The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

32 THE BIOSCOPE July 15, 1931 Scottish Section By Councillor James McBride Larkhall “ Regal ” Reopens To-morrow (Thursday) is the date of reopening of the reconstructed Regal, Larkhall. The completed house is a credit to the contractors and will provide Larkhall picturegoers with all the comforts generally expected in up-to-date cinemas. The auditorium has been skilfully decorated and the colour scheme is pleasing and restful to the eye. Twin seats have been installed in the new balcony and bright orange and pink automatically controlled curtains make a pretty setting for the screen. R.C.A. sound apparatus has been installed and the projection chamber is equipped with everything that tends to perfection in projection. The Regal will now accommodate nearly 1,000 patrons. Miss Veronica Green Married Veronica Green, daughter of the late George Green and Mrs. Green, Glasgow, was quietly married in St. Michael’s Chapel, Moville, Ireland, last Friday to James E. McGrovy the international footballer. Members of the Trade south of the Border who were present at the memorable Glasgow Summer Conference of the C.E.A. in 1925 will remember the bride’s witty speech at the Conference Banquet and the able way in which she assisted her brother, Herbert J. Green, in carrying out the duties of host. Her many friends in the Trade will join The Bioscope in wishing her all that she would wish for herself in her matrimonial career. Clerics and Sunday Opening Although Dunfermline exhibitors scored last winter when the question of opening on Sundays for charitable purposes came before the Civic Fathers, local clergymen are still on the warpath. The subject was raised at a meeting of the Dunfermline and Kinross Presbytery last Tuesday when the Rev. T. B. Nicholson said he thought it would be well if the Presbytery were to appoint a deputation to be in readiness to meet Dunfermline Town Council in September, when they would be considering the arrangements for Sunday concerts and entertainments next winter. It was up to them to state to the civic power what their Church stood for in the matter of Sabbath observance. It was remitted to the Social Problems Committee to arrange for a deputation as suggested. Golden Wedding Bells That sprightly Aberdonian, Alex D. Hay, chairman of directors of Aberdeen Picture Palace, Ltd., and his good lady provided “ whoopee ” to a large number of guests last Thursday evening in the Douglas Hotel, Aberdeen, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding. The esteem in which this leal and kindly couple are held by Northern exhibitors and by the staffs in the various Aberdeen cinemas in which Mr. Hay is chief was shown by the handsome gifts from the Aberdeen section of the C.E.A. and the numerous tangible mementoes for which the staffs had subscribed. Hamilton Company Closing Down Directors of Hamilton Picture House Company (Ltd.), after discussing the question of introducing “ talkies,” came to the decision that the terms on which talking films were rented to companies like theirs were altogether prohibitive. At a meeting of shareholders last week it was agreed voluntarily to wind up the company. One of the directors, in an interview after the decision had been reached, said the company would never have thought of winding up if a steady flow of superior silent pictures could have been guaranteed. The Hamilton Picture House, which has been under the control of the Company, who erected it nearly 20 years ago, was one of the most popular cinemas in the ducal town until the “ talkies ” came. On three successive years a dividend of 85 per cent, was paid and the shareholders have been paid their original investment six or seven times over. Opening of Playhouse, Ayr Quite a number of cinema folk journeyed from Glasgow to Ayr last Wednesday to attend the official opening of Green’s new Playhouse by Provost Wilson. The platform party included Provost Wilson, John Fairweather, architect, William Meikle, builder, and Fred Davis, the resident manager, who presided over the gathering. In his opening remarks, Mr. Davis expressed his pleasure in seeing so many old patrons and friends present, and hoped the new Playhouse would be able to satisfy their tastes in entertainment as well as the old house did. In declaring the Playhouse open, Provost Wilson said he had felt it was his duty as Provost to come and give Messrs. Green encouragement, especially in view of the fact that he represented the burgh and Town Council. The members of the Council were very glad that Messrs. Green had the great courage