The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

632 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 16, 1922 portion of this world's goods, am comfortable and happy. I have for a wife, one of the most wonderful little women that it was ever a man's good fortune to have. She buys and books for all of my theatres and I will leave it to the St. Louis exchanges to tell you that she is as shrewd a buyer as comes to their offices. I have one son in his sixteenth year, now at Military Academy, whom I intend to make a firstclass exhibitor out of, for I think the motion picture business the greatest of all businesses. It has filled the long felt need of clean, wholesome amusement within the reach of all, and it has inspired more people to try for the better things of life, than any other agency, the ministry included. The trend of all pictures today is to show that right, truth and fair dealings always triumph over evil and wrong doing. Yours very truly, I. W. RODGERS. Daddies of Them All Here is the way the oldest exhibitors whose biographies we have been publishing line up now: John P. Dibble, of Branford, Conn.; John C. Green, of Guelph, Canada; each 26 years in the business. Thomas M. Thatcher, Somerset, Ky., 22 years. I. W. Rodgers, Poplar Bluff, Mo., started in 1896; term, indefinite. John Karzin, St. Louis; Jim Jackson, Atlanta; James Howard, Wilmington, DeL, each 17 yesrs. William A. Butler, Philadelphia; Leroy V. Johnson, Seattle; Charles Levenberg, Providence, R. I.; W. F. Code, Seattle; Frank W. Buhler, Philadelphia, each 16 years. We also published the history of William Finley, of Albany, N. Y., who used to show the Dewey Parade pictures, but we don't know whether or not he has been a consistent exhibitor since those early days. Furthermore, we are not sure it is fair to raink Mr. Thatcher below the first two. Mr. Thatcher exhibited a one-reel picture in 1896, the first shown in Southeastern Kentucky, but he didn't say if he exhibited pictures in the four years elapsing between that time and the time when he took over the Gem Theatre in Somerset, whereas the first two mentioned started in 1896 and have kept right at it up to the present day. Also, to add to our perplexity, the original announcement said "in the United States." That would leave Mr. Green out of the running, but there isn't any reason why he shouldn't be acclaimed Canada's Daddy, unless some resident of the Dominion pops up with a better claim. Well, here's how they stand now. And the search is nearing an end. It looks as though there won't be any nominations with better claims than those of Mr. Dibble and Mr. Thatcher and Mr. Rodgers.— SUMNER SMITH. Chicago Exhibitors Postpone Action in Operator Dispute The first meeting of Theatre Owners to discuss the operators' wage scale for 1923 was held the day before Thanksgiving, and the small crowd which turned out did not justify any decisive movement on the part of the exhibitors. .Another meeting will be held next Friday, and concerted action will be taken to reduce the wages of the operators. The movement to repeal the daylight savings ordinance has been deferred until after the adjustment of the operators' wage scale. The action will be sponsored by the theatres of Chicago, both legitimate and motion picture, with the co-operation of other trades who desire the repeal of the ordinance. An entire audience of deaf and dumb people saw "The Man Who Played God" at the Randolph last week. Manager McCurdy sent out invitations to all the deaf and dumb people of the city asking them to be his guests at the Thursday evening show, and a practically unanimous response was made. the Argmore Theatre, has had another brilliant idea on how to keep the name of his house before the folks in his neighborhood. His programs are well selected — good pictures played not long after their downtown runs — and put on in a manner that leaves nothing to be desired. However, his greatest worry has been the fact that his printed programs, giving the coming attractions for the week, have been littering the gutters of the vicinity of the theatre. Accordingly he substituted for the bulky 6 by 8 program, on flimsy paper, a neat little fourpage cardboard affair, just the size of a visiting card. "It is vest pocket size," says Manager Braddock, "and it is really carried in a pocket or a handbag, for not a single one finds its way to the sidewalk." in a position to secure the new films at a better price than they can individually. It is understood that 35 owners representing 53 theatres have signed up for the company. with offices at 4750 Sheridan road. The capital is listed at $300,000. The Palais Royale Company has been formed by E. E. Adams, I. E. Erickson and Barnet Hodea as a place of amusement, with a capital of $5,000. A fire under the stage at the Columbia Theatre at 11 North Clark street was put out without the audience realizing the danger of panic until they reached the street and saw the fire apparatus. The Elite Theatre at Waukegan has been sold by Carl Mueller to Edward Trinz, formerly manager of the Covent Garden iTheatre, of the Lubliner and Trinz circuit. The house will be remodeled and will be conducted as a first class picture house with good musical programs. E. C. Stueve, pioneer exhibitor of Canton, Ohio, lost his wife by death the middle of November. She had been in ill health for some time. C. C. Jones has opened his new house at Cambria, 111., and he will have first class programs. The new theatre seats 400. "In the Name of the Law* broke a record in Fremont, Ohio, recently, by playing an entire week in a three-day town. A tieup with the police helped put it over at the Jewel Theatre, managed by George Geyer. It is reported that the Ascher Theatre at Peoria, 111., will be leased to Shubert interests, who expect to use the house for their unit vaudeville and pictures. Clyde E. Elliott has taken over the Evanston Theatre at Sherman street, near Davis, in Evanston, and will spend $25,000 in improvements that will make it one of the leading houses along the north shore. George Braddock, manager of There is a movement on foot here to form a co-operative booking agency among some of the outlying theatres, so they will be The Palais Amusement Company has been formed by Moe A. Cushman, W. J. Parker and Herman Emerson to acquire and conduct amusement enterprises, Ohio censors have held up for three weeks the new Gloria Swanson picture, "The Impossible Mrs. Bellew." It is likely that they will release it soon, however, with a number of cuts. A tremendous advertising and publicity campaign was put on for the opening in Geveland_ of Marion Davies in "When Knighthood Was in Flower" at the Stillman Theatre, November 26. Knocks and Boosts and an Idea "You can't beat Moving Picture World's Regional News and Gossip department for downright, genuine interest," says Edward H. Crawford, manager of the Lincoln Theatre, Troy, N. Y. Acco rding to him, nine out of ten Troy exhibitors turn first to this feature of the World. Thanks, Mr. Crawford, say we. And we want to add that any exhibitor who obeys that impulse and sends us a testimonial will assure us a Merry Christmas. But on the other hand, we want the knocks, too. Praise warms the heart; knocks set the thinking apparatus in operation. This is strictly an exhibitor department. We don't think you can read it and not be impressed with that fact. But, believe me, boys, it can be made much better, of far greater value to you. How? Chiefly through the co-operation of exhibitors for the benefit of brother exhibitors. When an exhibitor has an idea for its betterment, we want hi m to send it in and we promise it earnest consideration. If it is something that can be worked out, we'll use it; if there's any dou bt in our mind, we'll put the idea up to all exhibitors and await their verdicts. A real news and gossip department for exhibitors is a brand new thing. It ought to be not merely satisfactory, but a real success; it can only be through the co-operation of exhibitors. Can this co-operation be effected in some such way as this — having an exhibitor write each week for the department his views on topics of film interest? Sort of a leading editorial by an exhibitor? We wish that exhibitors would give this question thought, judge it according to their experience in motion picture affairs. If it appeals to any as worthwhile, we w ill welcome word to that effect.— SUMNER SMITH.