Moving Picture World (Dec 1917) - Learn About Movie Posters

1828 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 22, 1917
Buffalo Theaters See No Cause for Worry
Holiday Shopping Is Now in Full Swing, but Plenty of People Have Spending Money
—Women Are Making Big Wages, Also.
By Joseph A. McGuire, 152 N. Elmwood Street, Buffalo.
BUFFALO, N. Y.—Gift buying has begun
two weeks earlier than usual this
year on account of a publicity campaign
conducted by Buffalo business men, and
this has caused a slight slump at the local
moving picture theaters. The depression
Is regarded as only temporary and after
the people have made their holiday purchases,
it is expected they will again
crowd the show houses. Some declare
that, generally speaking, the women of
Buffalo have more spending money than
the men, but even the latter, especially
those who are working overtime for extra
good wages at the local plants, will have
plenty of funds left for theater tickets.
Many local women no longer have to depend
upon "mere insignificant men" when it
comes to show-going. Thousands of
women employed at the local aeroplane,
automobile and railroad plants, etc., are
being paid wages much higher than they
have ever received before and are spending
their money in a manner that would
nave been considered reckless last year.
Buffalo exhibitors, figuratively speaking,
are extending their arms in welcome and
cordiality to the women patrons? Of
course, the patronage of the men is not
being overlooked. Many of them, especially
those who are working overtime
for extra good wages at the local plants,
will have plenty of show money during the
winter.
Wurlitzer Improvements Finished.
The improvements at the Buffalo branch
of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. at 701 Main
Street have been completed. Departments
have been arranged for the various musical
instruments handled by the company.
"Among our recent sales was a theater
organ for the Lyric theater at Austin, Pa."
said Mr. Tanney, who came here from
Pittsburg. He has thoroughly reorganized
his staff and since his arrival, trade at
this branch has shown a substantial
increase.
Theaters Give Many Red Cross Benefits.
Buffalo, N. Y.—Moving pictures and
other high-class entertainment were featured
at performances at several of
'Buffalo's theaters, Friday, December 7,
for the benefit of the Red Cross. The
date of the shows was a week later than
the time mentioned in last week's Moving
Picture World. The regular shows advertised
for the week were presented.
Matinees were given at the Teck, Star,
Shea's Majestic and Olympic theaters.
The Olympic and the Lyric theaters, which
feature moving pictures and vaudeville,
gave a joint Red Cross show, beginning at
10 o'clock in the morning. Shea's theater
also gave a morning performance of
vaudeville and pictures. The other shows
were in the afternoon. Everything was
donated, the benefits being real in the
true sense of the word. The houses were
crowded. President Wilson, as honorary
head of the Red Cross, proclaimed
December 7 as national Red Cross theater
day. The idea received the tangible
cooperation of the Buffalo Theatrical
Managers' Association.
Goldwyn Manager Busy.
Buffalo, N. Y.—George A. Hickey, manager
of the Buffalo branch of Goldwyn, is
completing a successful tour among the
exhibitors of the central and southern
parts of the state.
"My visit Is a personal one and I am
The largest staff of experts in all
departments makes the MOVING
PICTURE WORLD the one paper in
the trade that fully fills the require*
meats of eOery reader.
finding out conditions in the territory
covered," said Mr. Hickey. "Beginning
December 27 the Goldwyn productions
will be featured at the Avon, a fine new
house in Utica, which has been playing
vaudeville and is now. returning to moving
pictures. The Avon will open with 'The
Cinderella Man.' This and the three other
latest Goldwyn productions are in great
demand."
The pleasing appearance of the Goldwyn
headquarters in Buffalo is receiving plenty
of praise. The furnishings and partitions
are of mahogany and the whole surroundings
present a modern, businesslike appearance.
A large shipping department
and vault are on the second floor. The
screen room is frequently crowded with
exhibitors. When Mr. Hickey is on the
road the Goldwyn branch Is in charge of
his capable assistant, Miss Grace Redans.
S. R. Banks has been appointed traveling
representative for the company.
Maxine Theater Enjoys Good Neighborhood
Patronage.
Buffalo, N. T.— "We feature our eightpiece
orchestra and our admission is ten
and fifteen cents," said George Hall, who
with his partner, George Haney, conducts
the Maxine moving picture theater, Buffalo.
"Our people are of the middle class and
are all employed, so our attendance is
excellent. The section about Seneca
Street, where we are located, is like a
town by itself and many of our patrons go
downtown only once a month. This helps
our patronage."
