Moving Picture World (Sep 1916)

September ". l'-'lt THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 17. tM — limilll!lllll!IIIIIIIIIIIWIII!ll!'!lllllll llllllllllllll^-jJIIIIIIIM IIIHIIMII.lTTp Trade News of the Week ^ GATHERED BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS American Boys in France Filmed Newport, R. I., Society Sees Picture Made by French Government to Honor Her American Soldier Boys — Is Called "Our American Boys and the European War" — Proceeds to Aid American Ambulance Corps. By William M. Flynn, SO Summer Street, Boston, Mass. NEWPORT, R. I.— Probably one of the most fashionable audiences that ever gathered at a moving picture show was nt at Newport. R. I., this week, when war films entitled "Our American end the European War," were shown under the patronage of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Astor. The show took place in their magnificent ballroom at Beechwood. Mrs. August Belmont, Mrs. Borden Harriman, Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney and Mrs. Ethel Harriman were among the patronesses. Mrs. Ethel Harriman was chairman of the committee in charge of the affair. The exhibition took place at 5.30 P. M. and it seems as though all the notables in the blue book of society were present. Those in the audience to witness the pictures could have written checks for close to a billion dollars. The pictures were taken under the auspices of the French government as a tribute to the work done by the American Ambulance Corps, and were brought to this country by Robert Bacon, ex-ambassador to France. Of the 348 members of the American Ambulance Corps, in which nearly every state in the Union is represented, eighty-six are from the New England States and of these sixty-eight came from Massachusetts. Later the picture will be shown at various other summer resorts, and in October will be shown in Boston. The proceeds of the various exhibitions of the picture will be turned over to Lee, Higginson & Co., who will see that they reach the American Ambulance Corps in France. S. W. Hand Manager at World Film. Boston. — S. W Hand, formerly assistant sales manager of the New York office of the World Film Corporation, nas taken over the management of the Boston exchange. He was formerly head ot the Boston office and about a year ago went to the New York office in the sales department. Mr. Hand is receiving a hearty welcome back to Boston from the hundreds of New England exhibitors with whom he worked for many years. He is familiar with the entire Eastern territory and during his management of the Bradymade features will spend much of his time among the exhibitors. His assistant, G. J. Shaefer, will look after the detailed office work while Mr. Hand is on the road. The Brady-made features have just been sold to the Union Square, a new theater in Lewiston, Me., under the management of E. C. Denault. Bernard M. Corbett Dies. Boston, Mass. — Word has just been received in Boston of the death at Houlton, Me., of Bernard M. Corbett, formerly of No. 152 West Concord street, Boston. He was president and treasurer of the New England Criterion Film Company, and was widely known in the motion picture supply business. For several years he was business agent of the Boston Moving Picture Operators' Union. Mr. Corbett was 32 years old. Some time ago he underwent an operation. He was a member of the Winthrop Lodge of Elks. He leaves a wife, a year old daughter and four brothers. Reopening of the Tremont. Boston, Mass. — Opening the thoroughly rebuilt Tremont thearte on Labor Day. Sept. 4, the attraction will be "Civilization." The theater stage was burned by a fire that nearly wrecked the entire theater six months ago. Since that time the entire auditorium of the theater has been rebuilt, the stage enlarged and made over and the auditorium redecorated and refurnished. Too Many Scripts Submitted. Boston, Mass. — Because of the great flood of manuscrips that were submitted, it is announced by the Boston Traveler and the Atlas Film Company, which conducted a $1,000 scenario contest, that the announcement of the awards will be delayed and cannot be made on September first. The readers of the scenarios say that most of the amateur authors reached into the lower" walks of life for their theme, making the general trend of all stories towards crime. Stealing, kidnapping, illegitimacy, betrayed young women, ministers sons who went wrong, etc.. were the general stories told. Some of the manuscripts were labeled: "This is the story of my life," or "This is an honest-to-goodness true story." A New Incorporation. Boston, Mass. — The New England Photo Play Company of Boston has been incorporated with the following directors: J. D. Ferguson, Edward H. Kelly and Geo. E. McNamara. The company is capitalized for 590,000. Gem Amusement Buys Theater. Boston, Mass. — The Gem Amusement Company, Incorporated, has bought the interest of Charles B. Reid and Nellie D. Reid in the buliding known as the Newton Opera House, situated on Center street, Newton. The property is valued at $65,000. The new owners plan to run an up-to-date moving picture house at this location. Two New England Local Films. The Leominister, Mass., "Enterprise" and the Attleboro, Mass., "Sun" are runningmoving picture contests to pick out the most popular young men and young women to take the feature parts In a moving picture production. The productions are named "A Romance of ((lie name of the town). Great interest is being shown iii no con testa in both cities and contestants are making a wild scramble for votes. Herman Rifkin, manager of the Eastern Features Film Company, has arranged with the Boston Sunday Herald to ■any a weekly story on "The Yellow Menace," which is released in the New England district September 4. This feature film, Mr. Rifkin says, has been the biggest seller in the New England district of any feature he has ever handled. With the aid of special publicity the feature is expected to make a clean-up. Live News of Virginia Shows. New Houses — Changes in Policy — Houses Closed — Orchestras and Music. By Clarence D. Linz, 635 Tenth St., N. E., Washington, D. C. RICHMOND, Va — The Strand theater is hereafter to be the home of Triangle in this city, according to the program of the Wells interests, for the Bijou theater, controlled by the same people, at which these films have been shown in the past, will open its doors on October 1 as a legitimate house, with road shows. The Strand has been completely renovated for its opening with the big features. It will have the Bijou orchestra and the equipment used at that theater in connection with the films. Richmond, Va. — Plans have been filed with the building inspector here covering the transformation of the building at 114 East Broad street into a motion picture theater. It is estimated that it will cost $4,000 to do this work. The building is a three-story structure. Upon being turned into a theater the upper story will remain unoccupied. Norfolk, Va. — The Bonita theater, according to current report, will close its doors on September 1, and with its passing goes the last of the five-cent motion picture shows in the downtown section. Roanoke, Va. — The management of the Jefferson theater has secured a five-piece orchestra, under the leadership of Dan Mannix, to furnish music daily at that house. In addition to this, the Roanoke Orchestral Society, which is composed cf some of the best musicians in the city, under the direction of Francis Goodman, will give concerts twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays. It is stated that on these special evenings there will be twenty-five pieces in the orchestra and that a fine program of music will be provided. Norfolk, Va. — The Hofheimer Brothers are planning the installation at their Strand theater here of a twenty-five piece orchestra and are about to close that house for a week in order that proper preparations, including the fixing of an orchestra pit, can be made. At the same time the house will be thoroughly renovated and put in readiness for the fall business.