The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

636 MOVING PICTURE WORLD Richards Improves the Rex; Other California Jottings 5 H. J. Richards is improving the operating room of the Rex Theatre at Niles, Cal., and has purchased a couple of Power's projection machines from Walter Preddey, San Francisco. form of bank accounts, largest of these being $1,200. the The Balboa Theatre, being erected in the Westwood District, San Francisco, by Sam Levin, of neighborhood house fame, will be ready for occupancy some time in December. A $10,000 contest was recently brought to a close by Herbert L. Rothchild, chief owner of the Granada, Imperial, California and Imperial theatres, San Francisco, for the sale of books of tickets good for admission to these houses. More than 5,000 persons entered the contest and $10,000 was distributed in prizes in the Leon Schwartz, a picture magnate of Soerabaya, Java, is visiting San Francisco on a tour of the United States to inspect picture theatres and to arrange for film service. The largest theatre operated by him has a capacity of 750 white people and 500 natives. The screen is placed in the center of the house and the natives view the picture from tne rear of the screen, the fact that the letters of the titles appear in reverse, making no difiference to them. Music is furnished by orchestras of Russian musicians, but Mr. Schwartz plans to take an organ back with him. About 80 per cftfit. of the films shown in the Dutch East Indies are American, and next in popularity are those of French manufacture. ager John Danz of the Colonial Theatre, a high class second run house in the downtown district, this week put over a three-day run of "School Days," with tieups, not often exceeded by the first run houses. The big tieup was arranged with one of the papers, conducting a "Freckles" contest. The stunt got most of the front page of the paper, and the "Freckles" matinee was a winner and cost nothing but the seats. Mr. Fox, exploitation man at the Colonial, went fight after this cne. December 16, 1922 A decidedly small and unworthy attempt to embarrass the management of all the leading firtt run theatre* in the downtown dittrist is shown by the liberating of odor bombs during performancea^ John Spickett, theatre manager of Juneau, Alaska, is in Seattle picking up an orchestra to take back with him. Manager C. S. Jensen, of Portland, was in Seattle to greet hit partner, J. G. Von Herberg. Valentino Will Appear in St. Louis Despite Courts Lukan to Manage Hamrick's Theatres in the Northwest i The outstanding news of the week of November 29 was the resignation of L. O. Lukan as manager of the western division exchanges of Associated First National Pictures. Mr. Lukan held this post for one year. Prior to that he had been for three years manager of the Seattle Exchange, and has been for years one of the leading film men of the Northwest, coming from Minneapolis to Seattle thirty-two years ago. John Hamrick, who owns a chain of Blue Mouse theatres in the Northwest, has announced that, effective December 1, Mr. Lukan, will become general manager of Blue Mouse theatres in Seattle, Portland and Tacoma. Offices of the Blue Mouse theatres are now being opened in the White-Henry-Stuart Building. "Since taking over the management of the western division exchanges for First National," says Mr. Lukan, "I have spent but two weeks at home with my family. There is no prospect of any change along this line. I have always wanted to get into the exhibition end of the game, and was quick to take advantage of this opportunity. Mr. Hamrick and I are old friends. I leave behind me no hard feelings at First National. We are the best of friends." of which he is a director, has requested permission to use Ischl for exterior locations for one of the series of big pictures the corporation plans to make in Europe. He at once placed the entire estate at their disposal. The question which has been agitating many since announcement of the purchase was cabled from Berlin, is answered. The opening of the new Mack Theatre at Port Angeles on November 24 was a brilliant afifair. The theatre is one of the most modern in the Northwest, and embodies elements that make it a community center. Most of Seattle's film folk went up for the event. One of the nicest tributes paid to the new house and its owner. Mack J. Davis, was the voluntary closing of his competition house, the Lincoln Theatre, by Mr. Hallberg, who attended the opening of the Mack himself. The wires from New York have carried the sad news that the New York Supreme Court has issued an injunction that restrains Rodolph Valentino from fulfilling his engagement with the Delmonte. The attorneys for the Famous Players Lasky Corporation have insisted, so New York advices are, that Valentino must not appear except under the management of Paramount. He was to have delivered an address on Americanization" at each perperformance of the Delmonte the week of December 3. Although the court injunction against him is said to be the most drastic ever issued, Valentino plans to appear at the Delmonte Theatre, Sunday evening, December 3 and personally explain the legal obstacles to his carrying out the contract with Cornwell. He will pay all his own expenses to St. Louis and is making the trip on advice of counsel. The Delmonte management in large newspaper advertisements has explained the court developments to the St. Louis public, so that the cancellation will not reflect on the theatre management. The promise is made when the court proceedings are finally disposed of, an effort will be made to bring Valentino to St. Louis. Speaking of exploitation, Man Spyros Skouras, of the St. Louis Amusement Company, has announced that the Pershing Theatre, Delmar boulevard, west of Hamilton avenue, has been leased The return of J. G. Von Herberg, moving picture magnate, from a three months' vacation in Europe, was heralded by interviews in all the papers, concerning the leasing by Mr. Von Herberg. for a period of years, of the 50,000 acre estate, Ischl, formerly the game preserve of Emperor Franz Josef of Austria. Mr. Von Herberg told the press he had leased the famous estate as a place to send J. & V. heads of departments and house managers, when they felt vacations coming on, subsequently admitting that, since his return. First National, A Fox Release TOM CLEMMONS' DOORMEN ARE REAL ACTORS At least they are quick-change artists, for almost every week they are dressed to fit the new show at the Tivoli Theatre, Beaumont, Texas. They seem to enjoy the work. Look at their smiling faces. to Douglas Fairbanks for the St. Louis presentation of "Robin Hood." It will be shown the week commencing Christmas Day. The advance sale of tickets will open on December 18. A general admission of $1 will be charged. St. Louisians were grieved to learn of the death in New York City a few days ago of Walter Sanford, who managed the old Olympic Theatre, one of St. Louis' most famous dramatic houses, which closed its doors several seasons ago. Sanford succeeded Pat Short as manager of the Olympic and was in charge when the theatre closed for the last time. Al Rabenick has sold the Liberty Theatre, Union, Mo., to Hersefield & Kloppenberg. The latter firm recently sold the Ozark Theatre, St. Clair, Mo., to William Casey of that city. Arch Bamberger, manager of the Empress and Bleich theatres in Owensboro, Ky., is regarded as one of the liveliest exhibitors in the St. Louis territory. He is especially noted for his unique and extraordinary lobby displays. Many residents of Owensboro visit his shows just to see the way his lobby is dressed up. Many displays are worth the price of admission alone. Harry Greenman, manager of the William Fox Liberty Theatre, will put on a benefit for the needy members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars the week of December 9. The program will include views of fighting on the Western Front. H. Mo.. W. Leiweke, was a visitor. of St. Clair, Tom Reed, of Duquoin, IlL, made one of his regular calls to town. William Goldman, former manager of the Missouri Theatre was in town for a few days. Left for Chicago to meet Adolph Kukor and his party. Leon De La Mothe. of the MidWest Productions, will present "A Day in the Movies" at the Columbia Theatre the week of Ootober 18, concluding the run on Christmas Day.