The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-01
FILM MAGAZINE PRAISES OPENING
 OF NEW THEATRE
Staff Writer Comes To Report
 Temple Premier

 seanel back of the venture is con tained in an article in The Weekly Film Review, a magazine published in ! Atlanta in the interests of theatre own CTS and managers in the southern states
 The story was written by Anna Aiken Patterson, staff writer for the trade journal, who came to Birming- ham purpOsely to cover the opening. Although eOCeer1ing itself primarily with the opening of the new theatre, the article deals at considerable length with the theatrical history of the per sons in charge of the theatre. Highest praise IS accorded R. G. Allen and Joe Steed. managers. and Miss Maud Me Lure Kelly, who has been placed in charge of the theatres department of education and public service The article follows:
 ] Article Quoted
 ~Birmingham's beautiful Temple theatre threw open its doors to the pub lie Monday night. May 19. and thus launched a new enterprise that bids fair to make a name for itself in south eastern amusement circles Approxi- mately 2,50O persons greeted the open ing performance, among them many of 
 and 2JO0 are waiting eagerly to see what pace this newest venture will set in Birmingham
 The Temple theatre. housed in the Masonic temple auditorium. was pso- mofed by the Masonic bodies of Bir- mingham and leased by them to Joe Steed and R. G. Allen, who will point ly manage the house
 Allen HI
 An unkind fate prevented Mir. Allen from attending the opening ceremonies; several days before the date fixed for this event he was stricken with influ enxa and is still unable to leave his home But host of friends in the Southeastern film fraternity sent as- sranees of their good will in the form of teleKrams and flowers and many of these. addressed personally to Mir Al len, found their way. to his room and offered some compensation for the dis appointment of missing the opening.
 Before he went to Birmingham, where he has large real estate holdings, Mir. Allen WAS for many years the lead ing exhibitor in Raleigh. \. C. It was during his long management of the Superba there that local film exchange men first knew him. and it was through one of Atlanta's best known film ex- change men that Joe Steed. who had secured the lease of the Temple, heard of Mr Aliens ability as a snowman and negotiated the deal by which Mir. Allen became interested equally with him in the operation of the Temple. In rhe relatively short time that he has lived in Birmingham, Mir Allen has won the profound respect and genuine esteem of the city's best people just as he won and held the sincere regard of all Raleigh"
 Joe Steed is known to practically all the film men who have travelled Alabama For a number of years he operated theaters in Ensley and Fair fax and frequently visited the exchange center in Atlanta As soon as he planning to build q theater in Bir mingham he interested himself in SC curing the lease. Negotiations were conducted throughout a considerable period before he finally secured the coveted house
 Matter Of Sentiment Perhaps it was a matter of senti- ' ment growing out of his long aSsocia- tiOn in Ensley that Mir. Steed. who as- stunned full charge of the opening eere- monies in the absence of Mir. Allen, secured as master of ceremonies an Ensley merchant, P. H. Tyler, presi- dent of the EnSley Merchants assOeia- tiOn. There were short addresses by Mrs Mary EchOls, commissioner of health and education in Birmingham; and Mrs Myrtelie W. Shell, city amusement inspector
 The regular program for the eve ming included the overture, HOsmer's -E a Bruce scenic entitled My Country :" ' ballet Advertisement presenting Mile. Am2ha and the feature picture, Gold wyn-COSmOpOlitan's The Great White Way"
 In the executive staff are two in- divid1als whose outstanding ability and | splendid work call for special com mendatlOn- They are Fred Stark, mu- ! sscal director .and Miss Maud McLure Kelly, head of the department of edu- cation and public service. Mir. Stark was connected with Mir. Allen at the Superba in Raleigh as musical director, and a year ago went with Jake Wells in the same capacity at the Colonial theater, Richmond. He IS not only a good musician, but a good snowman.
 Miss Kelly Lawyer Mss Kelly, who IS a lawyer by PsOAcSStO0s AS OuI or t1c lew women privileged to practice in the supreme court of the United States She en- joys the distinction of having been in- trOdueed to congress by William Jennings Bryan when the great com mOner was secretary of state under the Wilson administration.
 Although she was already well qualified to fill the position of public service director. Miss Kelly was not satisfied to assume the responsibility without special training She there fore prepared herself for the position under the most able theater public service official in this cOuntFy-Mrs. LOeher, who heads the public service department of the Crandall theaters in Washington. D. C. Months of in- tenslVe training under Mrs LOeher's supervision preceded Miss KelIy's ad- ministratiOn at the Temple and the eminent position held by Mrs. L.Ocher coupled with Miss Kelly's own recOS- ni1ed ability speak eOnvipcingly of her fitness for the post.