Page 12

THE SHOW WORLD
November 7, 1908.
TH E
ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY
(I>ATElI)ATIUHAY)
BY
The Show World PUblshilg CO.
Grand Opera House Building
Eighty Seven South Clark Street
Chicago, Illinois
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE CENTRAL 1577
CABLE ADDRESS (REGISTERED) "SnOWORLD"
WARREN A. PATRICK,
General Director
WALT MAKEE,
Editor
H. J. STREYCKMANS,
Business Manager
M. S. PATRICK,
Secretary and Treasurer
Entered as second-class matter, June 25,
1907, at the Postoffice at Chicago, Illinois,
under the act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
ADVERTISING RATES:
Fifteen Cents per Agate Line.
Fourteen Lines to the Inch.
Fifty Inches to the Page.
NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.
The Last Advertising Forms Close
Wednesday at Noon.
lit,
1 '  *Ii4
?AT~~(HAT
1ARREN                                TR/CK
m ta  crgancucus lice c  lc          ,    .        r1-  io-gcirdig the success of the
mettulg piceture busintess iin Anitecicc.  it is,,,ilit---  by all tlice cwith the inauguiration
of the fall season, renewed interest has been manifested in motion pictures by t he
public generally. Conflicting reports have been made, however, by the various branches
of the industry, the manufacturers asking for the co-operation of the trade, the renters
deprecating the low film rentals, and some exhibitors claiming that they were enjoying
an era of prosperity unequalled heretofore, while others claim to be losing money.
In recent issues of THE SHOW    WORLD interviews have been presented with lead-
ing manufacturers.   In order to ascertain the views of the successful exhibitors I
intervie-ed George H. Hiness malager of the Senate theater, Chicago, one of Chicago's
leading aned most prospcerous moving picture theaters.
Mr. dines is a showman of tong experience, having been for a numer of years
Identified wsith the lareer tented organizations, and prominently affiliated, in an execu-
tive capacity, with international as well as national expositions and Iarks, sur  as
the World's Fair, Chicago; Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo; Louisiana Purchase Expo-
sition, St. Louis; Mid-Winter Fair, San Francisco; White City and Riverview Park, Chi-
cago.
F-oi-ng tliat Mr. Hines' oi~ionct  would ite of value' t,, exhibitors,-especiall- those
iho   ce rceitly enterc  tis tiel-lI asked hit t      tell me the secret of his
suo-ces.
GEORGE H. HINES.
liisnwntiis orwrtided bi  mail must
ie accumpanlied by r-emiittancet, made pay-
able to TH  SHOW  WORLD PUBLISHING
CO.. to w-hom all busin-ss communicatious
should be addressed.
SUBSCRIPTIONS:
(Payable in Advance)
Domestic:
Four Dollars a Year.
.roreign:
Five Dollars a Year.
DISTRIBUTING AGENTS:
The Western News Company
and its
international Branches.
MANUSCIUPTS:
The Editor will not be responsible for the
return of unsolicited manuscripts, but if
stamps are enclosed they will be returned
if found unavailable.
Anonymvus iatter still not be considered
under atey circumestances. Writers desiring
their nances be ceitic-Iccd ft-oti publication
must so state bieneathi their siguatures.
We do not solicit contributions from un-
authorized correspondents, but in special in-
stances we will consider contributions bear-
Ing upon a topic of vital interest to the
profession ofeiitertainimentt.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1908.
Kimball Press Booklet.
Ecicit day flis office is its receipt of
booeklets frotm c-ations pritnting concernts
tlctocgot ttietitnited States, but unques-
tinably one of tce most artistic as well
,ts practicallyitnteresting parapiletsas-hichi
has been received for some time is that
toed by the Kimlball Press of Evanston,
vIo. Aside fro, its figlly cmrtistic ralu
tiis ptsmphlet isnaiteducation toflee nov-
ice in tiae use of printer's ink; showitng,
no it does, tice ncumerous phases of hla
tories as handled by printing sheops of
various caliber, aitd finally denmonstrating
what an experienced printer can do with
the same material. Also this pamphlet
demonstrates the absolute waste of money
pone tib  pait ofhInanr nen whlosep piit-
itig bills are high, by reason of tlce fact
tlaat they have been careless in selecting
a print shop. Various examples of the
"before and after' type are shown in
tice book; that is to say, "before we got
it and when the other fellow    had it."
