Variety (December 1914)

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VARIETY 23 C. W. Bush, of Powhattan, Kan., has pur- chased and opened a movie house at that place. When Rev. H. B. Robbins, rector of St James, Hartford, read his resignation to his congregation Sunday he ended a parish row that started several months ago and culmi- nated when the rector opened the Star theatre as "an educational playhouse." When the rector presented "The House of Bondage" him, many of his supporters criticised him, and when, on Thanksgiving eve, a turkey was raffled at the Star the last straw was broken. The rector said the raffle was held without his knowledge, but the theatre manager says that the rector thought It a great Idea as a business booster. The "Seats of the Mighty" will be released next Monday. The picture opened this week at the Casino, New York. The new four reel English picture, "Called Back," made on the other side under the direc- tion of Oeorge Tucker, the American direc- tor, with Jane Oall, the former leading woman of the Universal, Is to be released by the Cosmofotofllm Co. Paul Cromelln, president of the Cosmofoto- fllm Co., returned this week from a two week's trip. "Help Wanted" is shortly to be a picture play. A company left this week for the Pa- cific Coast to make the feature film. An effort Is being made to have Bmmett Corrlgan play his old role In "The Deep Purple" In Its forthcoming plcturliation. Steps are unuer way to get "Blue Jeans" for the pictures, but the royalty asked Is said to be prohibitive. Talt's Table Golf Is a side diversion of Carl Laemmle's, of the Universal. The Talt Spe- cialty Co. has been formed to handle the In- door Bport. Rob Tausig Is in charge of the eastern distribution. Wm. O. Schmidt has opened the Feature Booking office, at 367 Fulton street, Brooklyn. It is the only feature film service located In that borough, which swarms with picture bouses. Brooklyn Is so chock full of film places, most of the exhibitors over there are hanging on In the hope of finding a purchaser. Hardly a house In Brooklyn playing straight pictures but is losing money. Some of the picture places with a seating capacity of LOGO to 1,200 are getting a $15 or $20 gross dally play. Perhaps Mr. Schmidt knew about that before opening his office, but he may be able to give Brooklyn exhibitors a cheaper service than they are now securing, and that will help a whole lot. The Universal declares there Is no founda- tion for the statement that William Randolph Hearst Is a stockholder In that corporation. When "The Rose of the Rancho" was given a private showing at the Belasco theatre on a Sundav evening, the audience wondered who arranged the exhibition. Before the reel started "atmosphere" was created by a scenic showing, and a caorus was employed for further effect It appears not only the audience appreciated the staging, for last Sunday night at tbe Strand, S. L. Rxlnapfel, manager of that house, wss presenteu with a silver cup as a token of remembrance of his gratuitous and pleasing effort Messrs. David Belasco and Jesse L. L.as*y were the donors. It was Mr. Roth- apfel to whom the picture makers entrusted the private show. The new Bates theatre, at Mohawk, N. T., opened Monday, playing pictures. The build- ing stands on the site of the old Varley the- atre. Frank E. Dunham Is manager. Picture theatre owners at Watertown, N. T., are making loud complaints at the Inroads on their patronage being made by evangelist Blederwolf, who Is conducting a series of re- vival meetings tnere in a specific tabernacle. The evangelist who patterns his speeches after those of Billy Sunday has been drawing Im- mense crowds for the past two or three weeks while the theatre patronage has fallen off. Edwin August began work this week on the first picture he will produce for the Kineto- phote at its Coney Island studios. Oscar Eagle will direct "Runaway June," the Reliance serial to be released early In January. Director Frank Crane Is busy selecting the cast that Is to support Lew Fields in the five- reel production of "Old Dutch," which is to be £ reduced at the Peerless studios. Mr. Crane as Just completed the production of "As Ye Sow," in which Alice Brady is featured. The World Film Corporation has secured the ni m .. rl ^ hu )° tbe famous Bret Harte story M liss." and will produce the same as a five- reel feature at the Peerless studios. "The Renegade" is being adapted for film purposes by Capt. Leslie T. Peacocke. The