Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

108 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD July 6, 1918 Form Washington Exchange Association Recent Shift of Branch Managers Disorganized Old Body Chosen and Active Work Begun. By Clarence L. Linz, 622 Riggs Building, Washin Offic N< WASHINGTON, D. C— Big things are scheduled for the newly formed Exchange Managers' Association of Washington. This organization succeeds the one formerly existing there, but which died out when the recent big shift of managers occurred. The new corps of officers consists of Sidney B. Lust, president; R. B. Smeltzer, World Film Corporation, vice-president; Oscar A. Morgan, manager of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, secretary, and Sam M. Slax, Metro Film Service Company, treasurer. The board of directors consists of S. E. Kent, Triangle Distributing Company; Abe Dresner, Exhibitors' Film Exchange, and Herbert M. Osborn. Pathe, Inc. A number of matters of direct interest to exhibitors and exchange managers alike were discussed. The biggest project of all, however, is the proposal to send out on the road a competent motion picture operator to instruct newly made operators in their work. There has been a great deal of complaint from the exchanges of the manner in which films have been handled of late. The trouble has been with new operators put on the machines to replace the more experienced operators who had been called in the draft. These inexperienced men have been doing a great deal of damage. The idea is to conduct an educational campaign all through the territory. Not only will the operators be told of better ways to handle the films, but exhibitors and others will be told how best to ship films so that they will make towns on the circuit or get back to Washington with a minimum of delay. The express agents also will be visited and the traveling man will impress upon them the need for following shipping instructions to the letter and without delay. Where it is found that a machine is responsible for stripping films or otherwise damaging them the exhibitor is to be told of the trouble and asked to remedy it. There is little doubt but that they will be glad to do so, but failure to follow out the request may lead to a cancellation of his contracts. The expense of sending out a man in this way is to be prorated among the various exchanges in Washington. ""_<; exhibitors of the territory are to be asked to co-operate with this new organization in many ways and to that end Harry M. Crandall and A. Brylawski are to be asked to serve on a grievance committee of which H. E. Elder, of the General Film Company, and H. C. Wales, of the Universal Film Company, will represent the exchanges. There was quite a discussion of the plan to present to former members of the motion picture film industry now in the service of Uncle Sam with trade publications, tobacco and other little luxuries. It 'was decided that the organization should go further and see to it that wherever possible employment be found for dependents of the film-men soldiers when requested, and such other relief as consistent with the aims and views of the organization. The membership of the organization is as follows. Sidney B. Lust, Super Films Attractions; Herbert M. Osborn, Pathe; H. C. Wales, Universal; Sidney E. Kent, Triangle; Abe Dresner, Exhibitors' Film; Herbert E. Elder, General Film; Oscar A. Morgan, Famous Players; S. M. Flax, Metro; R. B. Smeltzer, World Pictures; Mr. Wilson, V-L-S-E; Vivian P. Whitaker, Select; J. M. Cummings, Mutual Film, and George F. Lenahan, Goldwyn. Clarence L. Linz, Washington correspondent of the Moving Picture World, was elected an honorary member of the association and placed in charge of its publicity. ton, D. C. Need Full Address on Letters. The failure of out-of-town exhibitors to place upon letters the full street address of the exchanges in Washington, D. C, for which such letters are intended, is likely to result in confusion, delays and disappointment. Letters not having the street and number of the addressee are being subject to all sorts of delays here due to the heavy increase of poorly addressed mail. There are about thirty or forty men in the local postoffice who do nothing but look up addresses for such letters. There are many thousands of newcomers in the city and this number is added to daily with the arrival of many transients. The postoffice section to which such letters are referred is literally swamped and delays must necessarily occur. A number of exhibitors have been advised when sending orders for the booking of pictures to be shown in their houses to use care in addressing the envelope |n which the orders are sent. They are told not to take anything for granted. The exchange may be the best known in the city, yet the letter may come into the hands of an inexperienced postal employee (or someone who does not use common sense), and it may kick around the postoffice for many days before a searcher gets the proper address. No matter where the letter is goinK. put on the full name of the person or firm to whom addressed, the street and number of his or its location, and the city