The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

October 6, 1923 .1 ' ) V I N G PICTURE WORLD 485 Cincinnati's Largest House Underway; Cost $1,500,000 Rochester Rumors of a new theatre for Rochester have been revived with more persistency than usual, since the B. F. Keith interests have taken over the Temple. Several circumstances have given color to the conviction about town that the Keith company will eventually give the city a new theatre of the same palatial type that has been erected in Cleveland, Syracuse and other places. All of the neighborhood picture houses which have been closed for the summer are now open full swing and enjoying good business. Most of them were closed except for a few days during the warm weather. Vincent R. McFaul, manager of Shea's Hippodrome, toured down to Rochester on Thursday, September 20, to visit with Manager William Fait, Jr., at the Eastman. Mr. McFaul has been visiting some of the larger theatres in various cities of the country gathering new ideas for the big Buffalo house. Commencing Monday, October 8, the "Hipp" will put on its semi-annual Henge.-er fashion revue which in the past has proven a big attraction for the fair patrons. All the new gowns and hats are shown on living models which promenade the "Hipp" stage to the accompaniment of the symphony orchestra. "If Winter Comes" opens at the "Hipp" Oct. 21. The Faculty Theatre in Caledonia, which has been operated by Blouvett & Merritt of Leroy, N. Y., for the past three years, has been sold to Harry Levy and Simon Tischoff of Rochester. Mrs. Scott of Friendship, N. Y., has sold the theatre in that town to Kaiser & Potter, operators of the Lyric in Belmont, N. Y. Sam Tischoff of the Palace, Rochester, has taken over the Plaza Theatre in the Kodak Town from John Novak. Bill Sterritt, formerly treasurer at the Teck Theatre, is now peddling films for the Buffalo F. B. O. office. Harry Dixon, F. B. O. salesman, is wearing a new low crown derby in view of which someone sent him a post card wishing him a Happy New Year. The card arrived on the Jewish New Year day. Ralph Schwarz, conductor of the Lafayette Square orchestra, had the thrill of a lifetime when his new gasoline buggy was stolen last Monday night right in front of the big theatre. It was recovered, however, by the police and now Ralph is back to normal. He missed several notes while the police were looking for the vehicle. Al Beckerich, manager of the Loew State, put on a local frolic in co-operation with the Buffalo Times this week and gained much free publicity as a result. Charlie Hayman celebrated the first anniversary of his new Strand Theatre in Niagara Falls the past week with a big picture and music program. "Hollywood" was the main feature. The Strand is one of the finest houses in western New York. The orchestra at the Bellevue Theatre, Niagara Falls, has been augmented for the fall and winter season and Manager Herman Lorence has engaged Arthur Fleury of Buffalo to conduct the ensemble. Jacob Rosing, one of the owners of the Lafayette Square, is back from a trip through Europe and Africa. He reports conditions overseas as "zero minus." There are two classes there now, he says, the rich and those starving to death. He also reports that anyone getting out of Paris with any American money should be awarded the electric heated ear muffs. Speaking of Europe, Buffalo is a great place, says Mr. Rosing. Fred M. Shafer, manager of the Lafayette 'Square, was in the third row at tho Dempsey-Firpo fight. It's a good thing he wasn't in the first or he might have got hurt when Dempsey fell through. Fred tried to get a seat inside the ring. According to an announcement just made public, Cincinnati is to have another theatre which, it is said, will be at least partially devoted to the showing of motion pictures. Plans which are now being drawn for the new Masonic Temple at the corner of Fifth and Sycamore streets, one of the most prominent downtown intersections, and immediately adjacent to the present Scottish Rite cathedral, provide for an auditorium with a seating capacity of 2,500, the total cost of the structure being estimated .it $1,500,000. This will be the largest theatre in Cincinnati. A campaign will soon be started to raise necessary funds for the venture. The Keith-Libson-Heidingsfeld interests, which already control many first-run houses in Cincinnati, and other houses in 'Southern Ohio, have acquired a lease on the State Theatre at Dayton, Ohio. The house, which has a seating capacity of 1,200, will be continued as a first-run picture theatre, under supervision of I. Libson, of this city. The new management took the house over as of September 30. The building occupied by the Strand Theatre, Dayton, Ohio, has passed into ownership of Edith L. Hess, Indianapolis, Ind., through the settlement of the estate of Frea H. Wiley, who formerly owned the property. The theatre occupies a site 100 feet deep, with a 60-foot frontage on Main street. Present policy of pictures will be continued. It