The Moving picture world (November 1921)

MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 10, 1921 Charles Ray Enjoying New York Visit After Formal Welcome by Mayor Hylan TN behalf of the City of New York, I Mayor John F. Hylan greeted Charles Ray on the steps of City Hall this week. The mayor's welcome was the beginning of an enthusiastic reception which has met the famous star on the occasion of his first visit to Gotham. Following this formal introduction to New York, Ray began the program of business and recreation which has been planned for his sojourn in the East. The metropolitan newspapers found human interest news value in the star's first visit to Broadway and he was busy giving interviews to the press. Photos of his City Hall reception were printed in the New York American, Daily News and other journals, and "the evening and morning papers carried interesting interviews. The attitude of the New York press toward the actor was similar in spirit to that of Chicago and Buffalo, where Ray was generously welcomed by several front page news stories. At a luncheon tendered Ray at the Blackstone Hotel on November 18, during his stopover in Chicago, the star met exhibitors and representatives of the trade and local press. During a brief stop-over in Buffalo, Ray was honored at a dinner tendered by Harold B. Franklin in behalf of Shea Amusements, at which prominent Buffalo theatre men were in attendance. While in Buffalo as guest of W alter Hays, of the Mark Strand Enterprises, Mr. and Mrs. Ray motored out to Niagara Falls. Following his dinner reception at the Iroquois the star made a whirlwind tour of Buffalo theatres. On the night of his arrival in New York the star saw his first Broadway play, being entertained at the Music Box Revue. On the following night he had a rousing reception at the New York Hippodrome, where arrangements had been made in advance for his coming. On Friday night Ray occupied a box at "The Bat" and the following day he attended the Army-Navy football game. In the next few days he will enjoy several other Broadway performances in addition to an evening at the opera where Mr. and Mrs. Ray and their Los Angeles party are to be the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur S. Kane. Strand Theatre, Schenectady, Opens; Mayor Lunn Speaks Against Censorship WITH many notables present, including former Congressman George R. Lunn, now Mayor of the city, the Strand Theatre, one of the most elaborate motion picture houses in Schenectady, N. Y., was formally opened Wednesday evening, November 23, under most auspicious conditions. Hundreds of prominent persons of the Electric City were on hand to congratulate William M. Shirley, part owner and manager of the house, while many motion picture companies, including Goldwyn, Fox, Pathe and the Famous-Players, were also represented. During the evening Mayor Lunn made a short speech in which he first congratulated the management of the house, saying that it stood as a splendid example of the faith which the management had in the people of Schenectady. During the course of his remarks, Mayor Lunn dwelt at considerable length on censorship, saying that it is his belief that the motion picture industry, the same as the newspaper, should be judged by the people themselves, MRS. FRANK W. CLARK, of Syracuse, who has been instrumental in providing Albany, N. Y., with motion picture entertainments for the children of that city, for a number of years past, is now in Albany trying to arouse sufficient interest to warrant a similar program for the coming winter. Last winter the Saturday morning shows for the children attracted a great deal of attention. Given under the auspices of the Mothers Club, the receipts were used later on in outfitting the playgrounds of the city. Last year the shows extended over a period of fourteen weeks. An admission of five and ten cents was charged while a long list of wealthy patronesses, who weekly gave box parties, added considerably in the way of receipts. While last year's shows were given in Harmanus-Bleecker Hall, owned by Proctor interests, some change may be necessary this winter owing to the fact that this house is now devoted to stock and the screen and machines have been removed. It is possible that the Leland, also owned by Proctor interests, rather than by a politically appointed board of three, who were without any experience whatever, and yet who presumed to say what the ten million or more residents of this State should see for the money which they chose to spend. For the occasion, the management had chosen Goldwyn's "Poverty of Riches," which was featured at the Capitol in New York at the same time. Lyman H. Howe's "Runaway Train" was also given a prominent place on the program. The house, which is exquisite in every detail, consists of the main floor seating about 900 persons and a balcony which has a seating capacity of approximately 600. The mezzanine floor leading to the balcony is one of the most beautiful sections of the entire house, carpeted in an attractive blue and set off with chandeliers and decorative effects. One of the features of the house is an organ equipped with twentyseven stop controls, the action being electropneumatic. may be donated for the Saturday morning movies. Mrs. Clark, however, is averse to using a downtown house for these children shows, saying that her experience covering many years, shows conclusively that better attendance can be obtained at a semi-residential house than from one located far downtown, this being due mainly to carfare, which at eight cents a person, is a considerable item to many families in Albany. Snell Had Good Ideas on "Musketeer" Stunts A. L. Snell, who has been acting manager of the Imperial Theatre, Gadsden, Ala., injected some new ideas into his campaign for "The Three Musketeers" and if it had not rained for all three days of the engagement, about every white man, woman and child in Gadsden would have seen the picture. He started ten days in advance with a teaser on "One for all" and in spite of the wide national advertising the film had received, he had a lot of people guessing and asking the answer. Heralds were sent to all R. F. D. boxes and were given out at all industrial plants. They were distributed at two football games and at the Opera House during the run of a dramatic attraction. On Armistice Day he threw open the house for a memorial service conducted by the American Legion, and all who came went out with a herald. And for fear he might have missed someone, he had them stuffed into packages by a department store. Then he won the window of a vacant store with a pass for two, whitewashed the glass and made a peep show. They fell for it so hard that people stopped their automobiles and crossed the sidewalk to see what was in the window. He got the department store to give him a four inch, double column cut in their display, and he got a window showing of nine swords, each with a card naming the owner and "Douglas Fairbanks didn't use this sword in 'The Three Musketeer,' but you should see him handle the one he does use." As most of the swords were owned by prominent citizens, the loan display attracted great attention. Pupils tickets were given out entitling the bearer to one admission to any matinee on pavment of 25 cents. As this was the regular price for children, he got a laugh and that was as good as a discount. Four boys in musketeer costumes rode around the streets, the first one riding the worst looking nag Snell could borrow. At show times they ushered. He also used the personal telephone call. Taken by and large, he had the whole town ready to come— and then it rained and rained hard for all three days of the run. He did a good business, but not the knockout he was entitled to on the strength of such a campaign. Buys "Gilded Cage" "The Gilded Cage," a story by Ann Nichols, which this season was seen on Broadway as "Love' Dreams," a comedy with music, has been bought by Paramount as a starring vehicle for Gloria Swanson, it was announced yesterday. Purchase of the story was made through Andrew J. Callaghan, and it is expected that the picture will be placed in production upon the completion of "Beyond the Rocks," the Elinor Olvn story which is to be Miss Swanson's next Paramount picture. LEM F. KENNEDY Who directed "The Power Within." produced by Achievement Films, Inc. Pathe will release it on December 18 Mrs. F. W. Clark Working for Saturday Morning "Movies" for Albany Children