The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

8^\ritching the ^pOtHght to the gxhibitor ScUted bij Pumner Smith Quebec Exhibitor's Condition Better GEORGES VEZINA, proprietor of the Quebec Exhibitor's picture theatre at Chicoutimi, Quebec, has been seriously ill during recent weeks but his condition is improving. It js interesting to note that Mr. Vezina has been one of the star players of the Canadian professional hockey team of Montreal, Quebec, in the National Hockey League, which now includes teams in New York, Boston, Pittsburgh and other cities. Mr. Vezina, between games, directs the destinies of the Chicoutimi Theatre in Northern Quebec, and he also has other business interests there. Incidentally, he is the father of eleven children. The first Australian picture brought to CanarJa is still going strong after almost two years of presentation in the Dominion. This is "The Man They Could Not Hang," which has been touring Canada as a road show. The most recent important engagement was at the Grand Theatre, Calgary, Alberta, where it played twice daily for a week under the direction of Maynard Joiner, manager of the Grand Theatre. H. M. Thomas of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Western Division manager of Famous Players Canadian Corp., Toronto, has returned to Winnipeg after a business inspection trip through the Western Prairie Provinces of the Dominion, which included the theatres at Edmonton, Calgary, Moose Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon and other centres. He arranged for the special presentation of a number of current attractions, including "Little Annie Rooney," "Cobra," "Romola" and "Don Q." Pittsburgh Exhibitor Hurt in Accident HARRY PETZ, one of the pioneer exhibitors in the Pittsburgh territory, now conducting the Pearl Theatre, Youngwood, Pa., suffered a badly cut mouth and the jarring loose of several front teeth in an automobile collision recently. Wlien the accident occurred Mr. Petz's face was thrown violently against his own steering gear. Recent out-of-town exhibitor visitors to Pittsburgh's Film Row included Tom Wright. Brownsville; Wm. Lamproplos, Latrobe; J. A. Small, Avonmore, and Milan Salowich, Johnstown. The Sheridan Square Theatre in East Liberty, a vaudeville house, changing program twice weekly, five acts of vaudeville and two-reel comedies, has changed its policy and hereafter feature photoplays will be run in conjunction with the stage attractions. The new policy went into effect on December 7. The Harris Amusement Company ownsthe theatre and J. O. Hooley is resident manager. The Schenley Theatre, a beautiful neighborhood house in the Oakland district, Pittsburgh, has made a remarkable departure from the beaten path by installing a fifteenpiece symphony orchestra. This organization will play special numbers on the stage as well as accompany the feature pictures. Shows are changed thrice weekly. The theatre is controlled by the Harry Davis Enterprises Company and J. Harry Hayward Is resident manager. B. F. Keith's Theatre, Ottawa, Ontario, made a special of a local orchestra as an added attraction during the week of December 7, this being Orville Johnston's orchestra of eleven pieces. The engagement was in the nature of a farewell because the band was leaving immediately aftenvards for London, England, to fill a contract in the Kmpire metropolis. When Manager J. M. Franklin of Keith's heard that the orchestra was going to England, he arranged the farewell appearance. Henry McRae, who has been appointed director-general of production at Universal City. Cal., is a brother of Finley McRae of Ottawa, manager of the Alexandria Hotel, Ottawa, and executor of the estate of the late Harry Brouse, the Ottawa millionaire who was the owner of the Imperial and Family Theatres there and a charter director of First National. Henry McRae made two pictures in the Ottawa district several years ago for Ottawa Film Productions, Ltd. John Arthur of Toronto, director of presentntinn.s for the Famous I'layers Canadian Corii., is busy with one of the most pretentious Christmas pantomimes ever to be presented in Canada. This be given at the Toronto Hippodrome durinjf the weelt of December I'l in conjunction with a special picture proi;rram. The pantomime will have a company of 50 people and will be given in ten scenes. Five union employes of the Majestic Theatre, Ottawa, Ontario, went on strike December 4 as a result of a dispute over wages and the employment of non-union men by Froman & Petigorsky, the proprietors of the theatre, of which Harold Vance is the manager. The trouble began two weeks previously when W. Graham, stage manager, and G. E. Groves, projectionist, ceased work claiming that wages were overdue. Oscar Petigorsky, one of the proprietors, denied this statement and declared that the employes had objected to the employment of non-union men. Mr. Petigorsky also claimed that the theatre could not afford to pay the high wages and that he was glad that the strike had materialized. Instead of $43 a week he was now paying his stage manager $15 a week, and in place of the $40 a week for the projectionist he was now paying $20 a week for a non-union man. The striking musicians, who walked out on December 4, took up the matter with the Ottawa Allied Trades and Labor Association. The proprietors of the Majestic, on the other hand, promised to make an issue of the strike. The theatre is continuing without interruption. New York Exhibitor Not Killed in Accident T E. AKINS, manager of the Gem, Ran■L dolph, N. Y., was not killed in the auto accident which claimed his wife's life. Mr. Akins was, however, severely injured, but is now recovering. First reports said that Mr. Akins also was killed. Johnny Carr, manager of Shea's North Park, says that his patrons are enthusiastic over the new $50,000 Wurlitzer organ just installed and that he has received many letters congratulating him on the big improvement in the music programs at this popular North Buffalo community house. .\lbion'M new house, the Rialto, opened on Deciniber 2. Manager and Proprietor William H. Robson received the congratulations of the townfolk on the beauty and completeness of the motion picture temple. Seventy wicker chairs in the mezzanine may be reserved, in advance. Projection is furnished by two Power.s machines. When the new Shea Buffalo Theatre opens early in January, Vincent R. McFaul, managing director of Shea's Hippodrome and vice-president of the Shea Amusement Company, will become manager of the new house, while Johnny Carr, now at Shea's North Park, will become manager of the "Hipp." Mr. Carr is a brother of the late Henry Carr. formerly manager of the Shea Court street vaudeville house and for many years vicepre.=!ident of the organization, Mr. Carr will be succeeded at the North Park by Robert T. Murphy, who has been associated with the exchange end of the business for over a decade and who recently has been a member of the Buffalo Universal office sales staff. No one was injured when film ignited in the booth of the Lovejoy Theatre, Buffalo, last Saturday night. The audiences filed out of the house when informed of the lire by Manager Jake Rappaport. Connecticut Theatre News Although their plans are uncertain, Louik and Charles Levin of Bridgeport, Conn., have announced their intention of building a new theatre in Danbury on a large lot in the rear of the former Masonic block at 2.'U-249 Main street, which they recently purchased. The erection of the theatre depends upon financial conditions.