Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1923)

472 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 1, 1923 J. W. Sayre Defends Screen in Seattle’s Latest Controversy Attacks made on picture shows and city playgrounds by Mrs. Elizabeth Harris, dance hall matron supervisor, in an address before the Commonwealth Club last week, brought swift announcement from J. W. Sayre of the Greater Theatres Company: “I defy Mrs. Harris to point out one picture show that has been shown in this town in recent years that had such an effect on the minds of the young folks as she intimated in her speech. “There is no basis for her attack on either the movie or the playground. There is no comparison between these two places. I have no objection to make to the dance halls, but I certainly do resent the reflection that has been cast on the shows and the playgrounds.” Frank A. Graham of the Grand Theatre, Centralia, Wash., reports that he not only broke every house record with Vitagraph’s "Pioneer Trails” but also broke all records for any theatre in the town, in the face of very strong opposition. The Proctor Street Blue Mouse held its formal opening Tuesday evening, November 13, in Tacoma, and was unhesitatingly pronounced one of the most beautiful suburban houses in the entire Pacific Northwest. Mayor Fawsett of Tacoma made the opening address before a crowd that tilled the house. The opening attraction was “The Green Goddess.” The house is under the direction of John Hamrick. A speed record was established by B. K. Shearer, Inc., of Seattle, who had the contract for complete furnishings, equipment, lighting and interior work, completing the installations in eight days. Whittington and Smith have taken over the Liberty and Grand theatres in Bend, Oregon, formerly owned by J. B. Sparks. Mr. 'Sparks also owns houses in Redmond and Prime ville. He will be in Seattle early next week. The Heilig Theatre, C. W. McKee, resident manager, has installed a new organ with the announcement of its new feature photoplay policy. William Morelock, who operates the Arcade Theatre in Cottage Grove. Oregon, will build a new 800-seat Arcade Theater costing around $75,000. The new house will be ready about January 15. He will close the old house upon completion of the new. Mr. Miller, owner of the California Theatre in Los Angeles, was a visitor in Seattle this week. W. H. Storey, formerly with the D. & R. Theatres Co. in Centralia, and more recently cashier with the Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan Company in Seattle, returns to the exhibition end of the game this week as manager of the Arcade and Liberty theatres at Hoquiam. Dolan and Ripley have bought these houses from Newman and Connell. J. R. Robbins, a newcomer in the film business, replaces Mr. Storey in Seattle. Mrs. Sadie Klinger has sold her Klinger Theatre in Connell, Wash., to Mr. and Mrs. Roy Kemp. Seattle is to have another new suburban house. Report states that a $15,000 house will be erected at 2352 Beacon avenue for the Prefontaine Theatre Co. It will be a frame building. Manager Fey of the Madison Theatre was host last week to members of the Yale Club at a special preview of “Columbus,” distributed by Pathe Exchange. The audience of literary, professional and educational members prominent in the city appreciated the authority of the version. ding. Cal., was a recent visitor on San Francisco’s Film Row. He is known as Mayor of the Sacramento River and directs aquatic sports in the summer season. Just now the chief sport there is the garnering of salmon steaks, fifty-pound salmon being taken frequently. Tom O’Day, of Vallejo, Cal., has acquired the Liberty Theatre at Marysville. Cal., from Mrs. F. E. Smith, who has conducted this house for years. Ed Byard of Byard & Byard. who operate a circuit of theatres out of Ferndale and Areata, Cal., was a recent business visitor at San Francisco. Formerly films were routed from house to house over the circuit, but bookings now are being made separately for each theatre with the idea of securing films of a certain type for certain days of the week. The Lyric Theatre at Stockton, Cal., has been taken over by Leichter & Abrams, who also operate the Spot Theatre in that city. Frank Parker, former owner of the Lyric, has other theatres at Modesto and Concord. The Orpheum Circuit, which owns property at Broadway and Twentieth street. Oakland. Cal., is preparing to erect a theatre seating 2.400, plans for which have already been prepared. A huge organ has been installed in the new Alexandria Theatre to be opened shortly at Nineteenth and Geary streets, San Francisco. The West Coast Theatres of Northern California, Inc., which operates the T. & D. Theatre at Richmond, Cal., is planning to refurnish and reopen the old T. & D. Theatre, which has been closed ever since the