The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

476 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 5, 1925 Ontario Theatre Owners Now in Session THE 1925 annual convention of the M. P. T. O., Ontario Division, is being held at the King Edward Hotel, Toronto, today (November 27) with President J. C. Brady in the chair. Mr. Brady, who is the owner of the Madison Theatre, Toronto, has been the head of the organized independent theatre movement in Eastern Canada for many years. Joseph Cohen, a popular exhibitor of Toronto, Ontario, recently suffered the loss of his mother, Mrs. Esther Cohen, who died suddenly from heart failure. Mr. Cohen Is the manager of two bright neighborhood theatres of Toronto, the Classic and Duchess. There wna a bit of excitement at the Boulevard Theatre, on St. Hubert street, Montreal, <^uebec, a £v^\ days agro, when a lire broke out in the projection room. The flame.s were speedily extingrui.shed but the flash and smolve caused the patron.s to l>eat a hasty retreat. Several children were hurt. The Bijou Theatre, Chesley, Ontario, has been offered for sale by the proprietor, John Blohm, who has decided, to retire. This theatre, situated in an agricultural centre, has accommodation for 220 people and is fitted with two projection machines. The cashier of the St. Denis Theatre, one of the largest cinemas of Montreal, was held up on the night of November 16 as she was leaving the box ofllce, the bandit grabbing the black bag which contained about $800. The alarm was sounded and the man was captured. The accused, who gave the name of John Boyd, told the police magistrate that he was a consulting engineer and that he had been examining the equipment of the St. Denis Theatre when he had been approached by a janitor with the proposal for the "job." The empoye revealed the "inside" plan and they were to split the proceeds. The court hearing was postponed until ofHcials made further Investigation. Harold Lloyd's "The Freshman'' closed its special Canadian run at the Regent T'heatre, Toronto, on Nevember 28, after a continuous engagement of five weeks during which time the feature was shown continuously every day except Sundays. The run was conducted under the direction of Manager D. C. Brown of the Toronto Regent. Added numbers Included a prologue and a local short subject called "Varsity Life," showing scenes and incidents in and around the University of Toronto. The Capitol Theatre, Montreal, celebrated "Charleston Week" during the week of November 15, when the feature attraction was '^Stage Struck." The big specialty was the "Charleston Revue," with a company of 28 beauties, organized at Toronto, Ontario, by Jack Arthur, supervisor of presentations for the Famous Players Canadian Corp. This Charleston Revue was first presented as an added feature at the Toronto Hipodrome, the head theatre of the Famous Players chain In Canada. It proved such a hit that Mr. Arthur decided to take the company on a tour of leading Famous Players houses in Eastern Canada. Harry Dahn is the manager of the Montreal Capitol. Manager Tommy Logan of the Capitol Theatre, London, Ontario, reaped special benefit from the early arrival of Santa Claus in the City of London on November 21 when he arranged to have Old Santa make his first official stop at the Capitol Theatre, appearing on the stage at 1.30 p. m., after which he was scheduled to visit various stores of the downtown section. The result was that the theatre was stormed .by children who paid their way in to get a first glimpse of Santa, 1925. When "The Calgary Stampede" was presented at the Regent Theatre, Calgary, Alberta, during the week of November 16, the Calgary Herald printed a three-page section for the engagement. Incidentally, a featurs of the newspaper tie-up was the reproduction of the contract signed with Universal by Manager K. M. Leach for $2,500 for the week's engagement of the picture, along with a facsimile of the check. This proved to be most unusual advertising. A personal letter from Carl Laemmie was also printed In the section. *'Doc'' Cook of Kansas Again Touring St. Louis Theatre Crowded At Opening; Cost a Million IF the M. P. T. 0. Kansas-Missouri fails to reach its goal of 500 active members it will be no fault of C. E. ("Doc") Cook, business manager. Scarcely had "Doc" returned from a "tour-de-Hupmobile" over the territory than he dpearted on November 16 for another ten-day jaunt. He will visit exhibitors in Southern Kansas and Western Missouri. Pire of undetermined origrin destroyed the Grand of Moberly, Mo., early on November IS, the loss being estimated at 9150,0<)0. The fire also destroyed adjoining: bulldlni^s. Gus Eyssell, former treasurer and house manager of the Newman and Royal Theatres, Kansas City, will leave in a few days to join Prank L. Newman in Los Angeles in a similar capacity. Mr. Newman, since the Bale of his Newman and Royal Theatres to Paramount, has been managing three Paramount houses in Los Angeles. Mr. Eyssell is the third of Mr. Newman's former