Moving Picture World (Aug 1916)

1284 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Mastbaum Talks of His New Film Activities Live Philadelphia Exhibitor, Vice-President of the Herbert Brenon Film Corporation, Declares His Success with Brenon Productions was the Impelling Factor Leading to New Association— Garrick Spends $12,000 on Improvements. By the Philadelphia News Service, 326 Real Estate Trist Building. August 19, 1916 P 1111, AI>KI. I'lll A. During the past several years Stanley V. Mastbaum, managing director of the Stanley Company, this city, has established his standing as he most prominent film men in the United States and easily the controlling factor as far as the photoplay houses of Philadelphia are concerned, more than fifty moving picture theaters coming under his direct care and supervision. The recent announcement that he has branched out as a manufacturer and producer will have interest for his friends. As the Moving Picture World has already printed, he figures in the formation of the Herbert Brenon Film Corporation, and at the meeting held for the final organization he was elected vice-president. In this position he will have a voice in the selection of plays and scenarios and in the engaging of players for the new company. His rare executive ability and wide knowledge of what the public desires in the play line through his Stanley experience should make him an invaluable aid to his associates. These are Herbert Brenon and Lewis J. Selznick. Mr. Mastbaum was laconic and much to the point in answering the question as to how he became interested in the new corporation. He said: "Whenever one of Mr. Brenon's productions has played at houses which I have booked they have always been assured -of handsome financial profits. I have the utmost confidence in his plans and ambitions and his ability to carry them out with proper and sufficient business and financial backing. I regard Mr. Brenon as one of the directors of to-day. "Mr. Selznick has been my close friend ever since I introduced myself to the moving picture world and I greatly admire his clear opinion and his ability to seize an opportunity and to push it. I am more than proud to be associated with such men in a new enterprise which cannot help but be successful financially and a source of keen personal satisfaction as well." The Popular Making Alterations. Extensive alterations and additions will be made to the Popular Moving Picture theater, 903 to 907 North Sixth street. The addition will be of brick, concrete and steel construction, fireproof, and will have dimentions of 152 by 57 feet. Work has been started. Trenton Company Holds Election. At the recent annual meeting of the Trenton Theater Building Company, F. W. Roebling, Sr., and Charles H. Levy, were elected directors to fill the vacancies caused by the deaths of Harry C. Taylor and former Postmaster Alexander C. Yard. There are nine other directors who were re-elected, as follows: James C. Tattersall, Thomas B. Taylor, W'illiam T. White, Hampton W. Cook, Barker Hamill, Richard Stockton, R. V. Kuser and Herbert Sinclair. Seaside Park Opens to Good Business. Carl Hagg has recently opened his moving picture theater at Seaside Park, N. J., and reports exhibiting to large houses. This theater is one of the most handsome along the Jersey coast and the interior and exterior decorations are of a most attractive description. Cohan Increases Equipment. George Cohan, manager of the Broadway theater. Broad street and Snyder avenue, announces having met with a very satisfactory volume of business during the past several weeks and states he has made several Improvements to his house, including the installation of equipment. Garrick Spends $12,000 to Enlarge. At an expense of almost $12,000 five additional exits and a large fire escape have been constructed at the Garrick theater, Norristown, Pa. The improvements have been under way for the past four or five weeks and were only recently completed. The large cost of the improvements was due largely to the fact that the construction of the fire escape necessitated the purchase of a building adjoining the theater on the west side and the razing of a part of the structure. Freihofer Takes Over Coliseum. The Coliseum theater, Fifty-ninth and Market streets, has been taken over by Freihofer, the well known bread man, and will be conducted in the future by Columbus Stamper, also manager of the Frankford theater, Frankford, Pa. Thomas Drops Into Philadelphia. I. M. Thomas, proprietor of the Pastime theater, Easton, Pa., was a recent visitor to Philadelphia and paid his respects to many friends in local moving picture circles. Before leaving for his home town he purchased considerable equipment. South Street House Changes Hands. The three-story moving picture house at 508 South street Jias been conveyed by Robert W. Boyd, Jr., to David Feldman, subject to a mortgage of $13,000. The lot is 40 by 120 feet, and is assessed at $18,000. Whats Doing in Baltimore News of Interest in and Around the Oriole City. By J. M. Shellman, 1902 Mount Royal Terrace, Baltimore. Operator Examiner Causes Arrest. BALTIMORE, MD.