Moving Picture World (Sep-Oct 1927)

September 3, 1927 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 11 Str ke Epdem'c Threatens Many Cities — Chicago Dark Exhibitors Back Up Opheum by Closing All But Ten Houses — Expect Philadelphia Trouble THE chief topic on the lips of the industry this week as Moving Picture World went to press was the strike of union employees in some cities and the threatened strike in other cities. Reports are meager this (Thursday) afternoon, except as regards Chicago, where the strike entered its fourth day. Negotiations in other cities were proceeding right up to the time of opening, and no_authentic reports will, be forthcoming until tomorrow. In most localities, it is hoped, settlements will be effected. Most authorities feel that the Chicago trouble will not be repeated elsewhere. Lichtman Changes U.A. Sales Plan, Creates New Jobs Lazarus, Smith and Hill Set for Promotion A1 Lichtman, United Artists’ vice-president and general manager of distribution in the United States and Canada, has made several major changes in positions and personnel of United Artists, sales organization. The position of divisional sales manager has been discontinued. The eastern, western and southern and midwestern sales jdivi;sions have been merged into one national unit, and the three executives who had hitherto occupied those posts have been advanced to other and newly created duties, provided for in the expanded sales department, embracing volume distribution. The position of sales promotion manager has been created, and Paul N. Lazarus, hitherto western and southern divisional sales manager, has been promoted to that post. In connection with that work, Mr. Lichtman announced the official appearance early in September of “United Action,” a publication to be devoted to articles of interest to the sales organization as a whole. As part of his sales promotion work Mr. Lazarus will edit “United Action.” Cresson E. Smith, hitherto mid(Continued on page 16) Defrenne in Liberty Co. St. Louis.— W. F. Defrenne, city salesman in St. Louis for Paramount, has purchased a controlling interest in the Liberty Theatre Company at Mexico, Mo., and on September 1 will remove to that city to take active charge of the management of its two houses, the Liberty and the Orpheum. William Wandell, booker for Paramount, has been promoted to salesman to fill the vacancy caused by Defrenne’s resignation. Films Held Over The feature at the Paramount the week of September 3 will be “Swim, Girl, Swim!” starring Bebe Daniels. “Underworld” will continue at the Rivoli. “The Way of All Flesh” continues at the Rialto. St. Louis Elects Hays St. Louis. — Everett Hays, manager of the St. Louis Theatre, has been named president of the St. Louis Theatre Managers’ Association. Scare Away Mashers Louisville, Ky., Aug. 29. — Louisville theatre owners have done a very good job in breaking up the practices of the men who annoy girls in the theatres, especially at the afternoon shows. For a time there were a good many complaints, and no one knows how many women failed to register complaints, because they did not desire publicity. Some of the houses individually or jointly secured detective service, one agency patrolling several houses. Ushers and employes kept a close scrutiny on the crowds. The theatres made it hot for the mashers, and the courts also. England Eyes Poland Berlin — According to • the German press, Great Britain seems to be taking an active interest in the coming Warsaw Film Exposition. British film circles, apparently, are booking forward to exporting their pictures to Poland, and intend to use the Exposition, as a means of introducing them on the Polish market. Films and Lawsuits Louisville, Ky. — A recent item in one of the rural town newspapers, coming in from Cynthiana, Kv., told of a boy being painfully burned when some old film in his pocket (“exploded.”) This brings out the thought that exhibitors may lay themselves liable to a lawsuit, where they give film to boys. New Kentucky Theatre Louisville, Kv.— Christian County and the City of Hopkinsville, Ky., have completed plans for an armory building, which will also have a theatre seating 1,200. Sheehan Returning to Open “Sunrise” Winfield R. Sheehan, vice-president and general manager of the Fox Film Corporation, is now on the high seas aboard the He d’France en route to New York to complete arrangements for the opening at the Times Square Theatre this month of “Sunrise,” the first American-made picture by Murnau, the well-known German director. Mr. Sheehan will arrive here next Tuesday, September 6, and following a conference with William Fox the date for the premiere of “Sunrise” will be announced. Katz on Executive Committee Sam Katz, president of Publix Theatres, Inc., has been elected a member of the executive committee of the Board of Directors nf Paramount Famous Lasky Cor^ Chicago. — The strike shuts 350 Chicago movies. All were dark Monday night but 10. Fifteen thousand lost their jobs over two projectionists. It is a war to the finish between the union and the theatres. Owners lose $200,000 a day. When four projectionists who had been reporting for work at the Belmont Theatre called for their pay envelopes, only two were handed out. The union Men called a strike on all Orpheum houses. The Chicago Exhibitors Association expected this and they issued an order for closing all houses in support of the Orpheum. More trouble is predicted because the agreements between the theatres and the musicians’ and stage hands’ union expire on Sunday. Until then they must be paid according to contract. After that (Continued on page 14) Booked in Conn. First National has closed with the Hoffman Circuit in Connecticut for the Norma Talmadge special, “Camille,” and for the Schenck productions starring Constance Talmadge. 14 in Family — Ow! Albany. — How’s this for a family ticket? Fourteen persons admitted for 50 cents! Yet this is what happened a few days ago at the Liberty Theatre in Herkimer, N. Y., when the manager' could hardly believe' his eyes as a couple trooped in with an even dozen children in tow. The management had previously advertised a “Family Day” when an entire family would be admitted for 50 cents. When questioned, the father of the brood proceeded to enumerate and name by name, and quickly convinced the management that there was no race suicide at his home. Louis B. Mayer entertains Speaker Nicholas Longworth and William Randolph Hearst at M-G-M studio in Hollywood.