The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

634 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 16, 1922 tation on November 22 and 23 at the Olympic in Watertown. ture paid the highest rental in the history of Syracuse. Lew Fischer, of Ticonderoga, a well known exhibitor, while shopping in Albany this week, declared that the small towns were enjoying much prosperity at the present time, and that practically every picture house in such places was making money. The International News Weekly has just been booked by Edwin O. Weinberg, manager of the State, in Schenectady, which will open on December 9. Harold Filkins has purchased his partner's interest in the Rialto at Ticonderoga, a house that was formerly operated by Filkins and Brown. It is now expected that the new theatre in Hudson Falls, erected by the Cohoes Amusement Company, will open about December 15. In the fight for patronage going on in Watertown, N. Y., between Charles Sesonske, of the Avon, and Nate Robbins, of the Olympic, it has just been announced that four acts of vaudeville, combined with a big feature picture, will be the policy at the Olympic after January 1. This policy is practical identical with that of the Avon. From now until after the holidays, split weeks will feature at the Leland in Albany. Up to the present time, with a few exceptions, straight week runs have been the rule. There is a well founded rumor in Albany that the Select Exchange will close within a few days, although Emil Wilkinson will probably be retained. It is understood here that the company will close nine of its offices and that some other concern will handle the distribution. In connection with the rumor, it is said that Goldwin will in all probability take over the quarters now occupied by Select, for its exchange here. William Sample, manager of the Village Theatre in Schaghticoke. has just booked "Human Hearts" and "The Storm," although playing but one day a week. While in town this week, Mr. Sample declared that his box office receipts have convinced him that it was good business to book big pictures even in the smaller places. Elmer Crowninshield, who runs the Bijou in Troy and the Hudson in Watervliet, is ill from a threatened attack of pneumonia. The biggest deal in picture circles this week, at least so far as bookings were concerned, took place Wednesday afternoon when Nate Robbins booked "Doctor Jack" for an early showing at the Avon in Utica, the Olympic in Watertown, and the RobbinsErkel in Syracuse. It is said that Mr. Robbins, having the courage of his convictions, for this pic "The Kentucky Derby" has been booked by the Leland for a run in January. This picture went across big last week at the Olympic, in Buffalo, when the girl ushers were dressed as jockies, each carrying a short whip. Having booked a number of big pictures, including "Quincy Adams Sawyer," the Strand in Schenectady is taking steps to fortify itself against any inroads on the opening of The State, in the near future. "A Doll's House," however, failed to pull this week and was taken off Tuesday. Generally speaking, business at Albany picture theatres has been good this week with banner crowds at all houses on Thanksgiving Day. Reports from some of the places along the Canadian border, however, are to the effect that the cold weather has made inroads upon the crowds. Many of these houses coin their money during the summer tourist season. The neighboring village of Pittsfield, Mass., one of the great, est places in this section for welfare work, has some fifteen or twenty schools, churches and Y. M. C. A.'s equipped with projection machines. These places are giving shows very frequently, and as a result, the local Pathe exchange has built up a big business. The Rialto Theatre in Glens Falls, in conjunction with the Glens Falls Times, is now running a contest in connection with the presentation of "When Knighthood Was in Flower." Several cash prizes will be awarded Glens Falls girls who most closely resemble Marion Davies. Samuel Goldstein, who with his brother runs a chain of eleven houses in New York and Massachusetts, was in Albany this week, visiting some of the film exchanges. It is rumored that Mr. Goldstein is planning to acquire a house in Pittsfield. Ben Apple, of the Griswold in Troy, has booked "Grandma's Boy" for a straight week's run beginning December 17. This feature was shown at Proctor's Troy theatre for a week, a short time ago, but after witnessing what Fred Elliott did in booking the feature at the Clinton Square almost immediately after a straight week at Proctor's in Albany, Mr. .'\pple decided that he would establish a precedent in Troy in running the picture at a first-run theatre in spite of a previous showing. As an evidence of the prosperity which characterizes the Albany territory at the present time, two houses, long closed, one in Rotterdam and the other in Mohawk, have just opened with pictures. The Troy, which will open some time in Februarj', announces that it has booked the Pathe News Weekly. Schine Adds Another The Schine Theatrical Enterprises, which has its principal office in Gloversville, N. Y., now owns fourteen picture theatres, having taken over the new Oneonta, one of the finest playhouses in the central part of the state, and located in Oneonta. The house has been owned and managed by O. S. Hathaway. It was remodeled and enlarged last year at a very heavy expense. fall, .^t the conclusion of the day, Mr. Silverman remarked that nothing short of a blizzard could have kept them away. The first prologue attempted in some time in Schenectady, was presented this week at the Albany in connection with "East is West," Several girls were featured as Japanese Geisha girls. Caspar Battaglia, of the Palace in Troy, is in New York this week to meet a nephew from Italy, who, he expects, will develop into a first class exhibitor. The Happy Hour and the Pearl in Schenectady, run by Morris Silverman, played Harry Carey in "Man to Man" on Thanksgiving Day, to the biggest crowds of the Fred Elliott, of the Qinton Square, added considerably to his musical program this week by giving a vocal solo, as well as a banjo solo along with the week's run of "What's Wrong With the Women." Wideawake Ben Apple of Troy Proves He Has Right Method "No house will ever run itself," remarked Ben Apple, owner and manager of the American, Troy, N. Y., the other night, as he stood at the front of the house welcoming patrons, at the same time with one eye on the ushers and the house generally. "The man on the job is the man who gets there all the while," continued Mr. Apple. And judging from the crowds that were jammed in front of the house, waiting for a chance to see "Broadway Rose," Mr. Apple comes pretty near being right. Next week, Mr. Apple has booked "The Impossible Mrs. Bellew." day, at 10 cents admission, and appears to be doing well. Workmen are now putting up the ceiling at the New Rose, and judging from appearances the house will open some time in January. The Alpine opened again Fri Manager Crawford, of the Lincoln, found business so good with "Till We Meet Again," booked first for four days, that he held it over for the entire week and established a box office record for Thanksgiving Day. Along with the picture, Mr. Crawford provided a musical novelty by the orchestra, probably the best musical organization in the Collar City. Harry Symansky, son of the owner of the Lincoln, attended the Colgate-Syracuse football game. He is a graduate of Syracuse University. Troy exhibitors were talking this week along organization lines, and it is now expected that an association will be formed within the next few weeks. All of the exhibitors appear to be in favor of such a move. A Vitagraph Release THE GIRLS ARE USHERS AND NOT A DISPLAY Eugene O'Keefe, of the Blue Mouse Theatre Seattle just brought them out to dress his pretty lobby display on "My W.ld Insh Rose. The front is merely a straight painting, with one cut-out. The Lincoln scored a hit this week with its employes, when flowers and candy were sent to Samaritan Hospital, where of the ushers. Miss Anne sper. is recovering from an the one W operation for appendicitis.