Kinematograph year book (1944)

Who's What in the Industry. 233 Gerald Blake. Born 1896. Educated City of London University. Thirty years' experience in the Industry, acting, producing, directing, editing, technical. Toured own variety acts and stage shows. December, 1940, switched over to the exhibiting side of the Industry and joined Odeon as an assistant manager. Now resident manager, Odeon Theatre, Uxbridge. Address : Flat Three, 2, The Broadway, Oxford Road, Denham, Bucks. Phone : Uxbridge 1381. Charles Boot, F.R.S.A., J.P. Son of Henry Boot, of Broomhall Park, Sheffield. Born 1874. Director of Henry Boot & Sons Ltd., Welwyn Garden City, Ltd., Pinewood Studios, Ltd., and 25 other companies. Justice of Peace for City of Sheffield. Clubs : Carlton, Constitutional, City Livery, Royal Automobile. Address : Thornbridge Hall, Ashford-in-the-Water, near Bakewell, Derbyshire, and 10, The Boltons, London, S.W.10. Stanley W. Bowler, F.R.P.8., F.R.8.A. Consultant on technical problems. Address: 17, Cloister Road, London, W.3. Phone: Acorn 3578. Sydney Box. Bom 1907 Journalist turned playwright turned producer. Managing director Verity Films, Ltd. Producer' for Two Cities Films, Ltd. Produced "Flemish Farm," " English Without Tears," etc. Address: Filmcity House, Upper St. Martins Lane, W.C. Phones : Temple Bar 0135/6 and 5664/5. Harold Boxall. Born London, 1898. Motion picture executive and film producer. Director Metro-GoldwynMayer British Studios, Ltd. ; managing director, Denham Laboratories, Ltd. Productions since 1939 include "Thief of Baghdad," "Lion Has Wings," " Old Bill and Son," " Major Barbara," "49th Parallel," " Jeannie," "The Day Will Dawn," etc. Address : Denham Studios, Uxbridge, Middlesex. Phone : Denham 2345. Lt.-CoL A. C. Bromhead, C.B.E. Founded the original Gaumont business in London in 1898, opened one of the first film studios in this country, and one of the first kinematograph theatres, one of the pioneers of the film hire service, and the originator of the "exclusive" film and "booking by contract." With M. Gaumont exhibited " Chronochrome " in 1913. In 1914 the Gaumont Co. constructed and equipped the first large modern film studios in London. In 1922 the Gaumont Company came entirely under British control, the majority proprietary interest being acquired by Col. Bromhead and his British associates. In 1932 installed a large plant for developing at the laboratory at Shepherds Bush, and considerable extensions were completed early in 1927. In the same year a large new studio was built and in 1929 the first sound-proof studio in England was constructed for the production of " Talkies " by the British Acoustic process. The Gaumont-British Picture Corporation was formed in 1927 to acquire Gaumont Ideal and W. & F., together with a group of 22 theatres, subsequently acquired the ordinary share capital of Denman Picture Houses, Ltd., General Theatre Corporation, Ltd. and P.C.T., and other companies, thereby becoming, under the Chairmanship of Col. Bromhead, the most important concern of its kind in Europe. Col. Bromhead retired and severed his connection with the Gaumont British Corporation and its Associated and subsidiary companies in August, 1929. Appointed hon. adviser on Trade matters to Films Division, Ministry of Information, October, 1939. Club : Royal Societies. Address: Douglas House, Petersham, Surrey. Phone: Richmond 0240. Ralph Sidney Bromhead, A.C.A. Qualified as chartered accountant 1926. Theatre controller, Gaumont British and P.C.T. 1927-29. Later assistant general manager, A.B.C., Ltd., then managing director Regent Circuit, Ltd. ; Chairman, L. & H.C. Branch of the C.E.A. 1935. Delegate to C.E.A. General Council, and member of Councils of C.T.B.F. and Provident Institutions. Director and General Manager of County Cinemas and Entertainments and General Investment Corporation, Ltd., also Founder-Chairman of the London Cinema Luncheon Club, now holds commission in H.M. Forces. Reginald G. Bromhead, FCA. Associated with the Gaumont Company since 1903, Mr. Bromhead was appointed secretary in 1915, becoming Managing Director in 1 92 1. Managing Ltirector Gaumont BritisU Picture Corporation, Ltd., and subsidiary companies, 1927. Vice-Chairman, Denman Picture Houses, Ltd. : Vice-Chairman, Genera) Theatres Corporation, Ltd. January, 1929; Joint Man. Dir. and Vice-Chairman P.C.T. and subsidiary companies. Resigned August, 1929. Director, Moss Empires, Ltd. Fellow Institute of Chartered Accountants, Past-President K.R.S., Chairman Executive Committee, Kinematograph Sports Association, Chairman of Council and Board of Management, C.T.B.F. ; and Chairman C.T. Provident Institution. Clubs : Royal Societies, St. James's. Addresses : 9, Cavendish Avenue, St. John's Wood, N.W.8, and Snow's Ride, Windlesham, Surrey. Olive Brook. British stage and silent films 1919 ; 10 years under contract in Hollywood, returned 1935. Star in "The Dictator," "Action for Slander," " The Ware Case," " Love in Exile," " Convoy," " Freedom Radio," " Breach of Promise." Adrian Brunei, F.R.G.S., A.R.P.S. Director and Scenarist. Author of "Filmcraft," "Only Yesterday," "Eve Had No Father," and "Film Production." Joined Moss Empires Bioscope in 1915 ; 1917, Manager of Productions and Scenario Departments of the Ministry of Information. Joined British Actors' Film Company 1919 as Scenario-Editor ; 1920, with Leslie Howard, directed A. A. Milne comedies for Minerva Films. In 1922 directed Ivor Novello and Nina Vanna in ' ' The Man Without Desire." Later joined Gainsborough, directing " Blighty," "The Constant Nymph," "A Light Woman," "The Vortex," and "The Crooked Billet." Has since made "A Taxi to Paradise," "I'm an Explosive," "Badger's Green," "Variety," "City of Beautiful Nonsense," "Menace," "Important People," "Little Napoleon," "The Rebel Son," "While Parents Sleep," " The Girl Who Forgot." Codirected "The Lion Has Wings." Production Consultant to Leslie Howard on 1 ' First of the Few" and "Gentle Sex." Address: First House, Bulstrode Way, Gerrards Cross. Phone : Gerrards Cross 2885.