The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

July 1«>, 1931 THE BIOSCOPE 37 News from the Territories From “The Bioscope’s” Special Representatives Manchester and Liverpool (Representative: Fred Gronback, 18, Coningsby Road, Anfield, Liverpool. Telephone: Anfield 1289> Nomad Activities Manchester Kinema Nomads are now preparing for their winter activities and have booked the restaurant of Manchester, Ltd., for a hot-pot supper and smoking concert on October 2nd, when H. Bushell will hand over the chairmanship to W. H. Newman. That there will be a big demand for tickets is certain, and the difficulty is likely to be satisfying the applications. On Sunday of last week, the Nomads held their first annual picnic to Norbreck Hydro, Blackpool. This was a successful affair, being attended by about 50 persons. There was a good programme of sports events and much amusement was caused by the humorous nature of the prizes. H. Bushell, W. H. Newman and Edgar Sullivan, three of the Nomads, each received a presentation, the nature of which they would probably intimate to anybody sufficiently interested to inquire. Those responsible for the outing, pleased as they were with the success they achieved, must have felt exceedingly gratified, if not embarrassed, by the unstinted praise accorded them by the guests. Harold Buxton, the fourth Nomad, was responsible for the purchase of the prizes. Manchester Cinema’s Change-over The Park Cinema, .Alexander Park, Manchester, commenced showing sound pictures over the Picturetone system last week. Two Hahn 2 projectors were installed by the Walturdaw Cinema Supply Co., Manchester. Wardours Extending Owing to the expansion of their business* Wardours intend to extend their office accommodation at Liverpool. Negotiations are proceeding for other offices, but if these do not conclude satisfactorily, extensions will be made to their existing offices. Arthur Sydney is the Liverpool branch manager. Staff Annual The staff of the Ambassador Super Cinema, Pendleton, Manchester, will hold its annual picnic on Sunday, July 26th, to Llandudno. As in previous years, the directors will probably make a contribution towards the cost of the outing. Sacrificing 60 Seats Alterations are to be made to the seating arrangements at the Coliseum, Southport. The change involves the removal of 60 seats from the body of the hall to allow more width between the remaining seats. This will give greater comfort to patrons. Permission to make the alterations was granted by the magistrates a few days ago. Four Northern Counties (Representative : Thos. F. Burgess, 242, Wingrove Avenue, Newcastle-on-Tyne) Children and “ A ” Films At a meeting of the Newcastle Education Committee last Thursday, the chairman. Sir George Lunn, referring to the admission of •children to cinemas, intimated the determination of the Committee to see as far as possible that when films were passed for showing to adults only, children were not admitted to the cinemas. He pointed out that the regulations issued by the Home Office on this question had not been fully complied with on Tyneside. J. C. Bell, chairman of the Northern Branch C.E.A., has taken the cudgels up on behalf of local exhibitors, and through the medium of the Press pointed out for Sir George’s information that the Home Office regulations were being faithfully observed on Tyneside generally, as the regulations were attached as conditions to the licences of cinematograph exhibitors. Mr. Bell rightly pointed out that it does not neces sarily follow that because a film was in the “ A ” category that it was a sex film. He also pointed out that the exhibitors were not prepared to allow Sir George Lunn or anyone else to overstep the regulations laid down by the Home Office. A recent attempt to do this had already been made by the authorities in Newcastle, but was frustrated. Fire Chiefs Inspect Non-Inflammable Film At the annual conference of the Institute of Fire Engineers, held in Newcastle last week, an opportunity was afforded the fire chiefs to inspect a non-inflammable film which it was claimed, if universally adopted, would make cinemas immune from fire as far as films were concerned. Henry Simmonis gave an address to the conference on the film, and pointed out that the French industry had developed a film which would not burn at all. This film was said to be clear and durable. A sample of the film was produced by Mr. Simmonis, which was inspected by the delegates with great interest. New steel cupboards which had withstood the most searching tests had been specially designed for the storage of the films. Death of Earl of Tankerville The trade in the North have heard with deep regret of the death of the Earl of Tankerville on Thursday. Whilst not directly connected with the trade, he could claim some association with it through the efforts of his enterprising son and heir, Lord Ossulston, who about two years ago opened a cinema on his father’s estate, but at a more recent date transferred his interests