The Moving picture world (May 1922)

380 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 27, 1922 Syracuse's Rivoli Opened by Fitzer; Seats 1,342, Charges 10 and 15 Cents WITH "Tol'able David," a First National attraction starring Ricliard Barthelmess, as its initial feature, the Rivoli Theatre, one of the real showplaces of Syracuse, N. Y., opened on Friday, April 28, marking the latest achievement of Mitchell Fitzer, that city's pioneer exhibitor. The new playhouse is the finest of all the picture houses which Mr. Fitzer has owned, managed or been connected with, and embodies the latest ideas in theatre construction. It has the largest main floor seating capacity of any theatre in Syracuse, seats being provided for 1,092 persons. The balcony holds an additional 250. The admission price is 15 cents at all times on the main floor and 10 cents always for the balcony. Two Simplex projectors, of the latest make, have been installed. Music is supphed by a $30,000 pipe organ. The new Rivoli is the first step in a program mapped out by a group of Syracuse business men, who plan to establish a chain of picture houses throughout the eastern states. According to Mr. Fitzer, arrangements have been completed whereby the group of Syracuse men will finance a play to erect theatres built on the style of the Rivoli in several large cities in the East. Great Expectations Held for the Golf Tournament There is every indication that the Spring Golf Tournament to be held under the auspices of the Film Daily at the Oak Ridge Golf Club, Tuckahoe, on Thursday, May 25, will prove a splendid success, with the help of the weather man. President William A. Landau of the T. O. C. C. has invited members of that organization. Special invitations have been forwarded to the Lambs and Friars. Senator James J. Walker and his law partner, Joe Warren, will attend. To date there are approximately seventy entries and at least 100 are expected. Jules E. Mastbaum, president of the Stanley Company of America and an ardent golfer, has forwarded a check for a special prize. Warner Bros, will again offer a prize and several other cups, one by Moving Picture World, have been promised. These prizes will have nothing to do with the foursome prizes and the special kickers handicap prizes to be allotted. Exhiljitors Beware Fire in the Royal Theatre, Hackensack, N. J., recently was caused by the "explosion" of a film of "Dante's Inferno." The place was well filled and the people made a rush for the doqrs, but nobody was hurti The damage was slight. Wm. Fox to Produce ''If Winter Comes'* in Europe; Harry Millarde to Direct W ILLIAM FOX has decided that nothing but a screen masterpiece must result from the production of "If Winter Comes." Slow to make up his mind on the actual filming of the novel, now that all details are settled, he will act promptly. In order to preserve all of the wonderful atmosphere and native flavor of the book, Mr. Fox has decided to send a company to England and make the principal scenes on the exact locations described by A. S. M. Hutchinson, the author, in his famous book. Harry Millarde, who has an established reputation for turning out intricate human interest stories, has been selected to direct. Associated with him will be Dave Solomon, assistant director, and Joe Ruttenberg, cameraman. Here is the team which produced such stories as "Over the Hill," "The Town That Forgot God" and another big special which will be released next season, as yet untitled. They will sail for England on board the new Cunard liner, Cynthia, on May 25. In London Mr. Millarde and his staff will meet A. S. M. Hutchinson. A series of important conferences will be held, at which details of the production will be finally thrashed out. Mr. Fox will also be in London at this time and will sit in these conferences. Mr. Fox has taken an active part in the formative work of all the big Fox special pictures and he will be able to render valuable assistance to both producer and author. Off for the Coast Clara Beranger, author of scenarios for William De Mille's productions for Schenck Predicts Great Increase in Production Joseph M. Schenck, producer of the Norma Talmadge, Constance Talmadge and Buster Keaton photoplays for Associated First National release, in an interview this week predicted boom times for the motion picture industry. Mr. Schenck, one of the most astute men in the business, declared that the fall will witness a great increase in production, but he added that only good pictures will participate in the prosperity which lies before us. By August we shall see greater production of photoplays under way in Los Angeles than ever before in the historj' of tlie industry. There is already a great shortage of pictures in sight for next year's theatre demand, he said. Paramount, will leave for Hollywood this week to work on the adaptation of "Qarence," the play by Booth Tarkington which is to be Mr. De Mille's next picture. The cast will include Wallace Reid, Agnes Ayres, May McAvoy and Kathlyn Williams. Northwest Film Board Convenes in Seattle The Nothwest Film Board of Trade held a get-together meeting of salesmen, bookers and association managers on May 6 at the New Washington Hotel, Seattle, which was one of its most successful affairs since its organization. Forty members attended. Portland, Spokane and Butte have auxiliaries and the Seattle board is associated with similar boards in Salt Lake, Denver, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Los Angeles. J. T. Sheffield, secretary and manager of Greater Features, Inc., is president of the Seattle board. Asks Leave to File Supplemental Answer Application has been made to the N. Y. Supreme Court by the American Cinema Corporation, and its president, Walter F. Niebuhr, for permission to file a supllemental answer to the suit, brought against them by GilHspie, Meads and Company, a brokerage house. The latter are suing to recover $15,000, the value of 3,000 shares of stock of the Cinema concern, which they claim they were induced to purchase by reason of misrepresentations on the part of Niebuhr, or some one representing him. The supllemental answer makes an emphatic denial of these accusations. Prints of Pictures Cause Legal Action Suit to recover $3,060 from the Enterprise Distributing Corporation of 1457 Broadway, has been filed in the New York Supreme Court by the Nicholas Kessel Labratories, Inc. The money is said to be due for ten prints of "Martyrs of the Alamo," and ten prints of "Ashes of Hope."