The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

720 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 23, 1922 of the bigger companies are breaking their New York to Boston jumps at Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford and Providence, plaving one nighters in the first three towns and three days in the Little Rhody capital. The moneyma'cers thus far this season, however, could be counted on the fingers of both hands. Kansas City's Doric Wrecked The Forty-fifth Street Theatre, Kansas Cty, is another house to rr^* 1 1 • reopen with the coming of the oecond 1 ime by Gas bxplosion ^ ^ c McEiroy is the new manager. "Down to the Sea in Ships," an Elmer Clifton production financed by New Bedford, Mass , capital, is playing its last week at the Selwyn Theatre, Boston. This engagement was made possible through an unexpected cancellation at that house. The picture is a good draw and its business has surprised theatre folk in general, for very little attention was paid to the engagement, most people accepting the Sehvyn engagement as a flivver for the reason that that house is not centrally located and never played pictures successfully. Next week is "Old Home Week" at the Biiou Theatre, Pawtuc'-et, R. I., an Edward F. Albee house, playing a double bill. For an extra attraction Zena Keefe, the star, who appeared as leading woman in stock here years ago, will make personal appearances in conjunction with the showins of one of her pictures, probably "The Broken Silence." Wally Griffith, w'lo for some time was with S. Z. Poli in Waterbury and Meriden, Conn., is now managing the house at Bristol, Conn. For the second time since its completion, the Doric Theatre, Kansas City, was wrecked by a gas explosion December 7. The explosion occurred when the janitor attempted to light a gas heater in the basement of the theatre. There was very little fire, but the force of the explosion was so great that the walls of the offices, private projection room, rest rooms and basement were torn away. The explosion also tore the steel moorings away from side girders and twisted the iron stair rails. The ceiling above the main auditorium was torn away and daylieht could be seen where the roof had been. Adjoining offices and stores were damaged to the extent of $100,000, according to the estimates of the owners and the fire chief. Of this, $60,OCO was sustained by the owner of the building, Mrs. E. C. Ridge, and by Sam Harding, who has the lease on the building. Mr. Harding sa'd that his loss was fully covered by insurance. Everv window glass was broken in buildings adjacent to the Doric, and the sidewalk in front of the theatre was torn up. Two years ago an almost identical explo'sion occurred at the theatre. The house has been closed during the s'lmmer, but was reopened Thanksgiving Day for an indefinite time. Highland Theatre, Kansas City, which has been closed during the summer months. Mr. Hayter recently returned here from Springfield, Mo. T. C. Goodnght of the Star Theatre at Warrensburg, Mo., dropped in town the other day. H. H. Murdock, a salesman for the local branch of Metro, has sold his Murdock Theatre at Pleasant Hill, Mo., to Benken and Garrison, who are merchants of Pleasant Hill. H. L. Gees of the Mystic and Rex Theatres at Mulberry, Kas., was visiting in Kansas City last week for films. O. K. Mason, who has the Regent Theatre, Wichita, Kas., was a Kansas City vistor ths week. He came up to look over some of the new releases. Claire M. Patee of the Patee Theatre, Lawrence, Kas., make his weeklj' visit Tuesday. Mr, Patee is one of the pioneers of the industry. Lee Gunnison of the Crystal Theatre at Atchison, Kas., was also a visitor. North Carolina MidWinter Meeting Comes December 27 Bil' Strong, who is handling the exploitation and advertising for the Emery and Rialto theatres in Providence. R. L. is winning much praise among New En.glsnd showmen for his newspaper disnlay advertisements, which are neatly and attractively designed. President Jacob Lourie, of the Mass^^chusetts Motion Picture Theatre Owners, is promoting a series of Tuesday luncheons with the hope that in th's manner interest will be stimula'ed in the organization, which should be one of the strongest in the country. Althoiiffh he has sold out his Star and Sterling theatres in Concord, N. H., Jacob Conn, who still operates the Gaiety Theatre in Providence. R. L, has purchased a site in the former city with every intention of erecting a big first-run house there. Plans now under way call for a 1,500-seat theatre. Jack Johnston, who operated the Isis and Mecca theatres at Aueusta. Kan., has ta' en a long time Ie?se on the Liberty Theatre, the third picture house in -Augusta. The Isis and Mecca will be operated on the same pol'cv as before, but the