Moving Picture World (Sep 1916)

September 16, 1916 THE Ml »\ [NG I'U rURE \\ » >UI.I> VIRGINIA NOTES. The Ghent Theater Reopened. Norfolk, V*a The Qbent theater, Norfolk'* only residential photoplay house, has been reopened under the mai ment of Mr. and Mrs. ii. Trent, formerly of Florence, s. r. The nei» owners have boon on tiu' Chautauqua olroult for a number Of years. Mrs Trent has .1 ver\ and helps to entertain the patrona of the theater on certain nights of the and li la needless to these nights find the bouse crowded to oapaclty. IN NORTH CAROLINA. Colored People Get Concession. nsboro, \. I ' Follow infer ence with a number of prominent colored men of this place, the operators of the theater now in the pi construc tion on the site of the old McAdoo hotel have agreed to devote a part of the balcony to the use of t lie colored people, Grand Back to Vaudeville. Rook Mount. N. ('.—The Grand theater. which has been showing feature pictures all summer, will again be turned into a vaudeville house this month and the feature program is to be transferred at that time to the Alamo theater. Making Over the Alamo. Raleiuh. N. C. — The Alamo, owned and operated by Aronson & Brown, is undergoing very extensive alterations. This Is the oldest house in the city, and naturally lacked some improvements common to modern construction. IN DETROIT. Manager McGee's Birthday. Detroit, Mich. — Forty friends— one for each year of his life — gathered at the Pekin Cafe on Saturday evening, August 26, and celebrated the fortieth birthday of M. W. McGee, manager of the Majestic theater, Detroit. The affair was one riot of good-fellowship. Congratulations, Mac. May you be spared for forty more years, and then some, C. A. Mead a Visitor. Detroit, Mich. — C. A. Mead, new Cleveland manager for the V-L-S-E, was a Detroit visitor the last week in August, holding conference on some important matters with the local manager, Mr. Duncan. The latter, by the way, left the first of September for Petoskey, Mackinac and other northern way ports, where he expects to remain for several weeks in the hope of getting rid of his hay fever. "Doc" Owen Back. Detroit, Mich. — "Doc" Owen, manager ot the Knickerbocker theater, Detroit, returned August 28 from a three weeks' vacation spent at Atlantic City, New York, Boston, Baltimore and Chesapeake Bay. "Doc" met many stage folks along the Boardwalk at Atlantic City whose acquaintances he made while engaged in the theatrical profession. "Doc" has been associated with Frederick Ingersoll, president of the Knickerbocker Amusement Company, for the past fourteen years. Baby's Picture at the Alhambra. Detroit, Mich. — Arrangements are being made to take motion pictures of a limited number of babies who reside in the vicinity of the Alhambra theater, Detroit, managed by Thomas D. Moule for John H. Kunsky. The completed pictures will later be shown on the screen of the Alhambra. No charges are made, but the stunt is bound to pack the theater when the date is announced for showing. Battle Creek, Mich. — Lipp & Cross, of Battle Creek, operating the Strand, Garden and Rex theaters, are building a new and fourth house that will seat 700. Admission will be 5 cents. j New Union Agreement in Detroit Theater Managers' anil Operators' New Working Contract Now in Kltcct — Union Agrees to Pay for Film Destroyed by Fire While Union Is in Charge of Operating Room — Other Features of Interest. B3 Jacob S Di:< (IT, Ml< h been effected between the motion picture th< Motion ru I ure Machine Opi 1 iOC >i No. 199, l. a. T. B, B . and M, P. M the U. 8. and Canada 1 ment, which went into effect September I, calls for a wa il three dolla > week for downtown and outskirts operalurs. with few exceptions, Detroit exhibitors employing union operators have granted the increase. Unusual Features of the Contract. There are a number of unusual rather unique features to the new contrail. One is that the operator is to get 76 rents per hour for all overtime. The union agrees to pay for any film destroyed by tire while the projection equipment is in charge of a member of the union, but no damages will be paid on film that Is sixty days old. Age of film is to be figured from release dates printed in trade magazines. And no damage will be paid unless operating room is equipped according to printed rules furnished by the union. Film from one to ten days old will be paid on the basis of 5 cents per foot; ten to twenty days old. 4 cents per foot; twenty to thirty days old, 3 cents per foot; thirty to sixty days old, 2 cents per foot. Any disputes of the new contract must be settled by a board of arbitration consisting of