Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

282 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 22, 1927 Live News from Coast to Coast NOTES ABOUT WIDE-AWAKE EXHIBITORS AND EXCHANGE MEN FROM ALL POINTS Canada Moving Picture World Bureau , Ottawa, Canada, Jan. I'J. SCREENING CANADA” was the subject of a very popular address by Raymond S. Peck, director of the Canaddian Government Motion Picture Studio, Ottawa, before the Canadian Club of Montreal at the Windsor Hotel, Montreal, when he emphasized the point that both of the large transcontinental railways in the Dominion, as well as the Canadian Government itself, were making extensive use of motion pictures to boost the country, its resources, sports and other features to the world. Mr. Peck told of the progress that had been made by the Canadian Government’s own plant since its establishment 10 years ago, and how other nations and Dominions had copied the Canadian film scheme. The many friends of Joseph M. Franklin, popular manager of B. F. Keith’s Theatre, Ottawa, Ontario, were quite concerned recently over the welfare of his lovely daughter, Lillian, who unnderwent two operations in a local hospital during the week of January 10. Toronto A daring robbery took place at the Pantages Theatre, Toronto, one of the largest theatres in Canada, on January 13, when a smooth crook opened the door of the box office cupola While the lady cashier, Mrs. M. A. McArthur, was busy selling tickets. The thief snatched the cash box which contained $1,477 and ran through the crowded lobby to a waiting automobile and escaped despite the screams of Mrs. McArthur. The robber did not show a weapon and the incident was over in a few moments, except that the lady cashier required medical attention because of shock. Manager N. K. Miller, manager of the Pantages, announced that the theatre’s receipts were insured against theft. The Ontario Board of Moving Picture Censors, Toronto, has relented in its official stand against European film productions and, for the first time in about 12 years, German features are now being seen on Ontario screens. Following the raising of the ban against German pictures, there was quite a run on special features, such as “Variety,’’ which played the Hippodrome, the leading theatre of the Famous Players chain in Canada, during the week of January 17, and “Faust,” which was shown the same week at the Loew's Theatre, Toronto. The Ontario Government was the last government in the world to remove the barrier against German film releases, it is stated. Quite a few changes have been made by Famous Players Canadian Corp., Toronto, among the managers of its suburban houses in Toronto. Jack Quarrington, for many years manager of the Beaver Theatre, has been appointed manager of the Parkdale Theatre in succession of B. Geldzaeler. Jack Laver, who has had charge of the York Theatre in recent months has been appointed manager of the new Bedford Theatre in North Toronto. Harry Smith goes from the Teck Theatre to the Classic Theatre, both of which are in the East End of Toronto. Ben Geldzaeler has been appointed general supervisor of Toronto’s suburban theatres of Famous Players Canadian Corp. Claude Alexander, an official of the head office of Famous Players Canadian Corp., Toronto, has returned to his duties following a happy honeymoon. Train Caller Tries Tackett When He Rounds Up a Crew Coffeyville, Kans., Jan. 19. — John Tackett runs the theatre bearing his name, here, and so well has he become known that when anybody in town wants to locate any other person Tackett is the one appealed to, because he has regular “detective” eyes and memory and can usually tell if the person sought is in his theatre and where seated. This faculty has done a lot to build up his prestige among the railroad men in town, and whenever the local train caller looms up, it’s “Where is Engineer Caswell sittings — he said he’d drop in tonight,” or “Rounding up the gang for the 9:19 — who’s inside?” and Tackett can tell right away. The only time his memory fails is when Mrs. So’n So demands : “Did my husband come in tonight — with that blonde—?” Montreal Ameen Lawand, pproprietor of the Laurier Palace Theatre, Montreal, in which 78 children met their death in the recent disaster, had a theatre in Ottawa, Ontario, for more than a year, this being the Casino Theatre which was recently taken over by Fred Leduc, of Ottawa, who, previously, had controlled the house. Lawand spent considerable time in Ottawa during the period that he had the local theatre. The meanest man in the world has been found in Montreal. Evidence given at the inquest into the deaths of 78 children in the Laurier Palace Theatre fire brought out the fact that, immediately after