Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

106 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD July 6, 1918 Intense Heat on Coast Causes a Slump Exhibitors in the Interior Tell of High Temperatures and a Decided Slackening of Business — Operators Are Scarce. By T. A. Church, 1507 North Street, Berkeley, Cal. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. — Exhibitors from interior points who have visited this city of late bring word of intense heat and a decided slump in attendance at moving picture theaters. In many places airdomes were formerly used during the summer months, but the use of these will be very limited this year on account of the daylight saving plan. A few have been opened, but darkness comes at such a late hour that these are not proving a success. Some idea of the intensity of the heat may be judged from the fact that on June 11 the temperature at Red Bluff reached 110 degrees, while Sacramento was but two degrees cooler. Fresno escaped with 104 degrees, while San Francisco was comfortable with 72 degrees. At Needles, In southern California, the mercury rose to 122 degrees, and the century mark was passed at many places. In the large cities elaborate ventilating and cooling plans serve to make theaters comfortable, but in smaller places there are no such conveniences and attendance suffers during such hot spells as the recent one. While ideal weather has prevailed at San Francisco, business has shown a falling off and is well below normal. Even big war features, which were such drawing cards a few weeks ago, fail to appeal, and exhibitors are again looking for dramas, especially those with a touch of comedy. To add to the troubles of theater owners there is now a marked scarcity of help and girl ushers are being trained at many houses. There is a scarcity of operators, a number of these having sought employment at the shipbuilding plants, where hinh waces are being paid, with but few learning the trade. Harry Oviatt Goes to Atlas. Harry Oviatt, formerly manager of the local Pathe exchange, but more recently with the Select Pictures Corporation, has Joined the forces of the Atlas Educational Film Corporation as special representative anil will devote much of his attention to promoting the distribution of the Devry projector. Sol L. Lesser recently purchased one of these machines for home use, while Nat A Manger has purchased one for the Liberty Film exchange. Joe Cohen Returns to Honolulu. Joe Cohen, head of the Consolidated Amusement Company, will sail for Honolulu in a few days, but plans to return to this city within a few weeks. He recently completed arrangements for handling "My Four Years in Germany" throughout the territory of Hav M. & R. Make Large Purchases. The M. & R. Feature Film exchange has secured the California, Arizona and Nevada rights to "Eyes of the World" and all other Clune productions, and will also handle "Mother" in this territory. Its management is conferring with Jerome Abrams, of the Hoffman Foursquare, who is making a short stay here, and a deal may lie completed whereby the releases of this concern will also be handled. Bruce and Kohn Visit Yosemite. Robert Bruce, of the Educational Film Corporation, and Marion H. Kohn, of the Consolidated Film Corporation, which handles the releases of this concern on the Pacific Coast, recently returned from a trip to the Yosemite, where some fine scenics were made. Mr. Kohn plans to leave on a visit to the Seattle branch shortly. Exhibitors in Town. Among the exhibitors who found It very necessary to come to San Francisco to attend to booking business when the hot spell broke recently were: A A. Richards, of the Tokay theater, Lodi. of the Lyric theater, the Modesto theater, I. D. Stanford Chico. A. A. Bererd, of Modesto. I. M. Morris, of the Sequoia theater, Sacramento. Charles Godard, of Godard's J St. theater, Sacramento. John Di Stasio, of the Liberty theater. Sacramento. Frank Atkins, of the Atkins opera house, Marysville. J. D. French, of the Rex theater, Newman. Charles Fraler, Tracy, and A. Pezzutti. Crockett. Sensible Seating Rule. No exhibitor likes to have his patrons disturbed during the closing climax of a highly dramatic production and many attempts have been made to induce people to come to moving picture theaters at specified times to avoid this. J. L Partington, of the Imperial theater, recently announced. In connection with the advertising of "Old Wives for New," that on account of the dramatic intensity of the ng scenes no one would be seated during the last fifteen minutes of each presentation. The starting and closing times were published and Intending patrons were asked to preserve the list for reference. War Exposition Billed for July. Through the efforts of the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World, which is to hold its annual convention in San Francisco In July, the United States