The Moving picture world (October 1920)

1090 MOVING PICTURE WORLD October 23, 1920 on a lot measuring 171 by 179 feet, which is located in the negro district of Baltimore. Negro capitalists are said to be back of the Douglas Amusement Company, of Philadelphia, which operates1 theatres for colored people in that city, Washington and New York, and other large cities. It will have a seating capacity of 1,800. Colored Theatre Bought Oscar M. Scherr, who formerly operated the Plaza Theatre, Gay and Broadway, has purchased the Gilmor Theatre, 314 North Gilmor street, a colored theatre of 250 seats, from Wm. Kolb. Mr. Scherr states he is spending $10,000 for remodeling the theatre. Levey Film at Four Theatres For the first time, in the history of moving pictures in Baltimore, a film made in that city, produced by the Levey Studios, under the personal direction of Harry Levey was shown at four theatres, Maryland, Hippodrome, New and Parkway during the week of October 11. It is an educational film entitled "Playing Safe," which was made for the Children's Playground Association and brings out graphically the dangers of children playing in the streets, and the need of more playgrounds. Mayor William F. Broening has a part in the picture. Benefit at Garden Under the auspices of the Maryland Open-Air League for Gassed Soldiers, a benefit moving picture performance and concert was held at the Garden Theatre, Lexington street, at Park avenue, through the courtesy of Charles E. Whitehurst, on Sunday night, October 10. This organization recently purchased the Bentley Springs Hotel and it was for the purpose of raising funds to be used for treating gassed soldiers at this hotel when it is turned into a hospital after enough money is collected that the benefit was held. Exhibitor Bauer Joins League J. W. Bauer, of Havre de Grace, Md., joined the Exhibitors' League of Maryland while in Baltimore on Tuesday, October 5, when he attended a meeting of that body. He is proprietor of the Willou Theatre and City Opera House in Havre de Grace, the former which he has operated for fourteen years. The name was originated by the young woman assistant they had at the time of opening, who combined the first names of Mr. Bauer, Will and that of his former partner, Lou and made it Willou. Canada Test Case of Tax The ticket seller and the ticket taker at the Canada Theatre, Montreal, were both found guilty of permitting the entry of a person into the theatre without payment of the amusement tax by Recorder Sample of the Montreal Court in a test case which was instituted by the city. The two defendants, Joseph Jette and Juanita Brindle were tried jointly for purpose of argument and evidence. As a result of the decision all persons holding theatre passes or admitted otherwise to a local theatre are required to pay the regular amusement tax which is now collected by the city. Uncanny "Warnings" Considerable excitement was caused in Vancouver, B. C, recently when many local citizens received uncanny "warnings" through the mail. These seemed to indicate another tragedy such as the Wall Street explosion in New York City and the matter reached such a stage that finally the local chief of police was requested to investigate. The whole truth came out, however, when it developed that the series of mysterious postcards com prised a "teaser" campaign for the presentation of "The Penalty" at the new Allen Theatre, Vancouver. Films Succeed Stock The stock musical comedy season at the Dominion Theatre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, enjoyed only a brief run with the result that the house was closed on October 2. Announcement was made that the theatre would be remodelled somewhat and that it would be reopened as a picture theatre exclusively. For a number of years the Dominion was operated with a first-run picture policy but last spring an experiment was made with stock musical company. The house was dark during the summer and it was reopened for the season with more music. It will now revert to pictures only, it is declared. French Object to "Reflection" Various statement have been made about the moving pictures by people in Canada, but the very latest complaint by "La Presse," the influential French daily of Montreal, that several features reflect on the life and morals of the people in Paris. The paper suggests that the films have been prepared by Germans to discount the French race in the eyes of the United States and Canada. It concludes with an appeal to the Quebec censor board to ban the features. Picturing Why When Manager M. Kashin of the Holman Theatre, Montreal, found it necessary to raise admission prices for the presentation of "Eyes of Youth," the news was divulged to regular patrons by means of a film trailer which showed the manager of the house in the act of signing a large cheque for the rental of the feature. During the run of the picture, which proved to be very successful, the evening prices ranged from 35 to 50 cents, and matinee prices were 