The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

August 19, 1931 THE BIOSCOPE 33 News From “The Manchester and Liverpool (Representative: Fred Gronback, 18, Coningsby Road, Anfield, Liverpool. Telephone: Anfield 1289> Cinemas’ Clean Bill Officers of the Liverpool Health Committee systematically visit all cinemas to see that the means provided for the ventilation of the auditorium is in use, attention also being directed to the condition of the sanitary conveniences, provision of seats for the attendants, the general cleanliness of the premises, and the water supply. During the year, states the annual report of the Medical Officer of Health, 600 night visits were paid, and on each occasion the premises were found to be in a satisfactory condition. A day inspection is also made, so that closer attention may be given to the examination of the sanitary conveniences. In consequence of complaints of the atmosphere of certain cinemas, a detailed return of all cinemas in the city, indicating the temperature, ventilation and condition of the atmosphere, was submitted to the Health Committee. In a few instances the fans were found incorrect, but after a further visit had been made everything was found in a satisfactory condition. Oldham Theatre Fire A superintendent of Oldham Fire Brigade was watching the picture “ Rain or Shine,” at the Colosseum Theatre, Oldham, one evening last week, and was unaware, until an attendant told him, that a fire had broken out in the manager’s office at the front of the hall. Mr. Ward (the manager) informed the audience of about 1,500 persons that there was a small fire and requested them to leave the building. Shows were resumed the following evening. Electricity Charges in North Wales There is a possibility of exhibitors in Bangor (North Wales) getting the option of a two-part electricity tariff, as an alternative to the present flat rate charges. The electrical engineer of the city has been asked to prepare a report on the effect of such an innovation. Three Lighting Failures Owing to a failure in the electricity supply, the shows at three Liverpool picture theatres were interrupted during the exhibition of the feature film late one evening last week. The theatres concerned were the Palladium, the Hippodrome, and the Olympia, which, except for the emergency lighting, were thrown into total darkness. After five minutes’ interruption the current was restored and the programmes were resumed. The Shows Go On Alleging victimisation, the Municipal and General Workers’ Union last week took strike action, by withdrawing its employees from the Grand and Palace Theatres, Nelson. This trouble had been brewing for some time and resulted from the dismissal of three employees from the Burnley Empire, which is also controlled by Federated Estates, Ltd. Endeavours were made to patch up the dispute, but the management took the precaution of preparing for a stoppage by engaging other employees to take the place of the strikers should they withdraw their services. The proprietors of the theatre deny that there has been any intimidation in compelling employees to withdraw from the union. So far as can be ascertained, the dispute has not had any adverse effect on the attendance at the theatres named. Four Northern Counties (Representative: Thos. F. Burgess, 242, Wingrove Avenue, Newcastle-on-Tyne) Old People Entertained On the invitation of the directors of Sidney Bacon’s Pictures, Ltd., about 500 old people between the ages of 61 and 89 attended a special matinee at the Olympia Cinema, Newcastle-onTyne, last Thursday afternoon. The old folks were members of the All Saints Aged Peoples Association, and each one was the recipient of a from the Territories Bioscope’s ” Special Representatives small gift from the directors. This special matinee is an annual treat for these old people, which was originally inaugurated by the late Sidney Bacon many years ago and has been continued since his death as a mark of remembrance. Frank E. Franks, the well-known Tyneside comedian, attended the matinee on the invitation of Manager T. Moat, who was responsible for the arrangements. Stars Not Known on Bench That leaders of the legal fraternity of the City of Newcastle-on-Tyne seldom, if ever, attend cinema performances was admitted at the Newcastle Court last week, when in the course of a passage between the Magistrates’ Clerk (Mr. J. Roberts) and a boy defendant charged with theft, Mr. Roberts expressed entire ignorance of the. existence of Marie Dressier. Mr. Roberts admitted he had never seen a picture in his life, and Mr. P. L. Frankham, solicitor, who was connected with the case, also intimated that it was seven years since he saw a film. Film Viewed by Council A special performance of the film “ Africa Speaks ” was given at the Theatre Royal, Blyth, last Saturday for the benefit of the members of the Blyth Town Council, who had been specially invited by the management. Birmingham and Midlands (Representative: O. Ford-Jones, "Winona," Hugh Road, Smethwick, Birmingham. Telephone: Smethwick 289> Carnival Committees Preparations for the forthcoming Birmingham Cinema Carnival are going well forward. The date of this year’s event, which will be held again at the Edgbaston Assembly Rooms, has been fixed for October 6th. There will, I understand, be