Moving Picture World (Mar 1917)

March 24, 1917 and once in evening, speaking about a half an hour on the responsibility of the public for the making of the pictures. The Palace gave "Oesper of the Mountains." the Vitagraph production starring Lillian Walker and in which Miss Tapley has a big role, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Miss Tapley left for Cedar Rapids at ten the following morning. THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1975 San Francisco Briefs. Irving Lesser, manager of the Los Angeles branch of the All Stcr, was here for a short stay just before the departure of Sol. L. Lesser for New York. Lioyd B. Willis, who has been in Australia for the past five months in the interests of Fox, arrived here a few days ago and left shortly afterward for New York. Robert McNeil has taken over the Bell theater in the Mis ion district. J. H. Knowles. of the New York Amusement Co was here recently from Sonora, Cal., arranging bookings for his house In that city and for theaters at Jamestown and Tuolumne. C. Mel. Simmonds, manager of the San Francisco office of Artcraft, is making a trip through the southern part of i j state by auto. Northern California Notes. Vallejo, Cal. — P. J. Hanlon has returned from an extended eastern trip and is aprain devoting his attention to the Strand. Oakland, Cal. — Phil Doll, formerly of San Francisco, is to open the Central theater. San Mateo, Cal. — H. S. Levin, of the Peninsula theater, has taken over the Regent theater and will close his former house, except on Saturday and Sunday. Marigold, Cal. — A new theater is to be opened by Thomas Hayes. Merced, Cal. — A theater to cost $25,000 is being planned by C. H. Douglass and associates. Napa, Cal. — Construction work will be commenced at once on the Imperial theater to be erected for John and Samuel Garibaldi. The house will have a seating capacity of about 800 and a $10,000 organ will be installed. Oakland, Cal. — Jasperson & Dippo have had plans prepared for a one-story moving picture theater to be erected on San Pablo avenue, near 27th street, at an estimated cost of $12,000. Newcastle. Cal.— The Castle theater has been reopened as a 15-cent house. Stockton. Cal.— The Lyric theater is being remodeled by L. A. Irvine. Operator Becomes Traveling Representative. San Francisco, Cal. — W. L. Loudy, formerly a well known local operator, is now a traveling sales representative of the Enterprise Optical Manufacturing company and will travel out of the western office conducted by Edward H. Kemp. He recently spent some time at the factory and is now on the road. Among the late sales of Motiographs made by Mr. Kemp is one for the First Christian Church at Hanford, Cal. Exchange Manager Turns Benedict. San Francisco, Cal. — It has long been a matter of comment in the local film exchange field that with but one exception every exchange manager here was married. The exception, Ralph Burns Quive, manager of the Greater Vitagraph, long spurned the idea of joining the pha\ lanx of married men rnd promised to be a rock In the road of the plan for a solid body of married film men, but while he resisted the pleas of his film associates his heart was being softened bv another influence and on Feb. 27 he slipped away to Redwood City, where he was quietly married to Miss Selma Hill, a charming and talented young lady of this city. Turns From Vaudeville to Films San Francisco's Empress Theater Will Be Changed from Vaudeville to Pictures by Manager Sid Grauman — House Is Ideally Situated for Film Shows — Local Capital Building Theater in Los Angeles. By T. A. Church, 1507 North Street, Berkeley, Cal. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL— The Empress theater, of which Sid Grauman is manager, is to be transformed shortly from a vaudeville house into one of the finest moving picture theaters in California. This house has a seating capacity of almost two thousand and is located in the very heart of the amusement district, there being several large houses within a block. A large Wurlltzer Hope-Jones pipe organ is being installed at a cost of more than $25,000 and tne entire house is being renovated and redecorated. The decorations are to be in blue and gold, the California colors, with carpets to match. Three hundred lounging loge chairs are to be installed and many provisions will be made for the comfort of patrons. Vaudeville performances will be brought to an end on March 19 and the house will be dark until March 25 to enable workmen to make the desired changes. It is expected that the Empress theater will make an Ideal moving picture theater as it has a large capacity, a balcony without posts and needs no remcdelinsj. In speaking of the reason for making the chanpre from vaudeville to moving pictures Manager Grauman states that the central location of the house had much to do with this decision. At present but three performances are given daily, and while a very larpre business Is being done, the best ever enjoyed by the house, it is believed that by putting in pictures and