Harry Somerville Has Good Job in
Cleveland.
Buffalo, N. Y.—Harry Somerville, former
manager of the Happy Hour theater,
Buffalo, has written that he is now picture
booking manager for the two houses of
the Miles Theater company of Cleveland.
He also is press agent for the two theaters.
Mr. Somerville says In part:
"This company has opened a new house,
one of the finest in the country, devoted
to high class pictures and vaudeville, the
same as the Miles theater."
A Good Report from Geneva.
Geneva, N. Y.—Frank C. Pierce, proprietor
of the Temple theater, Geneva, was a
Buffalo visitor. "We play pictures and
vaudeville," said Mr. Pierce. "We formerly
charged fifteen cents, but have advanced
to eighteen cents, and collect the war tax,
making the even twenty cents. Everything
is going along nicely. Geneva has
a population of 12,000. There are three
houses in the town, seating a total of
3,200."
Short Notes About Theaters.
Oswego, N. Y.—The Nickel theater of
Oswego, formerly the Gem, which has been
closed for two years, has been reopened.
Rochester, N. Y.—It is reported that the
Gorden theater of Rochester has been
closed.
Geneva, N. Y.—A Geneva, N. Y. report
says that the Smith opera house of that
place, which has been playing stock and
road shows, will feature only pictures,
beginning this month.
Capital City News Letter.
By Clarence L. Linz, 622 Riggs Building,
Washington, D. C.
American Theater Now Crandall's.
WASHINGTON, D. C.—A change of considerable
note took place in the exhibitors'
field here last week when Harry
M. Crandall took over the American the-
atre, at First street and Rhode Island
avenue, Northwest, formerly conducted by
Louis W. Atkinson. This house has a
seating capacity of about 650, and was
the only theater in the residential section
of Washington with a seating capacity
over five hundred and not already
in the Crandall circuit.
Mr. Crandall has planned numerous
changes in the American, and will close
it down from the night of December 11 to
the night of December 15, during which
time it will be extensively overhauled.
The interior will be redecorated, the prevailing
color scheme being old gray, ivory
and gold. The lobby, which extends clear
across the Rhode Island avenue front, will
be painted to harmonize with the interior
decorations. The exterior will be painted
green, heightened with medieval bronze.
The lighting system, both interior and
exterior, will be entirely rearranged.
The announcement of the purchase
states that recently patented high-power
searchlight lamps will be installed and
the front of the theater will be a blaze of
light. Semi-direct lighting fixtures will
replace those in the lobby and the interior
will have the indirect system of illumination
and the wall brackets will be of
hammered bronze. New hangings and
draperies, in harmony with the color
scheme of decoration, will replace those
now in use. The stage will be equipped
with new scenery.
Mr. Crandall contemplates closing the
house next summer for extensive remodeling,
installing a balcony, and so
arranging the interior as to afford a seating
capacity of eleven hundred.
Some of the Official Films Are Ready.
Washington, D. C.—Official motion pictures,
bringing home the vital importance
of increased food production, will be
shown by the United States Department
of Agriculture in hundreds of regular
motion picture theaters throughout the
United States. The first releases, which
are to be handled under an agreement
with the Universal company, through its
exchanges, will be made early in December.
National Forests Picture.
The first film will show activities In
the national forests, which are important
sources of timber and water supply and
also afford grazing for a large number
of cattle and sheep.
Children Help with Pig Clubs.
The second release, which will follow
in about two weeks, will show what children,
through the pig clubs, are doing to
increase the supply of pork. Other selections
from the department's 40.000 feet
of official subjects will make clear various
features of food production, the raising
of meat animals and horses, and will deal
with home activities, such as poultry raising
and the canning and drying of perishable
products.
Problem of Food Productions.
The department laboratories are at
work on a number of other popular films,
especially designed to make clear to city
as well as rural populations problems of
food production and to show them ways
in which they can co-operate effectively
to feed the nation and the Allies.
Tom Moore Will Build Six Theaters.
Washington, D. C.—Tom Moore announces
his intention of commencing work
on the erection of six new theaters to
be located in various parts of the city, the
first of which is to be the new Rialto, at
Ninth and G streets, Northwest. He states
that in all about $1,200,000 will be expended
on this project. In addition there
will be included the two Moore theaters,
the' Garden and Strand on Ninth street
now in operation.
The first of the uptown houses will be
located in the Mount Pleasant section, and
it is planned to accommodate about 2,200.