The Bioscope (Oct-Dec 1931)

30 THE BIOSCOPE October 14, 1931 At the C.E.A. Meetings Abolish Bargain Matinees Sussex Also Dislikes Evening Trade Shows attention to a newspaper poster recently issued wit li the announcement: “ Shoreham Cinema Eire.'' He enclosed a newspaper report of the occurrence, which showed that the “ fire ” was really some mishap in the operating box, and asked if something could be done to prevent the circulation of alarmist posters. A. Dearden remarked that the newspapers made scare lines of every little cinema fire. The Chairman suggested that the General Secretary should be asked to deal with the matter, and this course M’as agreed to. A suggestion that bargain matinees imposed an unfair restriction on the small halls, and that they should be done away with, led to a lively discussion at the monthly meeting of the Sussex Branch at Brighton on Thursday, when J. Van Kocrt presided. One member claimed that he had found his matinees a paying proposition, and could see no reason why he should be compelled to abandon them. No action was taken on the matter. Randolph Richards voiced a grievance against the practice of renters holding evening trade shows in London, and it was decided to send a letter of protest to the renters on the matter. The resolutions of the General Council relating to the passing on to the public of the Entertainments Tax were adopted unanimously. Electricity Charges Reginald Briggs called attention to tlip prices being charged for electricity, and said that in his own case HartleyDavies had promised to take up the matter with the local authorities. Percy Lunch reported upon a recent visit, of members of the Branch to Elstree, and it was decided that a letter of thanks should be forwarded to Mr. George Grossman for the courtesy extended to them. THE Secretary (A. Daniels) read a letter from the General Secretary on the subject of the tax and pointing out that the industry could not atford to bear the additional burden. The etter added : “ If any members are tempted to try and beat their opposition by paying the tax themselves, a few weeks’ experience will show them the folly of such a course.” Randolph Richards (Vice-President of the C.E.A.) said a special meeting of the General Council had been held to consider this matter, and they wrere able to secure a reduction of one halfpenny on the fid. seats, which in these times he considered a very big concession, because it would not involve putting a penny up on any other seat. The 2d. seats would not now be affected either in regard to children or adults. The Chairman said the Special Committee dealing with this matter had put in a lot of hard M’ork. Branches wrere sometimes inclined to criticise the actions of the General Council without really knowing what a tremendous amount of time they spent in the interests of the industry. The Committee recommended that, as far as possible, members should work together to save any undercutting by passing the tax on to the public. Evening Trade Shows Randolph Richards called attention to the growing practice among renters of giving evening trade shows instead of in the morning or afternoon. All those who booked through London found this a considerable inconvenience. In the previous week there were trade shows every night, and if they wanted to see the pictures it would mean spending a week in London. He moved that a letter of protest against the practice be sent to the renters. They were bound to give trade shows, and they should be given during reasonable hours, instead of at 8 or 9 o'clock in the evenings. E. C. Maplesden seconded, and the motion was carripd. A Scare Headline A letter was received from W. T. Bradshaw calling London Accepts The “ Status Quo ” On the subject of Sunday opening, Randolph Richards said they had obtained the status quo, which so far as Brighton was concerned was the best thing that could have happened. It still left the vexed question of the future, and the General Council wrere fully alive to the necessity of watching the trend of events. Concessions for Small Halls With regard to film rentals, Mr. Richards said the C.E.A. had succeeded in obtaining improved terms by which small exhibitors would be supplied with a full programme for 25 per cent, for six months. It was reported that there was a small deficit on the summer outing, which would be met out of the Social Fund. the “Principle” But Not Unanimous on Adjustment of Higher Prices Though a resolution accepting the principle of passing on the additional Entertainments Tax was passed with only one dissentient vote at Friday’s meeting of the London and Home Counties Branch, there was apparent a decided lack of unanimity on the matter when the meeting terminated. , The reason for confusion was a second resolution, advising members to make suggested rearrangements of prices, and which it was contended by many members negatived the spirit of the first resolution. The two resolutions, both of which were accepted, were This Branch confirms the recommendations of the Special Committee of tne Association, and advises its members to add the increased amount of tax to present gross prices of admission. This Branch advises its members to make any necessary rearrangements of prices as will bring such admission prices into line with the Special Committee’s recommendations. During the discussion it was emphasised from the chair that the first resolution was intended to apply only to prices up to one shilling, but no rider to this effect was incorporated. An amendment that the second resolution be not put was defeated. Never — If Not Now A. Dearden said the public were fully anticipating that the fax would be passed on to them. Many people had asked him when the new prices were commencing and some of them were surprised that the tax was not put on immedately, as in the case of beer and tobacco. If exhibitors did not put, on the tax now they would never be able to do it. The Chairman said the tax might mean a little readjustment of