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Show 90DEI MEN DISPOSE OF THEIR MOVIES I SILT LIE Salt Lako, July 5. One oC the biggest big-gest business transactions of tho year became known yesterday, when It was announced that the American and Liberty Lib-erty motion picture theatres in Salt 'Lake had been sold by the Scowcroft interests to William H. Swanson, tho well-known "movie' impresario of this city and New York. The con-ridcration con-ridcration is understood to have been $210,000. The deal was closed several days ago, but no announcement of the change in ownership of the theatres was made. Last night, however, the salo was confirmed both by H. A. Sims, manager of the two theatres, and Mr. Swanson. The new owner will take possession of the theatres tomorrow. to-morrow. Purchase of two of the city's6 largest larg-est and most important picture theatres the-atres by Mr. Swanson is but one move in a plan he and his associates have for the formation of a circuit of high-class high-class film houses, which will extend from the Canadian border to tho Mexican Mex-ican line. Mr. Swanson so stated last night. To Buy Other Houses. "Within a week Mr. Swanson will '.cave here on a trip through Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon for the purposo of buying picture theatres the-atres or arranging for the building of theatres In those Important cities uhero he cannot buy outright. Ho nlrea. owns fourteen theatres in tho stales of Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. In addition to his latest acquisitions in the local field, Mr Swanson is the owner ot tho Rex theatre in this city When the Swanson circuit or picture pic-ture houses and its affiliations in the west are completely organized, it is proposed to book the big productions of tho film companies direct to the theatres, eliminating entirely dealings with the district exchnnges of the manufacturers and their sales agencies. agen-cies. Buying of the American and Liberty theatres by Mr. Swanson is regarded by him as an important addition to his chain. The American Is one of the largest and most magnificent theatres devoted to the screen drama in the United States. Mr. Swanson ranks it with the Strand theatre. New York, as the finest picture house in the country. Is "Movie" Pioneer. Tho two theatres were sold by the jiberty Theatre company, the name of the corporation headed by Albert Scowcroft of Ogden, which has owned and operated the theatres for the past two years. Mr. Scowcroft Is presl-aent presl-aent of the company and II A. Sims, secretary and manager. The same interests own theatres in Ogden, but they were not included in the sale. Associated with Mr. Swanson in the purchase of the theatres is Harry T. Nolan of Denver, who has been a partner part-ner of Mr. Swanson in previous "movie" ventures. Mr. Swanson has been in the picture business for nineteen nine-teen years. He was a pioneer "independent" "in-dependent" producer and was active during the stirring days behind the scenes of the film dramas, when the independents were fighting the so-called so-called "licensed" companies tor a place in the "movie' sun. rie saia test night he received $1,000,000 when he sold out to the Universal company Until recently he owned a number of film exchanges in the west including one in Salt Lake City but he has sold them to the Universal company. Improvement Contemplated. Mr. Swanson has some material improvements im-provements and changes as well as, later on, some changes in policy in mind for the American and Liberty theatres, but these are not ready for announcement, he said. He will also make some improvements in the Rex theatre, which is to be entirely renovated re-novated and redecorated. J. F. Papin has succeeded A. ft. Wiison as manager of the Rex theatre the-atre The union labor troubles at that house have been settled, Mr. Swanson and Mr. Nolan acceding to the wishes of the union as to the operator of the Rex organ. The dispute was due to misunderstandings on both sides, said Mr. Swanson. What changes, if any, will be made In the management of the American and Liberty theatres are not known as yet. Mr Swanson was not ready last night to give the personnel of h.s organization, and Mr. Sims did not reveal his plans. It is understood that the new owner of the American theatre will endeavor to retain Professor Profes-sor .7. J. McClellan as musical director direc-tor and organist. |