The Moving picture world (June 1921)

June 18, 1921 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 745 is confiscatory. He seemed to re- sent the fact that the St. Louis Motion Picture Exhibito.rs' League had approved the tneasure, for most of his address to the committee was devoted to comparing motion pic- tures witii vaudeville, musical com- edy and dramatic theatres, contend- ing that the two should not be placed on the same plane so far as license taxes are concerned. * * * Miss Lillian Walker, well-known star, is making a personal appear- ance at the Grand Opera House this week. She appears in a monologue stunt, in which she tells some of her screen experiences. * * « C. D. Hill, who resigned last week as St. Louis manager for Associated Producers, has accepted a position with the F. B. Warren Corporation. He assumed his new duties Monday. June 6. He will have entire charge of the St. Louis territory, embracing Eastern Missouri, Southern Illinois Tennessee, Kentucky, Northern Arkansas and Southern Indiana. Hill's ability is well known to War- ren, as he worked under him at Des Moines, Indianapolis and St. Louis in the Hodkinson organization and later was selected by Warren to open the St. Louis office of Asso- ciated Producers. * * * Advices from Higbee, Mo., are that the 'Gem Theatre in that town has closed because of an epidemic of smallpox. * * * Manager Miller of the Jefferson Jefferson City, has announced that his new theatre, now rapidly reach- ing completion, will be conducted as a two-day run house and will be devoted strictly to first run pictures The Jefferson will continue as a combmation house. The new theatre probably will open late in August or early in September. * * * Joe Huitt, who is interested in the Strand Theatre, Robinson, 111., is said to have purchased an interest in the Reed-Yenn Circuit, which operates houses in Benton, West Frankfort. Christopher, Marion, West Marion and Ziegler. He will move to Benton to take charge of the house in that city. "Bob" Clus- ter will devote his time to his houses in Pinckneyville and Salem. * * * The Highpointe Airdome, Mc- Causland avenue and Clayton road Richmond Heights, St. Louis County, owned by Alfred A. Ebert, opened its gates on Monday, June 6 The amusement place is among the finest in the county and seats 1,000 The entire equipment was purchased from the St. Louis Exhibitors' Sup- ply Company and includes two late type Simplex machines and a Minusa screen. It will be devoted strictly to pictures. In the fall a theatre will be built on the site, it is announced. * * * Moeller & Elbring opened their new airdome at Jennings, Mo., on Saturday evening, June 4. This seats 500 and is among the finest equipped places of its class. * * * Manager Ryder of the Exhibitors' Supply Company announces that he has obtained a contract to supply the entire equipment for the new theatre at New Athens, III., to be erected by the People's Co-operative Amuse- ment Company. This theatre will seat 500. It is planned to open it late in August or early in September. * * * C. E. Roberts, of the Elks Theatre, Olney, 111., was a visitor the past week. He reports that business is holding its own. * * * J. Wesley, proprietor of the Wesley Theatre, Benld, III., was seen along Picture Row. * * * Mrs. Bruecker, of the Grand Theatre, Mount Olive, 111., dropped in for a few live subjects. Mount Olive is in the Southern Il- linois coal belt. Some of the mines are working only part time, but the film picture business has not suffered. * « * Mrs. Hall, of the Dupo Theatre, Dupo, 111., was another caller. * * * C. E. Mertens, proprietor of the Play House, Shelbyville, 111., has purchased the Gem Theatre in that City. For the time being the policy will not be changed. * * * Charles Martin, of Springfield, has decided to give his personal at- tention to the Areola Theatre, Areola, 111., which he recently acquired. * * * Manager Seipker, of the Wildey, Edwardsville, 111., was seen in the neighborhood of Grand and Olive streets. Baltimore J. Winer recently purchased the Mickey Theatre, Baltimore street near Ann, at auction when it was put up for sale by E. T. Newell & Co. for $7,400. The property has a ground rent of $120. This theatre was managed by S. A. Hornsby for some time prior to the sale. * * * The Independent Film and Sup- ply Company, 412 East Lexing- ton street, is now handling the pictures of Screenart Film Com- pany, of Philadelphia, of which Michael Lessy is owner, for this territory. George C. Easter is president and general manager of the Independent. * * * The State Theatre Company, recently incorporated, has pur- chased the Apollo Theatre, Hart- ford avenue at Oliver street, from A. Constantine and Leo Homand, the approximate price being $200,- 000. The Apollo was opened to the public only a few weks ago and interior decorating and fur- nishing will be completed by the new owners. Old ivory, rose and mulberry will be the colors used. The officers of the State Theatre Company include Morris Klein, president; Samuel Back, vice- president; William Hoffmeister, treasurer; Samuel H. Rome, sec- retary