seems now that the elaborate plans for the erection of a theatre at Gilbert avenue and Beecher streets, for the exclusive use of The censorship of moving pictures in Chicago is facing a showdown and Alderman George Maypole will introduce an ordinance at the next meeting of the City Council for a repeal of the law. He declares the censorship a farce. The cause for this state of affairs is further intensified by the showing of the Dempsey-Gibbons fight pictures at the Rose Theatre despite all objections of the other side. Most pictures pass the censors at the City Hall in ordinary routine but now and then there are some cutouts made which confuse and make the movie patrons wonder what it is all about. Balaban and Katz devote one frame of the Topics of the Day each week to house propaganda, which is always brief and well written and tells the audience something about the policies of the organization that is of public interest. The movie houses at Fort Madison, Iowa, are being fixed up for the fall business. The Orpheum Theatre, under the management of Waldo Ebinger, will soon be ready, as the ventilating and lighting systems are being remodeled and other improvements made. The Strand Theatre, which recently passed under the management of the HoefflerThompson interests of Quincy, is doing a good business and is one of the finest movie houses of its size in the state. Fort Madison is a railroad town and the workers all make good money and are willing to spend it for good amusements. H. C. and C. I'. McDonough will build a movie house at Milford, 111., from plans by Leonard F. Stuebe of Danville. Work will begin at an early date. Peter Shulmnn, one of the old time exhibitors, plniiN to get hack Into the business iind will I. ml. I n modern picture house In (Ink I'ark, the largest suburb west of Chl negroes, have gone awry. Advocates of the venture contend that the neighborhood is strictly a commercial section, and that the theatre would be conducted in an orderly manner. This view is likewise shared by the Technical Advisory Commission, but this position is strongly controverted by certain property owners in the immediate neighborhood, as also by the West Walnut Hills Improvement Association, and representatives of a Salvation Army hospital. Present indications point to the refusal of a license by Mayor Carroll, and it is intimated that an apartment house will occupy the site of the proposed theatre. Word comes from Hinton, W. Vn., thnt tr. P. Dysard, president of the Allegheny Theatre Co., hns consolidated his firm's houses with those opernted by D. C. Meadows. It is understood thnt the merger takes in seven theatres located at Hinton, Ronceverte, Richwood, Beekley, Sylvia and Stanaford, all in West Virginia. This constitutes one of the largest chains of movie houses in that state. Paul Hollen, Vice-president of the Allegheny Theatre Co., looks after the theatre in Riehwood, Dysard manages the two houses in Hinton, and A. D. Dnly, secretary of the company, has charge of the Ronceverte house. Mark Greebaum sends word from Cleveland, Ohio, that he has appointed Larry Jacobs manager of the Opera House at Mansfield, Ohio, where feature pictures are being offered. The Rialto Theatre, Hamilton, is featuring three separate orchestras this week, each one being a local organization, each orchestra playing a two-day engagement. cago. Oak Park is a six day movie town but Pete no doubt will give them a program that will keep him busy during the six days. R. C. McMullen, manager of the Roosevelt Theatre when it was under the Ascher management, is now at Milwaukee for the Ascher circuit, in charge of the Merrill Theatre there, and is doing a good business. The Princess Theatre at Fayetteville. 111., has been taken over by the Cumberland Theatre interests who will make some improvements. Some of the picture houses in Chicago that have not made changes prescribed by the building inspectors and fire prevention bureaus are in for some drastic measures, as the report from the office of the Corporation Counsel Busch is that twenty-two houses, including one loop house, may be closed for failure to procure licenses to operate and make improvements recommended by the inspectors. The big event in movie circles at Elgin. 111., last week was the opening of the new Crocker Theatre by Ralph Crocker after being under construction for the past eight months. The house seats 1,500 and is the last word in moving picture theatres. His many friends in the trade sent Ralph many floral remembrances for his opening, until the lobby looked like a floral shop on the opening night of the house. The Empress Theatre, out in Englewood on the South Side, has been taken over by the Enterprise Theatre Company, and a mixed policy of vaudeville, burlesque and pictures will be followed this season. Russell Armentrout is manager of the K. P. movie theatre at Pittsfleld, 111., and is making several improvements in the house. Clark Armentrout is the owner of the house. Will Try to Repeal Film Censorship in Chicago