Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

July 6, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 101 Rochester Trade Letter Coal Has Come, Hurry for Yours. Exhibitors By L. B. Skeffington, 61 Main St., East, Rochester, N. Y. Will Run Theater at Aviation Camp. ROCHESTER, N. Y.— Ellis A. Wolff proprietor and manager of the Palace theater, has been honored by being given the managership of the new Liberty theater at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, by the Commission on Camp Activities of the War Department. The Palace theater is on Hudson avenue and is one of the larger residential section houses. Becomes Showman in Camp Bowie. Paul A. Fennyvessey, formerly manager of the Strand theater and younger son of Albert A. Fennyvessey, president and general manager of the Theaters Operating Company, is now at Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, Texas, where he is in charge of the Liberty theater. Paul always was a "versatile" showman, and his many ;ind varied experiences in the game should make the Camp Bowie brand of entertainment really worth while. A Popular Manager. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week were "Kiddie Days" at the Plymouth theater. Joe Stoeffel, the energetic manager of that house, has made himself the most popular man in the neighborhood with all of the kids and many of the grown-ups. On these days most all of the kids of the section had the opportunity to see themselves on the Plymouth serein. Joe had a photographer scour the neighborhood for all the good-looking kids and line them up for some homegrown movies. Joe doesn't care if D. W. Griffith can make better films than he can, he says that he's willing to bet that he is more popular in his bailiwick, especially with the proud parents of the capering youngsters, than all the first line directors in the country. IN BUFFALO. Must Now Renew Licenses. Buffalo exhibitors are among the business men who have been notified by Vincent R. Riordan, collector of internal revenue of this district, that all Government licenses expire June 30. He warns that all doing business in July without the license will be prosecuted. He also says no uncertified checks will be received. Two New Universal Salesmen. F. S. Hopkins, manager of the Universal exchange, Buffalo, is installing a new projection room. He has added to his sales forces A. Beckerisch, formerly with the Pioneer Film, and J. Kirsch, formerly with the General. Mr. Hopkins reports grdat business with "The Kaiser1, the Beast of Berlin." He was visited this week by A. J. Sardina, Hippodrome theater, Syracuse; S. Rea, Starland theater, Syracuse, and C. L. Babcock, Lyric theater, Wellsville, N. Y. "The Victor Film Service of Buffalo has changed its name to the Universal Film Exchanges, Inc.," said Mr. Hopkins. "This is merely a change in name only. The Universal has standardized the names of its branch offices, Buffalo's office now being known as Branch L." Carey Wilson Boosting Army Film. Carey Wilson, manager of the First National exchange, New York, recently visited Irving Hanower, manager of the company's Buffalo branch, to look over the situation on the First National's newly acquired picture, "Pershing's Crusaders," controlled by the National Committee of Public Information. This picture was shown recently to large crowds at the Majestic theater, Buffalo. Mr. Hanower expects this picture to go over big in this territory, surpassing anything since "The Birth of a Nation." Mr. Wilson interviewed Harold B. Franklin of Shea's Hippodrome, Earl Crabb of the Strand, Walter Hays of the Mark Enterprises and other Buffalo film men. Buffalo Fuel Administrator Advises Users of Coal to Lay in Their Supply at Once — City Is Now Well Supplied. (By Joseph A. McGuire, 152 North Elmwood avenue, Buffalo, N. Y. Telephone, Bell, Tupper 6296-J.) BUFFALO, N. Y. — Get your winter's coal in NOW, Mr. Exhibitor and Mr. Exchangeman. This is the advice of Howard A. Forman, of Buffalo, fuel administrator for Erie County, N. Y. Remembering the barn-like atmosphere of some of the local theaters last winter, many of the film men are heeding Mr. Forman's advice. Paraphrasing an old proverb, they believe a ton of coal in the cellar is worth two on a distributing ticket. During the past two months the government has sent here as much coal as was received in this city during the entire winter. The fuel administrator believes Buffalo will be well taken care of in its coal requirements during the coming fall and winter. His advice to the film men Is: "Buy your coal now, even if you have to borrow the money." Another Buffalo Manager Honored. Mat Whitman, manager of the Allendale moving picture theater, Buffalo, has resigned to succeed Edward L. Hyman as manager of the Liberty theater at Camp Wheeler, Macon, Ga. Mr. Hyman, who formerly managed the Victoria theater, Buffalo, will now manage the Liberty theater at Camp Taylor. "Ed. Hyman was so successful in managing the Liberty theater at Camp Wheeler that the Government is giving him a more difficult position in charge of a similar house at Camp Taylor," said Mr. Whitham. Of the thirty-two Liberty theaters in the United States two are managed by Buffalonians. Friends of Messrs. Hyman and Whitham are proud of the record. George A. Hickey Wins Coveted Prize. Buffalo film men — competitors and all — are congratulating George A. Hickey, manager of the Goldwyn exchange, this city, because he won second prize in the sales contest, a national event, which the Goldwyn company closed recently. Mr. Hickey this week is poking fun at that bugaboo, old Mr. H. C. L., because George has just deposited in a local bank $500 in gold — not stage, but real money' — which is his tangible prize money. The reason for Mr. Hickey's success in the country-wide contest is that he is a hundred-per cent, plugger. He doesn't depend on roaid men to get him the business. He goes out and fights for it himself. During the three months of the contest he combed the Buffalo territory thoroughly. Using his car, he visited hundreds of theaters, and with good sales results. Mr. Hickey has received a letter of congratulations from Paul H. Bush, Goldwyn manager of St. Louis. Near the close of the race these two ran neck and neck, but the Buffalonian grabbed the second prize in a spectacular last-week spurt. Mr. Hickey received similar congratulations from Comptroller Schay of the Goldwyn. Higher Fares and the Film Shows. Buffalo's street car fare will be raised from five to six cents. The City Council has adopted a resolution permitting this advance, which will go into effect shortly. The extra income of the company will be used to pay the railway employees higher wages. They threatened to strike if they were not granted this concession. With higher rates on the trolleys and steam roads many people will be more disposed at times to save the additional expense and give extra patronage to their neighborhood film houses instead of making the trip to the big theaters downtown. Uncle Sam With Sword at Shea's. Harold B. Franklin, of Shea's Hippodrome, Buffalo, recently had as his stage setting a large figure of Uncle Sam, sword in hand, commanding the forces of Treasury and State to win the war. Mr. Franklin and S. A. Anderson, a Buffalo florist, will have charge of the erection of a large floral arch at Lafayette Square. This will be one of the big features of the War Saving Stamp campaign week, June 22-28. An indicator each day will show the amount of money pledged for war stamps in the previous twenty-four hours. The arch will be illuminated at night and covered with flowers. Buffalo Brevities. Irving Hanower, manager of the First National exchange, Buffalo, recently visited Rochester, Syracuse, Elmira, and Utica in the interest of "Girard's Four Years in Germany" and "Tarzan of the Apes." "Considering the time of year and conditions, A. T. Barnett, our road man, is putting over some good work," said Mr. Hanower. The United Film Service, Buffalo, is handling "The Public Defender" for the Modern Feature Photoplays in this territory. Display Windows at Fox Film Exchange, Buffalo, N. Y.