The Bioscope (Apr 1932)

8. THE BIOSCOPE April 27, 1932 Sunday Charity Disclosures In Commons Only 4 Areas Out Of 98 Paid “ Penance The Octopus in U.S.A. Government’s Mild Protection For Independents {By a Bioscope Xew York Representative) Early this month 21 companies, including Paramount and Balaban and Katz, of Chicago, and the United States Government signed a decree in Chicago under which a three-year-old action charging monopoly under the Sherman Anti-Trust Law came to a conclusion with the taking of testimony of trial. The signing of the consent decree is seen in some quarters as another legal victory for block booking and what-not. Among the charges filed by the Government were block booking and discrimination against independent theatres. Alleging that the 21 companies had conspired to create a monopoly in the territory served by Chicago exchanges, the Government, about a year ago, amended its existing complaint by adding new charges, among which block booking played an important part. Considered the most important feature of the decree, and construed as backing the clean bill of health given to the block booking practice by the decision of the circuit court of appeals in New York this month, was the clause which read : " Nothing in this decree contained shall be construed as prohibiting any lawful conduct by any one or more defendants in the distribution and/or exhibition of motion pictures anything in this decree to the contrary notwithstanding.” The consent decree, planned for some time, was proposed by the Government in order to save expense and time of both Federal Attorneys and the film industry. The decree, described as ” a strong one,” prohibits the defendants from granting to theatres affiliated with them in the Chicago territory, any arbitrary or unreasonable protection or clearance over competing unaffiliated theatres. Manchester In Its Humour Exhibitors Support Greenwood Disappointed by the cupboard-bare Budget, Manchester C.E.A. quickly decided upon its next step. Last Tuesday evening Fred Carlton, the secretary, addressed an urgent message to all members of the Branch. Commenting that the Budget statement was a bitter disappointment, Mr. Carlton went on to refer to the by-election taking place at Wakefield and to the record of one of the candidates, .Urthur Greenwood, who, when in the Cabinet last year, voted in favour of Sunday cinemas, and who sympathises with the demand for a reduction and partial remission of the Entertainments Tax. Exhibitors were appealed to, in the interests of their businesses, to send motor cars to Wakefield to take voters to the poll in support of Mr. Greenwood. In the House of Commons on Monday, ^Ir. Hutchison asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he could state in which towns and areas in Great Britain cinematograph and musical entertainments had been given under the provisions of the Sunday Performances (Temporary Regulation) Act, 1931 ; and in which cases contributions had been made to charity in respect of such performances. Sir Herbert Samuel said he had no information as to the situation since the Sunday Performances (Temporary Regulation) Act was passed last year, but in December, 1930, the Home Office was informed that at that time cinema performances were being given on Sunday in 98 areas. Contributions to charity were made in London and three other areas. L.C.C. And Charity Payments The Entertainments Committee of the L.C.C. have appointed Lieut. -Colonel Sir Cecil Levita and A. H, M. Wedderburn as their representatives to negotiate with the London and Home Counties Branch of the C.E.A. and to report on the following questions ; — (1) The question of the formulation of a more convenient scheme of payment of contributions to charity by licensees of cinemas in which Sunday performances are given. (2) On payments made into a suspense account kept by the Branch of the Association in respect of such entertainments. (3) On the question of the assessment of disputed assessment of contributions to charity. Capitol, Didsbury, Destroyed Fire Causes £85,000 Damage The Capitol, Didsbury, was burnt out by a fire on Monday afternoon, which is reported to have caused ^^85,000 worth of damage. The fire, which originated behind the screen, destroyed the stage, together with scenery, dresses and band instruments, brought down the ;^4,000 Christie organ, caused the collapse of the roof and wiped out practically the whole of the interior of the theatre. The Capitol, the project of R. C. Roy, was opened on May 21st last year, and was regarded as one of the most outstanding contributions to modern cinema construction and design. Its great feature was a remarkable Holophanc lighting installation, on which the decorative effect of the auditorium depended, as well as a cyclorama stage, which was recognised as a big advance in the technique of stage presentation. Designed by Peter Cummings, A.R.I.B.A., the prominent Manchester cinema architect, the Capitol had just under 2,000 seats. * * ♦ An outbreak of fire completely destroyed the Hippodrome, Bratton, Yorks, in the early hours of Sunday morning. The building, which was leased and run by W. Bice and E. Lamb, was built of wood and corrugated iron, and had seating accommodation for about 500. Aids To Showmanship New Printing Service To The Trade Leonard W. Carter, well known throughout the film industry as a result of nearly 15 years’ association with the advertisement and printing staff of The Bioscope, has left the company in order to concentrate upon the development of the Automatic Overprints Co., 56, Old Compton Street, W. 1 — a recently-formed and successful concern, of which he is one of the promoters. During his long association with The Bioscope, Mr. Carter has gathered practical experience of the particular requirements of film renting and other concerns in the industry, by way of printed publicity matter, throwaways, exploitation sheets, trade show cards, and other printed aids to salesmanship. This class of work has for some time past been undertaken with success by Automatic Overprints, and the company’s activities are now to be extended. Mr. Carter is held in high esteem throughout the industry, and his severance with The Bioscope does not disturb his happy relations with its personnel, whose good wishes he carries with him in his new enterprise. New Universal Personnel New staff appointments announced yesterday by S. F. Ditcham, of LTniversal Pictures, are A. Jacob as new manager of the Manchester branch and L. G. Greenspan as representative for Kent and Sussex. Alan Farman resumes his representation with Universal on the East Lancs territory. Harry Dawson, Universal sales representative, has been added to the staff of the special service after sales publicity department, bringing the total to five outside representatives in the department. Korda To Produce At Wembley Arrangements have been completed between Associated Sound Film Industries and the London Film Productions for the Alexander Korda production, " The Wedding Rehearsal,” to be shot at the A.S.F.I. studios at Wembley, starting on May 2nd.