The Billboard 1911-03-25: Vol 23 Iss 12 (1911-03-25)

Vea ey ln eect dict ee ih aI APSO ——— ae The Billboard MARCH 25, 1911. iy Ay a Motion Picture News PICTURES ATTRACT NOTICE. The fact that journals of national and inter oational importance are devoting space to the discussion of the possibilities of moving pic tures in the educational and advertising fields augurs well for the future of the business. The views expressed on this subject by reliable authorities indicate that the film manufacturers in general may well afford to investigate further and prepare themselves to cope with the situation advisedly. A number of years ago The Billboard printed predictions of what has +ince come to pass in this regard. Recently such representative publications as The Signs of the Times, Jndicious Advertising, The Commercial Union System, The Novelty News, The American Exporter, The Nickelodeon, The Lonfon Bloscope and others, have given editorial notice of the growing importance of moving pictures outside the sphere of mere amusement. The Industrial Moving Picture Co., of Chicago, was the first company organized to specialize in moving pictures adapted for industrial exploitation, commercial education and general advertising. Mr. Watterson R. Rothacker general manager of that concern, has made an ex‘haustive study of this subject and has contributed his written opinions to the journals prominent in the fields of advertising and industrial publicity. These articles have cau much discussion In the advertising world, with the result that many of the most prominent advertisers of today are using moving pictures to advertise their product. To say the least there is a wide avenue open for this line of endeavor, and those who are now in on the ground floor are reaping great benefits. “DOC” COOK ON THE SCREEN. Chicago, Tll., March 1@ (Special to The Billboard).—From all present indications, it looks as though some startling exposures may develop in consequence of the film just completed by the North Pole Picture Co. under the sub lect, “The Truth About the Pole.”” in w'iDr. Cook (himself) is the principal actor and promises (on exhibition of the pictures) th expose of the most base conspiracies ever conceived. If this is true the man who was the butt of witticisms and jokes of nearly every sartoonist in the United States at the time Peary announced his discovery to the. world. may, with the other ‘“‘goat.’’ the King of Denmark. take excellent advantage of the trite ol saving, “‘He who langhs last, laughs best.”” an easily get away with it. Dr. Cook became an international hero on hi first announcement to the world and, after Peary’s uninst: claims and charges. com with the ‘“‘yellow fjournal’’ notoriety, his healt’ already impaired by the rough life of the arctic regions failed rapidly. and the story of disappearance is familiar to every one now. Where was he? Well, the doctor was not sleeping: this is a certainty as is evinced by the articles in one of our largest periodic: by Dr. Cook, wherein he endeavors to set forth the truth as it really exists. Still there are some who seemingly were born in Missouri an it is for the benefit of this class that the most interesting film ever thrown on a screen will soon be shown in almost every theatre in the lnited States. Negotiations are under way for acquiring the Coliseum in Chicago and here. as in the large houses of all principal cities. Mr. Cook will lecture on the pictures. MINNEAPOLIS PICTURE NEWS. During the fire which destroyed the Syndicate Block in this city, Sunday morning. March 5, sparks were carried to the roofs of many surrounding buildings within a radius of several biecks. Manager L. E. Lund. of the local chain of motion picture theatres, enjoyed an allaight vigil seated on the roof of the Wonder{and Theatre on Washington avenue equipped with a water-bucket and _fire-extingnisher. with which means he succeeded in preventing that building from taking fire. as snarks and embers lit on the theatre almost continuously wntil daybreak. The many people who thronged the down-town district next day viewing the ruins. brought highly increased patronage to centrally located theatres, those deriving particular benefit being the Miles. Uniaue, Isis and Seenie Theatres. The Alhambra Theatre of St. Paul, Minn., in which L. E. Lund, of this city. is interested, opened with vandeville, four shows daily, beginning on Monday. March 6. A. L. Foster, the tenor soloist of the local Isis. sang at the Alhambra the week of March 12. while Messrs. McDonnell and Deason, snot-light singers, replaced him at the Isis, offering duets. Vv. J. Brown, of the Cyril Theatre staff. is the proud father of a baby boy, who rejoices in the name of James Edward. Both parents being emnloved in the motion picture business. it is conjectured that the young hopeful will also follow these lines when he arrives at years of discretion. NEW FILM COMPANY ORGANIZED. Memsftix, Tenn., March 11 (Special to the BInboerd).