The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

642 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 19, 1925 Theatre Acquisition Qeneral (Continuecl from preceding page) (llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllinillllllililiiilllllilililiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiimiinniiiiiiiiilllli Incorporations iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^ Four companies incorporated in the motion picture bwsiness in New Yorit State during tlie past weeii. While this does not indicate any great activity from the standpoint of companies incorporating in the business, the amount of capitalization of at least three of the companies was for substantial amounts. The companies chartered by the secretary of state were: I'ubllx Theatres Corporation, 1,(H)0 shares of no par value stock, with Harold B. Franklin, of New Rochelle; Sam Katz, Chicago, III., and Felix B. Kahn, of New York City; Merit Play Productions, Inc., $30,000. Charles K. Feldnian, H. H. Feldsteln. William Rothschild, New York; R. S. P. Amusement Co., Inc., ^5,000, Elsa Alper, Goldie Schwartz, Estelle Wagner, Brooklyn; Rohde Rathjen and Wallace, Inc., Cold Spring, $',5tM», H. T. Inimcrman, Israel Isenberg, M. I. Garvey, New York City. 'i'he Trio Tlieatres Company, Toledo, Ohio, Is among the recent Ohio incorporations, with Hvward Feigley, Nathan B. Chamis, Samuel Harris and others. The Casto Theatre Company, Ashtabula, Ohio, has also been incorporated by Maurice A. Shea, Leo T. Losen, Chnrey S. Sheldon and Howard M. Nazor. Chicago Asks Relief From Old Fire Ordinance THEATRE owners and managers in Chicago are behind the movement to amend the fire prevention ordinance passed over twenty years ago at the time of the Iroquois Theatre fire, so that people will be permitted to wait in the lobbies of the theatres while the houses are full of patrons. It also is planned to ask the council to change the ordinance on fireproof drapes, as the new houses are practically fireproof and have plenty of exits. A conference was held last w-eek between Fire Commissioner Joseph F. Connery and a committee from the Chicago Exhibitors Association headed by Business Manager Jack Miller, Barney Balaban, Harry .'\scher, Emil Stern and representatives from the other circuits. The fire chief said that his hands are tied, as he would have to enforce the present fire prevention ordinances. The only way to obtain relief is to have the city council amend the laws. MISSING USHER SURRENDERS Walter G. Fritchic, former head usher of the Grand Riviera Theatre, Detroit, Mich., which was robbed of $10,000 in week-end receipts two weeks ago, returned to Detroit last week and gave himself to the police. He brought with him approximately onehalf of the receipts and told the usual story of how two boys, seeking a chance to see the world, ran away with the money. HATTYE KOERPEL DIES Hattye Koerpel, wife of J. A. Koerpel, First National's European Director General, died last week at her home in Chicago after a short illness contracted while living abroad. Mrs. Koerpel leaves many friends in the industry who will be deeply grieved at her passing. She was buried in Ottawa, 111. Sass. He has also added the Oakley Theatre near Oakley and Chicago avenue. This will give him four houses on Chicago avenue. The other two are the Alvin and Hub theatres. Langdon's booking headquarters are at 30 East 8th street. He also looks after the Avon Theatre on Fullerton avenue for the Lynch circuit. Work will start after the first of the year on the huge new 5,000-seat theatre that the Balaban-Katz-Lubliner-Trinz combination will build at Crawford avenue and Washington Boulevard. This makes three new theatres for that district for the coming year. The new house will be named the Washington, and it is claimed, will be the largest theatre on the West Side. It is reported that Fox's theatre chain will build a new movie theatre on the Washington street, Chicago, site near State street they acquired from the Ascher circuit some time ago. The site is 100 feet on WashingIon street by a depth of 180 feet, can easily take care of a 3,500-seat house. Balaban & Katz report the work on the new Chicago theatre that is going up on Randolph street in the new Masonic Temple building is so far advanced that they are planning for the opening early in March. The house will seat 3,500 and has been named the Masonic Temple Theatre. It is the second largest house