The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

142 MOVING PICTURE WORLD November 14, 1925 Kehrlein Plans New San Francisco Chain Oliver Kehrlein, of the Kehrlein Investment Co., Oakland, Cal., has announced plans for a chain of picture houses in the east-bay suburbs of San Francisco. The first one is to be' located at Forty-eighth street and Telegraph avenue and is to be known as the Claremont-Kinenia. It will have a seating capacity of 1,800. Other houses will on the Foothill boulevard, Grand avenue and College avenue. A brand new member has been taken into the firm of Aekemian & Harris, San FYan^ Cisco, a bouneinf^ baby boy having arrived at tlie home of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert A. HarrLs. Mr. Harris is the son of Sam Harri«, of the amusement firm, and is part owner and general manag-er of the Century Theatre* Oakland. Alexander Pantages has secured a ninetynine year lease on property at Fulton and Spokane Man Utilizes Indian Congress Ray A. Gronibacher, circuit owner of Spokane, played "The Pony Express" at his Casino Theatre during the big Indian Congress. You may leave it to Ray not to overlook anything in the way of exploitation. He simply could not let all those noble Redmen go to waste. Therefore he staged a pageant of his own on the main street when the Pony Express dashed down the street, pursued by a band of yelling Indians in full regalia. Ray cashed in on this one ! Milburn Kenworthy of the Kenworthy Theatre, Moscow, Idaho, opened with "The Freshman." Everybody in town tried to get in at once to see this much heralded laughmaker. Wherefore Kenworthy announced that "the '"Freshman" would also be shown at the Liberty. He stood 'em up for three da.vs, spoiling all previous house records. H. Crisman is opening his new house in Dryad, Wash., November 14. He was formerly owner of the Ideal. Pe Ell, Wash. H. J. Taylor, who operates a house in Selleck, Wash., has obtained a site in Enumclaw and is completing plans for the construction of a theatre. The Rex, Lewiston. Idaho, is now operating every day instead of the week-ends and has raised its admission price from 10 to 15 cents. T. M. O'Donnell of Bend, Oregon, has plans completed and contracts let for the construction of a 600-seat house. B. F. Shearer, Inc., will completely furnish, equip, seat, light, carpet and drape the theatre. O'Donnell has purchased an organ as part of his equipment. The Liberty was eleven years old on October 27. The event was celebrated by capacity audiences who cannot get enough of Lloyd's "Freshman" even in its third week. It has broken all house records. A Hallowe'en Frolic was staged at which appropriate carnival souvenirs were presented to patrons. From far off Juneau comes the story of exhibitor John T. Spickett, of the Palace Theatre, who arranged an impromptu showing in honor of the return of tlie "Rocking Moon" company from Sitka, who attended his theatre en masse. The latest local musical composition, "Northern Lights," a delightful waltz number, was placed before the orchestra and played after a special announcement. The selection made such a hit that the entire audience joined in the chorut nnd dsmanded it again and again. Mississippi Theatre News Advices from Biloxi, Miss., are that Max and Jack Yellen of New Orleans, La., will build a $500,000 picture theatre on Lameuse street, Biloxi. The building will be three stories in height and of reinforced concrete and brick construction. Tuolumne streets. Fresno, Cal., and plans a theatre to represent an investment of $500,000. This is the first ninety-nine year lease in the history of Fresno. The Thos. O'Day Estate, of which Jack Ryan is manager, has taken over the Lincoln Theatre at Lincoln, Cal. The Emeryville Theatre at Emeryville, Cal., has been reopened under the management of Joe Meyer. J. J. Woods, of Redding and Red Bluff, was a recent visitor on San Francisco's Film Row. His new Market Street Theatre in Redding will be opened at an early date. J. A. Harvey has arranged to open a picture house at Santa Cruz, Cal. J. B. Price of Cottonwood, Cal., has arranged to open a theatre at Anderson. L,. B. Brown, of the Peters Theatre, Yreka, has been nnrsing a badly injured hand, but expects to have the use of this again shortly. C. P. James of Meridian, Cal., couples his duties as agent for an electric road with British Picture Runs Week in Ottawa During the week starting October ,31, Manager Dave Coplan of the Imperial Theatre, Ottawa, Ontario, presented a special British production, G. B. Samuelson's "The Unwanted," as a special attraction, setting apart a large section of the orchestra floor as reserved seats for every evening performance. Usually the pictures run three days at the Imperial, but this was made a week's engagement. This was the first big British release to be given special presentation in the Canadian Capital in many weeks. Manager Coplan had a fire scare on October 31, when, during the early morning hours, fire attacked the business premises adjoining. The picture projection at the Capitol Theatre. Ottawa, which was recently opened by Manager Peter Kehayes, has been placed in the capable hands of James McGuire, one of the best