picture version will be in four parts. One of the big scenes is to be the massacre of a troup of cavalry by Indians. Frederic L. Ferguson, msnager of the New York Branch of the Oeorge Klelne Attrac- tions, Candler Theatre Building, for the past year, has resigned. He will book a circuit of motion picture theatres in New York State from headquarters in the Strand Theatre Building, New York. Jeanette Bageard has been appearing In the film production of "The Fight," which Oeorge Lederer is producing. William H. Tooker has signed a long term agreement with the Life Photo Film Co. The B. A. Rolfe Co. this week engaged Orrln Johnson to play the lead in "Satan Sanderson," a forthcoming production for the Alco program. Jane Orey will be In sup- port The Pathe plant on this side Is said to have received this week war views so horrifying they could not be used for public exhibition. Tom Terriss's first production for the Kin- etophoto Corporation will be "A Man's Shauow," work on which began in the con- cern's Coney Island studio this week. Anne Luther, a former Lubln star, wia be seen opposite the English actor In the feature. Edwin August, who Joined the Klnetophote forces recently, this week began work on his first klnetophote feature. Bliss Mllford, form- erly Edison Co. leading woman, will head the August cast The Board of Trade scene In "The Pit" filmed in the World studio, Fort Lee, last Saturday, is said to have been the largest interior set ever constructed In this country, measuring 80x120 feet Picture house managers in Hartford have solved the problem of "closed Sunday." They give benefit performances on the Sabbath, turning over to a charitable organization all receipts in excess of actual expenses. The second picture feature with Marguerite Clark will be "The Crucible," announced by the Famous Players for release In the Para- mount program Dec. 14. Supporting John Barrymore in the Famous Players' production of "Are You a Mason." will be Alfred Hickman, the original Billy of the stage version; Charles Dixon, Charles But- ler, Ida Waterman, Dodson Mitchell, Helen Freeman, Jean Acker, Lorraine Hullng, Har- old Lockwood and Kitty Baldwin. The fight of the Blnghamton, N. Y., man- agers to rive picture shows Sunday will come to final issue in that city's councilmanlc chamber Monday evening, when the new ordin- ance prohibiting all Sunday performances comes up for final vote. The new Strand, Syracuse, owned by the same Interests that operate the Strand, Buf- falo, le scheduled for opening Feb. 1. M. L. Bennage, who managed Hammersteln's Lexington opera house, during Its former regime of features, has severed his connection and is now promoting a picture circuit. Several picture men are after the lease of the Crescent Bronx, the Anderson-Zlegler house which formerly played Stalr-Havlln shows. Eleanor Woodruff sails for Paris December 7 via the Madonna to take up active work for the Red Cross. William Farnum last week signed a con- tract for $1,000 weekly to pose in pictures. If the present plans of two New York agents go through Billy Sunday, the evangelist, will be the central figure In a picture feature which they have in mind. The World Corporation inaugurated Dec 1 a branch office at 3026 Olive street, St. Louis. R. L. White is In charge. Oeorge J. Belhoff, formerly Philadelphia manager for the World Corporation, has been appointed Cleveland manager. Dr. Arnold Oenthe, a Fifth avenue pho- tographer, has bepn retained by the Reliance to advise on lighting effects In studio work. Harry Mestayer, recently at the Princess. fft w T £tt'- wm a PP car ln * n « Plcturlzatlon of "Stop Thief," to be done by Oeorge Klelne. Dixie Rurker. youngest daughter of Col Oeorge K Armes. IT. S. A., has Joined the Essanay in Chicago. A new picture serial Is In the making by the Reliance, entitled "Runaway June." The scenario is the combined work of GTeonce Randolph Chester and Lillian Chester. xr H# J 1 • Horiwlnw. of the Balboa Co.. Is In New York again. He's out with an announce- ment that his company will give nway $1,000 In prizes for the best letters replying to the query: "Who Pays'" A serial, twelve sep- arate Alms, will be Issued by tbe Balboa. Clara Kimball Young appeared in several of the uptown. NVw York, thenters last week, where Lola, the feature film In which she figures, was on exhibition. INJUNCTION REFUSED. Cincinnati, Dec. 2. Judge Gorman in the Common Pleas Court last week refused to enjoin the Park theatre of Northside and