Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1911)

Si_ THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD NEW ENGLAND. Parson's Theater, Hartford, Conn., Is andl slderable changes; and both decorators and painters are bnsllj employed in Hie auidtorlnm or this bouse. Labor Day will mark the opening of house. B. F, Keith's Theater, Portland, Me., which is it present playing stork company attractions, will turn toward "pop" vaudeville and pictures, be .m | Labor Day. Manager J, w. Moore i!ed i hat be bad made up in* mind to experl in, -lit once re on tins sort of entertainment. ■■Pop" vaudeville and pictures were tried by this theater some time ago, bul without any success. Under the new policy two slums are to be given daily. The prices will be: Matinee, 5 cents and 10 cents; evenings, n> cents and 20 cents. The New Theater, to be devoted to "pop" vaudi ville and pictures, at Haverhill, Mass., is nearly completed, and it is expected that Oct. i will surely see Us opening. This house is a beautiful -I nut are. on i he -round Boor, with every modern improvement embodied in its construction. The bouse has been named the Merrlmac street Theater, and is owned bj M. Mayer, a well known local theatrical operator. Mr. Mayer is also the owner of two other Haverhill theaters. His Orpheum theater has opened for its season of "pop" vaudeville and pictures, while his Academy plays "legitimate" attractions. The Congress Hall Theater, Portland, Me., will open its new season on l.ahor Day, with its usual attractions of "pop" vaudeville and pictures. Since Manager Bmil Gerstle left the Congress. Mr. Lynch, owner of the theater, lias been unalile to decide as to whom he wishes as his manager; and the question is still unsettled. William Manning, who lias been with Messrs. Sheedy and Cook, the well known theatrical men of Kail Kiver. Newport, etc., has left this firm, to manage a theater at Woonsocket, R. I. Mr. Manning knows the business, and should be successful in his new undertaking. Charles Sheafe, owner of the Majestic Theater, Keene, N. H., and who until recently was managing the Itelay Theater, Nahant, Mass., for the summer, has left the Relay, in order to make his own theater ready for its opening, wnrtch is billed for Labor Day. Mr. Royce, who managed the Casino Theater, Providence, R. I., during its last winter's season, is now at the head of the Relay Theater for the W. E. Green Film Exchange, of Boston. HENRY. BOSTON. The Columbia Theater, under its new name, the South End Theater, opened on Monday, Aug. 21, under the direction of Marcus Loew, with the same policy of "pop", vaudeville and moving pictures, which has brought such phenomenal success to Mr. Ixjew's Orpheum Theater in this city. Mr. Loews experience with the Orpheum has convinced both himself and the public that be and bis policy have been needed here, and with him will go the best wishes for the success of his South End Theater. The house has been thoroughly renovated and rearranged to give the greatest possible comfort to patrons. Its interior, which has been seen by the writer very recently, presents an appearance that is even more artistic than when the house was first opened as a $2 house. A gala bill of "pop" vaudeville and pictures was billed for the opening day. Mr. Loew changes bis programs bi-weekly. The Kinemacolor exhibition of colored motion pictures of the Coronation of King George and Queen Mary, as presented at the Tremont Temple, is growing rapidly in popularity. The reels are shown twice a day, at 2:30 in the afternoon, and S:15 In the evening. The entertainment continues for two hours, interspersed with orchestral music, and a descriptive account of the Coronation, delivered by Eugene Farnsworth, the well-known traveler and lecturer. Boston people are realizing that the wonderful Kinemacolor process enables them to see the spectacular events of the Coronation exactly as they appeared in London two months ago, and are availing themselves of their opportunity. Suffice it to say that the S. R. 0. sign is "on the job" daily, and that seats are on sale ■ ine week in advance. Austin and Stone's Theater, Tremont Row, which features moving pictures as a portion of the program, opened its season Monday, Aug. 21. The house was re-modeled in part, and thoroughly overhauled. The Scenic Temple, one of the William BradStreet Theaters, is finding business brisk. Lenna Howe's Union orchestra is one of this theater's features. This orchestra has been at the Scenic Temple many months; and "forks up" the pictures in fine fashion. The Automatic Vaudeville Company, of New York, operating the Comlque, Palace, and Premier theaters, in this city, are now giving the preference to their new Palace Theater. First-run reels are first shown ;it Hint house, and then go to the Comtque. This is just the reverse of the old way of placing the pictures. Since the Palace has been presenting pictures and songs only, and ha9 cut out its vaudeville features; it needed strengthening, and is getting it In the shape of first-run %ir»tc*, Independent service from the W. K. Greene Film Exchange are In use by the three bouses. Owing to the fact that