will handle both short and feature subjects in the local territory in addition to conducting his theatre. Kline Henderson, for many years associated with the Bennethum Circuit in its Philadelphia, York, Baltimore and Coatsville theatres, has severed his connection with that firm and is now in charge of the New Regent Theatre. Although the Luna Theatre of Danville, Pa., has passed into the control of the Comerford interests, its management will remain in the hands of the former proprietor, Joseph Heim, who disposed of his equity in the property to the new owyiers. The management of the Columbia Theatre of Bloomburg, Pa., which also recently passed under the Comerford control, will be retained by Paul Hummell, who formerly supervised its business for Dr. G. W. Johns, the owner. Manager John Newkirk of the Colonial Theatre, Allentown, was host to the children of Allentown on the third anniversary of the opening of the theatre, when the kiddies were treated to a free showing of “Daddy,” on October 18. Managers of the Wilmer and Vincent theatres in the Harrisburg section enjoyed the visit of Walter Vincent of the New York headquarters, who made the rounds of the various enterprises of which he is proprietor. While in the State capital he consulted with General Manager C. Floyd Hopkins as to new policies to be put into operation in the six theatres under the Wilmer and Vincent control in the city. New York’s Capitol when not besieged by newspapermen seeking smooth entrance, sends the following worth while tip to exhibitors: “If there still are a few doubting souls who question the far-reaching benefits of radio, let them read and be convinced. The worldly goods of S. L. Rothafel, who puts the Capitol on the air every Sunday night, have been enriched by these tokens of esteem from radio fans: “Fresh flowers, fresh fruit, fresh fish, 2 pairs of pink sleeve garters, 1 book of poetry with the compliments of the author, 1 oil painting with the comps of the artist, 141 ballads with the comps of the composers, 7 original cartoons, 1 Airedale dog, 1 Police dog, 238 souvenir postcards from radio fans on vacation, 17 ditto from honeymoon couples at Niagara Falls, 92 ditto from ditto at Washington, D. C., 1 hand-embroidered whiskbroom holder, 1 quart bottle of whathave-you.” The Circle Theatre has been opened on Market street, San Francisco, adjoining Loew’s Warfield Theatre, under the direction of Aaron Goldberg. The opening attraction was “Down to the Sea in Ships.” The New Corning Theatre, at Corning, Cal., was recently damaged by fire, this being the second fire within a few months. Under the building plans of the J. L. Chamberlain Amusement Company, there will be erected on the site of the old Kaier Opera House in Mahanoy City, Pa., a $300,000 picture house and business block. Demolition of the old structure has just begun and it is hoped to have the new theatre ready for opening in the spring. While continuing to manage the Strand Theatre at Berwick, Pa., Oscar Althoff will also take over the duties of booking agent for the Family Theatre at Mahanoy City, which will under the new policy of its management be conducted as a vaudeville and picture theatre. Burlesque has been added to the program of the picture theatre conducted by A1 Gottesman of the Strand Theatre at Shenandoah, Pa. It is the purpose of the, Panther Creek Valley Amusement Company to complete the building operations of the theatre now in course of construction at Lansford, Pa., in time for the opening of its doors on Thanksgiving Day. The lure of the picture game has again drawn to its fold Martin P. Meyer, who retired from, the business upon the sub-lease of his theatre, the Diamond, of Hazleton, Pa., and which he again took over a few days ago. Lee Haussman, son of Charles Haussman of the Hippodrome Theatre. Pottsville, Pa., has been made manager of the newly opened Stacy Theatre of Trenton, N. J. About the middle of November the new theatre which A. M. Pearlstine is erecting in Coliegeville, Pa., will be ready for opening and this will be run in conjunction with a dance hall and hotel which adjoins the new structure and also owned by Mr. Pearlstine. The new theatre provides for seats for 300 and is the only mpvie house in the town. Hopkins of Harrisburg, Pa., Honored by Commerce Body