The Bioscope (Apr 1932)

April 6, 1932 THE BIOSCOPE 9 B.I.P. Distribution Plan for U.S.A. Dent in New American Company Wardour Chief on “Blind Booking” U.S. Technicians for British Studio Warner-First National Teddington Expansion Warner Bros. First National have commenced the process of expansion forecast by Jack L. Warner during his recent London visit. Randall Sayre and W. Scott Darling, two Britishers who have been in Hollywood for some years, left for London on the Majestic on Friday and will augment Roland Pertwee and John Hastings Turner on the scenario staff. In addition to these writers, Irving Asher has engaged Mrs. Boyd, for five years Walter Mycroh’s right hand, as chief of the storyreading department, and Samuel Simmons, who started with Kinemacolour in 1908, and was until a week ago with B.I.P., as cutter, in addition to four others already employed in the cutting rooms. Terrell Morse, an American, will be over within a week and will beeditor-in-chief of all Warner Bros. First National’s productions. The most important engagement from Irving Asher’s point of view is that of A. M. Salamon as studio manager. Mr. Salamon has been with Warners for 17 years, the last 10 as assistant general manager. It is interesting to note that out of a staff of 100 engaged at the Teddington studios, only seven are Americans, thus making Warner Bros. Finst National 93 per cent. British at the present time. Board of Trade Evidence Clause 32 of the Films Act provides that trade shows of films to be registered must be announced to exhibitors or their agents at least seven days before showing. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 Second Chances (Butchers), Cambridge. The Crowd Roars, Words and Music, and Bosko at the Zoo (Warner), Prince Edward. Uncrowned Champions, College Grapplers, Slim Figuring, Toy Time, In Dutch, The Door of Asia and Children of the Sun (P.D.C.), Own Theatre Carele.ss Lady (Fox), Phoenix. THURSDAY, APRIL 14 Galloping Through (Wardour), London Pavilion. Murders in the Rue Morgue (Universal), Prince Edward. FRIDAY, APRIL 15 Beauty and the Boss, Battling Bosko, Free and Easy, and Henry Santry (Warner), Prince Edward. MONDAY, APRIL 18 First Mrs. Fraser (Sterling), Prince Edward. Immediately prior to sailing for London after five weeks in the States, Arthur Dent, of British International and Wardour Films, brought to a head negotiations which he had started with Pat Powers on his arrival. As a result a new company has been formed under the title Powers Pictures Incorporated, of which David A. O’Malley is the President : Arthur Dent the VicePresident ; and Harry Post the Treasurer. This company will distribute British International product in America, but will not be tied exclusively to British pictures, for Pat A. Powers, a pioneer in the film industry, had P A. Powers Arthur Dent already certain Hollywood tie-ups. The result will be that the B.I.P. output will for the first time go out in U.S.A. through an organisation enjoying the status of a complete but affiliated renting concern. According to a cable dispatched as Mr. Dent sailed from New York, the Wardour executive had something to say against the provision in the Films Act, 1927, which bars blind booking. He is quoted as saying that the failure of British exhibitors to secure lower percentages is due to the existing legal ban on blind booking Germany Facing Ruin ? U.F.A. Closing First-Run Theatres (Bv Our Berlin Correspondent, Fritz Mann) The acute crisis in the German cinema business has now involved Ufa. Ufa intend to close down two of their four first-run theatres along the Berlin Broadway (the Kurfiirstendamm). The “ Ufa-Theatre Kurfiirstendamm ” and the " Universum ” are in question. This is a new symptom of the unbearable situation in the German entertainment field. The prices for admission in the smaller German cinemas are already lower than before the war. On the other side we must reckon that the single picture now costs three times its pre-war figure, and that in one programme two pictures are now generally shown. The German film industry — production, renting and exhibition — is on the verge of ruin. Censorship Shuts Cinema Beckenham Pavilion Closes Down Effect of the local Film Censorship Committee at Beckenham, which was appointed on January 13th, has been to cause the closing of the Pavilion Theatre. Members of the Censorship Committee who visited the hall on Monday morning in order to see the week’s programme, were told that it was not necessary for them to do so, as the proprietors had decided not to open the theatre. Explaining this decision, H. C. Tookey, resident manager, stated that the local censorship scheme had proved the " last straw.” Despite the fact that the Pavilion had this year lost the Sunday opening licence which it previously held for nine consecutive years, and that the additional burden imposed by the increased Entertainments Tax had hit the house badly, he contended that his company would have been able to weather the storm but for this latest ill-advised action. The result of this action is that cinema goers who formerly visited the Pavilion will now go outside the jurisdiction of the local censorship body for their entertainment, the whole object of which will thus be defeated. Although a meeting of the Beckenham Council was held on Monday evening, the matter was not raised. Plaza for Southampton Councillor Spickernell’s Scheme Work started on Monday on the erection of the Plaza, Southampton, a new hall for the Portsmouth company with which Councillor F. J. Spickernell is associated. The theatre will have 2.100 seats, and it is expected to be ready for opening at the beginning of October. The Plaza has been designed by Robert Cromie, F.R.I.B..\., the well-known cinema architect, and the consulting engineer is F. W. Budd, M.Inst.C.E. L. F. Richardson, of Streatham, is the builder. Hoped for “Easy Living” “ He purchased the cinema because he was getting old and thought that it would provide him with an easier living in the future.” This statement was made in the course of the hearing of an application for an order of discharge which came before Mr. Registrar Warmington, on March 17th, at the London Bankruptcy Court. The application was made by Harry Green, described as proprietor of the Cinema Royal, Croydon. . His Honoiu: upheld a report by the Official Receiver and suspended the discharge for three years.