The Moving picture world (May 1925-June 1925)

408 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 23, 1925 Quebec Fire Razes Three Theatres Three moving picture theatres went up in smoke during a conflagation which swept the town of St. Joseph's d'AIma, Quebec, on Thursday, May 7, the fire destroying more than 30 places of business, a factory and residences. The fire started in the Victoria Theatre during the early part of the evening, following a mysterious explosion. There was no one in the theatre at the time because it was not yet time for the evening shows. The National and the Alma moving picture theatres were next to be wiped out with considerable loss. St. Joseph d'AIma is the centre of an agricultural district in Northern Quebec and the three local cinemas enjoyed good business with patronage over a wide area. Milwaukee Exhibitor Disappears with $200 Cash A mystery defying police solution has arisen in Milwaukee through the disappearance of Nick De Lorenzo, widely known exhibitor. De Lorenzo, whose brother Vincent is connected with the Celebrated Players exchange in Milwaukee and another brother, Frank, is with an Omaha exchange, vanished after leaving a street car a block from his home while he had in his possession approximately $200 representing the receipts of the Elite Theatre which he managed. The Elite is controlled by the Columbia Amusement Co., by whom De Lorenzo was employed. De Lorenzo's wife could shed no light in the mystery beyond stating that her husband had appeared to be distracted for a week before he vanished. Big Detroit Sale by U. S. for Arrears Fred L. Woolworth, collector of internal revenue in the Detroit district, has announced that all furniture and equipmert of the Orpheum Theatre, which until recently was operated as one of the Charles H. Miles string of theatres, will be sold at public auction to satisfy $59,000 delinquent income taxes. The sale is to take place during the middle of the month. The articles to be disposed of include a pipe organ, a grand piano, 2,042 opera seats, two motion picture projectors, 60 dressing room and stage chairs, 126 box chairs and miscellaneous furniture, scenery and fittings. The delinquent taxes are for the years 1917, 1920 and 1921. F. P. L. QUARTERLY DIVIDEND At a meeting held May 11 the Board of Directors of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation declared the regular quarterly dividend of $2.00 per share on the common stock, payable July 1st, 1925, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 15th, 1925. The books will not close. Non-Theatrical Drive in Milwaukee Is More Intense A new drive against non-theatrical film competition and the carnival evil has been launched by the Milwaukee branch of the M. P. T. O. as a result of numerous complaints from members that both forms of amusement are cutting heavier than ever into theatre receipts. In regard to the first mentioned problem, the organization has invited members of the school board for a conference in the hope that an agreement can be reached whereby pictures presented in public schools would be limited to films of a purely educational nature. The non-theatrical evil is most apparent on Wednesday and Saturday when admission to most of the school movies is a penny or a nickel. It also is charged that "The Covered Wagon" and other big pictures were placed in the schools when exhibitors refused to pay the prices asked by exchanges and that this practice is extremely harmful to theatre attendance. In an effort to stamp out the carnival evil, Henry Staab, executive secretary of the M. P. T. O. in Wisconsin, was instructed to confer with the mayor. In event that relief cannot be obtained in this manner, it is expected that the legislature will be appealed to. RULE PRIZES NOT LOTTERY Prosecuting officials of St. Louis refused to issue a warrant against Louis Stahl, owner-manager of the Union Theatre, Union and Easton avenues, and the police were blocked in their efforts to prevent him from holding his Pay Days for the children of the neighborhood. For many months Stahl has been conducting special matinees for the kids at which he gave out candy and "pay" envelopes. The latter contained from one cent to 12 each and were payment to the kids for boosting the Union. St. Louis has a reform wave under way at present and the police frowned upon the arrangement, classing it