and state, Newark News Letter By M Jacob J. Kalter, 25 Branford Place, Newark, N. J. Kridel Gains Control of Loew'i. M. KRIDEL, mans I tie Good win theater, 863 Broad street. Newark, N. J., has gained control of Loew's theater, 99 Springfield avenui announces that the showhouse will be opened August 1. Mr. Kridel informed the representative of the Moving Picture World that the theater will be owned by a company under the corporate title of J. & K. Enterprises, Inc. The J. in the name is none other than Herman F. Jans, president of the New Jersey Metro exchange. The playhouse has heretofore been under the control of Marcus Loew, who used it as a combination vaudeville moving picture theater. The Springfield avenue house was Loew's only Newark interest, but he intends re-establishing himself in this city. In a communication to the theatrical editor of the Morning Ledger, Mr. Loew intimates that he is negotiating for the control of a large downtown house. The showhouse, over which Mr. Kridel will preside, is of rather recent construction, and furnished with all conveniences. The seating capacity is 1,846. Mr. Kridel said that he had not as yet decided on a name for his theater, although rumor and newspaper talk report that it would be called the Globe. Frank Jeffrys, of Crestwood Park, N. Y., will be the resident manager. Lyric, Newark, Closed. The Lyric theater, 211 Market street, Newark, has been closed for the summer season, and will reopen early in August. Dr. R. C. Tunison is the owner and manager of the showhouse. Criterion, Camden, Incorporates. With an authorized capitalization of $100,000, the Criterion Company has filed articles of incorporation. Kaighn & Wolverton, of Third and Market streets, Camden, are listed as statutory agents: The concern will conduct amusement places. The incorporators include William E. Darnell, Howard Knight and Harry E, Richman. R. S. Clark With Pathe. R. S. Clark, formerly with the General Film, and other concerns, lias joined the sales staff of the Newark office of Pathe, 6-8 Mechanic street. "Bobby" will cover the local and suburban trade, thus relieving Manager Reinlieb of some arduous work. The local Pathe office, under Mr. Keinlieb, is doing exceedingly good business. Fire in Booth Does Damage. A tire, caused by a piece of hot carbon dropping in a box of eight reels of film, caused damage to the extent of $450 to the films. The fire occurred June 15 at the Park Block theater. Newton, N. J. In addition to the monetary loss, a near panic was caused, but serious trouble was avert ed, G. S. Bellat at Grand-Casino. George S. Bellat is the resident manager of the Grand and Casino theaters, located .it 23 Kearnj avenue, and 96 Kearny avenue, Kearny. The theater is now operate,] by t he B. * S. Amusement Company, of which Leon O. Muniford is the general manager. Band Box Theater Opens. The Band Box theate is the trade name given to the motion picture theater located at 990 South Orange avenue, by the owners. William T., Margaret M„ and Lillie E. Webbe. L. C. Mumford Made General Manager. Joseph stern, by his recent acquisition ..I tun Kearny motion picture theaters, lias In in one of Newark's largest film exhibitors. Leon O. Mumford has been appointed general manager of the Joseph Stern Theater Enterprises, which operate in addition t'i the Grand and Casino theaters, in Kearny; the National theater, Belmom and Eighteenth avenues, and the City theater, Seventh and Orange streets, i Newark. Mr. Mumford's executive Offices are in the City theater I. milling. Morris Lefkowitz Enlists. Morris Lefkowitz. formerly operator at theater, Clinton avenue, Newark, has enlisted in the navy. Mr. Lef kowltz is one of the local union's live wires, and he leaves with the best wiches of the Mm fraternity. Lefkowitz expects to be I .i lb d « it hill ten ■ Mack "Putting It Over." a. Johnny Mack, managing director of the Hill theater, Springfield and South Orange avenueB, is certainly making them sit up and lake notice with his clever publicity stunts. lie has just started a little bouse organ called the News, and Macks one aim is to impress the name •■Hill" on the minds of tie Hill residents. He writes in tin latest issue "you can buy Thrift stamps with the money you save by coming to the Hill often." Good. Eh! the Du MORE BOSTON ITEMS. Personal and Trade Note*. Holyoke, Mass. — G. 11. Berry, of Bijou theater in this city, and P. J Fault, manager of the Globe in this city, in planning a week's trip together, from July 13 to 20, to the National Motion Picture Exposition, at Mechanic's Hall, Boston. "Moral Suicide" is going over big in New England, according to Manager Hand of Pathe, who is handling the production in New England. There is one speCial representative of the film in New land who handles the publicity and the booking, working from the state of Maine down. The representative is James A. stiles, formerly in the motion picture business in New York and California. In New York in handled Bpeclal production* such as "Trooper 44" and other state rights pictures. This is his first venture into New England territory, but he reports very good business and is very phased with the men he has no t