Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

February 26, 1927 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 655 Blank’s Omaha Riviera to Open Early in March Moving Picture World Bureau, Omaha, Neb., Feb. 24 WITH A. G. STOLTE as manager, the new Riviera Theatre, now being completed, one of Omaha’s masterpiece in theatre construction will open March 12. The Riviera Is one of the string of theatres owned by the A. H. Blank Enterprises. Mr. Stolte has been managing director during the past year for a large number of theatres in the A. H. Blank chain. This is one of the most elaborate Publix theatres in the Mid-West. The theatre is to seat 3,000 people. Mr. Stolte will have more than 100 employes under his direction in the operation of the theatre. Geneva Fire at the Sunbeam theatre at Geneva, Web., owned and operated by A. Beams, completely destroyed the structure February 5 early in the morning. Insurance covered the loss only partially, it is said. The owner expects to rebuild. Minnesota Moving Picture World Bureau , Minneapolis, Minn., Feb . 24. THE State Theatre in Minneapolis recently gave a special matinee for the boy ushers who entered the big dog derby sponsored by the Minneapolis Tribune last week. The various prizes in all events of the derby were presented to the mushers at this matinee, and among these prizes was a collie puppy given by Hal Daigler, State manager. About 150 feet of film showing some of the most exciting scenes at the derby were thrown on the screen. Walter Seymour has been named by United States as the new branch manager in Minneapolis. He was formerly manager of the southern division for U. A. Fairmont St. Louis , Mo. Moving Picture World Bureau, St. Louis , Mo., Feb. 24. A CONTINUANCE was granted by the Randolph County Circuit Court February 18 to motion picture theatre owners and managers charged with violation of the state law against the employment of labor on Sundays. State Senator Whitecotton, counsel for the defense, is at Jefferson City with the legislature and could not be in court. St. Louis policewomen have launched a drive against male bipeds who annoy women patrons of down-town picture houses. Three of the pests were picked up at the Broadway Theatre, 506 St. Charles street, within less than an hour’s time. The theatre managers are co-operating with the police. Atlantic, la. George Adams was injured recently by Rock Island Train No. 7. He is recovering at Atlantic, la., where he is in a hospital. He is a well known exhibitor of Nebraska and Iowa. He owns the Tabor Theatre at Tabor, la., the Grand at Cedar Rapids, la. Omaha, Neb., Feb. 23. — Walter Branson is the new branch manager of the Pathe in Omaha. He came to Omaha four years ago from the University of Nebraska. At first he was boker for Pathe here. In 1925 he went on the road to try his hand as a salesman, and made good from the start. Brooks Tillsworth, who has been with Pathe at Omaha for the past two years, and who has been in the film business eight years in all, has been promoted to feature sales manager for Pathe. He will continue to work out of the Omaha office. Harry F. Lefholtz, who was connected with Universal Film Exchange! Inc., for the past twelve years, has now taken over the Liberty Films Corp. Leo Blank, manager for Educational Pictures in Omaha, was married Wednesday, January 26. Miss Janet Gillinsky of Council Bluffs is the bride. Colorado Moving Picture World Bureau, Denver, Colo., Feb. 24. '** HOOPEE, hop to it,” shouted a movie ** fan last Wednesday evening in the Rivoli theatre while watching a popular western star do the hero stuff. The fan, O. A. Kresslyn of the Cheyenne Hotel was escorted to the city and held on a disturbance charge. A heart attack suffered while viewing the show at the Grand Central Theatre, St. Louis, at 2:15 p. m. Friday, February 18, proved fatal to Charles Claflin Allen, former Circuit Judge and past president of the St. Louis Bar Association. He died in the theatre rest room fifteen minutes after the attack. Fairmont, Minn, is to have a new theatre, according to Harry Gilbert, who announces plans for a house to seat 650. Gilbert plans to remodel a store at a cost of about $30,000 and to have the theatre ready for business by May 1. Hay & Nicholas now control the Fairmont field with their two theatres, the Strand and the Haynic. St. Paul The annual frolic of the St. Paul Junior League was staged this year at the Capitol Theatre, St. Paul. The show, which was called the Junior League Cabaret, was directed by Clem Murphy of the