Universal Weekly (1923-26)

34 Universal Weekly August 14, 1926 I Golden Gate | Gossip 1 By H. D. McBRIDE rflilltlllllilllllllllllllllllllllMIIHHm,,,,,!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, WHEN they publish a "who's who" of the show business, a whole page will have to be reserved for the Nasser family of San Francisco. For there's George and Henry and James and Al and William and Richard. All showmen from the tip of their toes. All on the go, hustling every minute, for business— and getting it! They own an interest in the T and D Junior circuit of this territory. Use a lot of Universal pictures. And proud of it! * * * tinr\HE biggest man in the territory!" That's the moniker that's been handed to Clarence Gabriel, genial, jovial house manager of the State Theatre, T and D Junior house, of Oakland. Gabe tips the scales at about 250, but he sure makes the other boys hustle, despite his superfluous avoirdupois. Gabe is a "go getter" in every sense of the word, and if you don't believe it, just ask George Nasser, Managing Director of the State. * * * AN auspicious opening was accorded the new State Theatre at Martinez, when that beautiful photoplay edifice opened its doors a few weeks ago. The house is a West Coast-T and D Junior enterprise, and representative exhibitors and exchangemen of the Bay district were on hand to see that the house was given a rousing send-off. Sure! Universal product is to be shown in the State! * * * CLEM POPE, who used to be just a publicist, but who now writes managing director after his name in signing all mail for the T & D Theatre, Oakland, has just returned from his annual vacation. Clem came back with a coat of tan, some swell fish stories, and an official request to General Manager Archie Bowles for a few days off to rest up after his vacation. Now that he's back on the job, the M. G. is creating some of his startlingly original ideas to be used in conjunction with the showing of Universal's riotous comedy, "Poker Faces," at the T & D. * * * NAT HOLT, managing director of the Granada Theatre, has tendered his resignation, to take charge of the Wigwam, one of the most popular suburban theatres of San Francisco. Nat has purchased a half interest in the house, and will devote his entire time to his own enterprise. Holt will be succeeded at the Granada, by Edward A. Smith, formerly in charge of the St. Francis. No one has been appointed for the St. Francis at the present writing. * * * LEON VA VARA— who was associated with the writer in Denver, which, by the way, needn't be held against him — is the new orchestra leader at the T & D Theatre, Oakland. He is putting on s«me marvelous presentations, and in conjunction with Managing Director Clem Pope, he has arranged a knockout musical presentation for Universal's "Poker Faces" which is soon to play at the big playhouse. * * * FRANK WHITBECK, publicity director of the Northern Division of West Coast Theatres, Inc., is one press agent who realizes the money getting possibilities of the International Newsreel. For you can always see a neat thirty by forty poster in the lobby of Loew's Warfield, the West Coast first run house in San Francisco, telling the public of the outstanding events in the current issue of the News. That's press agent showmanship plus! HD. NEIDES, press agent, theatre manager, booker, or * what have you, is the busiest man in seven states. Hal is one of the mainstays of the National Theatres circuit, and can be found almost any day at the bookers desk in the Universal exchange, dating up those money getting pictures. Ask Hal! * * * DICK SPIER, managing director of the California Theatre is soon to become a benedict which proves that they all fall sooner or later. Dick, a confirmed "woman hater," is to be married sometime next month, but the exact date is being kept secret. Dick is the recipent of congratulations, as well as condolence, by his many wise-cracking, but sincere friends and associates. The Movies Go to Sea (Continued from Page 17) tras he can find to play for dancing and entertainment; he provides play supervisors for the deck games. That the movies have taken their place among the most popular of the ship's entertainment has been proven again and again. To try their drawing power, a show has been put on at the same time as dancing, and the large majority of the passengers have gone to the movies first and to the dance later. But the motion picture show aboard ship is a far different matter from that of a regular theatre, according to Mr. Rossbottom. In the first place it is intended merely to fill the time between dinner and dancing. If a feature is shown, the guests become restless, and so it is only on Sunday, when there is no dancing, that long pictures are shown. On the other days of the week the program is made up of one and two-reel comedies, educational subjects and scenics. No scenes of shipwrecks, high seas, seasickness, or harrowing disasters may be exhibited because the passengers become uneasy. The children like the broadest slapstick and their elders call it silly. The young folks prefer love stories, and the youngsters call for action. The old folks enjoy educational films and the two younger groups say these bore them. "Believe me," said the general manager, "the fellow who has to make up these programs has no easy time." And added to all these difficulties, each of the ships plays in "opposition" to the others. An entirely different set of programs must be made up for each boat. Martin A. Petrie, who does the booking, explains that a man with business in London may go over on the Leviathan, stay a week and come back on the George Washington, and so the George Washington cannot show the same pictures that the Leviathan did. Then there is the matter of the different types of "patrons." Providing a picture fare which satisfies each of the three classes is like trying to run a theatre which would appeal at the same time to the Bowery, Park Avenue and Upper Broadway. The Leviathan has three shows daily, one for each of the different classes of passengers. During the summer these are frequently given on deck. On cold and rainy days they are held in the social halls or dining saloons. On the cabin ships, where there is no distinction between first and second class, the pictures are often projected outdoors so that the first and second class on their deck, and the third class on theirs, may see the show at the same time. The best product that can be bought is booked for these entertainments. Already "The Midnight Sun," the big Universal super-production which is to be released during Greater Movie Season, has been shown on the Leviathan and George Washington. The Denny productions are very popular, and the Newlyweds comedies are proving great favorities. Everyone appears to enjoy the Westerns, says Mr. Rossbottom. The United States Lines were the first to establish the ocean picture show and under Mr. Rossbottom's management they have reached a standard equal to that of the best houses in the country. Because of their success, several foreign lines have also booked pictures and it is predicted that before long no large passenger ship's program will be considered complete without a daily picture show.