and house manager, and J. Louis Rome, general manager. * * * At a recent election of officers held by the Baltimore Federation of Labor, G. Kingston Howard, president and business manager of the Motion Picture Operators' Union, Local 181, was elected fi- nancial secretary and treasurer. Personal Touch (Continued from page 730) Nagel, Theodore Kosloff and John Davidson. * * * The features at the following theatres next week are: Capital, "The Ten Dollar Raise"; Crite- rion, Thomas Meighan in "White and Unmarried" remains; Rialto, Wanda Hawley in "A Kiss in Time"; Rivoli, May McAvoy in "A Private Scandal"; Strand, "Dream Street." * * ♦ C. R. Seeley has returned from his visit to France, where he made a close study of the for- eign situation. * * * Robert Leonard and his wife, Mae Murray, have leased the old Amsterdam Theatre and work has begun on their first independ- ent production. "Peacock Alley" was purchased from Ouida Begere for the initial picture. * * * The special presentation of Max Linder's newest comedy, "Be My Wife," before an invited audience at Aeolian Hall, June 7, was well attended, but there was none of that objectionable and quite frequent overcrowding when the earnest sponsor for the enter- tainment sends out twice as many invitations as the place will hold. Clark Irvine, who arranged the Linder affair, surrounded the picture with a short musical pro- gram. M. Linder was called for at the end of the evening and he made a very brief address of thanks for the way in which the picture was received. * * * Now the rumor has it that Jack Meador is to become the general manager of production for Real- art, instead of Famous Players- Lasky which has been emphatic- ally denied, but the denial was not always believed until F. P- L sent out a statement that Rob- ert T Kane has been appointed to succeed Walter Wanger. * * * Emil Kahrlein, owner of the Kinema and Franklin in Fresno and two Kinemas in Oakland, Cal., looked up old friends in New York this week preparatory to going abroad for three years. He has been doing much traveling lately, studying many theatres for ideas to inculcate in one he is building. He is one of the real old-time exhibitors, being a pioneer in the use of music in a picture house and advertising in newspapers, and the first to use a herald. He is much impressed with New York presentations, particularly with the handling of short subjects. * ♦ ♦ Pete Carroll, for a number of years Pathe branch manager at Spokane, will assume charge of the Los Angeles Pathe office next week. Carroll is one of the best known film executives in the Northwest, and has a host of friends who wish him well in his bigger venture. * * * Haying recovered from his re- cent illness which necessitated an operation, Sessue Hayakawa, the Ohio Censor Eliminates Surplus Lingerie.—Headline. Censorship will be the ruin- ation of the public's morals. Japanese star, is on his way to New York from Los Angeles. He is accompanied by Mrs. Haya- kawa, known to film devotees as Tsuru Aoki and who has ap- peared with her husband in his production, "Black Roses," and other Robertson-Cple features. The Hayakawas left Los An- geles last Saturday and went di- rect to Colorado Springs where they will spend a week or ten days. Mr. Hayakawa is still a trifle weak from his illness which compelled long confinement in- doors and he expects to regain his strength by resting in the mountains. From Colorado Springs they will go to Chicago where Mr. Hayakawa will devote two or three days to meeting old friends and attending to some business matters. Then they will go to Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Al- bany. They will arrive in New York on June 25 and Mr, Hayakawa will attend the Carpentier-Demp- sey contest in Jersey City on July 2nd, together with a group of Robertson-Cole officials. He will also remain here to see how New York celebrates Independ- ence Day and on July 5 will start back to Los Angeles with Mrs. Hayakawa to resume production in Hollywood on or about July 11. * * * Several theatres in Pueblo have been inundated during the recent disastrous flood. Undoubtedly great damage has been done to the houses. Perhaps there is some kind of temporary assist- ance the exhibitors need at this time. Wouldn't it be a rather nice thing if one of the many associations in the industry of- fered any aid they might give at this time? * * * Inspiration Pictures, Inc., has leased a suite of offices in the new Strauss Building at 565 Fifth avenue, New York. This new company has taken a large part of the eighth floor and expects to be in the new offices by the middle of the month. * * * Among those who have been let out in the closing of the Famous Players-Lasky plant in Long Island City are Pete Milne, who has been a special reader for Tom Geraghty, and Benjamin De Casseres. * ♦ ♦ L. J. Gasnier left for the Coast this week to resume reproduction for Robertson-Cole. Lynde Denig sent us a list of Goldwyn releases the other day that tells its own story, especially from Lynde Denig. It is: "Why Worry"—June 5, "Nothing To Think About"— June 19, "Take It Easy"— July 3.