The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

38 THE BIOSCOPE September 9, 1931 News From “The Manchester and Liverpool (Representative: Fred Gronback, 18, Conlngsby Road, Anfield, Liverpool. Telephone: Anfield 1289> Projectionists’ Guild Arrangements are well in hand for the formation of a Manchester Court of the Guild of British Kinema Projectionists and Technicians, Ltd., and it is hoped to hold an inaugural meeting in October. The executive committee of the proposed court comprises Mr. J. P. Carter, secretary (Walturdaw Cinema Supply Co.), Ernest Edwards, chairman (The Grosvenor, Oldham), Dennis Brown, vice-chairman and organiser (Devonshire Picture House, Broughton), T. Weston, treasurer (Piccadilly Picture Theatre, Manchester). Unwelcome Visitors Burglars broke into the Homer Cinema, Great Homer Street, Liverpool, last week, but were unsuccessful in their efforts to open the safe, which contained over £30. When J. E. Machin, the manager, entered the office the glass fell out of the door. He found the place in disorder, the safe had been pulled away from the wall and was chipped and defaced in front, and a cupboard in which cigarettes and chocolates were stored had been emptied and the contents strewn about the floor. All that was taken was about £1 in small cash from the paybox downstairs. The burglary was a sequel to one at Mr Machin’s residence a fortnight previous, when the thieves, in addition to decamping with about £30 worth of goods, took the cinema keys. Acting on the instructions of the police, he had the locks of the cinema changed immediately, with the result that the stolen keys were useless. Another Change Pending Negotiations are nearing completion, it is understood, for the acquisition of the Tower Picture House, Broughton, Manchester, by H. D. Moorhouse, principal of the H. D. Moorhouse Circuit. The Tower at the present time is in the hands of a liquidator. Lost Property Owing to the quantity of lost property collected by attendants at a cinema in one of the fashionable suburbs of Liverpool, the management consider it necessary to appeal to patrons to pause before they leave and ask themselves the question : “ Have I left anything behind ? ” Southport Amateurs Southport Amateur Cinematograph Society is engaged on the production of the drama “ Intrigue,” this being the society’s first film. Four Northern Counties (Representative: Thos. F. Burgess, 242, Wingrove Avenue, Newcastle-on-Tyne) Among several new by-laws adopted by the Newcastle City Council at the monthly meeting last week was one which provides that no person shall with intent to cause annoyance or inconvenience to any person in any place of entertainment to which the public are admitted with or without the payment of money, throw or let off any firework, stink bomb or similar article, or squirt, spray or otherwise throw or scatter any offensive liquid, powder or substance in any place of entertainment. A penalty not exceeding £5 may be imposed. Equipped with R.C.A. After having been closed for three days for the purpose of completing the installation of an R.C.A. super “ talkie ” set, the Imperial Cinema, Dunston-on-Tyne, which is controlled by F. W. Morrison, the well-known Northern exhibitor, had a very successful reopening last Thursday. Treat for the Old Folks By the courtesy of the management of the Grand Theatre, Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne, several hundred members of the Newcastle East End Aged Poor Association w'ere entertained to a special matinee performance last from the Territories Bioscope’s ” Special Representatives week. The old folks marched in procession from their headquarters to the theatre, where the programme submitted was highly appreciated by them. No Aldermanic Honours Yet The many trade friends of Councillor J. W. Telford, a director of the Brighton Theatre, Newcastle, will doubtless sympathise with him over his narrow defeat for Aldermanic honours on the Newcastle City Council. Voting took place at the Council meeting held last Wednesday, when only two nominations were made for the vacancy, resulting in the election of Councillor J. W. Thwaites by a majority of two votes. This is the fourth consecutive occasion on which Councillor Telford has been nominated to fill an Aldermanic vacancy and defeated. Cinema Fire in Newcastle A disastrous fire occurred in the early hours of Friday morning last at the King’s Picture Hall, Marlborough Crescent, one of Newcastle’s oldest cinemas. The budding was practically gutted with the exception of the operating box, which had recently been rebuilt. W. H. Gilmarten, the proprietor, was contemplating an early entire reconstruction of the hall, which had some time ago been closed by the local authorities owing to certain defects. These having been remedied since Mr. Gilmarten took over the hall had been open to the public for some time. Plans for the reconstruction of the theatre had already been passed by the Newcastle Improvement and Streets Committee, and it was also decided to change the name to the New Marlborough Picture House. Northern Halls Change Hands The Palace Cinema, Shiremoor, has recently been taken over from T. H. MacMillan by David Hashman, who is