The Moving picture world (January 1920-February 1920)

February 7, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 897 Chicagoans Believe Goldwyn Now Has Interest in the Ascher Circuit A PERSISTENT rumor has been going the rounds in Chicago film circles for the past two weeks that Goldwyn Pictures Corporation has acquired one-half interest in all the Ascher Brothers theatres, including, in addition to the Chicago circuit, all the large modern picture theatres now being constructed by the Ascher Brothers in several large cities, in the central Middle West. The persistence of the rumor has been so marked that the majority of Chicagoans in the trade now believe that the deal has been made, although nothing definite has been issued by either party believed to be concerned in the transaction. If made the deal will include the Roosevelt, a great, modern picture theatre seating 2,500 persons, and costing $1,850,000, which will be built by Ascher Brothers on the west side of north State street, between Washington and Randolph streets, opposite the palatial store of Marshall Field & Co., and one of the most prominent locations within the "Loop" district. Work in demolishing the building now occupying the site of the Roosevelt will begin May 1, this year, and the new structure will be devoted wholly to the theatre which, without doubt, will rank high among the great picture theatres of America for chaste architectural beauty, as the accompanying illustration will show. Five Million* in New Houses. But the Roosevelt is only one of the great enterprises in modern picture theatre building in which the Ascher Brothers are at present engaged. They have now well under way the following theatres, which, as will be noted, are not all confined to Chicago territory: The Minneapolis Theatre, in Minneapolis, which will have the largest seating capacity of any house in the Northwest, costing $500,000; the Cincinnati Theatre, Cincinnati, seating 3,500 and costing $1,000,000; the West Englewood, at Sixtythird street and Marshfield avenue, seating 3,500, and costing $450,000; the Commercial Theatre, South Chicago, seating 3,000 and costing $350,000; the Forest Park Theatre, in Forest Park, a Chicago suburb, seating 3,000 and costing $300,000, and the Peoria Theatre, in Peoria, III., seating 2,500 and costing $300,000. Eighteen Theatre Now Running. Including the new theatre to be built on State street, the outlay on these modern houses will represent an investment of $4,750,000. Then there is to be considered the eighteen fine theatres on their present circuit in Chicago, which are all running to capacity and which will carry the total outlay to a figure somewhere between seven and eight million dollars. The Ascher Brothers, however, are not interested only in the construction of great picture theatres. As exhibitors they have studied carefully the conditions existing in the producing and distril)uting departments of the moving picture business, and they have noted the great stride forward made in the quality of the moving pictures of today. As good business men they have learned that, with the greatly increased cost of making better pictures, the producers must charge higher rentals for their product and that the exhibitor, in order to meet the increased rentals and the increased salaries of employes, must ask his patrons to bear their share of the burden. Business Holds Up Under Higher Prices. September 1, last year, the Aschers increased the admission to all their Chicago houses from 22 cents to 25 cents. The former price included the two cents war tax and the latter includes the three cents war tax, so that the advance means only two cents for the box office on each ticket sold. In conversation with General Manager L. P. Newhafer, of Ascher Brothers, some time ago, the writer learned that the increase in admissions had not dim Ascher Brothers' Roosevelt Theatre, to Be Erected on State Street, ChicagoCapacity, 2,500; cost, $1,850,000; in one of the most prominent locations in the Loop district.