The Moving picture world (January 1926-February 1926)

Sivitching the ^pOtlight to the Sochibitor Sdited bij Pamner Smith Meyers Purchases Schenectady Theatre UNABLE to persuade his landlord to enlarge the theatre lie was renting, John L. Meyers, an exhibitor in Schenectady, naturally did 'the next best thing and bought the house. He now plans to enlarge it considerably. The theatre is located in the residential section and seats 247, running seven nights a week. Mr. Meyers is taking his son in with him and they plan to add about twenty-five feet to the width of the house and double that on the rear. Mr. Meyers has a unique way of booking his pictures and dating them in, and one that keeps peace in the film family among the exchanges. For instance, his plan calls for Universal pictures on Monday night, Paramoimt on Tuesday, Metro-Goldwyn on Wednesday, and so forth. Mr. Meyers has found that westerns are well liked and he sprinkles at least one of these in each week. When it comes to the over-boisterous boy, his method is to give him the air until such time as he is willing to announce his intention of remaining quiet and orderly. Friends of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Milligan, well known and well liked exlnlbitors of Schu.vlerville, extend through these columns their thanks for the New Year's greetings that reached them on January 1. Bill Shirley of Schenectady is perfectly content these days to sit tight and steer clear of Florida real estate. Bill made his pile when he sold his interest in the Schenectady theatres, and is said to have added considerably to it through his deals in Florida land. He has sold everything, however, in the South, and being an active soit of a man. it would not be strange if he was heard from some of these days as the owner of a large theatre somewhere in New York State. The other dny Mr. SnnschnRrin, who fa opening a new theatre In Saranae Lake, »va« talking with Austin Inteminte, local manager for Warner Brothers. Mr, Interrante, in discussing his rather unnsiial name, said that It meant "travel on earth." Not to he outdone, Mr. Sanschngrin stated that his name meant "without grief." So the two men shook hands and declared the combination a good one as •they could travel life's highway without trouble. A. E. Pearson, who formerly ran the picture theatres in Norwood and Winthrop, is now a full fledged resident of Clayton, having moved his family there, and is now operating the theatre there. Walter Roberts, the sheik-Uke manager of the Troy Theatre, is sporting a dressing gown, the gift of his employees. Mr. Roberts is planning to buy a new car in the near future and his conversation these days smacks largely of spark plugs, carburetors and upkeep. The quietest and most retiring exhibitor in all Now York State, is probably Frank Briggs of the Clinton Square in Albany. Mr. Briggs is proving himself a good showman, and rarely, If ever, goes further in conversation than a "yes" or a "no." Carl Phillips of Watertown, who recently bought the Antique Theatre In that city, is planning to take over the house on March 1 and run It himself. The theatre has been one of the Robbins group In the northern town. The Plaza in Chestertown, which has been run by H. C. Richardson, has been taken over by the American Legion of that village. NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH^ TONY VEILLER, manager of the Mark Strand in Albany, has been having his troubles these days with cats. Sometime ago, Mrs. Veiller found a black kitten on the street and immediately adopted it. It had to have a companion, so a gray and white was added to the family. The latter wandered away, however, and Tony replaced it with a beautiful Angora which cost him a portion of his week's sa'ary. The little black fellow died on Chr'stmas Day, but has been replaced by one which U!y S. Hill, managing director of the Strand houses in Troy and Albany, brought in from the country. With two cats again in the household, Tony has just received word that his father intends to send him a bull pup as a present. Now the question is will the cats stay or will the bull pup re'gn supreme, or will peace be declared and all three become members of the Vei ler household. A black cat crossed the road in front of Morris Silverman, owner of the Happy Hour and Pearl Theatres in Schenectady, as he was leaving Albany, late one afternoon last week. The sequel of this lies in the fact that during the seventeen miles between the two cities, Morris suffered only three blowouts and the distance was covered in a trifle over two