with a lottery. The Prosecuting Attorney, Circuit Attorney and City Counselor took a decidedly different view and the kids will have their pay days as usual in the future. SAMUEL GOLDWYN ON BANK BOARD Samuel Goldwyn has been elected a member of the board of directors and a member also of the advisory board of the Commercial National Bank in Hollywood. Other members of the board include Joseph Schenck and Cecil B. DeMllle. Incorporations Eight companies incorporated In the motion picture business in Jiew York State during the past week, all the newly formed companies showing substantial amounts of capitalization. These companies were: The Cathedral Film Company, Inc., capitalized at $25,000, with G. B. Ferris F. Cardnner and A. M. Donald, New York City. Senior Pictures Corporation, $25,000, Ernest Haas, B. K. Blake, Samuel M. Gold, New York City. Makel Corporation, $10,000, Abe Platsky, Coney Island; Harry Levene, Evelyn Mints, New York City, Dworsky Film Machine Corporation, $25,000, with A. S. Dfworsky, Harry Dworsky, H. L. Hollander, New York. The Shardondale Corporation, Tonawanda, $18,000, J. H. W. Fenyvessy, Daniel Buss, Tonn wanda ; F. M. Zimmerman, Buffalo. Remington Productions, Inf., with J. T. Basseches, A. Perlstein, C. Rosenberg, New York. Chase Pictures Corporation, M. A. Chase, P. Zlerler, I. Sickle, New York. Theatrical Utilities Service, Inc., F. D. White, H. Schoenfeld, M. E. Mockers, Buffalo, these last three companies not stating the amount of capitalization. Coming and Going W illiani DeMille has arrived at the Paramount Long Island studio. J. L. Hawkinxon has arrived In >'ew York after an extensive business tour for Grantland Rice's "Sportllghts" released by Pathe. The Pathe serial producing unit making "Play Bail" arrived in New York on May 6 from Miami, Fla. The unit includes AHene Kay, Walter Miller, "Wally" Oetel, Mary Mllnor, Harry Semels, J. Barney Sherry and F. W. Seitz. Mixs Peggy Hopkins Joyce (Countess Mor»" on her way to Hollywood, where, under the personal direction of Marshall NeOajt, she will make her screen debut in "The Sky Rocket." Harry C. Arthur has arrived in New York from the Coast to commence his new duties with the Motion Picture Capital Corporation. Adolphe Menjou Is scheduled to sail for France on May 16. Kansas and Missouri Exhibitors Score Another Victory Again the power of organized effort has been demonstrated in Kansas City by the M. P. T. O. Kansas-Missouri. A few days ago a new building code was outlined for the consideration of the city council of Kansas City. The parts of the code regarding theatre construction were deemed exceedingly detrimental by the theatre owners. Adoption of the code meant an increased cost of about $5,000 on the average down town house and $2,000 on suburban theatres, the additional cost being due to what is alleged to be unreasonable specifications on fire exits, width of aisles, width between rows of seats and other details of construction. Hardly had a copy of the code been printed than C. E. Cook, business manager of the M. P. T. O. Kansas-Missouri, was on his way to the city hall for a conference with the building code committee and no words were minced in explaining the alleged injustice which the code saddled upon exhibitors who sought to build or remodel theatres. "Write out your own theatre building code and bring it to us for consideration, make the revisions and amendments you see fit, and we'll be glad to see what can be done," said W. F. Flemming, chairman of the committee. "The M. P. T. O. K-M doesn't attempt to play politics," said Mr Cook, "but we're not worried as to 'what can be done' in regard to proposed changes in the code. There are entirely too many theatre owners opposed to the code for it to be adopted as it is." ALBANY-BUFFALO MEET SOON There is a probability that a Joint meeting of the Albany and Buffalo Zone committees will be held some time this month. Just where this meeting will take place has not yet been decided. At the meeting by-laws will be adopted which will enable the two Zone committees to enjoy a closer working agreement to the benefit of New York State exhibitors than ever before. Meyer Schlne, president of the Albany Zone committee. Is now in Milwaukee, attending the national convention, and will issue the call for a Joint meeting, together with the president of the Buffalo Zone, upon his return home.