Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1925)

26 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 3, 1925 Ohio Convention Talks Fight In Open Sunday Controversy LOPEZ ORCHESTRA WILL PLAY AT T. O. C. C. BALL That the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce intends to, maintain the standard of its big yearly dinner and ball was indicated this week when the chairman of the committee, tVilliam Brandt, announced that he had signed Vincent Lopez and his Pennsylvania Orchestra for the big festivities which will take place in the Gold Room of the Astor Hotel on Saturday night, January 17, 1925. Not only will Mr. Lopez be present with his orchestra, but in addition his famous Club Orchestra of twenty noted soloists will reilder appropriate dance music. The popularity contest to elect this year’s King and Queen of the movies wlil be started on New Year’s Day in the New York Evening Journal. They will be crowned on the night of the ball. Douglas Fairbanks’ “The Thief of Bagdad” opened the B. S. Moss Colony Theatre, B. S. Moss’ new $2,000,000 picture playhouse at Broadway and 53rd street. New York City, on Thursday afternoon, December 25, at popular prices. Built mainly in the Italian Renaissance style with Tavernalle Fleuri marble predominating throughout, the Colony Theatre employs a color scheme that is harmoniously blended in gray, gold, bronze and cream white. The house has an overall frontage on Broadway of 100 feet, running back on 53rd street to a total approximating 145 feet. The seats number 2,500. The building covers an area of 15,000 square feet and is strictly fireproof, steel, brick, and concrete having been utilized in its structure. The brick employed is of gray effect, lending a rather new charm to the exterior. There are eighteen exits of pleasing width all leading to the street, and the entire house may be emptied in less than three minutes. Above the lobby entrance of the Colony Theatre, there is office space of 1,150 square feet which will be sub-divided into larger and smaller offices. Two stores face the Broadway side— one having 760 square feet and the other 200 square feet. Although primarily a picture theatre, the Colony boasts a perfect stage, the proscenium opening of which is 45 feet wide, by 25 feet deep. This stage is fully equipped with dressing rooms, scenic arrangements, light effects and every other necessity essential to a complete theatrical production. Two organs have been installed, each being a separate unit. The larger has been placed at a cost of $75,000. The two grand staircases leading from the orchestra to the rriezzanine floor are constructed of marble buff, seven feet wide and carrying bronze balasters with marble inserts. Across the mezzanine floor the same balaster arrangement is carried out. The promenade on the mezzanine floor stretches across the entire house and has a massive Italian mantel with a novelty fireplace. VERMONT EXHIBITOR DROWNED IN CHAMPLAIN Caught in one of the worst storms that has swept Lake Champlain in months, Bernard J. Whelan, associated with his father in handling the Strong Theatre in Burlington, Vt., was accidentally drowned with his three companions while on a duck hunting trip on Sunday, December 13. Whelan was about 31 years of age and was the business manager of the theatre. He was well known to many exhibitors in Northern New York and the northern portion of Vermont. Preparations for a campaign against against threatened Sunday closing movements throughout the state were instituted at the convention of the Ohio M. P. T. O., in Columbus on December 16 and 17, which developed by far the greatest turnout of theatre men ever held in the state. Reformers are active in Ohio and the con The walls of the auditorium and mezzanine promenade are beautifully treated in matched French and American walnut wainscoting, while the decorations throughout show individualism in execution. The lobby and vestible are guarded by an elaborately handchased bronze ticket booth, finished in various colored marbles. Huge French mirrors, encased in bronze frames, are in vogue throughout the house. Flanking these mirrors on either side of the lobby walls, chased solid silver frames will announce current and coming attractions. From the lobby, bronze doors lead into the spacious foyer, then directly to the auditorium. The main floor of the Colony Theatre is wainscoted in American Walnut ; master cabinet makers lending their art to the Gobelin tapestries, velvets and other materials of quiet sheen and attractiveness. A massive central lighting fixture swings from the center of the great ceiling dome. This chandelier is a replica of the famous fixture hanging in the King’s room of the Castle Versailles, Monte Carlo. The theatre has four Simplex projection machines. vention discussed ways and means of combatting their attacks on motion picture theatres. Of especial interest in this connection was an address by Sydney S. Cohen, of New York, formerly president of the M. P. T. O. A., who spoke at the banquet on Tuesday evening. From him came valuable information about the New York method by which 85 per cent of the state’s theatres have Sunday shows under the local option plan. Other speakers were Vernon M. Riegel, director of education, whose department is responsible for the censoring of pictures; C. A. Dyer, of Columbus, overseer of the Ohio State Grange, and Miss Bertelle M. Lytell, representative of the Cinema Club of Cleveland. The sessions of the convention were characterized by a spirit of harmonious cooperation and high hopes are entertained that Ohio showmen will succeed in their Sunday fight. Alartin G. Smith, retiring president, having declined re-election, was succeeded by William M. James, of Columbus, who has a circuit of picture and vaudeville theatres in that city. The choice was unanimous. Other officers are ; J. J. Harwood, Cleveland, vicepresident at large : H. T. Palmer, Fairport Harbor, first vice-president; J. A. Ackerman, Cincinnati, second vice-president; George R. Moore, Bucyrus, third vice-president ; Martin G, Smith, Toledo, treasurer, and C. M. Taylor. Columbus, secretary. The executive committee consists of H, V. Smooth, Mt, Vernon; Henry Bieberson, Jr., Delaware; B. J. Levine, Cleveland; A. G. Hettesheimer, Cincinnati; Caldwell H. Brown, Zanesville; A. C. Himmelein, Sandusky. Sam Bullock continues as field representative. “Great Stuff!” was the comment of Will Hays as he visited the class in motion picture operating at the Institute for Crippled and Disabled Men, 245 East 23rd street. New York City. F. C. Munroe, president of Producers Distributing Corporation, is standing at Mr. Hays right. Moss’ Colony, New York City, Opened Christmas Day; Cost Over $2,000,000