Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1927)

36 New York Moving Picture World Bureau , Albany, N. Y., Dec. 23. SEVERAL important changes have taken place along Albany’s Film Row, the most important being the resignation of Alec Herman as co-manager of the Pathe-Pros-DisCo. exchange. Aside from Howard Morgan, manager for Educational, Mr. Herman held the record of being the oldest exchange manager in Albany in point of service. He was manager for First National for several years before going with Pro-Dis-Co. E. J. Hayes, who has handled the Pathe branch, succeeds Mr. Herman and has full charge of the consolidated exchange. Amos Leonard becomes sales manager. Samuel Burns resigned during the week as salesman at the Metro exchange. Ned Malluf, of New York, has been added to the sales staff of the Paramount exchange. Carl Fahrenholz, of Buffalo, becomes booker at the Fox exchange. C. L. Grant One of the most successful housewarmings ever given by an Albany exchange moving into new quarters, attracted many exhibitors, film salesmen and others, to the handsome quarters now occupied by F.B.O. exchange on Albany’s Film Row. The warming took place last Monday, lasted all day and with plenty to eat and something also to wash it down with. A1 Gutek, recently named as Albany representative for the company, was on hand and made everyone feel at home. Visitors in Albany included Charles Henschel, of New York, connected with the Pathe forces, and L. J. Hacking, of Boston : William Smalley, of Cooperstown ; A. T. Mallory, of Corinth ; Dave Miller, branch manager for Universal in Buffalo ; R. V. Anderson, of New York, general sales manager for the International Newsreel ; Harry Lazarus, of Kingston ; Henry Frieder. of Hudson ; Samuel E. Morris, general manager for Warner Brothers ; W. H. Linton and son, of Utica : J. Cummings, of New York, connected with Metro ; Harry Dickson, manager of the F.B.O. exchange in Buffalo ; A. W. Smith, of New York, connected with the First National forces ; J. J. Unger and George Schaefer, both of New York, connected with the Paramount forces, and others. Antwerp Clyde Allen, of Antwerp, has deserted the ranks of exhibitors and has returned to his former vocation of cheese salesman. Unfortunately, however, Mr. Allen, dropping in at several exchanges in Albany last week, forgot to bring along samples of cheese and was reminded by many of his friends here that there is nothing like a piece of cheese to top off a hunk of mince pie at the Christmas dinner. Lowville There has been a change in the management of the Bijou theatre in Lowville. H. M. Donahoe, formerly connected with the Schine circuit in Buffalo, has been assigned to the Lowville house, replacing Lloyd Slawson, who resigned. Julius Beristein, owner of the Colonial and other theatres in Albany, may take a swing this winter to the West Coast, where he has two brothers owning and operating motion picture theatres and whom he has not seen for many years. James Dermody, Fox salesman out of Albany, back from his honeymoon and with his face wreathed in smiles, is so happy these days that even an occasional turn down on the part of an exhibitor doesn’t cause him worry. The only thing that Mr. Dermody is sorry for, according to his own statement, is that he hadn’t married a number of years ago. Schenectady Frank Leaman. who is one of the high moguls with the Farley houses in Schenectady, is busy this week in handling screen contests. Walter Emig is the new proprietor of the Central -theatre in Albany, with Lee Langdon, his brotherin-law, as his assistant. Mr. Langdon is one of the old timers in the game and already the theatre shows .his handiwork. MOVING PICTURE WORLD BENEFITS RUN FROM FIRES TO BUFFALOES There is nothing like co-operation between the exhibitor and any project in which the general public may be interested. In Potsdam, this week, the Rialto theatre turned over ten per cent, of its proceeds to the survivors of a fire that destroyed the home of a family in North Lawrence, and in which lives were lost. The Gateway in Antwerp, staged a benefit last week for the Vermont flood sufferers and turned over a handsome sum. R. V. Connor, of the Olympic in Watertown, is co-operating with the city in meeting the transportation of two buffaloes from the far west, which are being added to the city zoo. Minnesota Moving Picture World Bureau, Minneapolis, Minn., Dec. 23. A FTER the announcement made a couple of weeks ago that Finkelstein and Ruben would build a new $100,000 theatre at 43rd and Upton in the heart of Minneapolis’ lake district, a petition signed last spring by 2,000 ''opposers'’ has been revived for presentation to the city council. The petition was signed last spring when plans for a theatre in that section were first announced, but as the plans were dropped the petition was never presented. Another petition favoring the project is also being circulated and it is understood that most of the business men