prices, but he saw no difficulty if they all worked together. A. Dearden remarked that he ran a children’s matinee at 3d., and he would be losing a halfpenny on every seat. He could not charge 4d. Percy Lunch said it was no doubt the intention of the Government that, the tax should be passed on to the public. So far as Eastbourne was concerned, it would simply mean reverting to the prices charged five years ago. He proposed that the Branch adopt the recommendations of the General Council. [The recommendations are quoted in the report of the London and Home Counties Branch meeting. — Ed.1 The motion was unanimously agreed to. Abolish Bargain Matinees In the course ot the discussion, Horace Springett raised the question of bargain matinees. Tiie time had arrived, he said, when they should be abolished, and exhibitors should come more on a level in regard to prices. He had recently visited Derby, where they had an excellent arrangement. With the exception of one big hall, the prices charged were the same all round, and they were doing very fine business. There was no question of people going to another show because the seats were a little cheaper. He urged that Brighton exhibitors should come into line with regard to prices. When one theatre commenced to charge adults only 3d. for admission it had a very detrimental effect on his business. He appealed for fair play to the small exhibitors, who, after all. were the pioneers of the business, and were entitled to some consideration. Percy Lunch said that in Eastbourne they had an arrangement similar to that which prevailed in Derby, and it had worked admirably. E. C. Maplesden suggested that, local exhibitors should meet together on the question of bargain matinees and come to some agreement in regard to prices. ‘ A Paying Proposition ” S. Carlton said he had found bargain matinees a paying proposition. Was there any reason, he asked, why they should not all run bargain matinees? R. H. Ainsworth said he had always been opposed to bargain matinees. “ If people want, to see your show,” he said, “they will pay the ordinary prices.” The Chairman said it seemed almost an impossibility to get absolute unity in this matter, but there might be a possibility of exhibitors who were in competition getting together and coming to some arrangement on the question of prices. It Mould be far better if they had uniformity. No act ion wit« taken. CALLING on the President to outline the steps taken by the Special Committee, C. A. Mathes, who M’as in the chair, said they felt the C.E.A. had won a great, victory in getting the halfpenny off the fid. seats. R. V. Crow, who was received with acclamation, detailed the progress of the Committee’s negotiations with the Chancellor of the Exchequer from the moment the crisis Budget — “ this bombshell to all ” — was issued. They formed the impression during the discussions that Mr. Snowden was not so much concerned with how the additional revenue was obtained, as long as he got it. “ We have received congratulatory messages from all parts of t lie country," said the President, “and we feel we have carried out the wishes and instructions of the C.E.A.” “ I Do Not Want Bitterness ” Mr. Crow then formally moved the first resolution above, and emphasised that, in all official quarters it was understood that this was to be a tax on the subject and not on the exhibitor. That M’as why the Chancellor’s scale showed such curious figures. What tiie Special Committee had succeeded in doing was getting the scale made u'orkable. “ I cannot urge too earnestly,” declared Mr. Crou-, “ that this Branch Mill fall into line with others, and pass a strong resolution that the tax shall go to the public. I do not want, to see any bitterness or trouble that would arise from individual exhibitors breaking away from the rule, by displaying posters announcing 1 We are paving the tax,’ as had already been observed. Such an action will create more dissension than anything else: it will hit the smallest, exhibitor and will put a lot of people out, of business. That attitude will raise such a boll of trouble as yon have never realised ! ” Major A. J. Gale, seconding the resolution, said there were definite eases of exhibitors forestalling the recommendations, by announcing to the public t hat they would hear the tax. That “ gallery stuff ” was all right, he said, but where did it lead ? The majority of cinemas in the area were dependent on the revenue from their fid. seats ; they were satisfied that the bearing of the burden of the tax Mrould mean running at a loss. It, was a matter that the public might solve, by patronising low-er priced seats M'hen the new impositions came into force. It was a question for loyalty : they had to visualise the future. “ If we are loyal and do the right thing, I can see the time, not far ahead, when we shall be able to approach the Chancellor of the Exchequer and ask him to relieve us of the imposition of Entertainments Tax generally. “ But if you are not unanimous, it means that those who are passing on the tax will watch the others, and may eventually have to come into line and bear the tax. Then, when better times come, the Chancellor might say there was no need to remove the tax. You must pass it on, and see that your neighbours do the same.” Mr. Friedman asked if A.B.C. had decided to pass on the tax. The Chairman : Yes. K. Nyman : What about, the renter-owned circuits ? The Chairman : I anticipate that the renters who are members of ttiis Association will fall into line with the rest of us. Ben Jay asked if he Mould be accused of disloyalty if, instead of continuing his existing practice of making charges of +d. and fid. in the afternoons, he made a charge of fid. all round. The Chairman : We are not dealing with those prices. Mr. Citroen said that if they bore the tax the public would not be behind them u-hen they wanted it remitted. The Higher-Priced Seats Sidney Bernstein raised the question of higherpriced seats, and said that., as these parts of the