also proprietor of the Comedy Theatre, North Shields. The Tyne Theatre, North Shields, which has been controlled by Dixon Scott, the wellknown Northern exhibitor, for many years, has been transferred to A. Sinclair, of South Shields. The original owner of the Magnet Picture Hall, Shildon, Co. Durham, A. J. Goss, has taken over this hall from T. T., Ltd., of Middlesbrough, who have controlled it for some time past. Leeds and District (Representative: H. S. Pitts, " Yorkshire Evening Post," Leeds, or Leyburn Grove, Bingley) Chaplin’s “ City Lights ” During the week managers found many of their “ houses ” considerably thinned and then blamed the weather for it, but I have wondered to what extent the opposition at the Empire music hall, where Chaplin’s “ City Lights ” is being shown, was responsible. The Empire holds 2,160 people, with standing room for about 700 — and there were very few vacant seats at any screening. The film has been sharply criticised in trade circles, but it has drawn the crowds. Floods in a Picture House Last Friday, the third day of almost continuous rain in Leeds, there were floods in the city, and at the Wellington Picture House in Leeds the cellar was flooded to a depth of over two feet, and it was touch and go as to whether there would be a show that night, for the water nearly flooded the generator. An Orchestra Comes Back The orchestra, under Hadyn Hird, at the New Victoria Picture House, Bradford, which has been “ laid off ” for a month or six weeks during the close season, returned last Monday, and was warmly welcomed by patrons who, in these parts, still have a hankering after real, instead of mechanical, music. Dewsbury’s New Cinema The former Theatre Royal at Dewsbury has now been reopened as the Tudor Talkie Theatre, with seating for 1,400. The proprietors are Northern Theatres Co., Ltd., who have a circuit in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The interior decorations are of the Tudor period. The proscenium is in the form of a Tudor castle, with portcullis border. The mural decorations consist of a series of illuminated shields representing the coats of arms of local boroughs. The New Majestic, Normanton The new Majestic Picture Theatre at Normanton, replacing the old Palace in the High Street, was opened last Monday, and Tom Palmer, of Leeds, who is managing director, and has carried through all the arrangements, is to be congratulated on the way everything went off and on the show he is putting on for Normanton. Flood Havoc The Newtown Picture House was in the middle of the worst flooded areas of Leeds and caughtthe full force of the flood. Last Friday afternoon it was flooded to a depth of 4 ft., and what was more serious, the generator was soon hidden under about 6 ft. of water. The Friday night performances had to be abandoned and even when the floods have subsided the generator will have to be sent away for repairs and the seating taken out for renovation and repair. Hull and District <Re iresentative : A. Beacher, 2, Spring Bank Terrace, Clarendon Street, Hull> Large Staff Outing A party of about 200 comprised the annual staff outing of the Tower and Regent Cinemas to Blackpool last Sunday. The journey began at 6 a.m., breakfast was served on the train and by 11 o’clock Blackpool was reached. Lunch was taken in the Winter Gardens. The success of the trip was largely due to the untiring efforts of Manager Harold Clarke (Tower). Projector for Another Music Hall One of Hull’s leading music halls, the New Tivoli Theatre, is installing a projection room. Upon making inquiries, I learn that it is only for advertising films, but possibilities are suggested by the installation. Birmingham and Midlands (Representative : O. Ford-Iones, " Winona," Hugh Road, Smethwick, Birmingham. Telephone: Smethwick 289> Redditch Improvements The Palace Cinema, Redditch, which has been closed for a few weeks for extensive reconstruction, opens again during the present week. The reconstruction scheme includes the provision of a complete new balcony, operating box, manager’s office and executive accommodation. The hall has been redecorated throughout, the scheme embracing a blue base surmounted by a deep flame tone, gradually merging into cream towards the balcony level. From the balcony the fibrous plaster moulding around doors and wall panelling is picked out in blue, with panels in pale amethyst, while around the ceiling are plaster ornamentations in gold on a cream ground. The new operating department carries Western Electric sound system with the latest type Ernemann projectors, fitted with Hahn Goerz lamps. Mechanical change-over apparatus is included, whilst the rewind room has special equipment and inspection illumination on the bench for the efficient repair of film during rewinding. The latest film splicing and waxing machines have also been installed. The entire front of the house is floodlighted. The plans were drawn by Harold S. Scott, A.R.I.B.A., of Colmore Row, Birmingham, and the builders were Messrs. C. G. Huins & Sons, of Redditch ; Messrs. Parker, Winder & Achurch, of Birmingham, were responsible for complete rewiring, and Messrs. Thompson & Dean supplied the seating, draperies, carpets and curtains.