Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1923)

474 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 1, 1923 Philadelphia’s “Movie Week’’ Exceeding All Expectations Every expectation of even the most zealous of the advocates of National Motion Picture Week seems realized in Philadelphia. Reports trom sectional managers were that promises were being realized and that the earlier expectations of but a 60 per cent, participation by the picture houses had been considerably exceeded. Among the string theatres co-operating were the Wimer and Vincent, Carr and Schad, Chamberlain Amusement Company, Hunts Theatres, Inc., Comerford Amusement Enterprises, Stiefel interests, Columbus Stamper, Rappaport chain, Becker Brothers, Smith interests of Tacony, Dr. Samuel Morris, Michael J. Lessey, Green and Altman, John Hays, Dr. A. Stumphig and the string of theatres in Atlantic City under the management of Eddie O’Keefe. In commemoration of the Thirteenth Anniversary of the Nixon Theatre and of its 673 conseeutive weeks under his personal direction. Fred G. N. Nixon-Nirdlinger has arranged a series of special attractions for this week. In conjunction with the picture program, headliners from the leading companies playing in the city appeared during the course of the week before large audiences. Mr. Nixon-Nirdlinger asserted that no matter how extensive his interests might be he would never fail to give personal attention to the theatre which bore his father’s name and which thus far has entertained audiences aggregating 3,006,066 people. His own association with popular entertainment began when he became manager of the People's Theatre, September 7, 1S96. Postponement of the new $2,000,000 Fox Theatre, 16th and Market streets, from last Monday until next Monday was announced The Pershing Theatre, Delmar boulevard near Hamilton avenue, St. Louis, which has recently been remodeled, decorated and furnished by the St. Louis Amusement Company at a cost of $50,000, will reopen November 24 with “Scaramouche” as the feature attraction. The picture will run indefinitely. A $1.65 top will be charged. The advance exploitation for the picture included trailers in eighteen of the leading theatres of the city. A feature of the Pershing improvement is a special parking garage for patrons of the house, which has been established just west of the theatre. The ShubertJefferson Theatre, Twelfth Boulevard at Locust, will be forced to obtain new quarters after November 1, 1925, as the Union Electric Light and Power Company has just concluded a forty years’ lease on the entire eleven-story building of which the theatre is a part. George H. Lighton, manager, said that the Shubert interests have not yet decided on the location of their new house, and had several very desirable sites in view. Skouras Brothers’ Enterprises has purchased 20,000 special souvenir booklets costing 10 cents each to exploit the showing of Douglas McLean in “Going Up” at their theatres. This is said to be the largest single order for such expensive souvenirs ever placed by a theatre. S. E. Pertle of Jerseyville, 111., was a caller of the week. Other out-of-town exhibitors seen along picture row were: C. E. Brady, Cape Girardeau; Tom Reed, Duquoin, 111.; Jim Reilly, Princess, Alton, and I. W. Rodges, Poplar Bluff and Cairo. during the week as a result of a conference on Friday between William Fox, Erno Rapee, managing director, and William Fried, supervising contractor. Postponement was due to incompletion of the store front adjoining the main entrance on Market street. The Orpheum Theatre under the NixonNirdlinger control during the week put into effect a change in policy and a reduction of prices. In response to many requests from patrons the management decided to show films in conjunction with five acts of Keith vaudeville. There will be two changes of shows each week on Monday and Thursdays. The opening film was “The Little Red School House” and the second one “The Streets of New York.” Under directions of the Mayor of Philadelphia, proprieors of all theatres in the city, including picture houses, were notified during the week that there would be rigid inforcement of the Act of 1911 regulating public exhibitions as regards the proprieties. Including the ban will be undressing scenes, dope scenes, female impersonations of a certain kind and violence. There was welcomed into the family of Boyd Chamberlain, of the Chamberlain Amusement Enterprises, a baby boy, the second member of the family group. There visited the Philadelphia exchange houses during the week Alfred J. Davis, head of the Davis Amusement Company, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and whose headquarters are located at 711 State street, in the Smoky City, from where he conducts the management of the firm’s string of theatres. While in the city he was the guest of Dave Miller of the Universal Company. The building at the southwest corner