known projectionists in Eastern Ontario. Manager Leonard Bishop of the Regent Theatre, Ottawa, obtained interesting publicity on October 28 through a timely stunt in inviting the whole squad of the Ottawa Football Club to the theatre for a "special workout" when the gridiron stars witnessed a presentation of Harold Lloyd's "The Freshman." Vancouver, B. C, is to have a large new theatre, work to be started early next spring, ]!cc<»rding to :in ann<»ii]it'ement by J. F. Langcr of A ancouver. who states that he lopresentN a cliain Iheatre organization. A site has been sc«-iired on GranA-ille street at a cost of about 100,*HH>. llie theatre is to seat 2,::00. Manager Charles A. Meade closed the Lyceum Theatre. Winnipeg, Manitoba, one of the largest cinemas of that city, during the week of October 26 to carry out a number of big improvements. An entirely new set of opera chairs, costing close to $10,000, were installed throughout the house, and other new equipment included new lighting effects, draperies and general furniture, while the whole house was redecorated. All this was done within a week through the use of day and night shifts of workmen. Hands in Iowa Pace & Bauma of Pocahontas, la., have bought the Princess at West Union, La. B. O. O'Hara has sold the Orpheuni at Fairfield, la., to Mr. Schultz. C. R. Coons has opened a new theatre, the Lyric, at Seymour, la. The theatre seats 275. 'Stanley Fuller, who recently leased the Lyric at Jewell, la., has remodeled the home. Fred Arterburn of LaMars, la., is operating the Grand at Grand Island. those of booking film attractions for the Parent-Teachers Association, a service he performs without remuneration. The Donner Theatre at Truckee, Cal., Is being remodeled by William Englehart and new seating equipment is being installed. Mr. Englehart is one of the pioneer exhibitors of California. "The Phantom of the Opera" has been booked ' for presentaition at the St. Francis Theatre, San Francisco, following the run of "The Merry Widow." Li. R. Cook of Exeter and Harry Fontana of Exeter, exhibitors from neighboring towns in Central California's citrus belt, were recent visitors at San Francisco film exchanges. The booking duties of the National Theatres Syndicate, San Francisco, have been taken over by Frank Vesley. Mrs. Gladys Kelsall, wife of Ray Kelsall, manager of a picture house at Burlingame, Cal., has been made a director of the Burlingame Bees, a baseball club. Ohio Burlesque House Turns to Films The Columbia Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio, which has for years played a straight policy of Columbia burlesque, has swung into the picture column, at least partiallj'. Due to lack of patronage, Billy Hexter, considered one of the most successful managers on the circuit, was dismissed and was succeeded by R. C. Jones, an attache of the Miles circuit. Coincidentally, the policy of the house changed to a three-in-one combination of burlesque, vaudeville and pictures, running continuously from noon to 11 p. m. In an attempt to prevent the spread of a virulent type of measles. City Manager W. W. Cotton of .\shtabula, Ohio, has barred children under 15 years of age from attending picture shows, Sunday schools and other public gatherings for at least two weeks. The Dreamland Theatre, Columbus, Ohio, will in the future be operated by Theodore J. Perkas and William N. Petrakis, following a recent deal whereby they purchased the interests formerly owned by George Perkas, who was compelled to retire from active duty some months ago on account of ill health. The Marquis Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio, formerly owned by B. C. Steele, and which has been closed for several months, has been taken over by W. S. Glen and recently reopened. Charles R. Broz. Cleveland. Ohio, has purchased the Miles Theatre in that city from Vincent ©eas. .At Bucyrus, Ohio, Mrs. George Moore has disposed of her interest in the Southern Theatre to Harry Charnas. The Majestic Theatre, .Sidney, Ohio, which has been legally inv<»lved for some time and which was recently purchased at sherilTs sale by th< .\mcrican Mortgage <'o., has now been acquired by Frankel and Malott Amusement Co.. iihich operjites some twenty houses throughout the state. Including two at CoInniliiis. tkhlo. 'I'he lease calls for payment of an annual rental f>f 97t>0 in additlim to all taxes. A new picture theatre will be erected at Broadview road and 25th street, Cleveland, Ohio, by A. Greenwood and S. H. Stecker, at a reported oost of $250,000. John Schleifenhelmer is remodeling his theatre, the Falls, at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Promotion of Sol Hurka. well-known the.atrical man of Clarksburg. W. Va., to the position of general manager of Moore's Opera House, the Robinson-Grand and Orpheum Theatres, has been announced by Claude Robinson, who owns the Robinson-Grand and leases the other two-named theatres. While Mr. Burka has been assistant manager to Mr. Robinson for some time, the promotion Is declared to be a well-deserved one, "Sol." as he is familiarly known about the city, has had fifteen years' experience in the theatrical business. Many Theatres Change Va. Showman Promoted