The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 26, 1924 East St. Louis Women Plan Investigation of Theatres Mrs. Frank B. Young. 1782 North Thirtysixth street, East St. Louis, 111., has been selected to act as chairwoman of a special committee of ten to investigate the picture houses of East St. Louis and St. Clair County with a view of passing on the pictures shown, their suitability for children; heat and ventilation, cleanliness and fire protection facilities and safety appliances. The committee was named by the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs. Mrs. Young's district chairwoman, Mrs. J. M. Vaughan of Greenville, III., empowered her to collect co-chairwomen for the various towns in the county in which there are more than one picture house. The statistics compiled by Mrs. Young and her committee will be presented at a meeting of the state board in Chicago on January 23 and 24. Mrs. Roy H. Hoadley of Yorkville, 111., is state chairwoman of the division of motion pictures. Mr. and Mrs. I. W. Rodgers of Poplar Bluff and Cairo, 111., were forced to curtail a film purchasing expedition when Rodgers was taken suddenly ill with an attack of acute indigestion. He has recovered. Hezekiah Highfill of Blytheville, 111., has purchased two lots on West street in that city and plans to erect a $75,000 picture house with stores on the first floor. Construction will start within the next few weeks. Out-of-town exhibitors seen along Picture Row during the week Included: Billy Sohm. Belasco, Quincy, 111.; W. P. Cuff, Strand, Chlllicothe. Mo.; C. E. Lilly, Hannibal, Mo.: Bob Cluster of Johnston City and Belleville; John Marlowe of Herrin, 111. Joe Hewitt of Robinson, 111., took his wife home from St. John's Hospital, St. Louis, last Thursday. Mrs. Hewitt is rapidly recovering her health. Another effort is being? made to inflict a local tax on theatre admissions in St. Louis. Alderman Samuel Wimcr of the Twenty-seventh Ward, author of many freak and unpopular meamreu, at a meeting of the special committee of the board recently appointed to devise ways and means of obtaining more money from the people of the city through taxation, suggested that a bill be drafted to impose a tax of one mill on each 50-cent theatre admission. A public hearing will be called shortly. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," which has gone into its second week at the Pershing Theatre here, has proven the sensation of the current season. It has shattered the records set by "Robin Hood" and is expected to set a new mark for future productions to shoot at. The press has been very generous in its praise of the picture. Big attendances were had on the opening day despite the coldest weather in many years. Billy Sohm, owner-manager of the Belasco Theatre, Quincy, 111., called at F. B. O. during the past week and gladdened Tom McKeen by purchasing the F. B. O. product 100 per cent. Mrs. Hurley B. Gould of the Phoenix Theatre, Lawrenceville, 111., reopened on January 11. On the night of Saturday, January 5, fire, presumabily due to an overheated stove, destroyed the theatre's stage scenery, screen and organ. The necessary repairs were rushed so that the house could reopen with the least possible delay. Milwaukee Business Booming Despite Below Zero Weather Temperatures of 17 below zero, which struck Milwaukee recently, knocked business in general into a cocked hat but couldn't keep the crowds away from the movies, a canvass of the downtown houses showed. The Strand, where "Black Oxen" opened simultaneously with the arrival of the Arctic circle, drew record attendance at both matinee and evening performances Saturday, and followed with a big Sunday, patrons waiting patiently in the outer lobby despite the cold. Other houses drew as well, the Merrill, Alhambra, Garden and Butterfly all reporting that the cold failed to prove a drawback. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," transferred to the Garden from the Alhambra, by Leo A. Landau, manager of both houses, after it had had a record run at the Alhambra, continued to serve as a magnet for big business. Patrons of the Crystal Theatre at Dodgeville, Wis., watched with bated breath as the screen villain drew his revolver. They saw him place the firearm In position to shoot. Just then a shot rang out in the theatre and a cry of pain rent the air. An Investigation showed that In the excitement of the picture. Chief of Police Owen Roberts hnd slouched dow-n in his seat with the result that his revolver had been pushed out of his pocket and hnd clattered to the floor, bring discharged In the fall. The victim was Krrd Bennett, another patron in the theatre. A doctor extracted the bullet from his arm. Eddie Weisfeldt. manager of Saxe's Strand, holds the distinction of having the only orchestra in the city of Milwaukee which has played for the records. "Linger Awhile" and "I'm All Broke Out with the Blues," as played by Joie Lichter's Strand orchestra, were reproduced last week. Now Weisfeldt keeps a colored urchin busy In the lobby of his house winding a vlctrola throughout the day. In addition, he is featuring the personal appearance of Jimmy Conzelman, writer of the "Blues" number. Los Angeles Manager Jack Root has secured Palmer Photoplay's F. B. O. production, "Judgment of the Storm," to open at the Mission. All the stars of Hollywood as well as commercial leaders and those active in civic affairs are arranging to attend the opening. Mack Sennett's latest comedy, "Shanghaied Lovers," again starring Harry Langdon, also will have its world premiere at the Mission, in connection with the above named feature. Sid Grauman states he Is confident that Cecil B. DeMille's "Ten Commandments" will exceed "The Covered Wagon" and "Robin Hood" in establishing a new record for continuous performances at his Hollywood picture palace. Sol Lesser booked "Scaramouche" for an indefinite run at the Criterion, starting January 17 and succeeding "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," which has had a successful HAVE YOU THE LENS CHART? It means maximum screen results. See page 324.