no fancy dress competition, but there will be two bands engaged with the idea of running continuous dancing and a special entertainment in the form of a cabaret. Sub-committees have been formed as follows : — General Purposes : Bernard Cresswell, Chas. Sanders, and F. R. Dace. Catering : I.ewin Samuels and A. \V. Rogers. Entertainment : Bernard Cresswell, Bertram Burleigh, C. Holdstock and T. Mangan. Advertising : Chas. Sanders, F. R. Dace and Mervyn Yardlev. Peripatetic Rabbits That golf is fast becoming the favourite pastime of renters and exhibitors in Birmingham and district is beyond doubt. To this end there has recently come into being a little school of enthusiasts under the title of “ The Wandering Duds,” who are to be seen on the course at the Lickeys, near Birmingham, at an early hour every Sunday morning. At the moment, I understand, the club is between 16 and 20 strong. Their weekly meeting is to decide who shall hold the “ Duds’ Cup ” for the ensuing week. Their queer title, I am informed, arises from the fact that their work is of an itinerary nature, while their proficiency at the ancient art is questionable. Taking the Kiddies Out A happy little party of between 150 and 200 of the poorer children of the Aston district assembled at the Globe, Bartons Arms, Birmingham, on Wednesday afternoon for an outing to Yarningale Common, organised by Richard Holder, the go-ahead manager, in conjunction with the Aston Manor Lodge of the Order of Druids. Following tea. the party returned to the Globe, when each child was presented with a bag containing sweets and fruit. The special treat concluded on Saturday afternoon, when the children were further entertained to a special matinee through the generosity of the proprietor of the cinema, Lionel Lyons. Fire in Projection Room Shortly before the end of the matinee at the Carlton, Coventry, on Wednesday, fire broke out in the projection room, which, however, was confined to the department and was quickly extinguished. Between 500 and 600 ft. of film was, however, destroyed. There was no danger to the audience, who left the building quietly. The evening performance took place after only a slight delay. New System at Dudley Port The Victoria, Dudley Port, of which N. H. Dixon, of West Bromwich, is the proprietor, opens as a talking picture centre on September 3rd. The apparatus to be installed is a new system for Birmingham and the Midlands known as the “ Verivox.” Alone, Alone, All, All Alone The Coliseum, Willenhall, the remaining silent house in the town, reopened on Monday, August • 17th, after being closed for a fortnight for alterations, reconditioning and redecoration. Conference in November A good deal of interest, not merely local, is likely to be aroused by the forthcoming conference in Birmingham arranged by the Birmingham Cinema Inquiry Committee. The conference is to be held on November 14th at the University, and some 500 delegates from the large towns and cities of England and Scotland will assemble under the chairmanship of Sir Charles Grant Robertson to discuss the influence of the cinema, with particular regard to the juvenile population. Invitations to attend and to speak have been addressed to several wellknown people, and already Lovat Frazer, M.P., who has been prominent in putting questions in the House of Commons on this subject, and Dr. W. A. Potts, psychological expert to the Birmingham Justices, have promised to take part. Other acceptances are expected shortly. At the morning session reports will be received from the various towns in which similar work is being done to that in Birmingham, and the afternoon will be taken up by speeches, in which prominent public men and women will express their views. It is hoped that as a result of the conference steps will be taken to impress on the Government the need for the holding of an impartial inquiry. R.C.A. on Lyons’ Circuit The Globe, Bartons Arms, which opened as a talking picture theatre on Monday with the new R.C.A. 8 apparatus, brings the whole of the Lyons’ Circuit, with the exception of the Bull Ring Cinema, into the vogue of audible films. The Bull Ring house is announced to open also with the R.C.A. apparatus early in the coming month. Not the Last In a recent note in these columns I mentioned that there remained only one silent house in Birmingham — the Model Cinema in Coventry Road. This was an error, for it has since been brought to my notice that another house faithful to the silent drama is the Dudley Road Cinema, of which the directorate of the Stirchlev Empire are associated. My apologies for the error. Combined Outing The first annual outing of the combined staffs of the Albion, Handsworth, and the Scala, Stourbridge, took place on Sunday to Svmonds Yat, where, despite showers, a delightful day was spent. The trip was made by charabanc and the afternoon whiled away in sports. The Albion and Scala Theatres are under the control of George Hunter. Sheffield and District (Representative : George W. Hopkinson. 60, Peveril Road, Ecclesall, Sheffield, S.W.> Lady Councillor’s Lament At the last meeting of the Sheffield CityCouncil, Councillor Mrs. Moore was emphatically of the opinion that the Council’s response to a recent invitation to attend a show at a local cinema should be chronicled in the minutes .