hours. Mr. Silverman, supperless, arrived at his theatre at 7:30 o'clock. The Regent of St. Regis Falls, run by D. C. Aldrich, has closed for the winter. M. Paul Meyer, who runs the Woodlawn In Schenectady, plans to spend about $10,000 this year on a new house that will occupy the same site. Mr. Meyer figures out that there are about 6,000 residents in the section of the city where he is located, and that with the bigger and more attractive house he will get more business. His present theatre seats 425 and being run this winter for the first time in its history. He intends to reserve a considerable area in the rear of the house for the parking of cars. It was a regular New Year's carnival at Mike Freedman's house, the Rialto, in Schenectady, on the last day of the year. Mike decided to blow himself with an unusually good bill of entertainment, and the way the people flocked to the theatre was a caution. Two women, Mrs. Elizabeth Fonda and Gertrude Meyers, are running the Grand Theatre, a 300-seat house in Scotia, and doing very well, thank you. Mrs. Fonda does the buying and her sister Gertrude acts as manager. The house is operating six nights to the week and ran last summer for the first summer in Its history. A new wrinkle was tried out with considerable success at the State Theatre In Schen ectady, New Year's week. A midnight show was given, starting at 11:30 o'clock, and with an advance sale of reserve seats at regular prices. The idea of an advance sale is something new to the city and assured late patrons of a seat. Unless business picks up in Schenectady the chances are that Morris Silverman may not erect a new theatre he has planned and whicli would replace the Pearl. Mr. Silverman had been planning to invest about $40,000 in the new house. Thirty employees of the Farash Theatres in Schenectady voted James Roach, manager of the chain, a piince of good fellows the other night when he iilayed host at a dinner wliich got under way at 11 o'cloclj and lasted for two or three hours. Incidentally, the Broadway Theatre, which is being renovated by Mr. Roach, will reopen on February 1 as a 15-cent house. Miss Betty Feuer, who runs the Crescent in Schenectady, presided at a Clirisinias party given at the theatre for the employees. Of course Miss Feuer has been busy tliese last few days between her tlieatre and the many parties in the Electric City. The Robbins houses in Watertown, observed anniversary week with exceiitionally good bills. The anniversary marlioj the advent of Nate Robbins in the nortliern city. According to all reports, George Dwore, a well know exhibitor in Schenectady and secretary of the Albany Zone, is planning to open a law office in tlie spring but will still retain his interest in the theatres. In these days of ^-'t-'LOCO or more gross for the week, a little rcnideiitifil house In Schenectady prcNciitN :i marked cuulrast. II occurred during one of tlie cold niglitN a week ago, aiKl riglit after Chrisfniiis wlicii patrons were few and far lietnccn. The yonng man in the box oflice ran over to the owner of the house and remarked: •*Get me some iiickcl.s." "How many are there In the till?" Inquired the e-xhibitor. "One," said the cashier. "It's enough," came back the answer. No turkey for Frank Braymaler, manager of the Barcli in Schenectady, when there Is a rabbit in sight. Mr. Braymaier had rabbit on Christmas Day, and possibly tucked away the left hind foot, for right afterward came the announcement that he would handle the advertising and exploitation of all six Farash theatres In Schenectady. McKane & LaRoque have taken over the Columbia Theatre in Moira, which has been operated by Lawrence & White. If the bowlers among the Troy theatres are as good as they declare themselves to be, there is an opportunity for an interesting little match with the pin topplers from the Schenectady theatres. In other words, Claude Pish, owner of the American In Schenectady, would like to hear from the Troy crowd for a series of three or more games. And speaking of Mr. Fish, he received a pleasant little surprise Christmas morning in the shape of an umbrella and a pen and pencil set from his employees. The umbrella will come in particularly handy as someone made off with his other one a few weeks ago. Monday night Is the big event of the week in the life of Edward Walsh of the Albany Theatre In Schenectady. He announces each of the amateur acts, and when all of the amateurs have finished It's Mr. Walsh who walks out on the stage and holds the prize above the heads of each and then listens to the applause before deciding the winner.