the cry of fire had been raised in the theatre and the stampede for the exits started, an adult male patron jumped to the box office and demanded his money back because he had not been able to see the whole show. At that moment, scores of children were being crushed and burned and suffocated to death. The cashier busied herself with putting the cash away and ignored the demand of the specimen at the wicket. A real hero of the Laurier Palace fire was the projection machine operator, Emile Massicotte, 6787 Boyer Street. He kept the comedy, “Get ’Em Young,” going until he could see no one in the balcony of the theatre. Then when he started down the stairway he saw scores of children caught in the jam, some already dead and others shrieking. Massicotte forced open a window leading out of the entrance marquee and passed oiit 26 of the fear-driven kiddies to the open air where they huddled on the marquee for a few’ moments until rescued by firemen. Quebec Pressure is being exerted on the Quebec Provincial Government by His Grace, Archbishop Gauthier, of the Roman Catholic Church, Montreal, the Montreal Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church, and others to prohibit Sunday shows as a result of the recent Montreal theatre disaster. If Sunday performances were placed under the ban, it would affect many theatres in cities of Quebec other than Montreal. One of these is Hull, Quebec, which is opposite to the city of Ottawa, in Ontario where Sunday performances! are illegal. There are three large theatres in Hull, the Laurier, Eden and Capitol, which enjoy large patronage from the Ontario city on Sundays, patrons merely crossing over to the adjacent city by automobile or street car. St. Louis , Mo. Moving Picture World Bureau, St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 19. VISITORS of the week included: Earney Dubinsky, Jefferson City, Mo.; Tom Reed, Duquoin, 111.; Carl Muff, Edina, Mo.; John Pratt, Fulton, Mo.; H. C. Tuttle, Desloge, Mo.; Jim Riley, Alton, 111.; Joe Hewitt, Robinson, 111. ; Sam Hallowell, Assumption, 111.; Harry Turner, Pana, 111.; Noah Bloomer, Belleville, 111.; Dominic Fresena, Taylorville, 111.; Bob Clarke, Effingham, 111., and Mrs. I. W. Rodgers, Cairo, 111. Judge F’aris of the Federal Court has continued the application of George P. Skouras for final citizenship papers to give him an opportunity to show that he endeavored to enlist in the Air Corps during the late World War. Skouras’ draft questionnaire indicated that he had claimed exemption from service on the grounds that he was an alien. However, although aliens usually were placed in Class Five, the last on the list, •S'kouras was rated in the first class indicating that he had probably indicated a willingness to serve if called. He testified that prior to being called in the draft he endeavored to enlist in the air service but was rejected because of bad vision. His subsequent claim to exemption was made because he knew that he was not eligible for service because of his disability. Albert Foritori has purchased the Newstead and Ashland Theatres in St. Louis, Mo., from the Laventhal Circuit. He is a nephew of Joe Foritori who operates the Criterion Theatre on Broadway near Olive street, St. Louis, Mo. Knox City, la. Mrs. R. A. Barnridge of Knox City, la., on January 8 took over the Majestic Theatre, Memphis, Mo. Peyton Campbell was the former owner. Miss Mable Doyer, cashier for the St. Louis exchange of Producers Distributing Corporation, is confined to her home by illness. Miss Ann Taylor has succeeded Miss Mable Price as biller in the local F. B. O. exchange. Tom McKean, manager for F. B. O., had an interesting week battling the muddy roads of northeast Missouri. He discovered how god a bug he owns. And he brought back some fat contracts. Dale Dwyer, formerly with Producers, is now on the local Universal sales staff. Michigan David Palfreyman, manager of the Detroit Film Board of Trade, will be among the 32 managers who will attend the first annual convention in Los Angeles for one week in May, 1927. They will visit the studios to familiarize themselves with all angles of production as well as distribution. Elwyn Simons, manager of the Liberty Theatre at Benton Harbor and former owner of theatres in Adrian, was rushed to the hospital a few days ago for a hurried operation, which, while serious, is believed to have helped his condition. Mr Simons will be confined to the hospital for several weeks. Sidney E. Abel has been appointed Detroit manager for United Artists to succeed Herbert Traver, who has been compelled to give up all active work for the time being owing to ill health, Mr. Abel was for many years with Fox, serving in various capacities both in this country and abroad.