The Moving picture world (November 1923-December 1923)

694 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 22, 1923 Baltimore "Sabbath Blues" No Longer the Rage in Frankfort, Ind. The "Sabbath Blues" are now a thing of the past in Frankfort, Ind. While they were in force, Mayor Keene motored to Kokomo and took in every "movie" that was in operation. The opponents of the Sunday shows soon found out what had happened and told the mayor what they thought about it. The merchants and the theatre men, realizing the opportunity, opened up for business as usual on the following Sunday and were pinched. John Miller, garage man, was chosen to be tried, the decision to govern the fate of the others. After listening to the evidence, a jury of three women and nine men voted him innocent of the crime of selling gasoline on Sunday, whereupon the prosecuting attorney announced that the rest of the cases would be dismissed. So ended the "Sabbath Blues" in Frankfort. Contract* for the erection of a new $.">OOfOOO theatre building at Elkhart will be awarded sometime this month and construction work will start not later than April 1. Harry Lerner, formerly of South llend, is at the head of the project. Mr. l.erner is the present lessee and manager of the Bucklen Theatre in Elkhart. The new theatre will be devoted to pictures and stage productions. Capacity crowds attended the second anniversary celebration of the Liberty Theatre at Peru on November 29. In addition to a special twenty-piece orchestra and several To The Stanley Company of America is trying out a policy of reserved seats at the Aldine Theatre, located in the heart of the socially exclusive residential section. It is one of the most attractive houses in the Stanley Circuit and it will be the first picture theatre in this city ever to be conducted along this plan. Tickets will be sold at 50 cents, 75 cents and $1, including the tax, for matinees, and 75 cents, $1 and $1.65, including tax, for the evening performance. In preparation for this new policy the Aldine is closed for a few days, to be reopened on Christmas Day, in order to make the changes necessary for the new plan. The first attraction under the new plan will be two performances daily of "Scaramouche." William J. Laportes has acquired an Interest in the new Lansdale Theatre of Lansdale, Pa., and will make improvements to the theatre, which in the future will be under the direction of the Main Line Amusement Co., the controlling organization of the Ardmore Theatre of which Mr. Laportes is proprietor. The executive office of the Lansdale Theatre Co. will be removed to the Ardmore Theatre Building at Ardmore, just outside of Philadelphia. After undergoing extensive alterations and renovations, the Strand Theatre of Gloucester, \. J., has been reopened under the proprietorship of Alex Koleman and with Jack Jjislow as manager. A new screen, projection equipment and seats were added. The music is furnished by a tive-plece orchestra. The Strand formerly was conducted as the Academy and as the Broadway* wMle Its owner was 1.. I*iz.or. It is the only house In Gloucester not connected with the Stiefel Amusement Co.. which controls the Leader. Palaee and kpollo. Change of title has been made in the Morris Theatre at Richmond and Summer streets, under the new ownership of Sam Hyman, who took over the theatre at a purchase acts of vaudeville, "Little Old New York" was shown. Earl Loomis is manager. William Heasman, formerly proprietor of the Arc Theatre at Crawf ordsville. is nowoperating a theatre in Danville. 111. Heasman recently sold the Arc to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Jackson, of Craw-fordsville. Fred E. LeComte. manager of the Liberty at Terre Haute, had as his guests last Friday night the members of the Wiley and Garfield high school football teams. Petitions asking the repeal of a city ordinance prohibiting the operation of picture theatres on Sunday are in circulation at Auburn and are expected to be presented to the city council at its next regular meeting'. The Cadick Theatre structure at Evansville has been sold for $175,000 and will be used as the site for a new $650,000 Medical Arts building. Work was started on the Cadick about three years ago but was not completed because the company was unable to sell sufficient stock to finance the building. Ernistino Foley, concert pianist, is the new pianist at the Strand Theatre in Frankfort, it was announced this week by Sam Carlton, manager. Gustav G. Schmidt, owner of the Crystal Theatre in Indianapolis, is being considered by Mayor Shank for appointment as a member of the city planning commission. price of $75,000. Under Mr. Hyman's management the Morris will be changed back to its original title, the Arcadia, following a building program which will include Improvements in the seating, projection room and building. An adjoining property to the Victoria Theatre at 219 Market street, Harrlsburg. Pa., has