The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

792 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 26, 192S O^Keefe Prevents Panic in Leominster f Mass*, Theatre WHEN^ film in a projection niacliinc in the Sunshine Theatre, Leominster, Mass., caught fire there was a rush for the exits by more than 300 patrons, mostly children. Manager Daniel O'Kecfe kept cool, however, and aided greatly in preventing injury to the throng. James Dohcrty extinguished the blaze. Damage amounted to approximately $1,000.. A theatre project involvinp fully $100,000 is in prospect in Westfield. Mass.. as a result of the latest transfer of the Parks' Rlock. Papers in the transaction transferrins the property from B. H. Shcketoff of Hartford, Conn., to a Rockland, Conn., man have not been pas.seil, but it is said on good authority that the dial has been closed. Moe Silvor. auditor for tlie Mnrk-Straiid theatres in I,ynii and ■Worcester, has recovered fully from his recent operation for niipendleitis and ''Moc** agrnin is on the job ns busy as ever with none of his well-known "pep" lost. One of the busiest men in the Boston film district is Philip Berler, booker for the E. M. Loew circuit of theatres. "Phil" also has to see to it that each house is supplied with the proper advertising matter, so he's on the job virtually around the clock. The Dorchester Theatre in Dorchester was menaced by a Are that swept through the two upper stories of the left wing: of the structure. The blaze was caused by the overheatingof the chimney of the theatre's heating plant. Harvard University benefited handsomely under the will of M. Douglas Flattery, late managing director of the Marcus Loew theatres in Boston. Twenty-flve thousand dollars is left to Harvard to be held in trust for the benefit of the M. Douglas Flattery Fellowship and the M. Dofiglas Flattery Re.voarch in Medicine. Similar amounts were hi tiuoathi d to Mr. Flattery's widow and daughter. The remainder of the estate is left in trust, three-eighths of the income to Mrs. Flattery: one-eighth to the daughter and four-eighths to Harvard. Benjamin and AI Laurie are now managing Keith's Theatre at Campello. The latter Is the son and the former a nephew of Jacob Ijaurie, head of the Laurie circuit pf theatres in suburban Boston. Omaha Contract to Be Let in January SHORTLY after January 1, the contract for the erection of the new theatre of the A. H. Blank interests at Twentieth and Farnam streets in Omaha is to be let, according to an announcement from the Blank office. Excavation is nearly finished now. C. H. Macke of Vail, la., is conducting a contest seeking a suitable name for his new tlieatre recently built there. M. M. Flood of Curtis. Neb., recently bought the Rialto at Litchfield, Neb., from Mr. Daniels. Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Dunn of "Valentine. Neb., saw the Nebraska-Notre Dame football game at Lincoln, Neb., on Thanksgiving Day, after a turkey dinner in Omaha. O. Van Husen, proprietor of the Favorite Theatre at Schuyler, Neb., was an Omaha visitor recently. C. H. Kuhns has bought the Star at Maxwell, Neb., from C. S. Everley. Straight from Shoulder Index — Page 783. Buffalo Theatre Sets Extra Dividend THE directors of the Lafayette Square Theatre, Buffalo, X. Y., have declared an extra dividend of $1 a share on the $100 par capital stock in addition to the regular quarterly dividend of $2.50 a share on theissue. This makes a distribution for the year 1925 of $11 a share. Nick Vassiliadis. manager of the ClintonStrand, was initiated into the mysteries of Ismailia Temple, A. A. O., N. O. T. M. S., the other night. Nick got a warm reception. Stiveral exchange managers, also Nobles of the Shrine, were on hand to enjoy the proceedings Malcolm Gibson will manage the newStrand Theatre to open in Elmira. N. Y., December 21. The house, which has a capacity of 2,500, is owned by Frank A. Keeney. Argument on the appeal of Allan S. Moritz from a decision dispossessing him of the lease of the Ritz Theatre. Niagara Falls, and giving the house back to M. .-Vtlas, owner, will come up for hearing before the Appellate Division in Rochester soon after the beginning of the new year. Ray S. Averill of the Olympic has completed arrangements for the broadcasting of his music programs from the stage every Monday evening by the Norton Laboratories station W.M.A.K., which is in the Lafayettfr Hotel. The new Kenmore Theatre, which Mitchell Fitzer of Syracuse has leased, will open In. Kenmore, N. Y., about January Joseph Schuchert, Jr., has completed redecorating and remodeling the Columbia Theatre in Genesee street. Several rows of seats have been added and some beautiful new carpets laid. Harry Long Arrives In Milwaukee HARRY E. LONG, new managing director of the .Alhambra Theatre, succeeding" Howard Waugh, and his wife, arrived in Milwaukee last week during the height of a. snbw storm, from the sunny South. Mr> Long has just completed a number of years as a picture theatre head in Florida, California and several other of the southern states. He has been a member of the Universal Theatre unit for more than three years. Previous to that he was associated with the Paramount organization. He holds claim to being a middle westerner by birth,, having been reared in Detroit. He left Detroit for New Orleans where he managed a theatre and since then has always managed theatres in the extreme South. Plans for the installation of a new $25,000' organ in the Alhambra has been announced. The new organ will be a Wurlitzer-HopeJones. Harry E. Long is the new manager of the theatre. The Tower Theatre, being erected in Milwaukee by the Saxe Amusement Enterprise, is showing rapid signs of progress. It is expected that the new theatre will be completed by March 1. An elaborate program Is being prepared by the Saxe Amusement Enterprises tor the grand opi ning of their new picture playhouse, the Retlaw, at Fond du T^c, Wis., December 26. While the program is not completed. Ithas been announced that the entire Wisconsin Theatre Orchestra at Milwaukee will be taken to Fond du Lac for the opening night. Bernard Cowham. the popular Wisconsin Theatre organist, will have an important part on the opening night program. City officials and prominent business and professional men will be among the guests of honor. Jimmie Keough, the "million dollar t1' buyer," who had been with the Saxe Enterprises, is now with the Sllliman's Theatres^