so many of the Licensed manufacturers have Increased the quality ol their weekly releases, it has been found impossible to exhibit the entire output, for the benefit of Licensed managers at the Boston office of the General Film company, at two sittings, as was formerly the case. Consequently, managers using first-run Licensed pictures must be at the Boston office of the General Film Company, on Monday and Thursday afternoons, as well as on Tuesday and Friday mornings, as formerly. It is now practically assured that the new National Theater, Tremont Street, will open for its lirst performance the second week in September. This house was idle nearly one whole year, due to faulty construction, whereby the rear wall was in danger of collapse. With its seating capacity of 3,700, this house exceeds by several hundred, any other theater in this city. Its area is nearly I.mmi square feet. High class vaudeville and pictures are to be offered by the B. F. Keith interests, with a range of prices from 5c to 15c. It Is stated that should the public favor the house, that real high-priced vaudeville will be presented. This, of course, is due to Hie large seating capacity. Already State and city officials have been invited to attend the opening performance. Prominent theatrical men from many larger cities are to be present to note bow so large a bouse as Is the National succeeds. Mr. G. W. Ryder has been appointed manager. HENRY. LOUISVILLE, KY, Louisville photoplay' interests are just awakening to the fact that a very profitable field of endeavor lies open to them along the line of theater advertising. That is, exploitation of the sort which can be utilized by any advertiser, and which finds its expression in slides which are flashed upon the screen previous to the regular program. Considering the fact that the "circulation" of a downtown theater approximates something like 5,000 or more people per day and slides are comparatively low, this advertising proposition proves mighty attractive to many merchants, as the experience of Louisville theater managers is proving. One of the biggest moving picture deals ever formulated in Louisville, which will result in the establishment of the most costly house in the city, is now in the hands of Louis J. Dittmar, president of the Majestic Amusement Company, and associates. The Majestic company now operates The Majestic, on Fourth Avenue, and The Royal, at Eighteenth Street and Broadway, in Louisville, and a foundation is being laid for a considerable addition to the Majestic, which is directly across the street from the Custom House. However, Mr. Dittmar, and other capitalists, are planning to erect a $75,000 exclusive motion picture house on the site of the present Majestic and its addition. The theater is to seat 1,200 people, and will be one of the finest houses in the country, fire-proofed throughout and containing every modern accessory to photoplay. Plans for its construction are now in the hands of Joseph & Joseph, prominent local architects. It has been announced that, between Sept. 1 and 15, a handsome new motion picture theater is to be opened in Bowling Green, Ky. The Crescent Amusement Company, of Nashville, Tenn., is putting the deal for the new Bowling Green house through, and will operate It in connection with the present Columbia in that city. A fiveyear lease for a prominent site in the down-town district of Bowling Green has been secured by the Crescent Company, and work of construction upon a theater with seating capacity of 500 persons, fireproof construction, will be begun at once. J. P. Masters, manager of the Columbia Crescent show in Bowling Green, will also superintend the new establishment. George A. Bleieh, a well-known photoplay man of Hopkinsville, Ky.. who has been associated with various successful showbouses in Western Kentucky, announced last week that he has completed arrangements for the erection of a theater of his own in Hopkinsville. Mr. Bleieh has leased a fine location in that city for five years and has awarded a contract to the Forbes Manufacturing Company for the erection of a strictly up-to-date establishment, seating nearly 700 people. Mr. Bleieh is now operating The Princess, in Hopkinsville, but says that he will probably dispose of this theater when the new building is ready for occupancy in October. William Mainwaring, a well-known moving picture man, of Newport, Ky., recently figured in arrangements whereby the first "commercial use" of photoplay in the Bluegrass was demonstrated. The head of a prominent Newport family, under the direction of Mr. Mainwaring, recently took his household with him to Chicago, 111., where each member of the family was photographed by one of the big film manufacturing concerns of that city. The productions are to be preserved for future portrayal before the family, and constitute the first films of this character ever brought to Kentucky. The idea of the Newport man occasioned a good deal of discussion, editorially and otherwise, throughout the State. One of the Louisville newspapers took the rather unique stand that such adaptation of moving pictures was "grewsome in the extreme," alleging that In the event of such pictures being shown after the death of the subject, it would certainly be a harrowing experience for those onlookers interested in the person. However, the of opinion favors i In new use of the film product, on the grounds that a life-like representation is vaBtly more satisfactory and consoling, even after death, than a stiff and unnatural oil portrait. It is reported in Nashville. Tenn., that W. P. Ready is having plans drawn for the construction of an up-to-date moving picture theater of considerable capacity. 