Government has decided to present its War Exposition for a period of three H • This will be similar to the one recently held in Baltimore, but will be three I as large. Not only will tanks from the battlefields of Europe be on exhibition, but a captured German submarine and thousands of trophies from northern France will be shown. The entire exposition will be und'i the direction of Charles S Hart. 1ms of the committee on public information. Pickwick Club on Film Row. nssions ranging from "My Four Years in Germany" to "To Hal] with the Kaiser." form an interesting feature of irly morning sessions of the Pickwick Chili, which meets each day In the of the Consolidated Film Corporation on Film Row. Such dignitaries as Louis Reiilnrt. of the Metro; Nat A. Magner, of the Liberty Film exchange; Meyer Qeoi ■ Del ne System, and Reuben Cohen, gather to disseminate the latest film news, the club receiving its name for the portly bearings of lte components. Having a superfluity of Pickwicks the club is now looking for the Sam Weller of the film exchange busU ness. Why not pick on E. O. Child, of the Pathe exchange? New Wurlitzer Representative Here. George H. Leathurby, who recently retired as manager of the factory branch of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company maintained here In order to engage in the musical instrument business on his own account, has been succeeded by I. H. Lyons, formerly with the Wurlitzer Company in the Southwest. General Books Color Film. The General Film Company is handling the new color pictures made by Leon F. Douglass, and has booked the first of these for presentation at the Imperial theater at an early date. San Francisco Briefs. Considerable interest is being shown in the Outing-Chester pictures to be released through the Mutual, and a trade showing will be made shortly of the first offerings. Si« Cahen, formerly of the poster department of the Famous Players-Lasky Corp., is now a booker. Howard Sheehan, of Sheehan & Lurie, Is back from a trip to Eureka to inspect the new theater to be opened the first of July. Vernon R. Moore, for several years with the Famous Players-Lasky Corp. as publicity man and salesman, has resigned to outer the U. S. Merchant Marine and will sail shortly on the training ship Iris. Edward H. Kemp, recently shipped a Motiograph projection machine to Shaffer Bros., who will use it in the Yosemite Valley during the vacation season. "Intolerance" was recently brought back to the Cort theater for a week's run at 25, 35 and 50 cents. A shooting affair occurred recently at the Lyceum theater on Kearny street, Oertrude Smith, the piano player, being shot twice by Harry Forman, an admirer. She will recover. Notes From Northern California. Gridley, Cal. — Fink's theater Is being enlarged and a balcony added. This house Is conducted under the personal direction of Fred Fink, Jr., who recently graduated from high school. He Is one of the youngest theater managers in the state. Santa Cruz, Cal. — O. K. Westcott. of the Grand theater, has been very ill, but is now on the road to recovery. Alameda, Cal. — The Hamblen theater, recently purchased by Sheehan & Lurie, Is now known as the Rialto theater. Oakland, Cal. — The Broadway Hippodrome Company has been Incorporated with a capital stock of $80,000 by Jacob S. . B. B. Smith, II. Zanetin and T. Za netin. Blank Enterprises Will Locate in Omaha Moines Will Have Small Branch — E. C. Holah Becomes Branch Will Be Opened in Kansas City. By J. L. Shipley, 618 Locust Street, Des Moines, la. Manager and a DF.S MoIXKS. IA— The big event in local tilm circles the past week was the announcement of the transfer of the A. II Blank Hnterprises, distributors of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit attractions and other state rights features, from Des Moines to Omaha. C. E. Holah, formerly manager for Pathe In Omaha, and recently with the United Theaters Corporation, becomes branch manof the Omaha office. A small branch office will be continued in Des Moines, according to present plans, for the distribution of film in eastern and southeastern Iowa. It is also announced that a Kansas City office for distribution in Kansas and in Missouri for the Blank films controlled for these states will be opened shortly. Sam. S. Schwarz will act as general auditor for the three offices and will look after the Des Moines branch. The growing business of the Blank film interests necessitated such a move, and It Is believed that with the superior railroad facilities out of Omaha a much greater number of accounts can be successfully served. In assuming the management of the Omaha office Mr. Holah brings a wealth of ripe experience In film circles. He has a splendid record as salesman and executive and Is a most successful publicity man as well. Mr. Holah is very popular with Nebraska and Iowa exhibitors and Is a most happy choice for the new position.