The Moving picture world (March 1923-April 1923)

April 14, 1923 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 731 New York Exhibitor Meeting Won't Be Held in Buffalo It looks like the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York, Inc., of which Charles L. O'Reilly is president, is having quite some time in getting a place to hold its annual convention. At the recent Albany conference of the directors and Jules H. Michael, chairman of the executive committee, May 8 to 12 was selected as the date, but difficulty was met in deciding upon the city in which to meet. Later it was decided to hold the convention in Buffalo, but at a joint meeting in the Queen City of the Lakes of the Buffalo Theatre Managers' Association and the Western New York unit of the State organization, it was decided that Buffalo did not want the convention this year because the city is not as yet properly organized to handle the meeeting, and because should such a meeting be held all the work would fall on the shoulders of two or three men. J. H. Michael, manager of the Regent and executive committee chairman, announced following the meeting in the Hotel Iroquois that the convention undoubtedly will now be held in New York City on the above dates. Rodolph Valentino is coming to Buflfalo to put on his dancing stuff in the Broadway Auditorium on the night of April IL The usual publicity barrage is being laid down by the advance agents of the Mineralava company with which outfit "The Sheik" is tying up on this tour. The usual beauty contest for Buffalo girls and a dancing contest are announced, and Ruddy will dance on a special platform to be erected in the big auditorium. Melbourne, Can., has revived the old custom of permitting pictures on Sunday night — but in the church instead of the theatre. The Rev. R. G. Nichols, who recently took charge of Saint Mark's Anglican Church, Fitzroy, is responsible for the innovation. He is so pleased with the success of his first night's show that he intends continuing the practice every Sunday night. For the first half hour the ordinary evensong service is held. Then a picture is screened, several hymns being sung during the presentation. James Cardina has let contracts for his new Kensington Theatre. Buffalo, to Joe Cristema, 794 Seventh street. Jim plans to have the house ready for the public next fall. Mr. Cardina recently gave three benefit matinees in the present Kensington Theatre for three families whose homes were destroyed by fire. Jim co-operated with the Mothers' Club on these events and $58 were given each family from the receipts. Melvin C. Wiley has opened the Seneca Theatre in Buffalo's east side section. The house was formerly the Red Jacket. Why is it that as soon as Bobby Albert of the Albert Theatre, Lancaster, N. Y., enters the First National exchange, all the girls in the office rush to his side? Especially when there is such a handsome young fellah around as Gene Markens. Perhaps they saw Bobby dancing at the Palais Royal. George Hanny of the South Park Amusement Company has purchased a new Nash sedan and a new Ford limousine. One film man has suggested that it ought to be "leading the life of Hanny," instead of "leading the life of Riley." Charles M. Bagg, formerly owner and manager of several Buffalo theatres, is dead. Mr. Bagg at one time managed the Lafayette, now the Olympic. He was born in Cassville, N. Y., in 1855, and came to Buffalo about forty years ago, following his graduation from Hamilton College. Courage of the operator and coolness of the organist averted a real scare in the audience at the Palace Theatre on the morning of March 28 when fire swept the booth of that house. William Melgier, 450 Elm street, the operator, was burned while trying to extinguish flames in several reels of film. Mrs. Bessie Dunham, 182 Maurice street, the organist, remained at her instrument and helped quiet the audience by playing popular airs. The fire was confined to the booth and the loss is placed at $2,500 by Battalion Chief Zahm. The fire did not interfere with the operation of the house. Two machines were destroyed. New ones were immediately installed. In response to a request from Mayor Frank X. Schwab, Al Beckerich, president of the Buffalo Theatre Managers' Association, announced that all theatres controlled by the organization closed from noon to 3 o'clock on Good Friday. This meant that most of the houses in town were dark during these hours. The mayor declared a civic holiday. Dewey Michaels has booked "Driven" for the Plaza Theatre on William street during Universal's anniversary week, May 6 to 12, and is arranging an elaborate presentation for the feature. The daylight saving question is coming to life again in Western New York. An ordinance calling for a return to