Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

July 27, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 581 Buffalo News Letter By Joseph A. McGuire, 152 North Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, N. Y. (Phone, Tupper, 6296-J.) Report of Theaters in W. S. S. Drive. BUFFALO. — Reports showing the part which the moving picture theaters played in the recent W. S. S. campaign in Buffalo have just been printed. Women at the theaters, in charge of Mrs. Charles P. Chapin, reported 1,767 pledges for $135,766.50, and made cash sales of $3.799.85. The grand total for the theaters therefore was $139,566.35. The total sales at the theaters were as follows: — Academy, ?624; Allendale, $632; Broadway, $40; Cazenovia, $100; Circle, $375; Columbia, , $330; Frontier, $316; Marlowe, $420; MaxI lne, 100; New Arcadia, $790; Elmwood, I, $4,232; Olympic, $429; Palace, $5,020; PasI time, $471; Plaza, $1,262; Regent, $870; Rialto, $60; Shea's Theater, $89,698; Shea's Hippodrome, $27,316; Sylvia, $180; Victoria. $6,365. Clarence MacGregor, chairman of the \V. S. S. four minute men, reported that during the drive fifty-six speakers made 267 addresses in sixty-five theaters. They spoke to an estimated audience of 159,600 persons, delivering the message of thrift and participation in the war savings stamp movement. Shea's Theater Has Anniversary. Anniversary week has just been celebrated at Shea's Theater, Buffalo. Henry Carr, manager, has put the house in holiday attire for the summer. A ventilating system has been installed for the hot weather. When there is discomfort on the sun-baked streets, Manager Carr says his hous is then twenty degrees cooler than out of doors. Young Goes to General Film. Arthur W. Young, who was with the Universal, Buffalo, seven years, has been appointed booker and assistant to L. D. Wolfe, manager of the General, Buffalo. Fred Flarity, former manager of the last-named exchange, is a member of Co. B, 4th Training Engineers Regiment, Camp Humphreys, Va. Mr. Flarity is working hard for a commission. He reports that he likes military life, which, according to him, "is more exciting than the film game." Barnett Becomes Booker at Famous. A. T. Barnett, former road representative of the First National, Buffalo, has been appointed booker for the Famous Players-Lasky Corp., Buffalo. Earl R. Brink, former booker at this exchange, is now a private in 37th Co., 10th Divivision, 153d Depot Brigade, Barracks B, Camp Dix. Mr. Brink was with this exchange since its opening. Buffalo Short Items. Charles Rose, city salesman for the Pathe, Buffalo, has begun his two weeks' vacation. He will motor to the Adirondacks, Lake Champlain and Atlantic City. The Wilkay Theater, Erie, Pa., recently had a fire in its booth. A five-reel film, "Social Briars," belonging to the Mutual, Buffalo, was destroyed. No one was injured. Edward Balser, shipping clerk for the Mutual, Buffalo, joins the colors July 22d. He is the fourth Mutual employee in this city to go into service. O. A. Siegel, formerly with the George Kleine System, Buffalo, is now booker for the Select Exchange, this city. R. B. Matson, formerly with the Vitagraph, is now road representative of the Select, Buffalo. Sherman Webster, manager of this exchange, was recently visited by Charles R. Rogers, former manager. Mr. Rogers is head of the Select exchange in Boston. Capital City Complains of Express Delay Washington Exchange Managers' Association Says Service to Certain Virginia Towns is Worse Since Companies Amalgamated— Suggest Shipment of Films by Boat to Several Points. By C. L. Linz, 622 Riggs Building, Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C— The members of Manv BoaWi™. „„ 1M^ ' w c-i the Washington Kvr.h„n™ at™. ™any Bookings on Metros War Film. ASHINGTON, D. C— The members of the Washington Exchange Managers' Association are having difficulty in getting films to and from certain Virginia towns, more so now since the amalgamation of the express companies, and are asking the exhibitors to co-operate with them to the fullest possible extent that a greater degree of efficiency will be possible in handling the situation. The association has been informed that the best way to move films to these Virginia points is to have them properly marked. If merely turned over to the express company the films will go via all rail, and several days of delay ensue in getting them to destination. Each exchange has been notified by the association to send films for Phoebus, Hampton, Fort Monroe, and Newport News marked "via boat to Old Point Comfort — will call;" for Portsmouth and Berkley, "via boat to Norfolk — will call," and for Norfolk, "via boat." Under this arrangement it will be necessary for the exhibitors to call for their films at the boat, but they will get quicker deliveries. The managers ask also that in returning films to the exchanges exhibitors carry the films to the boat and mark them for Washington "via