The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

Exhibitors' news and Views EDITED BY SUMNER SMITH Bermuda Accident Fatal to Lothrop, Boston Exhibitor George Edgar Lothrop, proprietor of three Boston theatres, died February 4 in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Hamilton, Bermuda, of a compound fracture of the skull, suffered in a fall on the street on February 2. Mr. Lothrop with his mother and his wife went to Bermuda a few weeks ago. A few days before his death word was received by friends in Boston that he was enjoying his vacation and that he would return to Boston on February 10. Mr. Lothrop was proprietor of the Howard Atheneum, the Bowdoin Square Theatre and the Grand Opera House, all in Boston. Two years ago his father, Dr. G. E. Lothrop, died and the young man took up the management of the theatrical business and made a success of all the enterprises. He was born in 1886 in Boston and was graduated from Harvard in 1912. Since that time he had been in the theatrical business. He was a member of the Boston Managers' Association and Boston Lodge of Elks. The body arrived in Boston the night of February 7 and was met by an escort from the theatres. At the Back Bay station the bereaved family was met by a delegation of the Managers' Association, headed by President R. G. Larsen, general manager of the Keith and Boston theatres. Among those who extended their expression of sympathy were the following members of the association : Fred Wright, Arthur Sheldon, Judge Brackett, George Giles, Thomas B. Lothian, Douglas Flattery, representative for Marcus Loew, and Tom Henry. The funeral was held Sunday, February 10. Wnlter J. Nelson, formerly manager of the Merrlmaek Square Theatre in Lowell, now Is manager of the Strand Theatre in Haverhill. Last March Mr. Nelson left the Lowell house to take a much needed rest. He had been manager of the Merrimack Square since 1014. "Anna Christie" proved to be an audience magnet at Gordon's Olympia Theatre in Boston and it was held for a second week. It was followed by "The Eternal City," which was shown the week of February 10. The Lowell Opera House In Lowell was menaced by a fire which on February 4 destroyed a number of buildings immediately adjoining It and caused the closing of the house for several days. Al Luttinger is lessee of the Opera House. The theatre property was damaged slightly. The ushers of B. F. Keith's Theatre In Lowell recently had their tenth annual party. The officers of the affair were as follows: General manager, John A. Pac; assistant general manager. Harper P. Byam; floor director, John F. Quinn; assistant floor director, Leo J. Mysko; chief aid, Walter J. Farrell; treasurer, Joseph M. Farley. Four evenings out of a recent week at the Strand Theatre in Rockland were given over to benefit performances, again proving that sometimes it may be a good idea to give the ticket seller a rest and let the lodge members sell the tickets. The old Savoy Theatre in New Bedford Is to be torn down and in Its place may rise a theatre or garage, according to Charles M. Carroll, who Is interested in the control of the property. A picture theatre may be erected on Main street in Bridgewater. Many of the residents, however, do not believe that the town is large enough to support two theatres, with the present one on Broad street giving excellent programs. It is said that Middleboro could not support two theatres so as to make them profitable ventures and it likewise is pointed out that Bridgewater has even a smaller population from which to draw. Now we are going to "locate" David F. Perkins and we are not going to make him "holding the managerial reins" of the New Rmpire Theatre in Lynn like we did just about a year. Mr. Perkins now has the very busy job, beg pardon, position, of division manager of the Gray New England Theatres. He was in New Bedford, where he once did "hold the managerial reins" of the Empire Theatre, in connection with his duties on February 8, but Mr. Perkins did not get a glimpse of the correspondent, who just a year ago this month angered him to the point of exasperation by placing him in a place where he was not. We're sure Mr. Perkins has forgiven us, and if he ever says again that there is no New England news in Moving Picture World, as he is reported to have said not so long ago, although with particular reference to New Bedford, we will be apt to make him buy the cigars. Mr. Perkins was not in the office of Manager Reginald V. Tribe of the Empire when the World's representative called and we regret very much that we did not meet him. Now that we've put him in the right place we won't be afraid of meeting David F. Perkins. "Little Old New York" was the choice of Manager John J. Dineen for his anniversary week feature at the Modern Theatre in Lawrence the week of February 3. The Modern was four years old. it is one of the leading film theatres in Lawrence. "Little Old New York" was shown at the regular scale of prices. The executive staff of the State Theatre In New Bedford, which passed to the control of George W. Allen, Jr., a few weeks ago, is as follows: General manager, John W. Hawkins; manager. Harry Zeitz; organist, E. Flat Bent; assistant organist, James H. Wilson; chief projectionist. Alfred Davis; doorman. George B. McLelian; technician, John Flaherty; chief usher, Clifton Sowle; cashier, Miss Mildred Taylor. Owners of theatres in some of the smaller populated communities in New England are feeling the effects of the installation of small projection outfits. More and more organizations and churches are installing portable outfits and in place of the time-honored "entertainment" with the members taking part, the motion picture program has been found less arduous in the matter of preparation. Besides these affairs in which an admission is charged, there are such organizations In various towns and cities with a title similar to that of "community service." The effect of these on the theatres is being even felt more keenly for no admission fee is charged In New Haven, Conn., for instance, last summer, outdoor picture shows were given free and thousands of persons during the entire summer witnessed these shows, the box offices of the theatres suffering as a result of these free shows. Abraham Goodside, managing director of the Capitol and Bijou theatres in Springfield, presented "Scaramouche" at the Capitol the week of February 10. The previous week he presented "Little Old New York" as a second run at the Bijou. Reginald V. Tribe, manager of the Empire Theatre in New Bedford, is as proud as a peacock and it's all because he is going to present "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" the week of February 24 at advanced prices and with a large orchestra. Mr. Tribe is a former newspaperman, and as he is a cartoonist of ability, he already is "drawing" visions of the crowds that will storm the Empire to see the "Hunchback." He's still chuckling at his success with "West of the Water Tower." L. Harry Raymond, who is manager for the Goldstein Brothers' theatres in Pittsfield, has been in the theatrical business since he was 14 years old, when he started as an usher in the old town hall in Middleboro. That was when he was going to school. He has been engaged in the work as a steady occupation for more than fourteen years. He has been located in Fall River, Brockton and Springfield. Mr. Raymond now is in his fifth year in Pittsfield. He at one time was managing director of Abraham Goodside's Capitol Theatre in Springfield, going there from Pittsfield and returning later to the same city. PATSY RUTH MILLER Featured in Herbert Brenon's forthcoming production for Paramount, "The Breaking Point." John W. Hawkins has put over a successful tieup with the music departments of some of the stores in New Bedford. Besides doing this Mr. Hawkins has one of those "soft" theatre jobs — not — you see he is general manager of the George W. Allen theatres in New Bedford and vicinity. And there are eight Allen theatres — all picture houses. As an illustration of Mr. Hawkins' tieup, here's what he had at the State Theatre, the downtown Allen house, the week of February 4. A young lady pianist from one of the stores appeared with a male singer In this way. The organist played the accompaniment in low tones and above the organ could be heard the voice of the singer and pianist. As the verse ended lights in back of a scrim hanging rn the center door of an Interior setting were brightened, and there was seen the girl seated at the piano and the solist. It was a simple inexpensive presentation and Mr. Hawkins now is engaged in arranging divertissements along the same lines. In addition he is getting good display of the organist's name and the musical program in the stores with which he has effected a tieup.