daylight saving in Niagara Falls has been submitted to the council of that city by William H. Woodbury. Public hearing will be given the ordiniance this week. Councilman Frank A. Jenss went on record as against any consideration of the measure. Mr. Jenss is interested in the Bellevue Theatre at the Falls. The referendum held last year showed a majority for standard time. Lockport, N. Y., will operate on standard time this summer, the city council having voted to repeal the daylight saving ordinance which has been in effect since the beginning of the World War. Andy Geitner came to Buffetio last week for a booking tour along Film Row. The popular Silver Creek, N. Y., exhibitor has one of the finest houses in Western New York. He has installed an organ which he controls from a seat just inside the door to the auditorium, and is thus able to greet patrons at the same time that he keeps a personal eye on his music accompaniment. Through the efforts of Manager Herman Lorence of the Bellevue Theatre in Niagara Falls, N. Y., the Fox company has been induced to send a camera man to the city to "shoot" a series of pictures of the local schools. The fame of the Niagara school system has spread to all parts of the country. "Robin Hood" opens at Shea's Hippodrome this week to tremendous business. It is expected that the production will be held for the second week, something very seldom done with any picture in Buffalo, no matter how big. The picture is being shown at regular prices. Manager Vincent McFaul announcing in all his advertising that this is being done through special permission from Douglas Fairbanks. A fine prologue and excellent musical setting is being given the picture. Howard Waugh, manager of the Palace Theatre in Jamestown, N. Y., reports an ex tremely busy week last week, when as a special attraction he offered the Watson Sisters and then hooked up with the Rotary, Kiwanis and Zonta clubs, arranging for the girls to appear before each organization. He also arranged for displays of some of the Watson Sisters' gowns in the Bigelow Department store and hooked up with a leading jeweler for a display of their gems. He landed two special stories in the Evening Journal. Marshall W. Peterson of Peterson & Woods, owners of the Palace, Mozart and Wintergarden in Jamestown, who has been very ill for the past three weeks, is now on the road to recovery. As a special attraction at the Regent Theatre this week. Manager J. H. Michael is presenting Thelma Carlton, the Palais Royal danseuse. After two weeks of pictures, tabs and vaudeville, the Criterion Theatre has gone to a straight picture policy, reverting to the old Strand idea with prices ranging from 15 to 25 cents. Buffalonians did not seem to warm up to the tab stuff. Lionel Edel will succeed Ben Holmes as manager under the new policy. The pictures will continue to be second run Paramount. Rochester Manager William Fait, Jr., has booked for the Eastman Theatre six screen productions which he considers one of the strongest series ever scheduled for one house for a consecutive period of six weeks. The first of the series is being shown this week. It is "The Christian," which is being given an elaborate music setting by the Eastman symphony orchestra. The next attraction will be "The Pilgrim," followed by "Adam's Rib," "Safety Last," "One Exciting Night," and "Bella Donna," which comes to town the week beginning May 6. Alexander Roman, who is considered one of the finest violinists coming to this country from Russia in recent years, and who for 15 years was concertmaster of the Moscow Orchestra, is concertmaster of the new Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Herman Martonne is assistant concertmaster. The Festival Chorus gave a concert in the Eastman Theatre, Wednesday evening, April 4, under the direction of Oscar Gareissen. The chorus appeared in its full membership, singing a fine program, with the accompaniment of a large orchestra. "Popsy" Carrick, manager of the Buffalo Hodkinson exchange, was in town last week for a visit with Manager William Fait at the Eastman Theatre and it is rumored that "Down to the Sea in Ships" was talked about. Oswego, N. Y., theatres have been closed to all children under 16 years of age. The authorities thus hope to check the spread of scarlet fever in the city. Troy Two new picture theatres were opened in Troy, N. Y., on March 31. The Rose, owned and operated by Jacob Rosenthal, featured "Orphans of the Storm" at its opening. The house is located near the business center of the city, and will change daily, with a IS cent admission price ruling for the evening shows; the matinees at 10 cents. The second of the houses opening is now known ps the Astor, and represents a remodeling of the old Majestic, at an expense of about $12,000.