Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

July 6, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD HI 107 Mr. Schwarz has been with the Blank interests since their inception two years ago and continues in a responsible position in which he has made good, and is more than equal to the added duties the new arrangement will bring. Mr. Holah will announce his sales force within a few days and General Manager Blank will be able to announce his plans for the Kansas City office within two weeks. Iowa Personal Notes. Sam S. Schwarz is enjoying home life again. Mrs. Schwarz and the three children have come on from Denver, where they have been making their home for the past several years. Manager Frankle, of the Rialto, announces that he has contracted for the Fox Standard pictures as well as the Fox specials and the Sunshine comedies. Harry Watts, of the Palace, did big business during the hottest week of the summer with "Carmen of the Klondike." A cleverly arranged billboard campaign, backed up with good salesmanship in newspaper publicity, brought capacity business during the four days of the run. W. L. Myers, formerly manager of the Palace theater of Waterloo for several years, during which he established himself as one of Iowa's foremost exhibitors, has assumed the managerial reins at the Casino, Marshalltown, which J. E. Hostettler of Waterloo recently purchased. Mr. Myers has already started his usual livewire methods of publicity and has put the Casino back on the map with a vengeance. Select, Paralta, Fox Standard, and other high-class state rights features, make up the programs. J. Jolly Jones, manager of Blank's Strand at Marshalltown, was a Des Moines visitor during the past week, having driven up in his new car. Mr. Jones reports business good despite the hot weather. Wm. Fraser, former manager of the Fraser theater, at Spencer, la., and who has been conducting two theaters at Mitchell, S. D., during the past year, is about to dispose of his Dakota holdings and once more become an Iowa exhibitor. He has two locations under consideration and will close for one or both of them within the month, he states. The drawing power of "Tarzan of the Apes," the First National attraction, was closely demonstrated during its second run at the Royal theater at Des Moines, Trade News Brevities from Portland, Ore. DAVENPORT FILM JOTTINGS. By Joe Esler, Traveling Representative of Moving Picture World. Quality Film Company Formed. DAVENPORT, IOWA.— A new film company has been formed at Davenport, la., under the name of the Quality Film Co. and C. P. Holmes and Ira L. Swanson are the managers of the new concern. They will specialize on animated advertising along commercial lines and have opened an office and studio at 208 Iowa st. in Davenport. Many Theater Men Go to Camp. Among the men called to the colors from Davenport theaters during the past week are: Robert Hinchman — Empire Hippodrome, to Camp Gordon, Georgia. Frank Anarino — Savoy theater, to Camp Gordon, Georgia. George Augustine — Savoy theater, to Camp Gordon, Georgia. Chester Wyckoff — Princess, Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Mo. Don O'Neill — Quincy theater, Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Mo. Joe O'Neill — Quartermaster Department, Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Mo. Harris O'Farrell, the well known composer of "Everybody loves a Soldier Boy" and trombone player in the O'Farrell's dance orchestra, also Sidney Hausman, a member of the Hill Jazz Orchestra have enlisted in the navy and are stationed at the Great Lakes Station. They expect to join the Great Lakes band. Film Man Says Picture Prospects Are Better in Northwest Than in Changes Among the Distributing Offices. By Abraham Nelson, 601 Journal Bldg., Portland, Ore. Califot PORTLAND, ORE. — The future outlook for the picture industry in the Pacific Northwest is much better than in California, says C M. Hill and Harry Hunter, manager and assistant manager, respectively, of the Portland Paramount-Artcraft exchange, after a trip South for the recent managers' convention. Business in Portland looked a lot better than in San Francisco, said Mr. Hill, and with Portland as a seat of the big shipbuilding industry the future for the theater man here looks most encouraging. B. J. Sperry Again With Pathe. B. J. Sperry, traveling representative for Paramount-Artcraft, Portland, has resigned that position with that company for the purpose, it is understood, of entering the employ of Pathe. Mr. Sperry was in Seattle at the time of this writing making final arrangements with Fred Quimby, head of the Gold Rooster exchanges, and the news has been going the rounds that he will be Portland representative, with an office here. With Northwest Exhibitors. Houlton, Ore. — O. J. Carlson has rented the Holton theater pending the completion of his own new show house in Columbia City. This will be ready for occupancy in a few weeks. Battleground, Wash. — S. La Rouge recently showed "The Kaiser" to 750 people in one night. This