6. D. '.;.. Jr. WHEELING, W. VA. By Eddie Wle I Wheeling, W. Va., has a population of about 60.000, and has fourteen theaters and thirteen banks. Wheeling is what is termed an open town, but not until two weeks ago have moving picture houses been open on Sundays. The initiative was taken by the Sunshine Theater, and although it was closed by the city authorities the first Sunday, they at least broke through the ice. It wasn't easy going for a couple of weeks, and a number of exhibitors had to pay tines, but things are going along smoothly at present, and the exhibitors show to capacity houses unmolested. The Home Theater, on Jacobs Street, has opened its doors to the awaiting public. The Home is a very cozy little theater and Licensed Bcrvie. is being used. The Wheeling Film Exchange, under the capable management of Mr. Ben F. Jones, is doing i i ceedingly well, although this may not be Burprising, for Mr. Jones is just the sort of man to make good in this territory. They are at present supplying only twenty houses, but it is expected that a number cf exhibitors will flock to thenranks as soon as fall sets in. Mr. James Velas is one of the foremost moving picture magnates in Wheeling. He began five years ago, with the Bijou Theater, and by thrift:ness and good management, has added two more to his list of moving picture houses. The Bijou is located at 1406 Market Street, and has a seating capacity of 250. The operating room is equipped with two No. 6 Powers machines, projecting on a special silvered curtain. The throw is 72 feet, on a 13 x 15 curtain. The lobby is very attractive and compares favorably with those of its competitors. A large arch, with a large peacock, and the name Bijou above it is illuminated by a myriad of Tungsten lights and forms a very attractive feature of the bouse. The program consists of three good run Independent films from the Independent Film Exchange. The orchestra consists of violin, trap-drums and piano. The Lyric, at 1190 Market Street, is also one of the Velas enterprises. The house seats 350. Two No. 6 Powers machines are used for the projection of Licensed films. The throw is 95 feet, on a 13 x 15 feet curtain. The ventilation consists of two 34-inch exhaust fans in the rear, and about six revolving fans along the wall. The musical department consists of a five-piece orchestra. The Lyceum Theater, at 132 Market Street, is the last of the Velas enterprises The seating capacity is 275. The operating room is built of concrete and is considered one of the best in the State. The equipment consists of two No. 6 Powers machines. The throw is 07 feet on a 14 x 15 curtain, and the projection is worthy of praise. A five-piece orchestra furnishes the music. The Amuseu Theater, at 30th and Jacob Streets, has a seating capacity of 350. The ventilation is beyond criticism. The lobby is very attractive and is built in the shape of a half-moon and very brilliantly lighted. The ceiling is about 16 feet high and the throw of the picture is S5 feet. The projection department is properly equipped in every detail. Three Licensed films, with playing-to-tbepicture music by a capable piano player, furnishes a program worth the price. Mr. Bernard Belinsky is the manager and proprietor. The Photoplay Theater, on Market Street, has a seating capacity of 300. Two exhaust fans in the rear, and a number of revolving fans on the sides, make this bouse very cool in the warm days. This house has been playing to capacity business since the day of its opening. The projection battalion consists of two No. 6 Powers machines in a fireproof booth. The man behind the battery seems to know his business, for be turns out projection of the worth while class. The throw is 72 feet. The program consists of 4 reels Independent Films, from the Wheeling Film Exchange, to the accompaniment of a violin, drums and piano. The Victoria Theater, at 18th and Market Streets, is one to be proud of, and Mr. Geo. Shaffer, the manager and owner, is certainly proud of it. It has 800 seats and standing room for about 100. The ventilation and projection are almost perfect. The program consists of vaudeville and two Licensed films. The Virginia, at 14th and Chaplain Streets, has a seating capacity of 1.S00. A legitimate bouse, using pictures in the summer. Mr. Finler is the owner and manager. The Hippodrome seats 150. Equipped with a fireproof booth and two one-pin Edison machines, it shows a performance that equals its larger competitors. Licensed films are used. Mr. H. G. Hoffman is the manager of this neat house, which is located at 37th and Jacob Streets. (Continued on page 816.)