Little Picture House

lostmemory on September 23, 2006 at 2:44 pm

NY Times Dec 24, 1929

NEW LITTLE CINEMA HAS FIRST SHOWING; Picture House in East Fiftieth Street Gives Preview of Christmas Features. IT HAS TALKIE ACOUSTICS Auditorium Is Copy, of Interior of Revolutionary Tavern Where Nathan Hale Was Tried. Christmas Waits Sing Carols. To Be Opened to Public Tomorrow.

“The Little Picture House, a new cinema theatre, was opened last night at 151 East Fiftieth Street, with an invitation preview showing of eight short sound films and a full length talking picture.

According to the program, the playhouse is situated on the site where 150 years ago Turtle Bay and Beekman Farm were intersected by the Eastern Post Road to Harlem. It was near the Union Flag tavern from which Major Andre' set forth to meet Benedict Arnold and where Nathan Hale was brought to trial. In commemoration of these events the auditorium of the Little Picture House is modeled after the room in which the historic events occurred.

The motion picture house is said to be the first built for sound pictures, the walls of the auditorium being covered with acoustic plaster to render a perfect reproduction of tone.

Last night the heating system was not yet in full operation, and large tin urns in which coal fires smoldered were in evidence. Women in ermine wraps sat huddled in their seats, the furs gathered closely about their shoulders. Most of the men kept on their overcoats and scarfs. The audience, however, remained to the end of the program and applauded each feature. Most of them seemed to think it good fun.

The program included three Christmas Waits, portrayed by Francis German, Carl Theman, and Kurts Bronell, who sang carols. This was followed by a series of short films, two of which were sound cartoons. A travel picture, a cowboy singing film and several others completed the series.

The feature photoplay was “The Unwritten Law”, a British sound film production, which was directed by Sinclair Hill and in which Ion Swinley and Rosalie Fuller were featured. The picture is a drama of the Scottish moors, in which the actors talk in provincial dialect.

The officers of the Little Picture House are: President, Miss Elizabeth Perkins; vice presidents, Mrs. Harris Childs, Mrs. Robert Weeks Kelley, Mrs. Robert A. Sands and Mrs. Stephen Voorhees. Treasurer, Mrs. Howard Greenley; secretary, Mrs. Walter Russell, and managing director, Miss Sophie Smith".