to put up an edifice of this kind. It must have required a great deal of courage and showed optimism. The Council’s heartiest wishes for the success of the Playhouse went to Messrs. Green. They hoped all their expectations would be fulfilled and that the public would give all the required encouragement. A place of this description was a great asset to the town. John Fairweather, in calling for a vote of thanks to the Provost, said they had only' to look round to see that Messrs. Green had carried out their purpose well. Moreover, they intended to give good service and that was the main thing. They had always been known for that. Everything had been done to ensure the safety of the public. He asked Provost Wilson to accept a silver salver, the gift of Messrs. Green, as a memento of the occasion. Can Exhibitors Co-operate ? The question of space for advertisement in the lay Press has been receiving considerable attention, and both in Glasgow and Edinburgh a scheme of co-operation has had the effect of curtailing expenditure on Press advertisements very considerably. The cinemas in West Lothian are, however, entitled to any' credit there is for giving a lead to country exhibitors as to how they can co-operate in this direction. Formerly the Cinema House and the Pavilion, Bathgate ; Star Theatre, Armadale ; Central Picture House, Broxburn ; and the Cinema, Uphall, all occupied considerable space in the West Lothian Courier. The managements of the various cinemas have now come to an arrangement, whereby each house is allocated 2-in. single column, under a heading of “ County Cinema Attractions.” The scheme only came into Our Luxurious Divan Tub TIP-UP EASY CHAIR FROM 25/ 5,000 recently supplied to the leading GlasgowCinemas. REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS of all kinds carried out without interfering with business. Keenest estimates without obligation. Wrile or Phone lor our repfesentative to call PATERSON’S LTD. (ESTABLISHED 1832) 79, HOWARD ST., GLASGOW. Telephone • CENTRAL 5289 George Arliss, with Jenner, his faithful attendant, makes up for his role in “ Alexander Hamilton,” Warner Brothers’ picture to be seen in London shortly operation last week, and it is therefore too early yet to judge as to its success, but it is noteworthy that tbe editorial columns do not carry' the usual “ write-ups ” on the programmes at the various halls in the current issue. Edinburgh Exhibitors’ Problems Although Edinburgh and the East Coast trade holidays are on just now, members of the Edinburgh and East Coast Section of the Scottish Branch, C.E.A., are not on holiday bent. A meeting of the Section was held yesterday (Tuesday) in the Princes Cinema, when the application from the E.T.U., asking for an agreement to govern wages and working conditions of cinema operators, was considered. The question of valuations and other domestic matters affecting Edinburgh exhibitors also figured on the agenda. A full report will appear in next week’s Bioscope. Doing Things Better at Dunoon Some little time ago it was mentioned herein that a new balcony and other structural alterations were planned for the Picture House, Dunoon. The work has now been completed, and Manager Higgins was a proud man last week when the “ heid yins ” of his company attended to see the new balcony opened. Seating accommodation has been increased by 300. Batch of Contracts for B.T.-H. B.T.-H. sound apparatus has evidently found favour among Scottish exhibitors, if one is to judge by the latest batch of contracts that have been fixed. The Palladium, Gallatown, Kirkcaldy, and the Picture House, Campbeltown, have been wired with this system, and both halls opened with “ talkies ” on Monday'. The Regent, Leven, has discarded another system and changes over to B.T.-H. to-morrow (Thursday). Louis Dickson, of the Hippodrome, Bo’ness, is also changing over to B.T.-H. in the near future. Other halls that are being wired are the Picture House, Newmilns ; Town Hall Picture House, Whitburn ; and the New Cinema which is being opened in the Masonic Hall, Dingwall. Another Big Super for Ayr Following hard on the opening of Green’s new Playhouse, Ayr, comes the news that a site in a prominent position in Ayr has been secured by' John McAllister, the well-known Glasgow cinema magnate, who was responsible for the flotation of the Astoria, Round Toll, and the Strathclyde, Summerfield Street, Glasgow, and other Scottish halls. Mr. McAllister is managing director of most of the cinemas he is interested in, and it is an open secret that he is a strong advocate of building cinemas with over 2,000 seating capacity.