The Moving picture world (November 1921)

December 10, 1921 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 689 Baltimore Baltimore's newest residential moving picture theatre, the Columbia, Columbia avenue at Fremont, owned by the Eureka Amusement Company, of which William Kolb is president, and Eugene B. McCurdy, secretary and treasurer, was opened to the public on November 19. This playhouse seats 1,300 and the building measures 60 by 125 feet. Mr. McCurdy, who is also president of the Exhibitors' League of Maryland will be manager. He also manages the Lafayette and Eureka theatres, owned by the same company. The building is designed ' in the Adam style. A new style of lighting arrangement has been installed in the auditorium. From the center of the ceiling an exquisitely decorated dome appears to be suspended from the ceiling as concealed lights are arranged on the inside and outside. It lends a beautiful effect to the interior. The colors used for the interior decoration are French grey, King's blue and old ivory, while mulberry and Alice blue draperies are used in harmony. An orchestra furnishes the music and ah organ, which will cost $10,000, will be installed soon. The building, including the land, cost approximately $150,000. * * * A moving picture performance and meeting was held on Sunday night, November 20, at the McHenry Theatre, through the courtesy of Ray Levy, the manager, for the veterans of the China Relief Expedition, Spanish-American and Philippine wars and their families. * * * A suit against the Callahan Film Company for $20,000 has been instituted in the court of Common Pleas of Baltimore by Roma Reade, an actress who has been playing leading parts in a stock company at the Playhouse, Baltimore, recently. No cause for the action was stated and the suit was by titling. Miss Reade was robbed of $7,000 in jewels and Liberty Bonds while they were with the defendant, where she had placed them during the repapering of her apartment. * * * Plans are under way by Quincy Jones, president of the First National Bank, South Charleston, W. Va., to build a picture theatre to cost about $30,000, the measurements of which will be 50 by 120 feet. * * * Plans are being prepared for a two story picture theatre, to have stores and apartments, by Walter B. Pippin, Chestertown, Md., the building is to be of brick and the cost will be about $30,000. * * * A picture theatre, store and office building of brick and frame, to measure 59 by 187 feet, is planned by the Southern Amusement Company, Danville, Va. Plans have been drawn up by C. K. Howell, architect and the structure will cost about $150,000. * * * A one-story picture theatre is to be built at Portsmouth, Va., by the Pertihaion Development Corporation, which will cost approximately $18,000, the measurements of which will, be 35 by 170 feet. * * * Plans have been drawn up for a picture theatre by E. J. Wood, architect, Clarksburg, W. Va., to be built at Shinnston, W. Va., by Miss Lynne Monroe. The building will measure 80 by 30 feet and seat 800. The approximate cost will be $20,000. Pittsburgh Louis W. Greenstein, an executive of the Federated Film Exchange Company, with headquarters at Cleveland, was married on Thanksgiving Day at the William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, to Miss Anna Stalberg. After a wedding trip to Asheville, N. C, the couple will make their home in Cleveland. J. C. Weinberger, who has been out of the show game in Pittsburgh for the past eighteen months, is back again, fhis time at the Lawrence Tneatre in Hazelwood. Mr. Weinberger conducted the Orpheum Theatre in Squirrel Hill, until a year and a half ago, when he sold out, and went into the chandelier manufacturing business. He still retains this business in addition to managing the Lawrence, which is said to be the oldest picture house in the Hazelwood section. * * * Thomas Burke, well-known Pittsburgh exhibitor, was shot through the shoulder one day recently, and robbed of a diamond stickpin, while taking tickets at his house, the Burke, at Wylie avenue and Fullerton street. Mr. Burke was not seriously hurt. He has identified a suspect, who has been arrested, as his assistant, but the diamond stickpin and revolver have not been found. * * * Mrs. Joseph Bonjiovanni, wife of the proprietor of the Empire Theatre, Clymer, Pa., has just returned home after a four weeks' trip to her parents' home at Bridgeport, Conn. Joe states that he was very glad to get her back as he missed his ticket seller very much. * * * J. A. Commons, of the Commons Theatre, Hastings, Pa., has