These are of a sufficiently graphic nature
to induce any receiver of this booklet to
irrluire further into the nature of the
work of the Kimball Press.
A Boost from 0. L. Hall.
0. L. Hall, dramatic critic of The Jour-
nal, in a recent issue of that paper, says:
"PHE SHOW    WORLD has grown to be
lively and newsy."    Judging by recent
increases in circulation there must be
many other readers throughout thecoun-
try holding the same opinion.
Bon Ton Dancing Girl Roster.
Millie Von Lear and leer Don T~on
Dancing Girl show is playing the southern
fair circuit. T e roster of fle company
I,; Jane Hurt, Pattie Morton, Agnes
Terry, Georgie Buck, Dixie Simpson and
Rose Ruly. It is said to be one of the
strongest dancing girl shows playing the
soulhern circuit.
Sykes Photo,Chicago
into the doors, where he is met by a
courteous usher who escorts him to a
comfortable seat, and he is then enter-
tained and amused by the latest and best
moving picture films on the market.
"Special attention is paid to ventilation,
and a good pianist furnishes the music,
assisted by a singer of illustrated songs.
I claim that the best nickel show is given
In tle Senate theater, and my box office
receipts would indicate that the public
also thinks so."
Does Vaudeville Aid?
"Do you think that a moving picture
show is strengthened by vaudeville per-
formers?" I asked Mir. I-ines.
"Now,ht isone thingI haveavoided,"
he stated emphcatically. "It stands to
reason that high-class artists cannot be
etgaged forba five-cent theater, and feat-
ure film sttbjects and cheap variety do
not harmonize. The classof people that
would be attracted by the pictures would
be driven away by the vaudeville. People
go to a picture show to see pictures, and
a good piano pla    cnd a Si        r i
that is necessary ts an adjun
"I was the first oni in Chuic    to iput
ott what is knowii as a cointinautislie.
ttire show, from 11:3ii a. mn. to 11tp n
heseating capacity is 300, and Iaril
thius enabled to accoinmodate111v 1atronr
wo   reels of filiis are used, changed
inilv-
In regard to the indications for the fu-
ture of the business. Mr. Hines said:
"To   my   mind, the outlook is ver,
promising. The business has reached
substantial basis. and the habit has been
fonmed by the public. My paturnageis
regular, and Isee the samefamilirfaces
week   after   week.    Furtherniore, the
manufacturers are getting out subjects
at the present time which are constanti
getting better, and I believe they should
be commended by every exhibit, with,
athought of the future, for the ellene
of the pictures.
adt hs had its effectupon the public,
andthe trend is now towards edcaial
subjects, interspersedlwith crn-ct, iwhich
is the style of rogram proving n, Aspop-
ularin      place a t thepresent ine It
is indeed encouragitig to the c-ce I)-t01fa
picture theater to feel that lec   seur
such desirable subjects, and to -1uliat
lie has the co-operation Of t',    eti fa,-
ttirers.
Good Pictures Appeal.
"To one who has been in te show
business, and can appreciate th1. cost of
a fine film, with suitable settins. etc., it
is gratifying to note the large number of
good subjects placed upon the market,
My place is situated in a section of the
ciity populated by foreigners, and I find
that a good picture appeals to all classes.
Iltra-sensational pictures find no place
on my program.
"My confidence in the business is such
that I am    contemplating opening other
theaters similar to the Senate. but on a
larger scale, and am at the pies nt time
looking for suitable locations. A first-
class theater, kept clean, well v,-ntilated
and attractive, and projecting good sub-
jects, is bound    to prosper if adequate
seating capacity is supplied.
"In order to secure good film service,
however. it must be borne in mind that
a fair price must be paid. My experience
with cheap service was far from satis-
factory, and I quickly learned that it was
Icennv wise and poettd foulish. Ansyonie
knowing anything about the film business
cea!izes that i renter cannot give you ex-
pensive service for a cheap price, and
the saving of a few dollars in film rental
means the loss om manyli hundreds at the
hox office.   I demand the best service
procurable, and am willing to pay for it.