F. & R. organization. In previous years the League has held its frolic at different closed houses and has never before tied up with a theatre. Members of the F. & R. organization are making it a point to join various community clubs and societies as a means of extending their acquaintance and building up business for their theatres. In St. Paul nearly every suburban manager belongs to his local commercial club or Parent-Teachers’ Association or both. A new Minneapolis organization, the Thirty-eighth Street Commercial Club, has just placed at the head of the business men’s groups George Peterson, manager of the Nokomis Theatre. Bob La Piner of the Minneapolis office probably holds the championship of the Northwest as a joiner, however, as he boasts memberships in twentyfour organizations. Tom Burke is back in Minneapolis after a business trip to New York. He is branch manager for First National. Long Prairie Laurel Lano is to operate the Cozy Theatre at Long Prairie, Minn., according to Mrs. John Frana, whose Husband operated the theatre at the time of his death recently. James R. Elliott has purchased the Grand Theatre at Dassel, Minn., from C. R. Clark of Minneapolis, who bought the house last fall from the Supreme Amusement Company. St. Cloud The Miner Theatre in St. Cloud will be reopened early in March by Finkelstein & Ruben, who plan to use the house for the bigger pictures, and to use the Grand, another St. Cloud house, for westerns and melodramas. The Miner is being refurnished before it is opened. Marcellus C. Gerhart, owner and manag of the Empress theatre, Ft. Collins, Co died in a Ft. Collins hospital last Tuesc morning. Mr. Gerhart was one of the b known exhibitors of the Denver distr having operated in Wyoming and Colors for a number of years. His death was si den. It came while he was submitting tc minor operation. Just .a few days befi his death he paid .a visit to all Denver < •chang’es transacting" business. Brlcelyn The Unique Theatre at Bricelyn, Minn., was damaged by fire recently with a loss estimated at $1,500. W. T. McCarthy was elected president of the Orpheum Theatre at Fergus Falls at a meeting of stockholders recently. Other officers elected were: C. W. Kaddatz, vicepresident; Eugene T. McCarthy, secretary, and G. W. Frankberg, treasurer. St. Louis street car riders who have been forced to pay an extra penny to ride on the road crushers operated by the United Railways Company can save the penny by attending the Melba, Ivory, Michigan, Red Wing or Cherokee theatres operated by Fred Wehrenberg. Wehrenberg has announced that he will honor at one cent each the receipts furnished by the street car company to patrons who demand same. The increase in fares from 7 cents to 8 cents or two tokens for 15 cents was temporarily granted by the United States District Court of Kansas City, and should the courts finally hold that the fare raise is not warranted the street car company will have to refund the extra penny to patrons who were wise enough to ask for receipts. But patrons of the Melba, Ivory, Michigan, Red Wing and Cherokee haven’t a chance to lose under Wehrenberg’s 'plan, as each receipt will count as a penny in the payment of admission to the theatres. St. Louis theatres now dark include the Delmonte, Capital, Palm and Sutton. All closed within the past week. Jimmy Wade plans to open his National Theatre in East St. Louis about April 1. During its fourteen years’ career the Grand Opera House has played to 31,500,000 paid admissions. In recent years it has operated as a combination house, but prior to that was strictly vaudeville. The safe of the famous Players-Lasky exchange at 3721 Washington boulevard was cracked by yeggmen who secured $100. Bids will be taken at once on the negro theatre and office building to be erected at Ninth and Arch street, Little Rock, Ark., by the Masonic Templars of America. Roland Siegle has awarded the contract for the remodeling of the Community Theatre, Stuttgart, Ark., at a cost of $35,000. Iowa News The Alamo Theatre at New London, Iowa, has been taken over by E. 10. Perkins of Knoxville, 111., who formerly operated the house but sold it two years ago. Earl Miller has sold the Lyric Theatre at Walnut, Iowa, to E. B. McCord. Ray and John Beck and Ray Wentz have turned over the Falke Theatre at Remsen, Iowa, which they have been operating for almost a year, to Henry Falke, owner of the theatre. Woodward Bros, have sold the Grand Thea tre at Story City, Iowa, to Earl Rhodes. Earl Miller has sold the Lyric Theatre at Walnut, Iowa, to E. B. McCord.