Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

July 6, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 105 was valued at approximately $7,000, the building at $10,000, partly covered by insurance. Indiana Theater Notes. The Index Motion Picture Company, Rockville, Ind., has purchased the business block of the late David B. Ott, at a private auction. The block, which is on the north side of the public square was bid in by the motion picture company at $6,000. The company will make several improvements in the building and will move its theater, which is now in the Harrison block, to that address. The Princess at Kendallville, Ind., a motion picture theater, recently purchased by B. Deardorff, of Goshen, Ind., is being remodeled and redecorated. The contractors are hurrying the work along preparatory to a big opening about July 4, which Mr. Deardorff is planning. O. G. Murray, owner of the Murray and Murrette theaters, Richmond, Ind., has leased both houses to the Merchants' and Bankers' Theater Company, of Chicago, and has announced that he will retire from the moving picture business. Mr. Murray says he intends to devote his entire time to the Poster Advertising Company and an industrial engineering company in which he is interested. The Poster Advertising Company, of which he is the secretary, has billboards in thirty-five towns and cities in this section of the country. Murray is one of the oldest and most experienced theatrical and motion picture men in eastern Indiana. Fifteen years ago he was the pioneer in introducing "small time" vaudeville in the state. Bad Weather Conditions Hit the Northwest Many Exhibitors in Minnesota and the Dakotas Consider the Advisability of Closing Till Late in August — Other Notes. Bj .1. L. Johnston, 719 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, .Minn. GERARD FILM STIRS CHILDREN. Grand Rapids, Michigan, Theater Gives Special Show. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — Fourteen hundred children ranging in age from four years up, attended a special show of the Gerard "My Four Years in Germany," at the Majestic Gardens on Saturday morning. Manager Sid Lawrence said it was the most enthusiastic audience of the week and he was astounded at the intelligence in matters of the war displayed by the children. "They applauded the lines with as much " discernment as any audience this week," he said, "and I consider this a fine tribute to the patriotism and teaching ability of the teachers in the Grand Rapids schools." Gerard's replies and defiance of the German government and his insistence upon American rights inspired cheers and shouts of admiration and enthusiasm. There were no "yellow streaks" in the audience. The keen intelligence and information regarding world affairs as shown on the part of the children, whose ages averaged from 12 to 14, was amazing. IN MINNEAPOLIS. Temporary Directors Elected. Members of the Associated Theaters, Inc., Minneapolis, held a meeting at the Hotel West Tuesday, June 11, at which time a temporary new board of directors was elected and a number of important details relative to the operation of the exchange threshed out. The new board of directors follows: F. E. Bryan, president of the Bankers' National Bank of Minneapolis; O. N. Davies, of Kerr, Fowler, Schmitt & Furber, Minneapolis, attorneys; Oliver Rowe, man. ager of the Blue Mouse theater, St. Paul; Mike Mitchell, manager of the Grandview and lone theaters, Minneapolis; J. M. Bergstrom, Jr., manager of the Nicollet theater, Minneapolis. Secretary Hamlin's report showed that the corporation had 678 stockholders and that the organization despite its small film supply was operating on a paying basis and that it expected to expand its work within a short time when the financial condition of the body would permit of its securing territorial rights to big productions. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A month ago load men returning to the city following various visits to different cities and towns of the territory reported that conditions were splendid and that from all appearances crops being well started toward a bumper harvest and country exhibitors would enjoy a good summer business in almost all sections. However about two weeks ago a series of heavy rain storms struck the Northwest and the motion picture theater a hefty blow. Following the termination of the wet spell exhibitors expected to see a good business spell but directly following the rainy spell came one of extremely hot days and nights and it looks at the present time as if ten per cent of the country exhibitors will close their theaters until late in August. The Strand at Huron, S. D., one of the leading Dakota theaters and the New Palace, Staples, Minn., were among the theaters that closed up tight for about a month, during the last few days. Throughout Minnesota and the Dakotas the number of theaters that are cutting down their show days per week is increasing speedily. Showings everywhere have suffered considerably during the past three weeks because of climatic conditions and road shows that are battling the weather on one side and the increased transportation costs on the other have found their profits meager indeed in this territory of late. In the cities the free band concerts in the parks and fishing parties have been more popular for the past three weeks. "Pershing's Crusaders" in St. Paul. St. Paul, Minn. — "Pershing's Crusaders," the official government motion picture, opened a week's engagement at the St. Paul Metropolitan Opera House, Sunday June 16, to a splendid business despite the heat. The film reveived some splendid co-operation from the various patriotic and commercial bodies of the city. It will be shown at the Minneapolis Metropolitan the week beginning June 23. A. Fisher Takes the Chair at Metro. A. Fisher, former manager of the Metro exchange at Montreal has been named successor to Louis H. Coen as manager of the Minneapolis Metro exchange. Mr. Fisher is scheduled to assume his new duties Monday June 24. S. A. Shirley traveling auditor for the Metro exchange is at present acting manager of the Metro office here and will remain in the city until the new executive is installed. Olga Petrova Expected. Mme. Olga Petrova, independent film star, will arrive in the Twin Cities within the next two weeks to boost the War Savings Stamp campaign. Mme. Petrova recently added the Twin Cities to her national tour due to the many requests made for her personal appearance in these cities by local War Stamp units through their officials and exhibitors. What Exhibitors Are Doing. Another woman exhibitor was added to the Northwest ranks last week when Mrs. A. Filby took over the management of the Crystal theater at Iroquois, S. D., when her husband was drafted into the National army. Following R. C. Gibbs announcement that the Strand theater Huron, S. D., would close for the summer managers of the Lounge and the Idle Hour theaters of the same city have been considering following suit. Joe Jensen has taken over the management of the Princess theater at Lake Preston, S. D. His son, the former man ager, having been drafted into the National army. .1. S. Woodhouse, former publicity manibi i for the Finkelstein & Ruben interests and more recently manager of the Calhoun and Lagoon theaters, Minneapolis, has taken over the management of the Southern theater here and will announce a new policy of pictures and special musical programs shortly. Keough Has Succeeded at New Lyric. James A. Keough whose smiling physiognomy is here shown is manager of the New Lyric theater, Minneapolis, one of the recent purchases of the Finkelstein & Ruben circuit. Few of Mr. Keough's predecessors at the New Lyric helm have found it a "smiling" job for, with all due respect to those who man Jas. A. Keough. aged the theater previously, it did not prove a money maker to any great extent. In about eight months Mr. Keough has brought the Lyric back into the front rank where it appears it will remain. Mr. Keough managed the Minneapolis Strand for Saxe brothers for over a year and. also managed the Alcazar theater in Chicago for a time. Several years ago Mr. Keough was a drummer (not a traveling salesman) but finding managerial jobs to be had and not quite so monotonous as drumming, he "beat it" into the executive ranks aand has remained there since. Jimmy Keough is known to practically every exhibitor of the Northwest and is one of the most popular showmen in the territory. Notes About the Exchangemen. Louis Nathanson, a Minneapolis film salesman, has purchased the territorial rights to "Redemption" Evelyn Nesbit Thaw's feature which proved a splendid box office attraction at the Minneapolis Lyric and St. Paul New Princess theaters recently. C. F. Regan of New York City has joined the local Vitagraph salesforce and will leave for a tour of Northern Minnesota within a few days. Manager E. S. Flynn of the Fox exchange returned from the conference of Fox managers at New York last week and stated that he was glad to get back. Frank Thayer, manager of the Supreme exchange was on the same train that brought Mr. Flynn back from New York. Mr. Thayer expects to make an announcement regarding some new film acquisitions shortly.