Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

January 8, 1927 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 131 Live News from Coast to Coast NOTES ABOUT WIDE-AWAKE EXHIBITORS AND EXCHANGE MEN FROM ALL POINTS Illinois Moving Picture, World. Bureau , Chicago, III., Jam 6. THE opening date of the new Sheridan Theatre of the Ascher circuit has been changed to January 7, and Roy MacMullen, manager of the production circuit, will be made house manager in addition to his duties in the production department. Harry E. Ascher will be managing director of the new house, which will be the finest of the entire circuit. H. M. Herber, western sales director for Universal, was in the Chicago headquarters last week to meet the Chicago sales force. Fitzpatrick and McElroy circuit opened the new Tivoli Theatre at Richmond last week to capacity business. A. J. Plocinsky, manager of the Schindler Theatre, was robbed of the Sunday receipts of that theatre by two bandits who bound him to a chair while they looted the theatre safe. Thomas Evans, formerly watchman at Haymarket Theatre, was shot by Charles White when he made an attempt to rob the house. With the change in policy last week in the Roosevelt Theatre of the Balaban and Katz circuit to twice a week changes at popular prices of second run features, Edwin O'Donnell becomes house manager and with the reopening of the McVickers Theatre under the B. and K. banner with first run de luxe pictures and stage presentations, Lloyd L. Lazar, formerly of the Chicago Theatre staff, becomes house manager Both theatres have enjoyed good business since the changes were made. The leading movie theatres of the city held packed houses for their midnight New Year’s Eve shows and the New Year was welcomed with elaborate programs in many of the theatres. The Balaban and Katz circuit, Lubliner and Trinz, Marks Bros, circuit, ■Cooney circuit and others all report capacity business for the holidays. The Balaban and Katz circuit report the new policy of the McVickers Theatre has met with good response from the movie fans and the theatre will broadcast their programs every Monday afternoon over Station WEBH, operated by the Chicago Daily News. At the Norshore Theatre of the B. and K. circuit, a City Discovery Contest will be put on each Saturday afternoon for the kiddies and there is much interest in the juvenile talent in this city, as many good discoveries have been made by Paul Ash, Benny Meroff and other well-known leaders of juvenile talent that has made a hit with their audiences. The Balaban and Katz circuit are now advertising the houses associated with the Publix Theatres, Inc., chain, for the first time since the theatres were affiliated with them. Nate Leavitt has been appoined musical director of the Drake Theatre and Gabe Wellner. solo organist of this new house, opened ■Christmas Day under fhe management of the Ambassador Theatres Corporation, of which W. P. McCarthy is president and Harry Miller, managing director. Other houses will be added to the circuit soon. H. W. Plain, formerly of the White City Amusement Co., has joined the Karzas circuit as manager of the Aragon on the north ■side. Charles Harvey has been named as manager of the new Varsity Theatre at Evans Elinor Fair, in “Jim, The Conqueror,” for P. D. C., appears something of a conqueror herself. ton, 111., which was opened last month by the Elliott circuit. Harve'y is one of the veteran managers connected with the movies, having been in the business for the past twenty years. The Abe Gumbiner circuit have sold the Bryn Mawr Theatre to Joe Pastor, who controls the Argmore, the Mohawk and the Webster Theatres. This leaves only the Paulina and S'tar Theatres in the Gumbiner circuit. Lou Weil, who has been managing director of the Bryn Mawr Theatre, will make a new connection in the film field in the near future. The Chicago newspapers, in co-operation with the various theatre circuits, pulled off holiday shows for the poor children, the Evening American had the war veterans and old folks from the different hospitals and homes at the Balaban and Katz theatres during the past week and brought them to the theatres in motor buses supplied by the Chicago Motor Coach Company. Ludwig Siegal of the Prairie Theatre has been appointed chairman of the committee to be formed by the members of the Chicago Exhibitors’ Association for a movie ball. This will be the first time in years that the exhibitors have sponsored such an event in this city and they will put over a big affair in the near future. Harry Yost has been made manager of the Chicago What Price Glory Company and Lou Houseman has been named as western representative of the William Fox show department. Archie Wiles is handling the publicity and Louis Maddona is musical director for the Chicago company, which is doing capacity business at the Garrick Theatre. Quincy The Belasco Theatre at Quincy, 111., which was recently taken over by the Great States Theatre Circuit has installed a new organ and made other improvements in the theatre. LaSalle A. G. Spencer, field man for the Great States Theatres circuit has taken over the management of the Majestic theatre at LaSalle, Ills., for the circuit, which recently leased the house for a term of years. Washington Moving Picture World Bureau, Seattle, Wash., Jan. 5. AT the last meeting of the Northwest Film Board of Trade an election was held with the following results : G. M. Ballentine, Fox, president; C. W. Harden, United Artists, vice-president; J. G. Bower, First National, secretary-treasurer; Mrs. R. B. Lynch, succeeding herself as executive secretary. Dave Frazer of Producers Distributing Corporation, and Matt Aparton, of Universal, are trustees. The following were selected to serve for the ensuing three months on the Board of Arbitration: Carl Stearn, Warner Brothers; A. H. Huot, F. B. C. ; J. G. Bower, First National, as exchange members, with JackLannon, Greater Features, and D. C. Millward, Tiffany, as alternates. Si Danz, Hollywood Theatre; George Herpick, Winter Garden; Robert McKennell, Tacoma, will be the exhibitor members, with Frank Edwards, Seattle, and Jack Allender, S’pokane, as alternates. The Hamrick Lakeside Theatre of Seattle was held up recently by a lone bandit who entered wearing a white handkerchief mask. Auditor William Story, carrying in two bags the receipts of the week end business, totaling approximately $1,100, preparatory to going to the bank, met the bandit on the stairs and was forced back into the office at the point of a gun, where he was tied up. On his way out the robber encountered Loren Kinney, doorman, and when asked by Kinney whether there was anyone else in the house, replied that there was a man upstairs. The robbery was staged at 10 A. M. The Liberty Theatre of Seattle, which has been closed for several weeks for reconstruction, will re-open again January 7 as the first of a series of houses to be opened in the entire country by the United Artists Theatres. Several changes in the personnel of the Greater Features, Inc., were effected recently, announced by Percy Hurst, the general manager for the company. Master books will be maintained in Seattle which will become headquarters for the entire organization, with all cashier and billing departments maintained here. Miss Veelman, cashier and booker in Portland for three years to come to Seattle as assistant to Cashier Ed. Davis. Miss Voyle is in charge in Butte with Miss Perkins as assistant. E. C. Shaffer remains in the field in the Montana teritorY. Mr. Benton, former booker in Butte, joins the sales staff. Marvin Dyrness becomes manager in Portland, succeeding W. K. Millar. Mrs. Henry is assistant. Leonard Recehio, former owner of the Green Lake Theatre, Seattle, has sold to W. L. Busey. Parks R. L. Anderson, owner of the Olympic Theatre at Forks, Washington, recently purchased the Grand Theatre at Burlington, Wash. Mr. Anderson will operate both of the houses. Portland The Portland branch of F. B. O. has been given to A. W. Huot, Seattle manager, and he will act as Northwest division manager for the company. Huot is in Portland at the present time, but as yet has not announced any appointments there. Ed. Lamb is the Seattle assistant manager.