—The Roswell Film & Amusement Company has secured a charter. with a capital of $25 000. The company proposes to manufacture moving picture films. and to employ a dramatic company for thet purpose. The incorporators are: D. E. Boswell. E. M. Boswell, Ralph Slocum, M. S. Rees and W. P. Taylor. The Roswells have heen renting films and are interested In several motion picture houses here. HOPP CONTROLS STANDARD. Mr. Joseph Hopp, whose alias is The Standar‘ Film Exchange. recently purchased the half interest of this concern controlled by other parties for a consideration of $21,000. Mr. | Hopp is now the sole owner of the Standard | Film Exchange. Those who are thoroughly ac| enainted with the film business throughont the | United States, claim that. by this transaction, Mr. Hopp is the largest individual film renter | in this conntry. "9 Since his entrance Into the game, it has al ways been Mr. Hopn’s effort to live up to the name of his organization, that {s to say. he has established a standard of excellence in both service and delivery that gives him a right to the name, FEATURE FILM IN Through an inaccuracy that appeared in columns of last week's issue, the Monday lease of the Champion Film Co., entitled, With APRIL. Stonewall Jackson, was announced as an Srd release instead of April 17. The however, was two weeks in advance of the proper date, for Mark M,. Dintenfass is most busily engaged in the preparation for this feature historical subject with characteristic sights and figures of the Civil War. Owing to the large amount of work necessary this release will be placed on the market on April 17. April VITAGRAPH NOTES. _e The Vitagraph Company has just the | re| former, | finished | erecting a small settlement of log cabins sur| rounded with fir and cedar trees, studio enclosures. within its These will serve a very use Pictureland, all seat now the Vaudette and the Theaterette in the neighborhood of 400 peo ple. In addition to this they all have made other improvements. Pictureland has put in a new front, making it one of the most hand some picture theatres in the Middle West Mr. Henry Connors is refitting the old Imperial Theatre at Coney Island, N. Y., and changing it over into an up-to-date moving pic ture theatre. Mr. Connors will make an especial feature of daylight pictures and has ordered a complete equipment of Mr. J. H. Hallberg, *“The Economizer Man"’ consisting of one motiograph, one No. 6 Powers with double dissolver attachment, and one specially built Hallberg direct current economizer. Billie and Bob James are the proprietors of a vaudeville and motion picture theatre, in Athens 0. The house seats about three hun dred people. Vaudeville is booked by Gus Sun and it is reported the managers and audience are well pleased with the bookings, the house being packed at every performance. Mr. Billie James plays the piano. He is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music. Manager S. H. Kahm, of the Cyril Theatre. Minneapolis, Minn., bas made some changes in CHAMPION FILM COMPANY PLAYERS. ful purpose in the portrayal of pictures, where the real thing is so much more desirable than a make-shift. Stacy, the official photographer of the Vitagraph Co., is now in Hot Srpings, Ark., making pictures of the Brooklyn Baseball Team, for one of the most striking baseball stories ever produced. It will be a hit. It is time that vou heard something about the Vitagraph Easter picture, entitled Easter Babies. There is nothing Iike having something seasonable, and this will fill the bill as nothing else will do. MOVING PICTURE THEATRES. Owing to fll health, David Dahlquist, proprietor of the Cozy Theatre Minneapolis, Minn., bas sold out to Frank F. Latta of Wadena, Minn., the date of the transaction being Wednesday, March 1. Mr. Latta has Installed tmprovements and added a four-plece orchestra. He has also instituted a prize of a $5.00 gold plece given each Friday afternoon to the lady holding a lucky number. coupons being Isened at every performance of the week. Mr. Dahlquist, after a brief stop in Chicago, will journey to California. Standing In aisles has been prohibited by the | cltw authorities at Fort Seott. Kan.. and the picture shows have all increased their seating capacity toe accommodate the large crowds bis staff during the past weeks and has now engaged Miss Mamie Rosseno as pianist, and Mixs Maude McLanghlin as illustrated song soloist. the latter having made a decided hit with Cyril patrons since her opening. Man sger Kabm has completely doubled the staff so as to have a day and night sbift. Inside of a month, Boulder, Colo., will boast of a new moving picture theatre. The house is being erected at Fourteenth and Walnut streets. The Inside furnishings will be done in mission and will have a seating capacity of five hundred people. The proprietors are H. 8. Porter and W. F. Lomax. The Nightmare, a new moving picture show, will open June 1, at Limestone, Ari«took County, Maine, In Pythear’s Hall. Mr. Tafton, manager, will employ nothing but local talent, for the singing and specialty acts. The Misses Lillie Brown and Mabel Babbin will take care of the piano and singing for the present. Karl Walker will open May 1. a combination | hone to be called the New Theatre, at Austin Texas. A aplendid location has been secured and no expense will be spared to make it upto date In every particular. [ictures, vaude ville and stock will be featured. The opening of the New Albany Theatre. at Albany. Ga... was very well attended. The house house is «ituated. on Pine aetreet