— Upon the complaint of Nelson D. Baldwin, secretary and treasurer of the Maryland State Board of Moving Picture Operator Examiners, Carroll Stemm, owner of the Majestic theater, 320 South Broadway, was arrested for allowing an usher and apprentice operator to operate the projection machine during the absence of the licensed operator, who was at dinner. Mr. Stemm was fined $5 and costs. "Ramona" Given for Benefit. On Monday, July 31, "Ramona," the immense Clune production, opened up to a large and enthusiastic audience at Ford's opera house. This film is booked for a three weeks' run at this house, and it is thought by the management that it will be shown to good houses throughout the entire time. On Thursday, August 4. the management arranged to give half of the gross proceeds of the sale of seats for both the afternoon and night performances for the benefit of the Milk and Ice Fund, which is doing so much to relieve the sufferings of the little tots in this city. Pictures Aid Suffs. The Baltimore suffragists are quite an up-to-date, live-wire bunch, for through the activities of Mrs. B. J. Byrne, the idea of spreading the women's rights slogan through the medium of the moving picture has been evolved. A complete outfit for moving picture projection, which can be folded into a small-sized box and arranged with adjustments so that it can be attached to an automobile for street purposes, has been made for them by a Brno in New York. Another adjustment is arranged so that a screen can be attached auto and yet be several yards away. The machine has been fitted up with a special lens for close-up work. Echo Brightens Up. B. Rosenbaur, manager of the Echo theater, 124-6 East Fort avenue, has completely renovated this house. It now presents a gala appearance. The entire front and interior have been painted and redecorated and a new motor-drive has been installed. Thirty-four Baltimore Houses Closed. There is a rumor current in the downtown district of Baltimore that the services now being used by the larger theaters are due for a change. As a result of this change of attitude on the part of several managers, the heads of the several exchanges which supply this city with film have their weather eyes peeled and are extremely on the alert. Thirtyfour of the moving picture theaters of Baltimore have closed their doors to the public, and from all appearances some of them will never appear bright again under the same managers. This makes quite an inroad on the 107 houses here. Liberty Brightens Up. John English, who bought on June 9 and now manages the Liberty theater, 5 North Liberty street, has had the lobby and exterior of his house repainted with a fetching green, giving the theater a spic and span appearance. In the early fall Mr. English states several other alterations and improvements will be made. Weber Takes Richardson's Tip. In accordance with the suggestions made by F. H. Richardson, Editor of the Projection Department of the Moving Pflcture World, to Frederick Clements Weber, manager of the Gertrude McCoy theater, when he visited Baltimore recently, that he darken the walls of his projection room, Mr. Weber has followed out the suggestions by painting all the walls of this room black. "Submarine" Business Brisk. For the past several weeks the business with the Mutual continued picture, "The Secret of the Submarine", has been so brisk that Victor L. Abbey, who has been handling this film in this territory, has been obliged to spend two days a week in Baltimore to attend to it. Dixie Changes Hands. The Dixie theater, 312 West Baltimore street, has been sold by William Fait to the Dixie Amusement Company. According to the latest reports the house has been playing to good audiences. Picture Theaters With Delinquents. The presentment of 415 parties has been brought about by the Grand Jury due to the fact that the extra license fees required by act of Hugh A. McMullen, State Controller, and passed by the last Maryland Legislature, were disregarded by them. Among these are listed several moving picture parlors. Some gordianknot problems will probably be the lot of the State's Attorney and the Attorney General to solve from time to time, as the act's provisions are unusually broad. The McHenry Will Measure 65 by 121. The arrangement of the plans. for the McHenry theater, which is to be erected in South Baltimore at Cross and Light streets, show that this theater is to bebuilt very similar to the New theater, 210 West Lexington street, owing to the