presenting them in the proper maner continuously from eleven o'clock to eleven, even better results will be secured. In addition to superintending the changes at the local house and arranging for film service Mr. Grauman is devoting much of his aitention to the splendid moving picture theater being erected at Third and Broadway, Los Angeles, a San Francisco enterprise. Mr. Grauman's partners in it are his father, D. J. Grauman, Irving Ackerman and Samuel Harris, all of this city. The Los Ansreles house will be operated in conjunction with the Empress theater here and will not only make possible the securing of many fine photoplay attractions, but will make feasible the purchase of staterichts to productions. The house in the southern city will represent an investment of about $700,000. Mr. Grauman states that it will have a cathpdral effect. It will be lighted by searchlights from other buildings and by an indirect system, such as was used at the San Francisco Exposition. On the interioi will be mural paintings lighted by secret searchlights and an elaborate lobby and foyer. The lounging-, nursery, smoking and reception rooms will be fitted up to vie with rooms of this kind in the finest hotels. On the roof will be an enclosed glass moving picture studio, one of the few downtown studios of that cuy, and patrons of the theater 'will be invited to witness the making of pictures. The theater will have a seating capacity of about 3,000 and will be ready for occupancy during the present year. Music will be furnished by a $50,000 pipe organ and by an orchestra of twenty-four pieces. Mr. Grauman plans to use the big stages at both houses for putting on elaborate prologues to the pictures and promises features along this line different from any ever seen on the Pacific Coast Consider Film Shipments by Mail. San Francisco, Cal. — The Film Exchange Board of Trade has been taking up the proposition of delivering films by parcel post ri-ith Carles Fay, the local postmaster, and if certain changes can be made in the present regulations members of this organization have signified their intention of sending shipments bj mail. The chief drawback at the present time to making shipment of films by parcel post Is the weight limit, which is considered too low, and the uncertainty of indemnity through loss of film or delay in delivery. Postmaster Fay has promised to ask the authorities in Washington to raise the weight limit to 100 pounds in the first zone and to 50 pounds or more in the second and third zones, throughout which deliveries are made from San Francisco, and to ask for larger indemnities for loss. Raising Fund to Fight Censorship. San Francisco, Cal. — Th«. Film Exchange Board of San Francisco is raising a fund to fight censorship and other measures detrimental to the moving picture business introduced into the Legislature at Sacramento. Contributions of one hundred dollars each have been made by the Fox, Greater Vitagraph, Mutual, Progressive, All Star, Metro and the California Film Exchange. Walter Preddey, the supply man, has also made a substantial contribution. The work of the local Board of Trade is of great benefit to the industry and merits the moral and financial support of all interested in the moving picture business. Representatives will be sent to Sacramento as soon as any of the obnoxious measures are brought up for discussion. Magner Buys Bier Feature and Film Stock. San Francisco, Cal. — Nat A. Magner, Pacific building, has bought the California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaiian rights to the Selig production "Beware of Strangers," concerning which so many favorable reports have been heard. He has also purchased the stock of films of Charles Klopot, who has been conducting an exchange on Golden Gate avenue, and is completing arrangements for taking over the local stock of the United Film Service on Taylor street. Marked success is being met with in booking "The Dumb Girl of Portici." featuring Anna Pavlowa, and a road trip has been arranged with bookings completed for one hundred and fifty days. Herman Wobber to Handle "Jojui the Woman." San Francisco, Cal. — Herman Wobber, with offices in the Pacific building, has secured the exhibition rights to "Joan the Woman" in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands. A publicity campaign is now being started, but definite bookings have not been made. Local Man Winner in Contest. San Francisco, Cal. — C. M. Hill, with the Progressive Motion Picture Company, which handles the Paramount releases in this territory, is the winner in the ninetyday sales contest recently held throughout the country by the Paramount for the greatest number of new contracts signed. He also won third prize in the contest for increase in business measured by money. These records are especially noteworthy when it is considered that he was in competition with exchange men in all parts of the United States. He has been with the Progressive exchange since last October and has been identified with the motion picture business since 1914.