I believe I am  paying a higher price for
my service than any theater in Chicago.
and if it rwas neessay to pay more
secure the service I wvisa I would con-
sider it a necessity.
"Taking into consideration the cost of
a film, its short life, and the fact that
it is necessary for the manufacturer and
renter to make a profit in order to exist,
I do not think the highest priced servie-
of today is excessive.
"I hase met competition without being
affectdi. and would not care if a half-
,f,'zen theaters stpruntg tip arouiid tie
tii-cg etct service. T'he puiblic controls
Ii-prosperity of a hiotise, aicd] thai en-
'hiting the best pictures will secure the
patronage.
Has Faith in Manufacturers.
"I have faith in the miiacnufactulierers to
kh-ep up the good work, otherwise I would
I't give tip my interests in other diree-
tions and devote imy exclusive time to
Ioving pictures.   Many film   exchanges
make alluring offers to aln exhibitor. ex-
edint  all kinds oftenmiises which thee
cenicot ftulfll. iccv, \c ynv eis-c Iiiccgoal
service for a week or so, but are bound
to eventually give him wliat ie pays for,
'Goodt tictegs  cost good   money oay-
Naere in tce otd.  You ca  feoelsome
o liesseos. Iae foeof the time, butisooer
or later (and tsually soouner), they be-
cone  edicated and yot losetheir esteem
forever."
''As an exhibitor, Mr. Hines, lave You
aey siggestices to offerishc- theutfac-
lttrer?" I icnquireel.
"As far asI cani see theanufctarers
ite doing evertcitg possible to irdciote
ie rtswiess, a   d ule photographic ql
ilu of the films is perfect.  If I  amsr-
i'tiy informed enormotus amcounats of
iiey areexi ended it tie productiontof
a single subject. T  ere isonlyoesug-
gestiotleat I could offer, anwdtetis 1r
incorhporate. in thce film, small reading
niotttoo prececiic cc chcange of scene g-
inc a synopsis of cte play as it pro-
 esses.  I eave found ithat niny times
fine seibjects, thorogeh    toderstood by
oane having read the adatece descriptiv,
ccccc t wiholly intelligibale to 1;io aud-
ience.  the inouiseis darkienedi WOuld
lee impracticable to fuirncish fle tictrot
witiccwritten descriptic-es'anad itodt1t5
arr   icthe thread oftic sto f  i  muforcible
aniaet', cc-lach ccouild grecetic cdii ts the
valte of the sutiject. I     ould sugges
the  foregoingprenrfedy"
Lecturers Useleds        a
Would not lecturer anmei        t pr-
pose in a satisfactory mananer?-
"Ibhave not foind it so. thcoit e  t  h
(een tried by oter exhibitorm    1!c m
place the piano is kept playincoi I tisy
stid ccitha the soft strains of 11- -cisiC
filling the hoeuse tlce spectatorn  , iyint
anrinteresting film doeseot beoici. lated.
Thae spell of motograph c    eticy 1  ltti
thcroughoutt the perfolceatece. If I score
to employ alectre rhevoudcesssril ,
have to be a high--chass mcoan, and the
price ofsuch servicesvoiidttmakeit Pro-
hcibitive for at flce-cettheater. On tlie
icotitintieloii  ag  r!.ui-  Colucmn 4)
12
Follows Bailey's Policy.
"Why, there is no secret at all," said
Mr. Hines, with a laugh; "I have only ap-
plied to the moving picture business the
principles I learned in my show life. I
have always been willing to profit by the
experience of others, and believe that the
policy of James A. Bailey, the greatest
showman of his time, was the correct
one. At least his successful career would
indicate that his judgment was right.
Mr. Bailey always gave the public ade-
quate entertainment for its money.
"When I went into the moving picture
business I believed that a wonderful
fetture ccas in store for this induistry, if
carried along the proper lines, anI re-
solved to etnter into it cwitht an eye to
tie future, and to give my patrons the
best show for a nickel it was possible to
pcrocutre.
"First of all I constructed the Senate
theater with an eye to comfort. An at-
tractive front, well illuminated and kept
scrupulously clean, lures the passersby
::-c
I'
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