Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1927)

Last Minute News From Everywhere Moving" Picture WORLD The Showman’s Business Paper ABC Circulation 7619 Exhibitors Vol. 89 New York, November 5, 1927 No. 1 MOSS-WHYTE COMBINE RUMORED ‘DOWN EAST’ Detroit Bomb Wrecks House and Kills Man Tivoli Is Destroyed by Nitroglycerine; Man Found in Ruins The Tivoli Theatre, Detroit, operated by Joe Cosco, was wrecked shortly after midnight by a bomb explosion and fire. The entire house, seating 400, was destroyed except the lobby, which was damaged beyond repair. Fire broke out in the stage section immediately following the blast. An unidentified man was injured fatally. He was found with a hole in his head and his legs severely burned beneath the debris in an alley at the rear. Although he failed to regain consciousness in the Highland Park General Hospital, police believe he was one of the bombers. Frank E. Ford, chief of the Highland Park Fire Department discovered oil isoaked rugs distributed throughout the theatre and that the various rooms were connected both upstairs and down by paper streamers soaked with gasoline. (Continued on next page) Many Join Club Members are rushing into the Motion Picture Club of New York since its last meeting, when 106 accepted and paid-up members were reported. The charter membership class will not contain over 200 names, and those passed upon after November 26 will pay an initiation fee of $150, instead of $100. The number of members will be settled at the next meeting on November 10 at the Astor, at 7 p. m. The nominating committee consists of Jack Alicoate, Elmer Pearson, Walter Moore, Lou Blumenthal and Paul Gulick. Late Chicago News The premiere of “Wings” at the Erlanger is the theatre event of the week. It did a capacity business. Zukor, Lasky, Kent, Sam Katz and other notables attended the opening. John Cooney, father of the Cooney brothers of the National Playhouse Circuit, died after a long illness. The Grand Theatre Corp. has been organized by Nelson Kahn with headquarters on West North avenue. Fight Film Arrests in Philly; Baltimore Quiet Philadelphia — Department of Justice agents have arrested William Berger, Louis Berger and Abe B. Weinblatt, distributors, and Sam Epstein, exhibitor, in connection with the showing of Tunney-Dempsey fight films here, and have issued a warrant for Edward Ruby of New York. The defendants are held in $1,000 bail. Baltimore — The fight films are attracting droves of people here while U. S. District Attorney Woodcock is seeking the man who brought them into the state. The Attorney General declares them not subject to censorship. Estelle with F. N. Estelle Taylor has been signed by Bob Kane for her initial First National production, “The Whip Woman.” The cast will include Lowell Sherman and Antonio Moreno, Joe Boyle will direct from the original story by Forrest Halsey. Ohio Bans Fight Film Cincinnati — Ohio fans who anticipated ringside seats to view the Dempsey-Tunney fight films are doomed to disappointment, for the state board of censors have ruled “thumbs down” on Ohio showings. NEW SOUTHERN CHAIN FORMED Publix, Arthur Lucas and Saenger are combining to form a chain of small picture theatres throughout Georgia The Lucas houses at Macon, Brunswick and Valdosta will be included and houses will be built It is believed that Publix houses in key cities are not in on the deal. Lucas will control half of the chain and Publix and Saenger one-quarter each. Publix, in co-operation with Saenger, has just acquired the Rex and Queen theatres at Hendersonville, N. C. They formerly were run by Jake Wells. Woodhull Off On Tour Of Showmen Meetings R. F. Woodhull, national president of the M.P.T.O.A., left on the South Western Limited on November 1 for a three weeks’ tour of state conventions. The organizations to be visited are as follows : Little Rock, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Kansas City, Omaha, Columbus, Indianapolis and Chicago. During the trip Mr. Woodhull will address several Women’s Clubs and other civic bodies. Nalpas Brings “Casanova” Louis Nalpas, associated with Jean Sapene in France, will sail on the He de France for New York on November 9 with a print of “Casanova,” for which he expects to obtain a Broadway showing. Carl Laemmle saw this feature while in Paris. New N. J. Theatre Morris Kutensky is building a first-run theatre in Westwood, New Jersey. Zukor Holds Half of Stock in Moss Circuit, ’Tis Said With persistent reports coming this week from New England to the effect that the Boston syndicate which “purchased” the Poll circuit of 18 theatres for $28,500,000 has not actually purchased it but only has an option and is finding it difficult to raise funds to complete the sale, the ejres and ears of the industry focussed again on New York when it was whispered along Broadway that B. S. Moss and Arthur Whyte are soon to join forces in an invasion of the territory formerly dominated by S. Z. Poli. It is practically certain that Moss is severing his Keith-Albee affiliations, and that Whyte is leaving Pathe-DeMille, but their future plans, though Broadway insists the above is true, still are a matter of conjecture. Added to this comes the news that the Stanley Co. of America and Keith-Albee will be associated in an invasion of the New England territory. Their theatres, for which sites are being obtained, will present vaudeville and pictures at popular prices. Several of the houses will be on the scale of the (Continued on next page) Ouimet in Canada Ernest L. Ouimet, former president of Specialty Films Import, Ltd., of Canada, distributors of the Pathe product, left New York last night for Toronto where he will be established as general Canadian representative for Topics of the Day, Aesop’s Film Fables and the Henry and Polly Comedies. The above products are now being released in Canada through the Regal Films, Ltd.