of Jefferson and Lucas avenues, St. Louis, is being remodeled for a picture theatre. The structure will also contain lodge rooms, offices and stores to be used exclusively by negro tenants. Herschal 'S'tuart, manager of the Missouri Theatre, the Paramount first-run house in St. Louis, has announced that during the two weeks beginning Monday, November 19, the proceeds of the theatre, with the exception of the Sunday shows, will be divided for the benefit of Father Dempsey’s Day Nursery, 1209 North Sixth street, a well known local charity, which was established in 1910 as a haven for poor children whose mothers are obliged to work. Cleveland The Stillman Theatre, for seven years a “continuous performance” theatre in Cleveland, changed over to “two-a-day” Sunday night, November 18, playing “Scaramouche.” For five days previously the advance sale of seats was on, and this sale was recordbreaking. Marcus Loew, who was in the city Wednesday, stated that the first two days’ advance sale came within $50 of the entire advance sale in Chicago, and it was very good there. The house was entirely sold out the opening night fifteen minutes before the performance began, and every day since there have been lines at the box-office. The opening night had less than 25 pass seats occupied. Pittsburgh Howard Perrott Dawson, owner of the Colonial Theatre, Beaver Falls, died on November 2 from peritonitis following an operation. He was one of the most popular of the younger business men in the town, being a member of the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Y. M. C. A., and other local organizations, was assistant superintendent of St. Mary’s Episcopal Sabbath School; member of Beaver Valley Lodge 478, F. & A. M. ; Harmony Royal Chapter No. 206; Beaver Valley Commandery No. 84, Knights Templar, and Syria Temple, Pittsburgh. Also an active worker in the M. P. T. O. of Western Pennsylvania. He is survived by his widow, three children, his mother, two sisters and two brothers. “Thundering Dawn,” Universal-Jewel production, is making a big hit in the local territory. In Pittsburgh during the week of November 12, three theatres were playing the film, the Cameo, Alhambra and Garden. At the first-named house the film was in its second week. It had originally been booked for one week only, and the management of the house did no more than usual advertising, yet the business built up each day, so that at the end of the week, it was decided to hold the production over. Each house reported big business. Thomas Meighan spent several days in Pittsburgh recently, having been called here to attend the funeral of his father, a lifelong resident of this city. The Rowland and Clark Theatres sent a huge floral emblem as a token of their sympathy, and the following men from that organization attended the funeral: Harry Thomas, J. P. Donovan, Sam De Fazio and Tom Gilbert. Among the out-of-town visitors seen on Film Row recently were: C. E. Gable, 'Sharon; Charlie Feinler, Wheeling; Walter Silverberg, Greenville; Jack Marks, Clarksburg. Charles Richelieu, who for years conducted the Richelieu Theatre at Bedford with much success, is to open a new Richelieu Theatre in Blairsville on Thanksgiving Day, having disposed of the Bedford house some time ago. He and Mrs. Richelieu were in town several days ago film shopping, and stated that the opening attraction would be Leah Baird’s “Is Divorce a Failure?” Massachusetts Postmaster Roland M. Baker and the members of his staff were the personal guests of Manager Robert M. Stenberg of Gordon's Scollay Square Olympia Theatre, Boston, one evening last week at a showing of 'he photoplay, “Loyal Lives,” depicting the hazards and hardships of the postal service. Papeis were passed last week and recorded at the office of the Registery of Deeds at Salem, conveying the Federal Theatre, the Empire Theatre and the Salem Theatre, in Salem, to the Gordon interests, who own and manage the Olympia chain of theatres, which dot New England in several states. A new policy has been inaugurated at the Federal Theatre under which four vaudeville acts and feature pictures wili be shown. “Win” Danielson, for six years organist at the Olympia Theatre in Lynn, will preside at the organ in the Federal Theatre and will lead the orchestra. The sale is said to involve the payment of approximately $340,900, and the properties were sold by the Keen brothers. Among the continuing screen offerings at the Boston picture houses are “Scaramouche,” which is just concluding its second week of what is expected to be a very long and highly successful run. if all indications are not at fault; “The Spanish Dancer,” which this week is ending its second sensational run at the Paramount unit theatre, the Fenway, and “The Hunchbach of Notre Dame,” which for the past ten weeks has been enjoying a popularity of remarkable durability at Tremont Temple. Pershing, St. Louis, Asking $1.65 Top for “Scaramouche’’