L'bertv will be oppp Frid^vs and Saturdavs onlv. The build'ig and eniiinment of ttie Libertv Theatre pnd the building occupied hv the Isis is owned by D. .A. Biscagno. Mr. B'scagno plans to completely remodel the I«is Theatre in the soring. A marble front will ta'^e the place of the prpsent front, and the capacity will be increased. Complete new interior decorations will also be a feature. The regular mid-winter meeting of the North Carolina M. P. T. O. will be held at the O. Henrv Hotel Greensboro, December 27 and 28, according to announcement made this week by Henry B. Varner, of Lexington, secretary of the organization. Mr. Varner in his official call freely predicts another strong effort on the part of the reformers to put over a state-wide censorship bill at the January session of the North Carolina general assembly, and stresses as one of the important matters to be taken up at the Greensboro meeting, the arranging for strong representation in RaleJeh during the entire time the Leeislature is in session, and the raising of ample funds to fight the menace. Charles G. .^mos, of the Strand, Spartanburg, has been sent to the Alhambra, Charlotte. Both are Lynch houses. Colonel Henry B. Vamer's new theatre in Lexington is nearing completion. The colonel will be regular "circuit magnate" with five theatres under his management, with the opening of the new Lexington house, which is going to be the last word in appointments. Harry Sommerville. formerly manager of the Pryor-Leitch theatres in Durham, has resigned his position but has not announced his future plans. Joe Goodenough's new theatre, the Branwood. Greenville, S. C, has a private enclosed parking space for 100 automobiles. Claim checks will be issued for all cars parked while patrons attend the show. By the way, Greenville is now rated as the best show town of its size in the South — over two hundred cotton mills alone, there! Fred Hayter has reopened the Announcement from New York that the Charlotte office of Select would close at an early date, brings regret to the exhibitor friends of Manager McCormick. of the Charlotte office. The road force was called in from this office some weeks ago. Friends in the Carolinas were glad to learn that Ernest G Stellings. formerly of the Grand Theatre. Wilmington. N. C, has been made publicity and booking manager of Carl Kettler's theatres in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, Florida, and the Palm Beach newspaper "wrote him up" extensively upon his arrival there. A Profit of $822,500 Baltimore Right now the Rhode Island exhibitoi-s are co-operating in a drive to raise $850,000 in ten diys for the erection of a so-called Providence Lying-in Hospital. The theatres up to Monday of this week had been instrumental in raising about one-tenth of the total amount in seven days in contributions and pledges. The Better Films Council of the Rhode Island Council of Women's Clubs, of which Mrs. Charles J. F'et'-her is chairman, has selected Eddie Fay's Theatre in Providence, R. I., as the place where they will look at pictures, Thiough the purchase of the fee to the site of the Columbia Theatre, .'"ixth and St. Charles street, St. Louis, the Columbia Theatre Company, contro'led by Frank R. Tate, the Louis A. Cella estate and Joseph E. Martin, is said to have realized a profit <-{ $822,500. In 1^97 the theatre company obtained a 99-vear lease on the s■^e. wit* notion of purchase cn the b="sis of the annual rental of $14,500. The property was owned by George S. Meyer estate. A few d'vs !>t!o the theatre owners decided to exerc'se their r'ght to buy. On the usual ner cent, bas's real estate men figure the site cost them but $362 500. Conservative reletors sav the properly is worth no less than $1,185,000, or $822,500 more than they paid for it. It fronts 79 feet on Sixth street and 123 f'^et on St. Charles street. A few we^k^ ago the cnmnanv V.r»-.prKf the n*te t^f the Strand Theatre a''ioining. It measured 26 by 123, giving them a trttal frontage of 105 fest on Sixth street. That site on the rental bpr.'s is estim-ted to have cost them $225,000. Charles Sella, president of the theatre company, said there are no plans at present for additional improvements on the site. The New Gem Theatre. 617 Duncan Place. Baltimore, has l)cen purchased by David Greenhrrg and is being operated under his management. Joseph Robbins, former manager of that house for the Greater Baltimore Theatres Company, has taken over the Gilmore Theatre (colored), M4 North Gilmore street, fornierlo" operated by Oscar Scherr. The first large fashion show ever staged at a Baltimore thea•rr was put on at the Century durine the week beginning Monday, December 4. .Arrangements were made with The Hub. one of the large women's and men's clothing stores, \g co-operatC;