opposite the Court House. F. A. Guttenberger is manager and Ed. Black. baritone. ts handling the sing ing end of it The manager of the Alhambra Moving Pict Theatre, Utica, N. Y., is going to build an ad. dition in the rear of his present quarters, that will seat one thousand patrons. He intends to convert his present theatre into a lobby for the new house. A. L. Foster, the popular tenor solols Isis Theatre, Minneapolis, Minpn., ~ DF 4 confined to his home for several days with ¢ severe attack of quinsy sore throat, bas eufficiently recovered to again attend to his active duties. Messrs. Earl Brown, of Wellsburg, W. Va.; Claude Nelson and E. D. Howell, of Wheeling, W. Va., have leased the Lyric Theatre, Mounds. ville, W. Va., and will conduct it as a vaudeville and motion picture house. The Surprise Theatre, South Bend, Ind., wil) soon be opened to patrons of smaller houses. The new house will have a capacity of about five hundred and the proposed policy is vaudeville and pictures. Burlington now has the finest motion picture and vaudeville theatre in Wisconsin and there are few that can compare in beauty and size to the Crystal, which opened its doors to the public last week. c The new moving picture house. the Casino at Martinsburg, W. Va., will feature flustrated songs. It has a seating capacity of 350 people Up-to-date pictures and songs is the policy. Maddox and Flaugher opened a theatre op March 17, at Ripley, Ohio, called the Wig wam, The new theatre will exhibit moving pic tures and vaudeville. Anniston. Ala.. bas another moving picture house, this making three in all. The managers are F. M. & Luther Wakefield. LAEMMLE SIGNS SOLMAN. New York, March 18 (Special to The Bil! board).—Carl Laemmle,. the music publisher and film manufacturer, has made arrangements te secure the exclusive writings of Alfred Solmapn. Mr. Selman during the past seven years es tablished an enviable reputation for himself His following in the profession Is large. With most every kind of song he has pre duced a chain of successes. Beginning wit! In the Valley Where the Bluebirds Sing. he fol lowed with hits like Milo, Little Girl You'll Do When the Evening Breeze in Sighing, and when the Bell in the Lighthouse Rings. Then followed his series of comic song hits The list included The Bird on Nellie’s Hat Splash Me. The Ice Man, Ob! Say Doctor, Fol low the Car Tracks, etc. A fitting climax te this array of successes was bis international hits. If I Had a Thousand Lives to Live and ' Wish I Had My Old Girl Back Again. GOLDTHORPE SELLS OUT. New York, March 18 (Special to The Bill board).—George J. Goldthorpe has sold out bie lantern slide business to a Mr. Coleman, 8 new man for this line. Mr. Goldthorpe has enjoyed a very profitable business career and has spent over thirty years tq this lime of work. His retiring from business does not come as a surprise as he has intended selling out for some time past In order to enjoy his home in Chicago for which he leaves tn about three weeks after he has established his suc cessor in the routine of the business. HOWDY, DAN! New York, March 18 (Special to The Bill board).—Dan Fishell, manager of Chester Park Opera Company, Cincinnati, ©0.. and Delmar Garden Opera Company of St, Lonia, is here for a conference with Morris In regard to bookings. in order to establish just what changes will result. because of the recent alterations, in the perplexion of his Interests throngh the Morris-Loew amalgamation. Genial Dan has gone after his summer's work In a very thorougb manner, making a study of just what conditions confronted him. No doubt, he will maintain his record of successes as heretofore. MORE ACTS AT SQUARE. New York, March 18 (Snecial to The Bill board).—This week a program of six aets whe put on at Keith & Proctor’s Union Square Theetre. The policy will be continued. The ft of the shows will not be changed, the per ° ances running continuously from 11:00 o'clock in the morning until 11:60 at night. Five act» work four shows dally, while the sixth gftethree performances, MORE ACTS AT 23rd STREET. New York, March 18 board).-On Monday Keith & Proctor’s 23rd Street Theatre will play six acts Instead of five as has been the policy up to this time Acts booked for the first half of the week are Maximus, Lyric Four, Hayes and Sults, Moore and Sanclair| Houston and Olmsted and Adolf Zinke. For the last half of the week are booked Jean Ryan. France and Chatham Company Michal Branham and Dog, All a Mistake Com pany, Kitabanal Troupe and Collins and Brown BIG SUCCESS ABROAD. New York, March 18 (Special to The Bill board).—Reynolds and Donegan, the roller skat ers, are an enormous hit abroad, At thig writ ing they are playing in Copeahagen, Denmark On April 1 they open for a long engagement at the Folles Bergere In Paris. During May. June and July they will be at the Palace Thea tre In London. HAMMERSTEIN’S BIG SHOW, New York March 18 (Special to: The Bil! | board).—Reginning Monday. seventeen neta wil! | make-up the vaudeville program’ at Hammer | stein’s Victorian. Nine acts and a feet have heen given heretofore. On next week's HIN wil! he May Yohe, Belle Raker, Wil «Arehle ant Company, McKay and Cantwell, Three Keaton. Fana Luby, Connolly and Webb and others (Special to The Bill