to another cinema in Wooller. R.C.A. Set for Dunston Cinema The latest type of R.C.A. “ talkie ” equipment is being installed in the Imperial, Dunstonon-Tyne. The hall is controlled by F. W. Morrison, and it is anticipated that the new set will be completely installed and ready for use by August 20th. Leeds and District (Representative: H. S. Pitts, "Yorkshire Evening Post," Leeds, or Leyburn Grove, Bingley) “ Verb. Sap.” The number of people who, on one pretext or another, seek free admission to the cinemas is amazing. Clarence H. Hurst, manager of the Majestic, knows this full well, and so, while he is away on holiday, has made the task of his deputy easier by having cards printed, announcing The Man who gives Free Passes Away Is on Holiday. Don’t Blame the Pictures “ Don’t blame the pictures,” said Mr. W. H. Barker, chairman of the Otley magistrates, when an Ilklev schoolboy, charged with thefts from electricity and gas meters, was said to be a regular frequenter of the picture houses. A Capitol Enterprise George Besford, manager of the Capitol, Meanwood, was enterprising enough to secure the first run in Leeds of the official film record of the Prince of Wales’s Tour of the Argentine and of his opening of the exhibition at Buenos Ayres. Capitol audiences liked it immensely, and Mr. Besford was warmly congratulated on his enterprise. Exhibitor as Mayor The nomination (mentioned in last week’s Bioscope) of Alderman M. P. Cryer, the wellknown Keighley exhibitor, who is also chairman of the Finance Committee of the Town Council, as Mayor of Keighley for the coming year is to go forward. Keighley is to have an exhibitor Mayor. New Wardour Programme Bernard Schofield, manager of the Leeds branch of Wardour Films, tells me he has fixed the following trade shows of B.I.P. films, all at the Scala : — “ Fascination,” July 20th ; “ Girl in the Night,” July 27th ; “ Creeping Shadows,” August 12th ; “ Bill and Coo,” August 14th ; “ The Man at Six,” August 18th ; “ Love Lies,” August 21st; “The Flying Fool,” August 28th ; “ The Lovelorn Lady,” September 4th ; The Shadow Between,” September 11th; and “ Rich and Strange,” September 18th. Birmingham and Midlands (Representative: O. Ford-Jones, "Winona," Hugh Road, Smethwick, Birmingham. Telephone: Smethwick 289> The Season’s Topic Holidays have formed one of the principal topics of the week in Midland cinema circles. V. I. Oliver, general manager of the Brettell Circuit, has just returned to harness following a holiday in the Mediterranean, while J. Anthony, popular manager of the Futurist, will by now have returned from a holiday spent in touring the West Coast and Wales. ' T. Cozens, of the Grand, Alum Rock, and A. A. Harrison, of the Tudor, King’s Heath, are away on vacation, and Miss Burgess, manageress of* the Imperial, West Bromwich., has returned after a holidav in Paris. Claude Solomon, Wardour’s Birmingham chief, is spending a short holidav at Cliftonville. Only Two Silents Left Birmingham is fast approaching the 100 per cent, mark as a “ talkie ” city. During the present month two more silent theatres have entered into contracts for wiring — the Globe Theatre at Barton’s Arms, and the Triangle, in Gooch Street, both of which are on the Lyons circuit. R.C.A. is the equipment chosen. With these houses going “ talkie ” there only remain two effective silent houses in the city — the Model at Small Heath and the Bull Ring, the third remaining house — the Victoria at Small Heath — having ceased to function as a cinema some three months back. Staff “ Beanos ” The staff of the Globe, Barton’s Arms, had an enjoyable day on Sunday of the past week, when they held their annual staff outing. The party of about 30 boarded a charabanc outside the cinema in the early morning, halted at Dovedale for lunch, then proceeded to Matlock, and later returned by a circular route. * * * The combined staff outing of the Albion, Handsworth, and the Scala, Stourbridge, will take place on Sunday, August 16th, to Alton Towers. Both theatres are controlled bv George Hunter. * * * Decorations and Re-equipment The Picturedrome, Darlaston, is at the present time one of the bright spots in the Darlaston area, having recently been in the bands of the decorators. The exterior is executed in light stone, with the pillars picked out in a medium tone, finishing off with a border of dark marble graining. To enhance the scheme floodlights have been placed in the dome. * * * The Scala, Dudley, which has been closed for some time past, is now being entirely reconditioned throughout and will reopen as a talking picture centre towards the end of August. Western Electric sound system is being installed, together with Kalee projectors. * * * The Palace, Tamworth, is being equipped with the Western Electric 3a sound svstem, together with Ernemann II. projectors. It is understood the house will open with the new equipment for the August holidays. * * * The Original, Alum Rock, which was recently taken over by the Mihaly Tonefilm Company as