in seating capacity in the Loop. The house is being built along East Indian lines. Detroit The Miles and Regent theatres, Detroit, Mich., long the property of Charles H. Miles, will soon be in the hands of the Fox Film Corporation, according to a seemingly wellfounded rumor current in the Detroit trade. William Fox made a quiet visit to Detroit one day last week and is said to have conferred with Miles relative to a deal. Miles later went to New York. The Fox-Washington Theatre will need a new home shortly because of the coming expiration of the lease on the present house, and either the Regent or Miles would be a fitting substitute for a first-run. Miles recently closed his Ferry Field Theatre after an unsuccessful venture with stock and the house is now up for sale. Northern New York Albert and Nate Robbins of Syracuse, N. Y., were in Ithaca the other day with Architect R. C. Merrick looking over the site on which an option has been obtained for a proposed new house, financing for which will soon be completed. Albert Robbins has signed a contract for a ten-week lease of the Little Theatre in Ithaca, beginning January 4. Mr. Robbins will offer pictures and professional recitals. Patrick Conway will direct the ten-piece union orchestra. The Shea Amusement Company will lease the theatre which the Bickford Realty Company is to build at Bailey and Kensington avenues, Bufifalo, N. Y., for a term of twenty years. The house will seat 1,500 and cost $500,000. It will be named Shea's Kensington. A Wurlitzer unit orchestra organ will be installed. The house will be ready by September, 1926. Reports received in Indianapolis from Evansville, Ind.-, indicate that a deal is pending in the latter city whereby the Victory Theatre building is to become the property of Universal Pictures Corporation for a consideration of approximately $1,000,000. Julius Singer, personal representative of Carl Laemmle, president of Universal, has been in Evansville conferring with officials of the Standard Evansville Realty Company, owner of the theatre building, which includes the Sonntag Hotel. St. Louis The Lyric, Sixth and Pine, and the Virginia Theatre, 5117 Virginia avenue, are now with the St. Louis Amusement Company's chain of second-run houses. All their pictures in the future will be booked through that company. Los Angeles West Coast Theatres, Inc., expects to have its new theatre in the Moneta-Mancliester district of Los Angeles, costing $350,000, completed January 1, according to a statement issued by Michael Gore, president of the organization. The new theatre will seat 1,500 persons. Another new Los Angeles theatre will cost $100,000 and be erected at Main Street and Griffin Avenue by L. A. Smith. A. M. Bowles, general manager of West Coast Theatres, Inc., stated that its new uptown theatre would be formally opened December 26. It will cost approximately $250,000. Fred Miller, president of the Far West Theatres Corporation and former owner of the California and Miller's Main Street House, announces that a new theatre seating 2,500 and costing over $500,000 will be built on Hollywood Boulevard at Vermont. The building will be in charge of Ralph R. Lloyd with the architecture being executed by William Allen. Lew Bard, formerly of the Bard Theatre Syndicate, is vice-president and treasurer of the organization. Another theatre to seat 900 will be built at 39th and Southwestern Avenue by W. E. Johansen. This will cost $35,000. West Coast Theatres is planning the construction of a house to seat 2,000 and cost $200,000 to be built in the exclusive Wilshire district. Nebraska Right on the heels of the announcement that Universal Pictures Corporation is to build a $250,000 picture theatre at Grand Island, Neb., comes the news that the Cooper interests are to build a $310,000 theatre building in that city and lease it to Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. THEATRE ROBBERS DRIVEN OFF Arthur Black, manager of the Lincoln Square Theatre, Detroit, Mich., trapped two robbers in the basement of his theatre, last Saturday night, called the pohce and a shooting affray ensued that brought hundreds of people to the neighborhood. The robbers fired their way out of the building and escaped after an exchange of more than fifty shots. Black was counting the receipts upstairs when he heard a noise below. Investigating quietly, he found the robbers at work and skipped next door to call the police on the telephone.