The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

540 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 12, 1925 Scrip Books Selling in San Francisco SCRIP books containing tickets good for admission at the California, Granada, Imperial and St. Francis Theatres, San Francisco, will find their way into many a stocking this Christmas. Last year several thousand were sold for gift giving and sales commenced early this year, suggesting that they will prove more popular than ever. Tickets purchased in this manner represent a saving of about 16 per cent, and do away with any need for standing in line at the box office. Special scrip book booths have been installed in the lobbies of the theatres for the holiday season, the regular newspaper advertising copy suggests scrip books for Christmas gifts and the message is repeated on film trailers. The books are put out in two sizes, one selling for $5 and the other for $10. Plans are beiiiK completed for the erection of a picture house at York and Twenty-fourth streets San p-rancisco. by Al Levin and associates. The theatre will seat 1,000 and cost about $225,000. Richard Speir. who has been handling publicity work for some time for the Granada Theatre, San Francisco, has ben made house manager, succeeding Harry David who resigned recently to become managing director of the Coliseum and Alexandria theatre;?, l:iken over by Herbert L. Rothschild. l.ucindu FreitiiN, well known exhibitor of Stockton. Cnl., wan a re<*ent visitor on San Pranoiseo'-H Fiim Row and reported a wonderful trip to to Knropp. Vow that he in back in the harnes.H ag^ain, he i» plannin^c to enlariJ^e hix theatre intereMtx and a chain of small hou.scN In contemplated. The Lyric Theatre at Marysville, Cal., was visited by a fire recently, necessitating the closing of the house for four days. The blaze did not originate in the theatre, but for a time it seemed as though the house was doomed. J. W. Bascom, who is erecting a splendid new picture house at Mount Shasta City, Cal., is conducting a contest for a suitable name. The new theatre will be ready for occupancy at an early date. J. A. Harvey, Jr., is building a 500-seat theatre at Santa Cruz, Cal., and expects to open this about the middle of December. Frank Panero, who has been an exhibitor at Delano, Cal., for many years, will shortly open a handsome new theatre there to supplant the old one. Lewis & Byrd are remodeling the Universal and Pastime Theatres at Hanford, Cal„ and will have virtually new houses when the work is completed. The Universal has been closed for about a year. They also conduct the T. & D. Theatre in that city, but the lease on this may bo given up when the other two are in running order again. The Glade Theatre of Wobber Bros, at Lindsay. Cal., has been renovated for the winter. D. D. Sims, who conducts a picture theatre at Fowler, is now speed cop In that district. He has arranged to close the house at Del Rey. A. Wylie Mather, managing director of the Consolidated Amusement Company, Honolulu, T. H., is expected in San Francisco shortly. M. S. Vidaver, the live-wire director of publicity for the Greenfield Theatres, San Francisco, will leave shortly for a belated vacation in the southern part of the state. Harry W. Poole, of the Liberty Theatre, Klamath Falls. Ore., was a. visitor at San Francisco late in November. The Wheatland Theatre, conducted by C. R. Beilby at Wheatland, Cal., has been redecorated and placed in fine shape for the winter. Kansas City Mourning Old Bijou Theatre Walla Wallahs Arcade Sold To Inland Empire Theatres THE Arcade Theatre, Walla Walla, Wash., G. E. Terhune, manager, has been taken over by the Inland Empire Theatres Co., of which Edwin B. Rivers and Mr. Pine arc organizers. It is not known whether a corporation has been formed which includes Mr. Terhune or w'hether he has withdrawn entirely. Mr. Rivers was formerly exploitation manager of the Seattle Heilig Theatre. Guy Hazelton has started a Country Store one night a week at his Rialto, Missoula, Mont., with excellent results. Visitors to Seattle Film Row this week were Lon Brown. Brown's Theatre, Snohomish, Wash.; George Reisner, Tokay Theatres, Raymond and South Bend; Ray Grombacher, Spokane; Mr. Quinn of the Liberty and Capitol. Olympia. Wash. (George F. ll<'.sKcngor has Nold hi.*t Madrona Garden to l*a<*ific Theatres Co., owners of Seattle's liiicsl Nubiirl»;in hou.ses. The Madrona Garden iv:.