boat." There are many exhibitors who believe that the parcel post will give better service, but it must be remembered that mailed matter goes all rail, and the same delays 'will ensue as if the films were sent via the Southern Express. Lust Issues Stock Lithographs. Washington. — To meet the needs of the exhibitors in this territory, Sidney B. Lust, of the Super-Films Attractions, Inc., has had made up one and three-sheets for stock use in connection with the exhibition of Hart and Fairbanks productions. These lithographs have spaces over which a flyer announcing the name of the play may be placed. These will be found to be very handy when the exhibitor fails to get his paper along with the show. There has been a great deal of complaint against the non-arrival of paper to advertise productions, and Mr. Lust believes that keeping these stock sheets on hand will aid exhibitors. JOIN THE PRODUCTION ARMY BUY W. S. S. Dallas Trade Letter By Philip E. Fox, Times-Herald, Dallas, Texas Gerard's Picture Going Strong. DALLAS, TEX. — Gerard's "My Four Years in Germany" is still going great, according to First National Circuit folks. President E. H. Hulsey reports an even better inquiry and larger list of bookings on this feature since announcement of the release of "Pershing's Crusaders" through First National. The latter picture was first shown in Texas at Del Rio and Amarillo, with other dates in the big towns closely following. Valdez Reports Business Good. L. M. Valdez, of the Royal opera house, Laredo, Tex., passed through Dallas during the second week in July en route to New York. Mr. Valdez reports a very successful season with his theater during the last several months, and booked some future attractions while here. He planned to remain in the East for some two weeks on a business mission. He says border conditions are much more satisfactory, with a far more pacific and settled character prevailing. Dallas. — Manager LeRoy Bickel, of Metro, is all "hopped up" over "T.> Hell With the Kaiser," and reports bookings on that big war feature just rolling into the office. a private screening of the picture was put on locally during the second week In July, and the impression created was in full keeping with the advance notices telegraphed Texas exhibitors from the East a week earlier. The feature was shown first at Dallas and Houston among Texas houses early in July, and made a distinct hit. Dallas Vitagraph Office Wins Cup. Dallas. — The Vitagraph general manager's cup, a massive piece of gold and silver art work, is resting on General Manager J. B. Dugger's desk in Dallas. The Dallas office won it in the recent contest open to branch offices in the United States and Canada. The Vitagraph office staff, by the way, will have a big fried chicken and watermelon banquet next week at the expense of the Boston branch. Boston recently challenged any Western branch for an eight months' business contest to end July 1. J. B. Drugger took up the challenge, and a $50 purse was agreed on. The Dallas branch won in a walk, and the "eats" are on Boston. Abandon Cross Country Auto Trip. A transcontinental automobile trip from San Antonio to New York was abandoned by William Epstein and Walter McCombs at Dallas after completing the first lap. The two Texas exhibitors who have recently sold their Princess and Royal theaters at San Antonio to William Lytle, of the Empire, are going into business in Mexico, so it is rumored. They started for New York overland early in July. The motorists got as far as Waco, when they were overtaken by a swift running street car. Their automobile was badly bunged up, and had to make a trip to the dry dock, but they luckily escaped injuries. Driving on to Dallas they narrowly avoided a similar accident. They were so disgusted that they put the car in storage here and bought railroad tickets for New York. With the Exhibitors. C. J. Mussellman, of the Grand theater, and John Paxton, of the Parisian theater, of Paris, Texas, passed through Dallas last week motoring to south Texas. They will end their tour at the State Exhibitors' Convention at Galveston. W. J. Lytle's big Empire airdome at Del Rio, which cost $20,000, has been opened. The theater in the border city is well patronized by United States troops stationed there. Charles Kimball, of the American theater, McKinney, was in town a few days ago looking for live stuff. C. H. Cornes, of the Palace, Farmersville, was a film row visitor. He booked the new Vitagraph serial, "The Fight for Millions." E. J. Lampkin, of the Colonial, Greenville, and R. L. Moore, of the Morris at Vernon, shook hands along film row last week. The Jefferson theater, Dallas, Roy Stinnett, manager, which has run vaudeville and pictures during the season, will keep open through the summer with pictures only. Ed. Eames has opened the Liberty theater at Austin. He will run pictures with vaudeville. San Angelo has a new Liberty theater. It was opened by Sam Nestor last week.