The Moving picture world (January 1923-February 1923)

550 MOVING PICTURE WORLD Many Exhibitors Visiting San Francisco's Film Row L. A. Drinkwine, of the Palace Theatre, Tacoma, Wash., was a recent visitor at San Francisco and inspected some of the fine picture theatres for which this city is noted. Another visitor from the Pacific Northwest was Julius Sax, head of the Sax Amusement Company, Portland, Ore., which operates a chain of picture theatres. He was accompanied by Mrs. Sax and plans to spend several weeks in California. A. Wiley Mather, of Honolulu, T. H., and associated with Louis R. Greenfield, of San Francisco, in the ownership of the New Princess Theatre, recently opened in the island city, is in San Francisco on business connected with this enterprise. A questionnaire regarding the showing of Arbuckle pictures has been circulated among the members of the M. P. T. O. of Northern California and many have sent in reports against the return of the comedian to the screen. Not a few took the subject direct to their patrons and asked for a standing vote for or against from their audiences. It was found that sentiment was almost unanimous against the proposition. Under the direction of Manager Nick Ayers, the Coliseum Theatre, San Francisco, is getting out a weekly program in the form of an artistic brochure of twelve pages. This not only gives the bills for the week but interesting information about the stars and their doings. The program is printed in lots of 30,000. A record for the continuous showing of "Dr. Jack" in the Pacific Coast territory has been set by the New Portola Theatre, San Francisco, with a run of seven weeks. It is being followed by Griffith's "One Exciting Night." The Strand Theatre, Gilroy, Cal., of which J. Blumenfeld is manager, recently arranged an American Legion night in connection with the showing of "Skin Deep." Gus Germanis, of the Crystal Theatre, Salinas, Cal., was a recent visitor on Film Row, San Francisco, as was also Jules Smith, of the Butler Theatre, Tonopah, Nev. ; James Wood, of Redding, Cal., and William Milne, of the Cortland Opera House, Cortland, Cal. Charles Wescott, an exhibitor of Fortuna, Cal., and Dr. McNear, who conducts two houses at Petaluma, Cal., have been on the sick list of late. The Marvel Theatre at Winters, Cal., recently taken over by H. C. Witt, was operated but three days when it was decided to close it again. Jack Stebbins, formerly of New York, has succeeded Fred Weis as manager of Loew's Wariield Theatre, San Francisco. He was taken ill shortly after his arrival and did not assume his new duties as soon as expected. W. B. Loughead has been made manager of the Westwood Theatre at Westwood, Cal., succeeding Roy Brown. The Westwood Lumber Company, which owns this house, is preparing to reopen the Orpheum Theatre at Susanville, also owned by it. The Dinuba Syndicate, headed by JeflFerson W. Asher, of San Francisco, will shortly open the Strand Theatre at Dinuba, Cal. Tom O'Day is making extensive improvements in the operating room of the Vallejo Theatre, Vallejo, Cal., and is installing a Simplex projection machine furnished by Walter Preddey, of San Francisco. The Glen Theatre at Ocean View, Cal., is making improvements in the house and in the operating room, including the installation of two Simplex machines. Dubois & Flag are making improvements in the Chowchilla Theatre, Chowchilla, Cal., and have added two Power's machines supplied by Walter Preddey. The Rialto Theatre at East Bakersfield, Cal., is proving so successful under the ownership of Mrs. Paul Davini that extensive improvements are being made to both theatre and operating room. The front and lobby of the Elite Theatre, Placerville, Cal., have been completely remodeled and modernized. A handsome new marquee will be added. The best of comfort, pictures, music and projection, it is promised, will be afforded in the future, as in the past. While there are only 1,648 people in Placerville, still this theatre does a fine business, thanks to its manager, who has been with it since 1908. Seattle Spring must be coming early this year, for even before "Ground Hog Day" reports are pouring in of renovations, redecorating, new installations, increased seating capacity, and the like. Joe St. Peter, of Everett, Wash., is reseating and redecorating his Rose Theatre. John DeValiet and Frank Huett, of Hillman City, are planning extensive improvements