The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

March— April, 1943 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN 41 CINEMA It All Started in 1918 Yes, the Studio Agreement has been signed at last. But few members know of the first meeting of the old Kine Gamer. mien's Society in 1918 at the end of World War No. 1. It was held at Emile's Restaurant in W ardour Street. I cycled from Aldershot, where I was then stationed in the Army, to attend, and alter the meeting — full of good cheer and beer — cycled back. Amongst those present were the late Bert Bloomfield, Jack Wiggins, Billy Boole and Walter Davis, then there were George Woods-Taylor, Jack and A. St. A. Brown. It was this meeting that first started trade unionism amongst film technicians. While we discussed the measures we ought to take to protect ourselves, we drank rough red wine which tasted like old files and vitriol — the price of the room. We finished the meeting at the "Ship" in Wardour Street, cleaning our palates with hon-i English beer. It's a long time between World Wars No. 1 and 2, but it just shows perseverance pays. The Newsreel Section of A.C.T. will soon be in full blast and then we shall have completed the job these old pioneers envisaged. Do You Know "The Bishop"? Perhaps not, but he runs a film studio in a church complete with steeple in Marylebone Boad. The Marylebone Film Studio is in the annex of a church and is run by A.C.T. member Henry Halstead — better known as "The Bishop." This bijou studio has been associated with the production of 51 pictures, both on location and in the studio. These films have been made for the Admiralty. War Office, Air Ministry. Ministry of Information, Ministry of Food, Ministry of Supply, Ministry of Health, Central Council of Health Education, Ministry of Agriculture — also the Fighting French, Czechoslovak M.O.I. , Polish M.O.I, and Netherlands Government. Henry organised the cameras and lighting and personally recorded inter \ iew s with the Queen. ( i-eneral MacNaughton, etc. Such famous actors as Emlyn Williams and Nova Pilbeam have acted at Marylebone. Three of the pictures made during the \ ear were in Technicolor, one of which was The Life of Faraday. The small permanent staff includes Henry Halstead, Art Director. Sound Cameraman, three Carpenters, one Painter, one Properly Master, one Stage-hand and two Electricians — all union men who handle 80 hw. direct current from the studio's generator. The greatest joh of the Marylebone Studio is the initiation of film technicians to higher jobs — many directors and camera men now playing the " tops " must Mess the da\ they worked at the studio in a church. Airgraph from Ceylon Harry Kratz. one of our old stalwarts who is serving as a Pilot Officer in the R.A.F., Ceylon, writes to tell us he bumped into Captain Bryan Langley looking very fit and in his usual good spirits, none the worse for his experiences. He says Bryan has just started a most ambitious production and he (Harry) has been given official permission to assisi in the film — squadron duties, of course, permitting, They have been dramatizing it around the island, where they met another A.C.T. member, brother Sydney Payne, exHumphries Labs, who is with the B.A.F. Photo Seci ion and who has also been roped in to help with this epic. Bryan Langley was armed with A.C.T. Journals and llarn says would it be too ambitious for him to expect one now and again. "It is good," he says " to hear how things are going back home and to know about the good work A.C.T. is doing. Keep it up." We are sending Harry some Journals and hope he likes this issue with news of the Studio Charter being signed. Harry was a great helper in getting A.C.T. going and was on the Council in our early days, so he can take some' personal pride in the final signing of the Charter. (Concluded on page 35) -For Studio arid laboratory equipment, Camerasjripodsfrintintj, Processing planL.ariaTorfne solution of any technical problem Concerning them -the name that matters is W.VINTEN ; LTD. NORTH CIRCULAR RD.. CRICKIEWOOD. N.W.J, k CMitone 6373