The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 6, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD ?l Chicago and the Middle West William K. Hollander, advertising and publicity manager for the Balahan & Katz Circuit, accompanied hy his wife and two children, are visiting in New York with relatives. * * * "The Four Horsemen" is proving so popular at the Roosevelt Theatre that 9 a. m. performances have been inaugurated for the first time in the history of the theatre. The theatre is packed at every performance, even the "supper show" finding seating ■capacity taxed, and a crowd of sixty people were awaiting the opening of the doors one particular morning at •9 o'clock. * * * The week before Easter, that ■bugaboo of theatres, was overcome at the Chicago Theatre by Stronglieart, the Wonder Dog. Anticipating the usual slump, Balaban & Katz booked this unusual picture and boosted it with strong advertising. The result was the usual .■amount of business, despite a heavy rain for two days in addition to the lioliday slump. A clever little prologue was arranged for the picture, which carried out the theme of the story. * * ♦ H. A. Spanuth became manager of the Ziegfeld Theatre last Saturday, immediately inaugurating a complete change of policy whicli gives the audience "twice as much show for half the money." The Ziegfeld has never been a popular motion picture house, which has probably been due to the fact that the admission price was $1.10, for a program consisting only of a feature and news reel, while other theatres were showing a much more varied program at 55 cents admission. Under Mr. Spanuth's management the price will be reduced to that of other theatres, and a comedy, news reel, scenic reel, .and other features will be shown in addition to the regular feature. Another innovation inaugurated 'by Mr. Spanuth is the installation of a radio set of the finest type, the first in any downtown theatre. Two programs are given — the stock report, news events and baseball scores Iseing given in the afternoon between 3.30 and 4.30, and the regular program of music in the evening between 8 and 9 o'clock. The orchestra and other music is dispensed with during the radio performances. Althouoh Mr. Spanuth has become the manager of the Ziegfield Theatre, he has not severed his connection with the Commonwealth Pictures Corporation. * * * The first anniversary of Ascher's Roosevelt Theatre was celebrated last week with a program even better than the Roosevelt's usual excellent program, several additional novelties having a place on the program. ^ * * The presence of a star in town in a stage production does not make much diiTerence in the box ofKce :Bj^ marguerite kemp receipts of a theatre showing the same star in a photoplay. That was proved in Chicago last week when Vivian Martin arrived at the La Salle Theatre to star in "Just Married" in person, when the Adams Theatre was showing her in her latest screen production, "The Eternal :\1 other." * * * May 1 was moving day for the Motion Picture Theatre Owners offices. They were moved from 910 S. Michigan Avenue to 752 S. Wabash Avenue. * * ♦ "Boomerang Justice" is the latest purchase of the Celebrated Players Corporation. Manager Joe Friedman is enthusiastically proclaiming that he has a box office winner in this feature which was secured from the Russell Productions, Inc. * * * Samuel Abraham, manager of the Gold Theatre, West Roosevelt Road, was elected vice-president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Illinois, at a meeting of the Board of Directors last Tuesday. The vice-president will be obliged Ito shoulder the responsibilities of the organization during the absence of the president, L. M. Rubens, who is now touring in Europe. Mr. Abraham has many friends among the theatre owners of the state. J. B. Dibelka was elected secretary and treasurer and William J. Sweeney will continue as general organizer. * * * Every section of the city is represented by the new officers of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Chicago. H. Goldsen was chosen vice-president for the North side, George Paul, vice-president for the South side, A. Sapperstein, vicepresident for the southwest side, and Julius Lamm, vice-president for the northwest side. Ludwig Siegel was elected president of the organization ; Sidney Smith, corresponding secretary; Adolph Powell, financial secretary; and D. J. Chrissis, treasurer. The Board of Directors for the Chicago organization is composed of the following members: Louis Frank, E. J. Haley, Andrew Cuser. Jos. Hopp, Nathan Joseph, . P. Paley, Wm. M. O'Connell, and M. Siegel. William J. Sweeney was re-elected active secretary of the association. * ♦ * Blanche Berkson, a stenographer at the Commonwealth Edison Company, was the winner of $1,000 in the Herald and Examiner's $10,000 Movie Contest. Miss Berkson had identified correctly all of the 120 motion picture players' photographs which were shown with the faces partly hidden. In addition to naming the players, she had spelled all the names of the actors and actresses correctly and her work was very neat. She is an ardent motion picture fan, and attends the Central Park Theatre three or four times a week. Tom Meighan and Alfred Green to Visit George Ade in Indiana Bearing with them the first print of their latest picture, "Our Leading Citizen," Thomas Meighan, Paramount star, and Director Alfred Green left the latter part of last week, for Chicago, and, ultimately, the home of George Ade, author of the story, at Boone, Indiana. "Our Leading Citizen" was written by the famous humorist at the direct request of Meighan, who is an old friend of the author. The star and director are understood to be planning to discuss a new story with George Ade, which may be produced, after the completion of "Manslaughter," a Cecil B. De Mille production, in which Meighan is soon to start work. '^Shackles of Gold, "Starring William Farnum, Is Listed for Release by Fox on May 7 Enthusiastic reports are coming from the officials of the Fox Film Corporation regarding the new William Farnum picture, "Shackles of Gold," set for release May 7. This picture is declared to be better than the best Farnum has made in five years. The story is based on Henri Bernstein's great stage play, "Samson," and has been made into a thrillingly dramatic modern society play in which Farnum has a part that grows in dramatic force until it reaches a tremendous, smashing climax in a Wall Street Stock Exchange battle. The stock exchange scenes are said to be the most thrilling of their kind ever screened. Under the direction of Herbert Brenon, a sec tion of the New York Stock Exchange floor was erected in the William Fox studios. The love scenes with Mryta Bo-' nillas are said to be heart gripping. Miss Bonillas is quite new to the screen, but nevertheless her acting is commendable in this picture. MacLean at Work Douglas MacLean has started his next comedy drama, "The Sunshine Trail," under the direction of James Home. Among the members of the supporting cast in this First National picture are William Courtwright, Josephine Sedgwick, Barney Furey and 4-year-old Murial Frances Dana. EXAMTXKK T/ie? Fastest HE SHEIK'S WIFE SPECTACULAR ROMANCE Vitagraph Picture at. tlie Randolph Fully as Interesting as Its Predecessor, 'The Sheik.' "THE SIIKIK'S WIFE." I'rudiiccd by >'UaKiapli. Shown aX the liaiidoliih. IIY OnSEKVKK. A massive, spectacular romance Is fit the Randolph tbia week. "The Shelk'3 Wife" — onT; of the biggest Fi-ench ])Icturoi3 we have had — a thriller that will make you suitors look quite drab. Personally, we are Ijeen about cavemen— when they havo. V/e imagine Valentino dls-ir.iKOd more tlnn one romancy U> when he fipixared as the Sheik. The Arab Prince is more bad news for the sterner sex. Girls, he's choice! However, "The Shelk'.s Wife" is every bit as InlcreslInK as Its famed and far-reaching predccessoi-, "Tlie Sheik." There Is a <Opltal story based on the love of an English girl for nn Arub Prince. A t.iory that has every thrill i\n unusual combination like that can produce. The girl loves the dusky Arab, and plots and plans for his affection. That she eventually succeeds goes without saying. "The Sheik's Wife" Is one of this ye.'tr's beat caveman films. A ternpor:iry relief from the averyday (h'av\'ing room drameis. A. picturt^ will enjoy. ■«^ou w