to the American, Hillman City. A new sign will be installed, new chairs, piano, and the house will be thoroughly renovated and redecorated. L. C. Brown, at Duvall, Wash., has installed two new projectors. The Burien Theatre, Burien, Wash., has been reopened under the management of Lehman and White. The passing of the Alhambra Theatre, Jensen & Von Herberg's first Seattle playhouse, has begun. The building was erected in 1907 and for three years was operated as a legitimate house, when it became a "movie house" and later the home of a stock theatre company. The building is being razed and $200,000 will be spent to make it one of the finest fivestory retail store structures in the city. J. Bruitt has taken over the Sumner Theatre, Sumner, Wash., which he is operating at the present time. In the spring, Bruitt plans to erect a new theatre on the main street in a more desirable location. It is rumored that G. M. Terhune, who recently sold his Spokane Rex to A. J. Bischell. has bought the Arcade in Walla Walla, Wash. The Arcade was formerly owned by Mr. MacDonald. A. J. Bischell is adding to his holdings with the recent purchase of the Paramount, Lewiston, Idaho, formerly owned by A. H. Hilton, but which had been closed for some time. He has rechristened it the Rex. The Better Business Bureau, as a result of complaints, is investigating a motion picture school in Seattle, which has been operated by a mysterious Mme. Terpsichore. February 10. 1923 Robert Marsden, of the Noble and Nemerif theatres in Marshfield, Oregon, was on the Row this week. C. E. Stillwell has gone to two changes a week in his Casino Theatre, Spokane. M. Constant!, theatre owner of Tacoma and Puyallup, broke all house records with a three days' showing of "Dr. Jack" at his Stuart Theatre, Puyallup. Tuesday visitors on Film Row were Fred Normand, of the Circle Theatre, Portland, and G. W. Grossbeck, of the Cosmo, Buckley, Wash. Montana . The Peoples' Theatre recently tried an experiment when running Universal's "Foolish Wives." The film had been shown the week before in a first-run house. The Peoples' booked it as a second-run and advertised it for a nine-day showing with a sliding scale of prices; first four days, 30 cents; next two days, 20 cents, and last three days, 10 cents. The slogan was "a price for every pocketbook." It was the first time any picture had ever been booked for a nine-day run in Butte, with the result that all the theatre men were watching results from day to day. The run finished with satisfactory box receipts. Employes of the Rialto and American theatres, through the courtesy of their respective managers, C. C. Pratt and W. J. Sullivan, enjoyed a dancing party at the American hall Monday evening, January IS. The employes were privileged to invite a guest so that the party assembled 100 couples to trip the light fantastic to the tune of the Rialto orchestra. This was the fourth dance of the series to be given at the close of the 11 :30 evening picture program. Punch was served to the guests all through the evening and at midnight a buffet lunch was enjoyed. A. H. Goetz, of Roundup, Montana, and Mr. Anderson, manager of the American Theatre, of Roundup, were in the city recently looking up the various exchanges here. Mr. Goetz says that his theatre that recently burned will be rebuilt as soon as possible. Los Angeles The main topic in motion pictures this week is the opening of Grauman's new Metropolitan Theatre. An orchestra of lOO pieces under the able direction of Ulderico Marcelli will furnish the music. The program consists of Wagner's Tannhaeuser and other numbers, while a chorus of 500 voices will sing the Pilgram's Chorus. The first picture to be shown will be Gloria Swanson in "My American Wife," which will be the world premiere for the production. Everybody who is anybody is going to be on hand for the opening performance, and pay $5 per seat. Manager E. C. Berstick of Loew's State Theatre is holding "Hearts Aflame" over for a second week. Jack Callicotte, manager of the Kinema, is holding "Fury" for a second week. Business having demanded the long run, Callicotte will probably book the production into the Alhambra for an extended run after finishing at the Kinema. Sid Grauman's Hollywood Egyptian Theatre seems to be going to pass the record of "The Birth of a Nation" for an extended run with "Robin Hood," now in its sixteenth week at the Hollywood playhouse.