been acquired by the Wilmer & Vincent circuit, proprietors of the Victoria, at a price estimated to be $40,000. It adjoins also the building at 221 Market street upon which part of the Victoria Theatre is built. It is proposed to enlarge the Victoria at a later date. The plan of midnight shows has just been put into effect at the Broad Street Theatre for the entertainment of the farmers who carry their produce to market in Harrisburg on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Manager O. B. Feldser is trying this scheme. Harmer's Theatre has been leased by George G. Greiner and will be operated as a picture house in New Holland. Pa. The Harmer Theatre is one of the most attractive theatres in the Lancaster Valley and will be conducted by Mr. Greiner, a former legitimate stage man, who has moved his family from New York to the Pennsylvania town. Possession of the Fulton Opera House of Lancaster was taken by Ralph W. Koho at a purchase price of $51,000. Award of a contract for the erection of a hotel and theatre at Tamaqua has been made to the Shamokin Construction and Lumber Co. by the Higglns Amusement Co. of Shamokin and will Involve an expenditure of over $500,000. Renovation and redecoration of the Interior of the Victoria Theatre, Tamaqua., Pa., has been completed by the Chamberlain Amusement Co. of Shamokin. The entire interior walls have been decorated, new carpets laid and new curtains hung on the screen stage. Through a co-operative arrangement between the Baltimore News and the Exhibitor's League of Maryland, 40 picture theatres, all members of the M. P. T. O. A., each get a ten-line ad. daily in that newspaper for which each pays a nominal sum each week. Every few weeks the money paid the Xews for the ads. is refunded to the League to go into the treasury of the Maryland body. In return, each theatre runs a slide after each performance during each day, telling the public to read their advertisement daily in the Xews. The committee representing the league includes Frank H. Durkee, president; Frank A. Horni^, Louis Schlichter, Louis Garman, J. Garman, J. Louis Rome and Charles E. Whitehurst. A picture theatre measuring 30 by 135 feet, to cost $50,000, is planned for construction at Gastonia. N. C, population 12,871, by Simpson and Eskridge. It will be of two stories. The Dunbar Theatre (colored) 619-23 North Central Avenue, owned by Josiah Siggs, 2040 Druid Hill Avenue, which seats 300, Is being enlarged to seat over 700. The improvement will cost $12,000. To help the sale of red cross seals for Use on Christmas packages, Arthur B. Price, manager of the Wizard Theatre, showed a film for several dnys of the work done for children at the preventorium. Claiborne, Mil., "i<h the money thnt is galaea through the sale of the stamps. Benjamin Cluster, proprietor of the Cluster Theatre, 303 South Broadway, who was recently beaten and robbed at night when he was taking the day's receipts from the box office to his garage with his wife and two daughters, has recovered and is going about his work again. The bandits succeeded In getting $355.45. One man has been arrested and is held under suspicion. Mr. Cluster was cut on the head and after the robbery had to be taken to St. Joseph's hospital and was later taken to his home. He showed remarkable fortitude and was able to go about his work in a few days. Howard S. Jefferson, manager of the Parkway Theatre, is directing the organ recitals given during this season at the Maryland Casualty Club House by the Maryland Casualty Company. A cameo version of Gounod's "Faust" was presented at the Century with the regular picture performances by Thomas D. Soriero, general manager. Five singers of the Ritt Opera Company, New York, rendered the five roles, during the week beginning December 10. Charles Boyer, Hagerstown. Md., has leased the McCrory Stores Corporation Theatre. Winchester, Va. It will probably be reopened to the public during the holidays. Pittsburgh Pittsburgh has had no real winter yet. In fact, during the first week of December an excess in normal temperature of 53 degrees was recorded. The weather being mild and reasonably dry, business at the picture theatres has been above average. The two biggest successes of the month so far have been Buster Kcaton's "Our Hospitality" and Universal's "The Acquittal." The Keaton comedy at Loew's Aldine and Cameraphone, week of December 3, scored heavily with the S. R. O. audiences, and received much nattering praise from the newspapers. "The Acquittal" is in its third week at the Cameo in downtown Pittsburgh, week of December 10, and still going big. On December 1, A J. Beuler took over the Keystone Theatre in Turtle Creek, the LJttlestone Brothers having purchased his Colonial Theatre in the same town. Tex Arthur, house manager for Mr. Beuler at the Colonial, officiates In a similar capacity now at the Keystone. Try Out Reserved Seats at Philadelphia Film House