in the Lake Harriet district are favoring this latter petition. The F. & R. employees “pep club” gave a dance recently at the Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis. The club is composed of employees in F. & R. theatres and the Minneapolis office. The preliminary details looking to the transfer of records, films and supplies to the new Universal offices in Minneapolis this month are being supervised by W. E. Troug, in charge of the middle west division for Universal; and Mark Ross, branch man Last week's visitors in Minneapolis included Cecil Mayberry, divisional representative of Pathe. Max Stahl, of the Minneapolis Educational office, returned last week from Duluth and other northern Minnesota towns. Joe Carlson, former owner of the Maine theatre at Buhl, Minn., is now manager of the Maine, which reopened the last part of November. Little Falls R. J. Mace has sold the Lyric theatre at Little Falls, Minn., to Isaac J. Craite of Minneapolis. Chisholm The Philo theatre at Chisholm, Minn., has been sold by F. & R. to Henry Sosnosky, who has been manager of the house since it was taken over by F. & R. two years ago. It is understood that there is no booking arrangement between Sosnosky and F. & R. This is the first time for F. & R. to sell a theatre since they began their expansion program several years ago. Hallock D. J. Larson has sold the Grand theatre at Hallock, Minn., to Wm. H. Bannister, one of the best known film salesmen in this territory. Bannister knows many tricks of exploitation and will probably keep things going in Hallock. December 24, 1927 Illinois Moving Picture World Bureau, Chicago, IU„ Dec. 23. J-! ARRY S. LORCH, of Pathe, was elected president of the Chicago Film Board of Trade Tuesday, Nov. 22nd, after the resignation of Jack Sampson, who had held the presidency for almost three years. Sampson is now affiliated with H. Schoenstadt & Sons, Theatre Enterprisers. L. Sussman has purchased the Adelphi motion picture theatre from Lester Retchin and H. E. Newell. The Apollo theatre, after extensive remodeling, will open early next year as a motion picture theatre for United Artists pictures with Balaban & Katz service. James Gillick tendered his resignation to Pathe last week. He is leaving the film business and after the first of the year will be in business for himself in another line. William J. Slattery has been named as general manager of the Great States theatres at Kankakee, succeeding R. E. Schmidt. Perry Hoeffler has been transferred from the management of the Plumb theatre at Streator to the Washington Square and Orpheum theatres at Quincy by the circuit and is succeeded at Streator by M. Gallagher. R. W. Tibbitts has been named as manager of the Majestic and Orpheum theatres at La Salle succeeding L. Sussman. F. T. Sawyer has resigned his connection with the circuit at Kankakee and Clark Wymans has been temporarily transferred from Peoria to Rockford to look after the Great States houses there as Louis St. Pierre, general manager there, is taking a long needed rest. Carmi Frank Barnes, of Carmi, has taken over the Main Theatre of that city from S. E. Pirtle. Mr. Barnes has been operating the Strand Theatre, which is now closed. Ascher Brothers have disposed of their Forest Park Theatre to A. J. Cooper, who formerly operated the Casino at La Crosse and the Butterfly in Milwaukee. Evanston The Park Theatre of Evanston, formerly operated by Spencer & Miller, has been reopened as a straight motion picture theatre, after having been closed for some time past. The Parkway Theatre on north Clark street, which is managed by Leo Roth, will inaugurate a stage band policy this week. Gary Vern LT. Young has opened the new Palace theatre at Gary and the new theatre is playing a combination policy of vaudeville and pictures. The Rosenthal Brothers of Dubuque were in the Chicago film row last week and are planning to build a fine two thousand seat theatre in that city and work is under way on the plans for the new house. Elmer LTilehorn, owner of the Curtis theatre at Downers Grove, has broken ground for a fine movie theatre that he is building in that live little city. Opening More Announcement has been made at the Detroit offices of W. S. Butterfield Theatres, Inc., that the new Michigan Theatre at Ann Arbor. Michigan, will open on January 5th. 1928, and that the formal opening of the Capitol Theatre at Flint. Michigan, will take place on January 19th. 1928. Announcement is also made that the Grand Theatre at Grand Haven, Michigan, another Butterfield Theatre, will be opened to the public early in January. 500 Escape Fire Panic Indianapolis. — About 500 patrons of the Capitol Theatre, Washington street and Capitol avenue, quickly filed out when a film caught fire, filling the place with smoke. Police praised the presence of mind of the ushers who admonished those in the theatre not to become excited. The flames were extinguished before much property damage resulted.