opening of the new and larger house. The plan of the management of the New Fillmore and New Mission theatres, San Francisco, to alternate the service of the orchestras between the two houses, is being frowned upon by the organized musicians. A Japanese picture concern, the -Star Film Distributing Corp., has been incorporated at Sacramento, Cal., with a capital stock of $250,000. The directors are Sadakichi Oku, San Francisco; Takaski Matsue, Visalia, and Kaichi Hirata, Sacramento. Warfield Theatre Has Four World Premieres in a Row Texas What is believed to be a record in world premieres has been established at Loew’s Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, with four first showings in four consecutive weeks. If any house has a better record than this, Manager Charles M. Pincus would like to hear about it. The run started with Buster Keaton’s “Hospitality” and was followed by Constance Talmadge in “Dangerous Maid,” Louis B. Mayer’s “Pleasure Mad” and “Long Live the King,” with Jackie Coogan. The premiere of “Pleasure Mad” was made quite an event, owing to the keen local interest in the production. It is from the book, “The Valley of Content,” by Blanche Upright, San Francisco novelist, and Mrs. Upright attended the opening, as did also Louis B. Mayer, the producer, and several members of the cast, including Norma Shearer, Huntley Gordon, William Collier, Jr., Mary Alden and Winifred Bryson. An Oakland exhibitor in connection with the showing of “The Covered Wagon” in that city advised patrons over the telephone not to spend $1 or $1.50 to see this production at the Lnrie Theatre, where it was shown for two weeks, but to wait a month and see it in his house for 25 cents. This advice was given despite the fact that bookings have been so arranged that this production will not be shown again in Oakland during the season of 1923-24. The matter was brought to the attention of the Better Business Bureau of the Oakland Advertising Club, but at the request of the management of the Lurie Theatre no delinite action was taken against the misleading offender. Harry Arthur, general manager of West Coast Theatres. Inc., and Dave Bershon, general booker, were recent visitors at San Francisco to confer with A. M. Bowles, manager of the Northern California division. An announcement will be made soon of the plans to erect a theatre at Fresno, Cal., which will be the largest and finest picture house in the San Joaquin Valley. B. Getz, Inc., is building a business unit of eighteen stores and a theatre at West Portal avenue and Vicente street, San Francisco. to serve -St. Francis Wood and Westwood Park, declared to be the finest residential park in the world. The theatre will be approached by a court with fountains and gardens. * The Granada Theatre, San Francisco, is celebrating the second anniversary of its opening with a special program. The main film feature is “The Virginian” and there are special concert numbers and other attractions. The Granada Theatre is built after the architecture of old Spain and is one of the most beautiful picture houses in the world. Nasser Brothers, Robert McNeil and their associates in the T. & D. Jr. Enterprises, San Francisco, have purchased the Strand and Rialto Theatres in the suburb of Alameda from Louis Kaliski at a price said to be close to $250,000. The deal was consummated through the offices of J. R. Saul and increases the holdings of this combination to thirty-five houses. Coincident with the transfer of interests Maurice F. Lowery, formerly with the Franklin Theatre, Oakland, was named manager of the Strand Theatre, Alameda. J. J. Wood, popular theatre owner of Red Joe Singer and Lou G. Bissinger have taken over the management of the Queen Theatre, Dallas. Mr. Singer also is interested in the Fox Theatre and Mr. Bissinger for a number of years has been manager of the Washington Theatre. Paul Scott of Mineral Wells has purchased the Haskell Avenue Theatre, Dallas. Thomas Nickelson has been appointed manager of the Crescent Theatre at Austin, succeeding J. H. Thompson, resigned. J. M. Edgar Hart has been appointed manager of the Palace Theatre at El Paso. G. G. Fry has opened his new Star Theatre at Omaha, Texas. The theatre is modern and includes Motiograph machines. Atlas booth and Gardiner screen. The Albany Theatre has been opened at Albany, Texas, with Fox, Paramount and First National pictures as the policy. G. H. Boynton. Jr., has reopened his Royal Theatre at Hamilton. Texas, with an increased seating capacity and handsome interior decorations. The Lura Theatre at Augusta, Ark., is being improved and redecorated. Givens Bird has been appointed manager of the Rialto Theatre at San Antonio. Texas. The New Mission Theatre has opened at El Dorado, Ark. Messrs. Callahan and Ray have reopened their Best Theatre at Palestine, Texas.