The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

Sivitching the ^pOtlight to the 6xhibitor ScUted bij Pumner Smitk Long Runs Common in San Francisco LOXG runs are becoming common in San Francisco houses, with both downtown and suburban theatres making fewer changes than formerly. "The Pony Express" and "The Iron Horse" started the Imperial and St. Francis Theatres off in good shape this fall and the records for long runs set by these have already been surpassed by "The Freshman" and "The Merry Widow." The latter has been shown for four weeks and is starting on its fifth week, after which it will be succeeded by "The Phantom of the Opera." "Little Annie Rooney," with Mary Pickford, has been shown three weeks at the Imperial and the end is not in sight. This picture will be followed by an indefinite run of "That Royle Girl." Many neighborhood houses which ordinarily make two or three changes of program a week, have shown features for a full week. In the legitimate field the President Theatre has broken all former local records by showing "The Best People" for more lhan six months. K. I. Parker, trea.Hurer of the Consolidated Amusement Company, Honolulu, T. H., lett recently ' for his Island home, following a conference nnth San BVancisco officials and stockholders of the firm. Joel C. Cohen and Louis R. Greenfield of this concern will attend the annual meeting' of stockholders to be held at Honolulu early in the year. The Famous Players-Lasky interests, which purchased the ground lease on the Granada Theatre several months ago from the Herbert Li. Rothschild Entertainment, Inc., has now acquired the realty holdings in fee simple for a sum of more than $2,000,000. Denver Exhibitor and Editor in Debate J BP. Mccormick of the Liberty Thea• tre, Florence, Col., represented the screen in a debate before the Women's Club of Florence, Col., November 23. The subject was "The Power of the Screen vs. the Press." His opponent was the editor of the local Florence Daily Citizen. The affair was awaited with unusual interest by the film people of Denver. Rick Ricket.son was surprised at his home last Monday evening by the present manager and employes of the Paramount Rialto and Victory Theatres of Denver. The occasion was a farewell demonstration to Mr. Ricketson, who has retired as managing director of the above theatres. A. H. Vincent, his successor, was toastmaster, assisted by Wiles Hallock, who presented Rick with a beautiful scarf pin as a token in behalf of the theatre employes. ^ M. C. Gerhart is rapidly recovering from his recent operation. A number of film me.i who called upon him last week state that he is fitting up and looking fine, and that he expects to be out within the next two or three weeks. Mr. Gerhart recently submitted to an operation which required him to be on the operating table for almost three hours. He is the owner and. manager of the Empress Theatre, Fort Collins, Col., and one of the veteran exhibitors of the territory. Harry David, for some time house manager of the Granada Theatre. San Francisco, has joined the Herbert Lt Rothschild organization and has been made managing rt'rector of the Coliseum and Alexandria Theatres, recently taken over by these interests. Frank Whitbeck, director of publicity for West Coast Theatres. Inc., with headquarters at San Francisco, is making a tour of the theatres in the southern part of the F'tate and while away will assist in the openine' of two new houses. Gronnd has been broken at Telegraph avenue and Fortieth street. Oakland, Cal., for a large neighborhood house for East Bay Theatres. Ino„ a subsidiary organization of West Coast Theatres, Inc. The theatre mil seat 2,500. Frank Newman, for some time manager of the State Theatre at Stockton. Cal.. has been transferred to Ijong Beach and has been succeeded by Ben F. Giroux. Herman Kersken, recently appointed ma.nager of the White Theatre. Fresno, Cal., was a recent visitor at the ©an Francisco headquarters of West Coast Theatres, Inc. Work will be commenced early in January on a picture house on San Pablo avenue, near Delaware street. Berkeley, Cal. The theatre will seat 1,500 and be conducted by the Golden State Theatre & Realty Company of San Francisco. It will be ready for occupancy in June. The Bear State Theatres, Inc., which recently acquired the incompleted McNamaraWinkelman Theatre at Martinez. Cal., has arranged to have work resumed on this house and plan to open It early in the spring. The Capitol Theatre, San Francisco, which has been dark much of the time of late, has been reopened for a week's run of Ufa's "Siegfried." Oklahoma Theatre News Loosen and Slusher have reopened the Airdome Theatre at Okarche, Okla. M. R. Mills has closed his Victory at Hulbert, Okla., permanently. Tom Blair has been appointed manager for the Rialto and Empire at Tonkawa. Okla. George Youts has purchased the Royal at Minco, Okla. H. L. Rodgers has purchased the Crystal at Three Sands, Okla. Ned Pedigo has repurchased and taken charge of the Pollard Theatre at Guthrie, Okla. Woldenberger and Bannister have reopened the Pastime at Sentinel, Okla. S. A. Jones opened his new $150,000 Empire at AUus, Okla., last week, to pleased capacity business. Jack Johnson has reopened his new Folly at Enid, Okla. Northwest Exhibitor Drives Through 4 Showers of Frogs AL. B.ASHOR, one of the owners of Kelso Amusement Company, operat• ing three houses in Kelso and one in Kalama, Wash., springs this one : While driving from Kalama to Kelso he ran into four separate and distinct showers of frogs. There were millions of them, of all sizes, and they splattered against his car and the paving. We don't believe that just looking at pictures ever did that to a man! This is the seventeenth anniversary of Orpheum \audeville in Seattle and in celebration the inimitable Carl Reiter has prepared a program of gala acts with a grand clowning act at the end. Pathenews and "Topics of the Day'' are regular features of the Orpheum here. Upon the anticipated return to the city of J. G. Von Herberg after a prolonged stay in New York and other eastern cities, the announcement has been made here that bids have been asked for the early construction of the 1500,000 North Broadway Theatre oX the Greater Theatres Company. This announcement was made by Architect Frederick J. Peters, Northwest associate of Architect Marcus B. Priteca, who is in charge of the project. Mr. Priteca will arrive in Seattle from the South, to meet Mr. Von Herberg. In substantiation of a report of a new theatre to be built in Bellingham. Wash., comes the announcement that Dr. E. T. Mathes, former mayor of Bellingham, and Al Finklestein, manager of the Strand Theatre, Seattle, will open a picture theatre in that city within sixty days. Several years ago Mr. Finkelstein represented Jensen & Von Herberg In Bellingham. The house will have a 50-foot front on Magnolia street at the corner of Dock street, and a depth of 110 feet. It will have two stores at either side of the lobby. The theatre will seat 650. Such pictures ap "The Gold Rush," ''Don Q," "Sally of the Sawdust," "Little Annie Rooney" and "The ICagle" have already been contracted for. This will mean the first opposition in Bellingham for a number of years. The Bellingham Amusement Company operates four houses there. Dr. Mathes, who will manage the house, has a very wide acquaintance throughout the Northwest and has always taken a keen interest in the theatre business. Waldo Ives has purchased R. E. Ulsh's half interest in the Rex and Mission Theatres, Mount Vernon, Wash., and has also bought into the house at La Conner, AVash., according to report. A Mr. Clark of Los Angeles is reported to have purchased a house in Arlington, Wash., presumably the American. Donald Oeddes. otyner of houses in Ballard, Ik seriously ill with pneumonia. .Mr. tJeddes is having the best of care and Is expected to be convalescent soon. After an extensi%e program of redecorating, the Liberty Theatre, Hoquiam, Wash., reopened on November 16. The D & R Theatres Company operates the house. Joe Strauss of Strauss and Danz. proprietors of the Hollwood Theatre in suburban Seattle, has established his residnece in California. He returned to Seattle this week for a brief visit. Mr. Danz is said to have bought his partner's interest and will operate the house solely under his own management.