25 and 35 cents, which constituted an advance of from 10 to 15 cents. National Engages Dolman Walter Dolman, one of the outstanding organists of the Dominion, has been engaged by the National Theatre, Winnipeg, Man., to preside at the large new organ which it has installed. He has been in Winnipeg for two years, having made a name for himself at the Province Theatre. Another Toronto Theatre The Famous Players' Canadian Corporation of Toronto its building another new picture theatre in Toronto, this being the Palace Theatre, which is being erected on Danforth avenue in the northeastern section of the city. Select Chooses Sault W. A. Sault, formerly of Montreal, has been appointed manager of the Calgary branch of the Select Pictures Corporation of Canada, while J. Kirkpatrick, formerly of Toronto, has been placed in charge of the Winnipeg office of the company. Washington, D. C. Managers Elect Krieger Paul E. Krieger, manager of the local Fox Film Corporation exchange, is the new secretary-treasurer of the Washington Exchange Managers' Association. He was elected as the successor of Herbert C. Wales, who resigned. Miss Rose Berman is the new corresponding secretary. She succeeds Miss Wooley, who has gone with one of the local exchanges. At the October meeting of the managers' association the aid of its members was requested by George A. McDermott, of the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, to assist the exhibitors of his city in their fight for Sunday opening. Mr. McDermott declared that the people of that city are apparently in sympathy with the move. The Maryland Legislature recently passed a bill providing for the placing on each ballot in the November elections of a referendum on the question. Reform organizations have resorted to all kinds of tactics to keep the proposal in litigation until it is too late to put it before the people. Its legality is being questioned in the Court of Appeals. The case is set for hearing on a date that will permit of a conclusion in time to have the proposition placed on the ballots. The reform element is trying to delay hearing until a later date to block this. Grievance Committee Meeting The grievance committee of the industry appointed for this territory will hold its first fall meeting in the oftices of Harry M. Crandall, Metropolitan Theatre Building, Sunday, October 31. It is expected that the committee will have quite a docket to go through following the summer vacation. Following complaints received from patrons that the continuity of pictures is broken by reason of undue elimination of film parts, John J. Payette, assistant general manager of the Crandall Enterprises, appeared before the managers' association and urged that greater care be taken in the future to see to it that eliminations made by the Baltimore censors are reinserted. A recent complaint covered a picture shown at the Metropolitan and Knickerbocker theatres. A patron at the latter was dissatisfied with the picture because it had been "hacked to pieces," and went to the Metropolitan to see that copy. The print used at the Knickerbocker was the one that had been submitted to the Maryland Board of Censors, while the Metropolitan print had been untouched. The patron wrote a rather caustic letter, criticising the manager of the Knickerbocker. Baltimore Exhibitors Complain Baltimore exhibitors are complaining that shows are coming to them from places outside of Maryland when shipped on a circuit and from Washington from the local exchanges without the required trailer showing that the picture had been passed by the Maryland Censor Board. The exchangemen were asked to call upon their employes to use greater vigilance in seeing to it that the trailer goes out with the films and also that it be not sent to theatres in other parts of the territory. D. F. O'Donncll, well-known film man of this territory, has established the Federal Film Service, with headquarters at 718 Mather Building. A new express company has been organized at Birmingham, Ala., known as the Southeastern Express Company, backed by strong financial interests in the South. It is said that this company will offer strong competition to the American Railway Express, which now has a monopoly of the express business. Market Quotations Lower Despite the fact that market quotations were much lower than the offering price, the stock offered by Loew's, Inc., to the patrons of Loew's Palace Theatre here last week moved in a most surprising manner. As each patron entered the house he or she was given a booklet giving the history of the corporation, an order blank, financial statement and letter of explanation. The response, according to Manager Larry Beatus, was very gratifying. The Loew offering was of from one to twenty-five shares at $22 a share on the partial payment plan. An initial payment of $4 on each share was required and thereafter a payment of $3 a share was to be paid. The subscriber is guaranteed 9 per cent, interest on payments made on scheduled time.