the Ar- cade theatre of Avondale from using the pictures "Life's Shop Window," "St. Elmo," "Will o' the Wisp" and "The Thief" on the complaint, of the Norwood Amusement Co., Imperial, Liberty and Columbia theatres, the plaintiffs claiming an exclusive con- tract for the pictures in Cincinnati. Judge Gorman said there was no evi- dence to indicate the defendant had any knowledge of the original contract. NEW "TALKER" PLAN. If the laboratory experiments of Dr. Dinshah P. Ghadiali are successful, it won't be long until the theatres will have the pictures "talking" upon a dif- ferent plan from that evolved by Thomas Alva Edison or any of the other electrical geniuses. The Ghadiali invention will have the "talk" emanate from the picture figures as they move to and fro upon the photoplay screen. In the former "talking pictures" the sounds came from the side or back of the stage to give the impression that the picture subjects were doing the talking. A corporation has been formed to boom the Ghadiali invention. Pictures are being worked out at an experi- mental laboratory. PROTEST SUNDAY SHOW. Portland, Me., Dec. 2 This town is much stirred over the agitation of the Sunday show question following the appearance Sunday night of a company billed as the Yiddish Players at the Jefferson theatre and the demand of the Federation of Churches for the arrest of the theatre manager. The performance was for the benefit of the Hebrew Biblical Society. Officers of the Federation complained to the police, who refused to act without a warrant. Now the Protestant churchmen de- clare they will carry the matter up to the city fathers and the courts if neces- sary. LONERGAN QUITS THANHOUSELL Lloyd F. Lonergan, for three or four years general supervising director and chief of the scenario department of the Thanhouser picture company in New Rochelle, severed his connection Sat- urday last. Mrs. Lonergan retired from the employ of the company at the same time. Mr. Lonergan left the newspaper field in New York to become associated with Thanhouser at the behest of Edwin Thanhouser, when the company was in its infancy. He was a close and inti- mate friends of the late Charles I. Hite, president of the corporation, and who took over the Edwin Thanhouser interests. It is stated the cause of Mr. Lonergan's retirement from the com- pany is that a new regime has become active in the management of the con- cern's plant since the death of Mr. Hite. There is a strong belief in film cir- cles that Mr. Lonergan may be again associated with Edwin Thanhouser when the latter makes his re-entry into the active film producing field. ST. LOUIS HAS 121. St. Louis, Dec. 2. That more than $2,400,000 has been invested in the last four years in St. Louis picture theatres now in opera- tion is the conclusion of a report made here by John T. Fitzsimmons, picture show magnate. St. Louis has 37 first- class picture houses, having an aver- age value of $40,000; 69 theatres rang- ing in value from $10,000 to $15,000 each, and 15 tent shows valued at $3,- 000 each. In all St. Louis has 121 pic- ture places. The number of picture houses which have closed here in the last two years is a negligible qnantity. Many plans are now under way for the opening of new ones. Last week Harry Buck- ley, manager of the Columbia, opened a new picture house adjoining the the- atre. It is called the Strand. The down-town picture houses are unable to accommodate the daily attendance, despite their number. WILBUR LEAVES PATHE. With the completion of "The Perils of Pauline," in which he has been a principal, Crane Wilbur retires from the Pathe forces. He was with the organization four years. LASKY ENGAGEMENTS. Two engagements made by Jesse L. Lasky for pictures this week were Rita Jolivet, of "What Every Woman Should Know," and Harry Woodruff. The latter immediately started for the Coast to commence on the feature "A Gentleman of Leisure." The engagement of Miss Jolivet had not been finally closed up to Wednes- day, but it was reported it would be within a day or so. TOM TERRISS Producing and starring In famous TcrrlsB plays for the Klnetophote. Thanksgiving Open-Air Show. The Burland theatre in the Bronx, playing straight pictures, gave an open- air show Thanksgiving night, throwing open the air-dome attached to the thea- tre proper for the occasion. A capacity audience watched the film in the open. It is the first time around New York an open-air performance has been given at this time of the year.