The Moving picture world (December 1920)

December 18, 1920 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 887 Chicago and the Middle West Sj7 PAUL C . HINT, D. W. Griffith to Attend ' ' Way Down East ' ' Open ing WKY DOWN EAST" will be something more than a name to Chicagoans after Monday, December 13, the date on which it opens at the Woods Theatre. Ever since the premiere of this Griffith masterpiece in New York, three month ago, curiosity and interest among theatre fans has been great. The delay in bringing the picture here was due to a request of Al Woods that "Way Down East" be shown in his theatre, as long as Mr. Griffith had decided that it was to run at a dramatic instead of a picture house. Immediately following the run of "Buddies" at the Woods, the picture will be shown. Hector Fuller, special representative of D. W. Griffith, arrived from New York two weeks ago to direct arrangements for the Chicago showing. Everything to make" "Way Down East" register as a super-attratcion, a dramatic spectacle, rather than as a "movie" is being done in the handling of exploitation and advertising. Presentation will be patterned exactly after that at the New York Theatre. An orchestra of twenty-seven will be sent on from New York. The Woods has been pronounced especially suited to the exhibition of pictures, due to its seating arrangement. A projection booth has been built on the first floor and Benjamin Turner, Mr. Griffith's chief projectionist, has arrived to take charge. Mr. Griffith will arrive in Chicago on or about December 11 and will appear publicly at the theatre on opening night. "Way Down East" will run here indefinitely. Seat prices for the first night will be $10, and after that they will range from SO cents to Robert Anderson Appears at Ascher Bros. Houses Robert Anderson's arrival in Chicago simultaneously with his screen appearance in "Once to Every Woman" at Chicago theatres, was so timely that Ascher Bros, took advantage of his visit, intended for pleasure only, and put him to work. They booked the good-natured comedian for personal appearances at the Kenwood, Oakland Square and Metropolitan theatres, all of which were showing "Once to Every Woman. Mr. Anderson was on his way from California to New York and had planned on a short stay in Chicago. He lengthened his visit to five days, however, in view of Ascher Bros.' proposition, and remained until December 2. "I have never seen presentations at outlying theatres in any part of the country that are finer than those at the Ascher theatres," he said. "As a result I got more personal enjoyment out of seeing 'Once to Every Woman' in Chicago than I have anywhere else." Chicago fans showed a keen interest in the face-to-face, heart-to-heart talk delivered over the footlights by the countryboob hero. While in New York, Mr. Anderson will consider a number of new offers. He will confine his talents to playing the same type of character as heretofore, whether he decides to sign up for comedies or features. Lila Lee Vacations Here; Has Made Eighteen Films "Eighteen pictures in two years and a half — won't that do as a reason for my taking a vacation?" This from Lila Lee, who spent the last week in November, visiting her parents and "doing" Chicago. Miss Lee had come directly from the Famous Players-Lasky studio where she had just completed her part in Roscoe Arbuckle's latest vehicle, "A Dollar a Year Man." "It's a very group-up role," she said proudly, "quite different from what I've been doing. I play an unhappy wife who has thin, sunken cheeks and who floods most every scene with her tears. I hope they let me keep on doing emotional roles, I really think I'm old enough now. And some day, after I've convinced everyone that I'm no longer an unsophisticated child, I'm going to — yes I am — I'm going to do a real vamp !" Miss Lee's screen career, which has covered about three years, has placed her in some of the most popular productions of this period and opposite some of the leading masculine favorites, including Thomas Meighan, Wallace Reid, Conrad Nagel and Roscoe Arbuckle. The latest of the pictures in which she appears, not all of which have yet been released, are "The Charm School," "Easy Street," "Midsummer Madness" and "A Dollar a Year Man." Miss Lee was accompanied on this crosscountry trip by her sister, Peggy Lee, who went with her also to New York where they will pursue their separate courses, as Miss Peggy, who is a find of David Belasco, expects to sign up for a road engagement. Ascher Bros. Open Two New Houses This Month To Ascher Brothers "holiday rush" this year means the opening of two fine new theatres. One of these, the Portage Park, will be formally opened Saturday evening, December 11, and the other; the West Englewood, on Christmas Eve. With a seating capacity of 2,500, the Portage Park takes its place as the largest theatre on the northwest side of Chicago. Erected at a cost in excess of $500,000, the new structure is considered one of the finest and best equipped photoplay theatre buildings in the country. The large entrance lobby has the walls finished in marble and paneling in artistic effects, blending with the white and cream tints of the arched ceiling. The decorative scheme of the amphitheatre is blue and salmon trimmed in gold. The seats are all located on the main floor, and somewhat of an innovation in motion picture theatres is the placing of loges in the rear of the orchestra floor. An elaborate lighting system floods the entire auditorium with many varied colors. Soft or brilliant effects to harmonize with the scenes of the picture, may be obtained through the use of the automatic dimmer. Special attention was given to the question of ventilation, and a careful survey of the several systems in vogue resulted in the installation of a washed air system. It has been estimated that for every one person in the theatre, thirty feet of purified tempered air will be supplied. Joseph Kopple, well-known as a successful Chicago picture theatre manager, hasbeen appointed manager of the Portage Park. George Koehler and his famous orchestra, formerly associated with D. W. Griffith, will furnish the music and render overtures from jazz to grand opera. The latest type of Moeller pipe-organ has been installed. Pa the Sales Force Here Reaching Out for Prize Although complete reports of Pathe salesmen in the Central West who have been competing in the "Pearson Month" contest have not been turned in, the Chicago exchange is getting a few advance, thrills in the firm: belief that it is to be ,the winner. District Manager R A. Schrader dropped in at the Chicago branch and passed a hint or two to the effect that the locaU sales force has outstripped all others ir» this territory. And William A. Aschman, Chicago manager, is so confident of success that he's already spent part of his prize. He has unstinted praise to offer for the run-and-get-it attitude shown by his own particular regiment, and says that the print-worn phrase, "we've smashed all records," is the only way of telling the story. Favorite Players to Open Exchange in Indianapolis Maurice Fleckles visited the Chicago offices of the Favorite Players Film Corporation, of which he is president, on Monday, November 29, and remained in the city for a week. He announced that business in the Central West has improved so much that a branch in Indianapolis will be opened up before December 15. Favorite Players Film Corporation recently contracted to handle all of Clara Kimball Young's new pictures for Illinois and Indiana. The next of these, entitled "Hush," will be released* late in December. Jimmie Coston, Exhibitor James Coston purchased the New Regent Theatre, Sixty-ninth and Halsted, recently from Abe Gumbiner. He was formerly house manager of the Harvard, in the same neighborhood. January 1 is the date set for the opening, when Manager Coston will start things off with a Paramount program. Shallenberger Calls Dr. W. E. Shallenberger, president of Arrow Film Corporation, spent November 26 and 27 in Chicago in conference with J. L. Friedman. He left Chicago for "somewhere in the Rocky Mountains" on a hunting trip. Charles C. Kranz, manager of the Southeastern Pictures Corporation, is in New York and is looking for product for his organization. He will return to Atlanta in time for the Atlanta motion picture exposition next week.