The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

I 418 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 2, 1922 Theatre Men in Rhode Island Welcome Democratic Governor With a Democratic governor at the helm and a Democratic Legislature enjoying a prerogative that promises certain liberal deforms, Rhode Island in 1923 will be entertained with Sunday movies. This much is assured, for it has been an open secret that the Democratic pnrty has long been in favor of Si.nday picture entertainment, v/hich right now is a matter of local option with cities and towns. Tn fact, all efforts made in the past to have the General Assembly enact a Sunday opening law have been made by Democratic legislative leaders, who because of a Republican majority, have failed to have such a bill passed. "Down to the Sea in Ships." the production financed by New Bedford capitalists, closes a threeweek run at the Shubert-Majestic in Providence, Saturday night, Nov. 25. The picture attracted considerable comment and won much favorable newspaper comment and is the only super-special that was ever tried out in this town before being shown in the larger cities of the country. Felix Wendelschaefer, associated with the Shubert interests, is managing this spacious house where D. W. Griffith's "One Exciting Night" is expected to hold the boards for some time, this engagement starting within a few weeks. Sol Braunig, who is dividing his time between the Modern and Capital Theatres, has more than been compensated for the time, and effort he devoted in putting over the Capitol, formerly the Mayflower Theatre, in Providence, for with a daily change policy this out-of-the-way theatre is playing to an average of four full hauses a day. A five-show daily policy is pursued here. That the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Rhode Island, of which Edward M. Fay, of Fay's Theatre, Providence, is president, will play a considerable part in the annual doings of the General Assembly is a foregone conclusion, for theatre owners in Little Rhody have a number of "little things" they want reformed and duly recorded on the state's statute books. hood Was in Flower," when it was announced that more than 50,000 persons had witnessed it in the first two weeks of its showing at the Garden Theatre. The attendance on the first two days was given out by Leo A. Landau, theatre manager, as 18,556, thirteen showings being given on Saturday and Sunday. As the third week began the attendance continued at capacity. The record is considered of special significance because the Garden can seat onlj' 1,432, which is considerably less than the capacity of other houses here. When Charles Lovenberg, for vears Rhode Island representative of the Edward F. .•\lbee entert-rises, which control the Victory Theatre, a first run house here; the Empire and Edward F. Albee theatres in Providence, and three other movie houses in Pawtucket, R I and Woonsocket, R. I., was taken ill. Mr. Albee sent Harry CruU of Brooklyn, to succeed him 'while Mr. Lovenberg is one of New England's foremost theatre men, the fact "mains that with the advent of Mr. Crull all Albee interests here have been boomed. Last week, to stimulate business, Mr. Crull featured an Old Home Week" program at the Albee with local talent exdusively on the bill. Result was crowded houses at every performance. 1 he Providence Elks, in appreciation of the wonderful record established by Mr. Crull, and for his apparent interest in all civic matters, last week presented him with a gold card case. Later in the week he presided at a dinner given in his honor at Hotel Biltmore in Providence, R. L Matt Rielly, of the Victory Theatre Providence, R. L, has tied up the entire United Artists and ■\llied Distributors' product insofar as first runs here are concerned. By cleverly advertising the fact that the Victory would show all the Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charles Chaplin, David W. Griffith, Richard Barthelmess and George Arliss' features exclusively. Manager Rielly has succeeded in building up an exclusive patronage that is the envy of many showmen. If Bill Mahoney, one of the most popular exhibitors in New England, succeeds in keeping the pace his Rialto Theatre has set thus far this season, there will be no doubt that the gross business for 1922-23 will show a recordbreaking figure. Mahoney is one of the very few New England exhibitors who spends money on exploitation. In fact, his tactics have been so original and attracted such wide comment among theatre-going folk that other exhibitors, forced to acknowledge the value of good exploitation, are following in his footsteps. New Milwaukee Is Last Word in Modem Amusement Places The last word in amusement palaces has been presented to Milwaukee. Wis., with the opening of the New Milwaukee, the city's largest outskirt picture house. It is under the management of George Fischer. The crowd at the opening was so large that hundreds were turned away. With comfort as his keynote. \lr. Fischer has incorporated in the $300,000 north side theatre virtually every modern idea that makes for the amusement and convenience of his patrons. In the l-asement are bowling alleys, a grill and a billiard room where the public may go before or after thr performances. .Adjoining the building is a vacant lot reserved for the parking of automobiles of those attending the show. The ventilating system alone was Installed at a cost of $30,000. The organ cost $25,000. There is a rest room for the women and a smoking room for the men. The theatre itself has been decorated in soft shades of lavender and pink, which lends a tone of warmth to the interior. The seating capacity i'^ 1,200. Noted for his original ideas, Mr. Fischer has outlined a program which embodies several innovations in Milwaukee, including children's matinees at which pictures chosen especially to please the youngsters will be shown. Punch and Judy shows will be a feature of these performances. Mr. Fischer plans to run Paramount, First National, Metro and Universal attractions. The set price is 25 cents regardless of the attraction. As for Mr. Fischer himself, his is an enviable record in the motion picture field. For nine years he was manager of the Alhambra Theatre, when it was considered one of the largest in the country showing films. Several years ago he went to Chicago and took over the management of the Woodlawn. He returned to Milwaukee early last summer to supervise the completion of the new building. He installed the children's playroom at the Alhambra and was the first exhibitor in the city to stage a stvle show. .Ml existing records for motion picture attendance in Milwaukee v, ere broken by "When Knight Palhe Bele/ise THE MOTORCYCLE IS HUTCHISON'S TRADE-MARK So the Philadelphia Pathe Exchange used a speed bike to put over the introductory work for the new serial, "Speed." The same stunt can be worked along automobile row by exhibitors. A twelve-piece orchestra has been engaged by Ralph Wettstein, manager of Ascher's Merrill Theatre. Heretofore an organ has furnished the only music. Los Angeles Officials of the West Coast Theatres, Inc., announce the following additions to an already long list of theatrical properties : In the Welshire district the Crescent Theatre at Forty-eighth and Western, formerly owned by Graff Bros., comes in as a new member. Plans now being formulated indicate that a new picture theatre will be constructed at Fiftyfourth and Western, to be called the New Crescent Theatre. This institution will be erected following a merger of the Crescent and Rivoli theatres, the latter being located at Forty-sixth and Western. The Rialto Theatre, San Diego, has recently been added to the West Coast chain, W. W. Whitson, present owner, being associated with the West Coast syndicate in future control and mode of operation. The Kinema, California and Plaza Theatres, all located in San Diego, were recent additions to the West Coast chain in association with Whitson. Chotiner's Theatre, located at Eighth and Western, Los Angeles, has been purchased outright by the West Coast Company. The Fairyland Theatre, Anaheim, has again been opened after being closed while a modern lighting equipment and projection apparatus were installed. The Pastime Theatre, Bakersfield, another of the West Coast chain of theatres, has again been re-opened. The Orpheum Theatre, Riverside, has been purchased by the West Coast Theatres. The West Coast Theatres expect to have a chain of more than 100 theatres in Southern California within the next si.x months. The Loew Theatre in Long Beach has been sold by Ackerman and Harris to Johnson and Fay, who will continue the present policy of vaudeville and pictures. W. J. Johnson has been operating the Palace Theatr-e in the Beach City. Manager Bostick of Loew's Theatre celebrated the theatre's first birthday November 12. I