employes to join him on the West Coast, Milton Feld, former manager of the Newman and Royal, and Leo Forbstein, for many years director of the Newman orchestra, already having gone. An experiment in the small town house Is to be tried at the Best Theatre, Parsons. Kans., the latter part of this month. It will be an all-comedy bill and is being watched with much interest by Kansas City exhibitors. Three two-reel comedies have been set in for the experiment, although the date has not yet been announced. Among out-of-town exhibitors in the Kansas City market last week were: Mr. and Mrs. H. Winkler, Main Street, Lexington; Mo.; E. E. Frazier, Grand, Pittsburgh, Kans.; Harry McClure. Strand, Emporia, Kans.; L. Brenninger, Crystal and Cozy, Topeka, Kans.; A. Hawkins, Banks, Lenexa, Kans.; W. E. Shilket, Rex, Joplin, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. W. Christian, Casino, Excelsior Springs, Mo.; G. E. Earl, Strand, Eskridge, Kans. The Empire Theatre, ChlUicothe, Mo., last week was purchased by Sam Minlch, owner of the Electric of that city, for $24,000. The deal will become effective January 1. A lease held on the Empire has several months to run, it is understood. Mr. Minlch plans to remodel the house, illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllillllllllllllillllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllll'll^ Have you »ent those report* to Van? iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!iiiiiiiiiii;i;:iiiiiiiiiwBii™iNiiin^ THE St. Louis Theatre, Grand boulevard at Morgan street, which is being operated by the Orpheum Circuit as a combination house, had its grand opening on November 23. F. B. O.'s "Drusilla With a Million" was the opening feature. Several acts of Orpheum Circuit vaudeville rounded out the bill. This theatre, which cost upwards of $1,000,000, seats 4,080 and is the third largest in the world. It was crowded. Skouras Brothers took over the Missouri Theatre on November 21. The acquisition of the Missouri resulted in a switch of the orchestras employed by Skouras Brothers. Gene Rodemich goes into the Missouri, replacing Joseph Littau, who has gone to New York to direct in a large theatre there. The Conley-'Silverman orchestra becomes a permanent fixture at the Grand Central, while Allister Wylie moves his players from the Pageant Theatre to the West End Lyric. Rodemich's orchestra has been increased to thirty pieces and will fill the pit at the Misouri at all times. His jazz players will maintain their identity by appearing on the stage from time to time. A jazz revue with thirty players, featuring Jane and Katherine Lee, was a feature of the first week of the Skouras management at the Missouri. Herschel Stuart, formerly managing director at the Missouri, has gone to New York to head the production and presentation department for Famous Players-Lasky. The Grand Theatre, Moberly, Mo., was damaged by lire early the past week, according to infomintlon reaching St. Louis. The full extent or tlie damage has not been ascertained. Steve Kaiman has awarded the contract for his new theatre at 8201-03 North Broadway to the Acme Construction Company, 1782 Railway Exchange Building. Theodore Steinmeyer, International Life Building, is the architect. The structure will be 60 by 150 by 139 feet and will cost about $75,000. In addition to the theatre auditorium it will contain stores and offices. The Bridge Theatre, 4867 Natural Bridge avenue, St. Louis, has changed hands again. This house seats 720 and Is in a growing neighborhood. The new owners are Rodney & Katz. Jimmy Madison has been managing the house. Visitors of the week included S. E. Pertle, Jersey ville, III.; S. E. Brady, Cape Girardeau, Mo., and J. Marshall, Rodgers, Ark. Hollywood Theatre Has Qala Opening HOLLYWOOD'S newest theatre, the Marquis, made its bow in a blaze of glory. The opening rivalled any of the gala premieres staged in the downtown houses. The Marquis seats 1,200 and is owned and operated by the Hansen Theatres Corporations, of which Mark M. Hansen is president, Alice Calhoun vice-president, and J. J. Curl secretary. Jesse J. Goldberg, president of the Independent Pictures Corporation, was master of ceremonies. The picture was "What Fools Men," a First National release. This is the eighth theatre in which Alice Calhoun owns the controlling interest. Tlie Victory Theatre at Burbank, Cal., has been taken over by the West Coast Junior circuit. It will be torn down later and a new house to cost .$150,000 built in Its place. A new house to seat 900 will be built at Owensmouth by O. W. Walling. One of the most imposing structures to be built in the suburban district will be the one soon to go up in Alhambra at Fremont and Main streets. 'Sid Grauman and Anna May Wong Jointly drove the first rivet in the former's new Chinese theatre to be built at Hollywood boulevard and Orange Drive. Texas Theatre News W. H. Hall has been appointed manager of the new Gem at Memphis, Texas. Ruben Frels has purchased the Queen Theatre at Cuero, Texas.