three members. Either side can cancel contract by two weeks' notice. Other Provisions. The union insists that the following rules must govern the operating room: No smoking permitted; no liquor per is. .1 on rewl nd i driven rnachli ■ proved type; motors mu i i ■ mot Ion plct ui e ma top of t h< at le in diameter for rentlla ti u It h pii" ! air; this pipe must be provided with an ex i ii ot n< ■ o cont mi film not in m e must be so i t bat each reel of film will be In a compartment and with an additional for each reel, and constructed with a hook or band so that It is impossible to I open when film is in compartment All fuse blocks and switches must be enclosed; switch box and Bpeed control for suction fan in ventilation pipe must be outside of operating room. The union will not be responsible for damage to film by fire or otherwise when operators are instructed to project pictures at a speed faster than twelve minutes to one thousand feet of film; no film shall be kept or stored in booth that is not being used as regular attraction advertised and exhibited to the public. Musicians, Too, Want Raise. The Detroit Musicians' Union is also demanding a wage increase of approximately three dollars per man for theaters, but up to this writing the motion picture theaters have not granted same. Most of the theater musicians are engaged in downtown houses, the bulk of the outskirts houses using organs, hence aTe not affected by the musicians' demands. Beautiful Ferry Field Theater Opens Manager Smith Promises That the Slogan of Detroit's New Picture House Will Be "Nothing Too Good." DeWitt C. Shook is manager of the Strand. The first twelve months have been very DETROIT, MICH. — This city's newest and what is declared to be one of the most beautiful theaters in the city, the Ferry Field, at Grand River avenue and the Grand boulevard, opened Thursday, August 31, with Mary Miles Minter in "Youth's Endearing Charm." The Ferry Field is a modern fireproof house seating 1,600. An orchestra, pipe organ, soloists and other features will make a bid for patronage. The decorations are of the Spanish renaissance type, and most of the seats are on the main floor. The Ferry Field was originally the conception of the late Arthur Caille. It is controlled by a corporation, most of the stockholders being residents in the vicinity of the theater. The Ferry Field is in a choice location — one that is developing very fast in population; and with the right kind of entertainment its success is assured. The people in that section will gladly patronize such a beautiful playhouse. Manager Smith says the slogan of the Ferry Field will be "Nothing Too Good." Detroit Business Notes. Detroit, Mich. — John H. Kunsky has signed a contract with the Paramount Pictures Corporation which will give the Washington theater the choice of the two releases each week. Both pictures will be privately screened for Mr. Kunsky each week, and the one he likes the best will receive its first Detroit presentation at the "Washington. This means that the Liberty theater, Bates and Farmer streets, will hereafter do "open" booking. The Strand theater. Grand River and Fourteenth streets, celebrated its first tniversary the week of September 8. successful — more so than was anticipated. R. Von der Goltz, formerly assistant to Manager McGee of the Majestic theater, and for many months since as road representative for the Pathe exchange, has resigned to travel in Michigan for the International Film service. He assumed his new position on Labor Day. L. E. Davis, manager of the International Film Service for Michigan, with headquarters in the Campau building, Detroit, reports that the first week of his campaign for business on the "Beatrice Fairfax" serial he signed up thirty exhibitors for Detroit. He also reports that "The Mysteries of Myra" serial is going very well, and he is anxiously looking forward to the coming International big features. Mr. Mandelbaum, who is building the new theater on Euclid avenue, Cleveland, adjoining the Hotel Statler, was in Detroit last week, inspecting some of our leading theaters for ideas. Mr. Mandelbaum is one of the leading exhibitors in Cleveland as well as one of the best known in the country. Michigan Briefs. Bay City, Mich. — Work has been started by the Commercial Building Company for a new structure at Washington and Fourth avenues, Bay City, part of which will be for a moving picture theater seating 1,032 persons. Port Huron, Mich. — The Family Theater Company, Port Huron, has been incorporated with a capital stock of $15,000. The principal stockholders are Lewis J. Nidford, Allen Appel and Herman Appel