-^ opeiiid in >lay. I*. K. Irvinj^, fornK^r niaiiager of the >lissii»n, t»eorget4>wn, is nianaginif tlie house. K. K. Ulsh has been appointed maniiger (»f the 31ission. Considerable interest over the Spokane situation has been evinced of late. Stripped of its variou.'i "rumors" the situation appears to be this U:iy Grombacher, when signing for this yeai's product, signed for both first and second runs. At that time. Mr. Grombacher was operating the Class A as a sceond-run house. Some time ago. however, this house was partly destroyed by fire. In remodeling, it was completely changed in style, decorated and reopened as a first-run theatre. being renamed the Egyptian. This left Grombacher with no second-run houses. In seeking an outlet for the second runs contracted for, he is reported to have tried to secure Maurice Oppenheimer's Hippodrome and the Will Starkey circuit, which consists of the Empress, Rex and Majestic. The Hippodrome has since gone to first runs at a 25-cent admission, which apparently eliminates it from such an arrangement. It is believed by those who profess to know that Starkey is not interested. A further report states that Grombacher is endeavoring to make a deal with John Danz, who operates the American in Spokane, as they were observed together on a recent trip to Seattle of Mr. Grombacher, who is reported to be buying up first-run product. Seattle is to hav a new Orpheura Theatre. Confirmation has just been received of the reports which were strenuously denied a few weeks ago. The location selected, at Fifth avenue and 'Stewart street, was purchased outright for $300,000. The house will cosi $1,500,000. Construction will be begun before the first of the year. The house will seat 3.000, more than 1.500 to be accommodated on the lower floor. There will be but one b;ilcony. It is planned to have the house ready for occupan<'y next September. The building will be six stories in height. It will contain some offices and stores, but the greater part will be used for theatrical purposes. Serraro Badly Shot in Ford City, Pa, DOMIXICK SERRARO, aged 45 years, owner of the Savoy Theatre, Ford City, Pa., was shot and badly wounded on November 24, police say, by his brother-inlaw, James Izzo. The alleged assailant was errested shortly after the shooting and Serrara was removed to the Kittanning Hospital. Serrara was standing in front of his theatre when, according to witnesses, Izzo approached him and, taking a revolver from his pocket, opened fire on Serraro. Joseph Panl, well-knon-n treasurer of the Daiis Theatre. Pittsburgh, is dead at the age of S7 J ears, after but four days' illness of pneumonia. .Vt one time ilc-eeased was a sale.sman at the lo<'a1 Paramount exchange. Ray Brown, who recently resigned as manager of the Cameo in downtown Pittsl)urgh, has accepted a similar position with the Strand, Altoona, owned by the Silverman Brothers. Among the out-of-town exhibitor visitors seen on Pittsburgh's Film Row recently were J. George Schweitzer, Titusville; Charles Feinler, Wheeling; B. E. Cupler and Nat Walken, Washington; John Zwick, Finleyville; C. M. McCloskey, Uniontown; Charles Johns, Republic; Mr. Baer, Altoona; Mr. Lipsie, Blairsville, and Charles Truran, Meadville. M. Roth, who recently sold his Seven Stars Theatre at PhilUpsburg to Fred Thompson, of Curwensville, Is spending a few days in Pittsburgh. KANSAS CITY, especially the North Side, this week is mourning the loss of one of the pioneer landmarks in the picture industry— the Bijou Theatre, owned by Denny Costello. The theatre, which for two decades has had its run from a first-class house to a "palace de opera" for "Flop" houses, has been supplanted by a shoe store. The theatre long has stood as the amusement center of the North Side, being located across the street from the old city market. Always has it featured the wild west drama and the slapstick comedy. With the completion of the installation of the new $35,000 organ at the Newman Theatre, Kansas City. Earl Thurston, who comes direct from London, where he won recognition as composer of "The Midnight Follies," has been obtained as organist. The new organ is the largest in the state, having the musical capacity of a 100-piece symphony orchestr.a. Samuel Carver, manager of the Liberty, first-run down-town house of Kansas City, put over a real exploitation feat this week when he obtained the sanction of the Kansas City School Board to stage an essay contest among 75,000 school children in conjunction with Ine showing of "As No Man Has Loved." This is one of the rarely few times the school beard has sanctioned such an event. The sta^ng; of Charlexton dance contestB continues to be the best money-making novelty bet among suburban hiiuses in Kau«a» City despite the fact that the practice has l>ccn in v<»giie several inontlis. 'I'his week Vdolph Kisner. manager of the ( ireic Theatre, anil A. Wittman, manager of the Strand, "stood them up" with just another "contest." The Elite Theatre, Humbolt, Kans., was destroyed by file on November 20, the damage amounting to about $20,000. Oscar Reinert. owner, has not announced if he will rebuild. Among exhibitors in Kansas City last week were: A. F. Perkins, Schnell Theatre. Harrison ville. Mo.; Glenn Dickerson. Dickerson chain of theatres, Lawrence. Kans.; G. L Hooper, National Theatre Amusement Company, Topeka. Kans.; A\ Kraft, Lyceum, St. Joseph. Mo.; L. Brenninger, Crystal and Cozy, Topeka, Kans.; G. C. Craddock. Grand, Macon. Mo.; Casev Rose, Harmon, Milan, Mo.; Ensile Barbour, Joplln, Mo.; S. E. Wilhoit, Jefferson, Springfield, Mo.; Mrs. C. R. Wilson, Lyric, Liberty, Mo.