The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-01-20

Thousands Of tri-city movie pat
apas witnessed the premier Of
Midsummer Madness" maiden
ph0toplay production Of the Fort
Armstrong theatre, last night. The
initial program was augmented eff
fectively by enjoyable organ, or
CELESTIAL and vocal selections rem
dered by specially engaged artists.
The expectant, eager-eycd
throngs began to assemble as early
- ! p. M, and before nightfall
Third avenue 1t Nineteenth street
.teemed with hundreds Of persons,
straining to be among the first 10
enter Rock Islands newest and
most finely appointed motion pic
ture palace.
p And on they came-men, women
and children. At 5 p. m. the cap
acity Of the theatre lobby, sidewalk.
street and corner yielded scant pas
sage way for pedestrians and traf-
fic. BY 6 p. m. the crowd had ex-
tended half a. block west in Third
avenue, standing solidly; and half
a block south in Nineteenth street.
Opening of the theatre doors at
$50 .. m. almost precipitated a
stampede and for several moments
policemen. who strove to keep the
lines in order. were we'll nigh help
less. to cope with the surging files
Of humanity. keenly agog over the
event. 1t was the largest crowd
on record that ever besieged q Rock
Island theatre.
Automobiles Of all sizes and de-
scriptions WED with the crowds in
making the vicinity turbulent
demonstration in honor Of Messrs.
: Rosenfield. Hopp & Co. and their
motion picture enterprise. The
cars Of hundreds in line were park
ed all around Spencer square after
all available space in adjoining
side streets had been utilized.
1t took about half an hour to fill
the vast auditorium of 1900 seats.
Still, on they came. House rules
for unobstructed aisles and exits
were spurned in the mad scramble
for seats. Scores sat in the gal
lery aisles and stood in the exits
and all around the rear Of the gal
lery.
81 The Program Begins.
Edward G. Stein. theatre organ
list. adjusted his stops at 7:15 and
a buzz of anticipation arose from
the audience. Then the electricians
began to play with the lights and
their diffusing glows were con-
ducive to great wonderment. Final
ly the deep. reverberating and mel.
low tones of the organ heralded of.
fieially the grand opening. Mr.
Stein displayed exceptional talent
Gin his opening number and was
called upon for an encore.
A motion picture impersonatior
OF Senior Ignancio Fernandez, or.
ehestra conductor, followed, de.
picting him with all the gesticula.
lions Of his adopted role. The
spotlight was then flashed upon the
orchestra pit and Senior Fernandez
bowed his acknowledgements amid
great acclaim. The conductor then
directed his musicians through a
selected number and offered a
pleasing encore.
The Fort Armstrong News Week
~, attractively arranged, present
ed a novelty Of its kind entitled
"A Peep Into the World Harold
Lloyd's latest slapstick vehicle
Get Out and Get Under" followed
in order. Lloyd appeared to great
ef advantage in this release, the
funny complications Of plot and
lpdicrous comedy devices keeping
the audience in constant merri-
ment
The McDermott Musical Four, un-
der the personal direction Of Nine
Sara Maxon, served as inteYmedi-
airy between the comedy and the
feature screen production. The
vocalists, with the two men attired
IN immaculate evening garb, and
the women in respondent cos
TUNES, presented a striking appear
arce in the livid spotlight. They
rendered their two selections with
excellent tone quality and per-
feet technique.
Sg Big Feature Scores.
Midsummer Madness" vindicat-
ed its press notices by offering
Lila Lee. Lois Wilson, Jack Holt
and Conrad Nagel in a unique mar
ital drama. The plot evolved a
flour cornered triangle" II such
there could be. weaving a film tale
Of what might occur In any two
households under similar circum-
stances.
The aim IL very we'll acted. If
anything. the four co-stars are
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.