town shows a census of 200. Business was such that Mr. La Rouge sent the Universal publicity department a box of cigars. La Grande, Ore. — Don Meyers, of Meyers and Leiter, Arcade and Star theaters, has been called in the draft of June 24. Riddle, Ore. — E. D. Stuller has sold his theaters at Riddle and Myrtle Creek. Exhibitors' Club Moves. The Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of Oregon has moved its club room to the Commonwealth at Sixth and Ankeny street, Portland, and has installed its palatial furniture. The new location is near film row. Business Jottings. Jesse G. Sill, cameraman, recently com pleted a long tour through Oregon, Washj/''' ington and Idaho with Robert Bruce sura photographed 6,000 feet of scenery for'the Educational Films Corporation. The Liberty theater organ was heard by the Portland public for the first time Sunday, June 9, with Henry B. Murtagh in charge. The organ is one of the Wurlitzer Unit Orchestra type and was advertised as the largest instrument of its kind in any theater. In connection with the organ, the Liberty showed "The Unbeliever," cooperating with the U. S. Marines and Manager E. J. Myrick used several stunts in bringing the production to public notice. "Cleopatra" Returns. The management of the Majestic theater, Portland, deviated a little from the usual run of things by bringing back a picture for second showing. The picture was "Cleopatra" and it was shown for the week of June 8, five months after its first appearance, enjoying good business in spite of the hot weather. Spokane News Letter By S. Clark Patchin. E. 1811 11th Avenue, Spokane, Wash. F. E. Montgomery Out of Titan. SPOKANE, WASH. — Frank E. Montgomery has tendered his resignation as general manager of the Titan Feature Photo Play company and gave his reasons for his resignation in a lengthy letter to President J. Don Alexander of the company, according to his announcement. Mr. Montgomery announced that he was resigning because he was dissatisfied with methods employed by the board of directors in transacting business. He objected to the financing of the Allied Film corporation to the extent of $3,000 by the Titan company and did not approve of the contract with C. L Mayo, former underwriter for the company. "This is to advise you," states Mr. Montgomery in his letter of resignation, "that from this moment on you are not to use my name or that of Princess Mona Darkfeather on any literature or advertising of any description, or verbally in the promotion of this corporation." He also asks the corporation not to use the name of Chester Beecroft as London representative, or Ernest Shipman as New York representative of the company. J. Don Alexander of the Alexander Electric company and president of the Titan company gave out the following interview in regard to' the withdrawal as general manager of the company of Frank E. Montgomery. "We wish to deny absolutely the statement of Frank E. Montgomery regarding his resignation from the general managership of the Titan Feature Photo Play company. Mr. Montgomery did not resign. The day previous to the writing of his resignation he had been discharged by the board of directors for good ' and sufficient reasons. His criticism of our contract with the Allied Film corporation is entirely unfounded, as the contract was in effect when he came into the Titan company. Our investment with the Allied company is an advantageous one for us. His objection to our former underwriting contract with Mr. Mayo is groundless, since it has been discontinued in favor of a more advantageous contract , and sinjge he knew of its terms when he accepted the general managership. We are in correspondence with a general manager of national reputation, who has organized several successful film companies." Capacity Houses for "The Unbeliever." Not since "The Birth of a Nation" was first shown in Spokane at the Clemmer theater has a more elaborate incidental program been arranged for a picture presentation than Manager J. W. Allender of the Lyric theater is offering at the Auditorium for eight days, in "The Unbeliever." W. J. Drummond, Seattle manager of the K-E-S-E service, which is handling the production has arrived and will handle the program here. Lieutenant A. G. Gray of the state guard spoke for the four-minute men daily. Mr. Drummond reports that "The Unbeliever" has shattered all records on the coast and in California theaters, where hundreds were turned away from every performance. There have been capacity houses at practically every performance to date in Spokane. Pictures That Pleased in Spokane. At the Liberty, Spokane, in "Selfist Yates," W. S. Hart is said to do his. dramatic work. Liberty patrons were well pleased in this new Hart role, and i capacity houses witnessed each performance. "Between Men," was the new Har| offering at the Lyric, Spokane, and a net chapter of "The House of Hate." Tom Mix was featured at the Casino, Spokane, in "Ace High," a thrilling story of adventures in the Canadian northwest, and drew large audiences.