The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

December 16, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 633 Thanksgiving Lives Up to Its Name in Buffalo, N. Y. Thanksgiving week was one of big business in Buffalo, N. Y. Several of the downtown houses broke attendance records. All box-office totals went by the board at the Lafayette Square where "Skin Deep" was the film feature. The Strand staged a come-back with "Rags to Riches." Loew's State packed them in all week with "While Satan Sleeps." The neighborhood houses also report overflow audiences. It was just like old times I 162 Center avenue, North Tonawanda, was arrested in the Avondale Theatre, North Tonawanda, last week for smearing gum on the coats of girls. These "playful" boys sometimes get caught! Al Becker, of the Becker Theatre Supply Company, is feeling better. His Buffalo equipment store is now a hive of industry. He has moved into the Film Row block. Exhibitors on their way to the exchanges once more pass the door and the cash register is smiling. The past week Al installed two Type "S" Simplex projection machines in the new Legion Theatre in Wayland, N. Y., in addition to two half-size projection optics and two Compensarcs. He also installed a Mazda equipment at the Craig Colony at Sonyea, N. Y., and two new Simplex machines in the Elm. wood, Buffalo. Revival week at the Strand, Buffalo, was a big success. Manag:er Eugene A. Pfeil found "The Sheik" and "The Miracle Man" the two best box-office pullers. The program was changed daily. Mr. Pfeil has had many inquiries from other exhibitors on how the week went over. It is understood that J. H. Michael, of the Regent, is about to duplicate the stunt. The Strand is now the home of Goldwyn attractions. "Sherlock Holmes" was shown the past week and "The Sin Flood" and "Remembrance" will follow. To gain first-hand information on whether local picture theatres are obeying the fire regulation laws. Mayor Frank X. Schwab make a personal tour of the houses, dropping in unannounced and unexpected. He expressed himself as well pleased with the conditions he found and had no complaint to make. "Sunday is a big night in these places, but they all seem to be sticking religiously to the law," he said. Al Beckerick, manager of the Loew's State, Buffalo, pulled a great publicity stunt the past week when he linked up with the Express in staging The Express Follies as an added attraction at the State. All local talent was in the act. The Express gave the stunt an avalanche of publicity. The act attracted overflow business. Harold B. Franklin, former managing director of Shea's Hippodrome, Buffalo, stopped off in the Queen City of the Lakes last week-end on his way home from the coast Paramount conference and visited with several old Buffalo friends. Of course he dropped in to see Vincent McFaul and Mike Shea at the Hippodrome. Harry D. Crosby, the Batavia, N. Y., actor, is associated with Edward Houghton, owner of the little Hippodrome and Keith's Theatre in Buffalo and also a former Batavia theatrical man, in the lease from William F. Haitz, of the Bellinger Theatre, Batavia, two days a week. Mr. Crosby will act as local manager and Mr. Houghton will arrange the bookings. "The Storm" was the opening attraction. Mike Woods, of Peterson & Woods, announces that the new Strand Theatre in Jamestown, N. Y., will open early in the new year. The Strand will be one of the finest picture houses in Western New York. It will feature a big orchestra and a famous organist. Elmer C. Winegar, new manager of the Elmwood Theatre, Buffalo, is giving his patrons some great bills and attracting a huge amount of automobile business. Elmer formerly managed the Central Park and Premier. He expects to install a big orchestra in the Elmwood the first of the year. Adam Federlein, noted Buffalo violin virtuoso, is now concertmeister of the Strand orchestra, which has been augmented for the season of Goldwyn pictures. Prof. Herbert Alvin Houze, one of the leading organists of the country, is presiding at the console ot the big organ. Berinstein, Albany Showman, Will Build in Little Falls The courts have again ruled against the local Loew interests in the matter of the lobby entrance suit, it being held that the Golde clothes shop was illegally ousted from its location to make way for a Main street entrance to the big Buffalo house. It is expected that some agreement will be reached and that the lobby will not have to be torn out. Manager Arthur L. Skinner, of the Victoria, Buffalo, has added musical acts to his picture program. He has found the stunt helps at the box office. The Menning Sisters, violin and harp, and "D'Amico, piano accordeonist," both were enthusiastically received last week. The most important announcement this week in local film circles was to the effect that William Berinstein, owner of the Colonial and the Hudson Theatres in Albany, N. Y., as well as two houses in Elmira, had purchased a plot of ground on the main street in Little Falls, and would erect a modern picture theatre in that place. For several weeks past, Mr. Berinstein, generally accompanied by George Roberts, his Albany manager, has been scouring the country looking for another theatre to add to his chain. Only a short time ago, Mr. Berinstein visited several of the eastern states, but failed to find the house he wanted at the right price. After looking over the situation in Little Falls, which is one of the most enterprising manufacturing towns in the Mohawk Valley, Mr. Berinstein decided to erect a house there which would be a niarvel in its appointments. Buffalo courts are doing much to make the "movies" safe for women. A negro theological student was sent over the road for 90 days one day last week for annoying feminine patrons in a Main street theatre. A couple sentences like this and these fresh folks may be eliminated. William E. Whiston has resigned as assistant manager of the New Olympic Theatre, Buffalo, to accept the management of a theatre in Pittsburgh. Employes of the Olympic gave a farewell party for Bill before he left town , and presented him with a gold mounted Elk tooth. Chester Raduszsk, IS years old. A Metro Release SPIRITED LOBBY TABLEAU ON "ZENDA" A. B. Morrison, of Loew's Palace, Memphis, used a spirited cut-out and pasted other material in a semingly real book as his advance work on "The Prisoner of Zenda." The book idea is unusual. It is understood that the work will get under way at once, and that the house will be ready for occupancy within a few months. Mr. Berinstein moved from Albany to New York several months ago, and is now making his headquarters in the metropolis, booking his pictures as well as the vaudeville he plays in Elmira. There was a big special matinee at the Mark Strand, in Albany, on Saturday, December 2, for the children of the Capital City. The annual meeting of the Albany Theatrical Managers' Association will be held the fore part of December, according to present plans. The Majestic, which runs pictures up to a few months ago, is now running a program of burlesque, a feature and a comedy, running from 12 noon until 11 o'clock at night, with prices ranging from 28 to 55 cents. According to Ollie Stacey, manager, the program is a money-making one. Oscar Perrin, managing the Leiand in Albany, is making a special play these days in advertising his musical programs with Stephen E. Boisclair at the organ. Mr. Boisclair was formerly connected with the Dawes at Bridgeport, Conn. Experts were in town this week readjusting the organ, which has been rather loud for the size of the house. William Gauthier, former proprietor of the theatre bearing his name in Gouverneur, N. Y., which was destroyed by fire last summer, is now holding down the job of business manager of "The Screen and Studio," a weekly publication in Miami, Florida. Dr. J. Victor Wilson, of Watertown, manager for the Robbins unit in that city and the author of a playlet entitled "A Lord for a Day," was the recipient of many compliments following its presen(.Continued on following page)