been laid up in bed for the last several weeks with a bad attack of pleurisy. Commons states that he was re-elected burgess of the town again, much against his wishes. Jose Simons, house superintendent of the Nemo Theatre, Johnstown, Pa., has been sent away for a six weeks' trip to his wife's parents home at Roaring Springs, Pa., on account of his health. Joe has been suffering for the past year with a bad case of stomach trouble. Barclay will certainly miss his right hand man when it comes to executing those exploitation ideas of his. * * * Ike Browarsky, one of Pittsburgh's well-known theatre managers, is now a full-fledged theatre owner. Ike has taken over the Variety Theatre on Beaver avenue, North Side, from George Burry, who has conducted the same for several years. The Variety is a fine house of 800 seating capacity, and after alterations and redecorating is completed, Ike will have one of the classiest houses in the city. Canada The first public presentation in Canada of "The Battle of Jutland," the British film feature showing historical details of the naval engagement, occurred at the Allen Theatre, Toronto, simultaneously with the official visit of Admiral Earl Beatty, supreme commander of the British fleet, to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. The picture was the attraction at the Toronto Allen during the week of November 28. Associated First National Pictures (Eastern Canada), Ltd., operating in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, have placed seventy-five sub-franchises in Eastern Canada since opening three direct branch offices at Toronto, Montreal and St. John, N. B., about one year ago. J. A. Caron, of Montreal, has opened the National, a new picture theatre, at Cap de la Madeleine, Quebec, on the St. Lawrence River opposite Three Rivers. * * * J. O. O'Dowd, proprietor of the Classic Theatre, Quebec City, has sold his theatre interests to Maurice Verne, of Montreal, who now has a circuit of three picture theatres in the Province of Quebec. Mr. O'Down has become associated with the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. * * * Maurice West, for many years Montreal manager of the Fox Film Corporation, has become an exhibitor. Mr. West has leased the Tuotoscope Theatre at St. John's, Quebec, and has re-named it the Imperial. A few months ago Mr. West made a business trip to Europe in the hope that he would be able to secure the Canadian rights for a number of important European productions. * * * Paul Brunet, of New York, president of the Pathe Exchange, Inc., was a recent visitor in Montreal, when he conferred with L. E. Quimet, president of the Specialty Film Import, Ltd., Montreal, Canadian distributor of Pathe releases. Mr. Brunet was the guest of honor at a big banquet which was attended by many prominent local English and French newspapermen. * * * The exhibitors of Vancouver, B. C, made a special trip to Victoria, the capital city of the Province of British Columbia, a few days ago to lay a formal request for a reduction in or the abolishment of the provincial amusement tax on theatre admission tickets. The big deputation was given a rather cool reception and the theatre men were advised that there had been a probability of an increase in the tax rather than a reduction. The exhibitors were finally advised that the tax would probably remain as at present, namely 10 per cent, of the value of a ticket, this to be paid by the theatre patron. MONROE SALISBURY IN "THE GREAT ALONE" Now being produced by West Coast Films Corporation for distribution by Producers' Security Corporation Phil Hazza, formerly at the head of the Amalgamated Exhibitors' Circuit of Montreal, has organized the Standard Films, Ltd., with head office in the Albee Building, Montreal, to handle a number of films in Canada, including the products of the Aymon Film Corporation, the Pioneer, Trueart and American Cinema. He has secured the Canadian rights for three Australian releases in which Snowy Baker is starred. Mr. Hazza announces that he has opened branch offices in Toronto, St. John, N. B., and Winnipeg. He was with Canadian Universal for many years until he established a co-operative exhibitors' syndicate in the Province of Quebec about eighteen months ago. * * * H. M. Thomas, of Toronto, general manager of theatres controlled by the Famous Players' Canadian Corporation, has once more been placed in direct charge of the Capitol Theatre, Montreal, by that company. Mr. Thomas recently completed a tour of inspection of Famous Players' theatres across the Dominion.