The Bioscope (Oct-Dec 1931)

THE BIOSCOPE November II, 1931 At the C.E.A. Meetings Portsmouth’s Plea for Standing Room Film Shows at Local Church Hall The Portsmouth Branch, at their monthly meeting on November dth, decided to make another approach to the local Watch Committee with a view to standing room being allotted to the cinemas in the same way as it is permitted in the theatres and music halls of the City. At present no standing is allowed in any of the cinemas. At a complimentary dinner the previous evening the Branch also made a presentation of a handsome silver rose bowl to H. J. Cook in recognition of his long years of service to the Branch and the cinema industry. The Chairman, Councillor F. 7. Spickernell, presided at both gatherings, and the President and General Secretary of the C.E.A. were among the dinner guests. A report of the latter function will be found elsewhere. THE Secretary (A. Daniels) stated that, in accordance Pith a circular from Head Office, he sent a questionnaire to all the local candidates in the recent Parliamentary Election, asking if they would support a Bill based upon the principle of local option to place the Sunday opening position on a reasonable and permanent basis. The Hon. Ralph Beaumont, M.P., had replied that tie should not feel inclined to vote for any change in the law unless there was overwhelming evidence that public opinion demanded it. He added that the issue of the election was the return of a National Government determined to take every step to preserve the structure of our national interests and to that issue every other must he subordinated. Major Sir Herbert Cayzer, Bart., M.P., had replied in similar strain. Commenting on the letters, the Chairman said that the time was really inopportune to raise any other issues. A Rating “ Dividend ” In connection with the finance report, the Secretary said that in the early part of the year the Branch decided to take steps to wipe out the debt incurred in connection with the old rating appeal of 1 921 by offering a payment of 25 per cent, in full settlement of the loans made by members, which amounted to £337. There was now sufficient in the Branch funds to pay out the £84 5s. required and to leave a balance to carry on. Authority was given for the cheques to be drawn. The Petrol Rebate A letter was read from the Marmion Motor Garage, contractors for the road transport of members’ films asking the Branch to give consideration to a reduction of the petrol rebate, in view of the number of renters who had gone over to sound on film and the number of theatres which now only ran one programme all the week. In view of the fact that the contract will come up for renewal again next April, it was decided to inform the contractors that the matter would be reconsidered then. An Unfair Distinction The Chairman stated that the local Watch Committee would be dealing with the renewal of the cinematograph licences this month, and their recommendations would come before the City Council in December. He suggested that the Branch should again take up the question of allowing standing room, and he believed they could put up a strong ease. They had no wish to do anything against the public safety, but he thought they should have the same right to standing room as the theatres and music halls. Why this tiad been refused to the cinemas he did not know ; he had never been able to get an answer. There w'ere many other unnecessary regulations — he had never been able to find out, for instance, why the lights had to be turned up four times during a performance — but the no standing regulation wras a serious drawback, for if a police officer came in and found only half a dozen people standing they were liable to be proceeded against. They had no desire to stand anyone in the gangways, and the whole matter could be dealt witli as under the L.C.C. regulations and in the same way as at the local halls. F. B. Blake remarked that anything which appeared to be detrimental in the business in the L.C.C. regulations they had to comply with, but anything which was to their advantage in those regulations they did not get. If only ten or twelve people were allowed to stand it would be helpful, but now they could be prosecuted if there were only two. Their own local trams were licensed only to carry certain numbers for the public safety, but people were allowed to stand in them, blocking up the gangways. The Chairman said the same position applied in regard to Sunday opening at the South Parade Pier. He had hoped that a proper Sunday Opening Act would have been in force by now, in which case the South Parade Pier would have had to apply at the same time as themselves for Sunday opening, and the. Corporation could hardly have granted it then to their own Pier and left them out. The present temporary measure only preserved the status quo ante, and the danger was that at the end of the twelve months it might be only continued again as a tem porary measure. The General Council, however, had put in very good wrork on the question. E. A. Barry referred to an experience of Iris company at Bristol, where, he said, they built a most up-to-date theatre and made all the gangways at the back ten or twelve feet wide with the idea of having popular standing accommodation. The new licences stated that there would be no standing room allowed, but they took the matter up, and there was now a clause No Such Thing JVAN KOERT intended that his resignation as Chairman should take effect immediately, but ’ in the absence of the Vice-Chairman (Percy Lunch) he presided for the remainder of the meeting. A letter was received from Norman Hart in reply to a communication from the Branch calling attention to a newspaper poster with the words : “ Shoreham Cinema Eire,” and stating that in his opinion there was no cause for action. Reginald Briggs wTote thanking the Branch for their assistance in his recent application for a reduction in the cost of electricity for his cinema at Lewes, and at, the same time acknowledging the assistance he had received from C. HartleyDavies in the matter. It was decided to write to Mr. Hart-lev-Davies conveying the thanks of the Branch for his advice and assistance in the matter. The Secretary (A. Daniels) reported the receipt of replies to a questionnaire addressed to local Members of Parliament on the question of Sunday Opening. Most of them, he said, were of a formal character. Randolph Richards alluded to the splendid work done on the Committee by Sir Cooper Raw'son, one of the Members for Brighton, and a vote of thanks was accorded him for his services. Sound-on-Disc Troubles W. Fuller called attention to the difficulty of obtaining a sufficient number of sound-on-disc pictures to comply with the Quota. He had recently been in communication with the Board of Trade on the subject and received a very courteous letter in reply in which they said they considered that, with the number of Quota pictures available, it should be possible for any exhibitor to obtain the necessary number of sound-on-disc films. He wrote pointing out that he had found it quite impossible, but fortunately he managed to complete his programme. A. Dearden said it did not seem to be generally known that if a cinema was purchased in the last fortnight of the year the Quota of British films would have to be shown by the end of the year. W. Fuller : The Board do not insist upon that. In my own case I was granted an exemption. Major Gale's Views Randolph Richards brought to the notice of the Branch the views of Major Gale on the subject of the producer-renter-exhibitor combines. H. Bolton declared that there was no such thing as a release date in the film business to-day. If they had a proper release date the problem of the prices to be paid for film hire would be automatically solved. R. H. Ainsworth said the difficulty was that talking pictures were now being produced much faster than silents, and itwasan almost human impossibility to settle a release date. H. Dolton : They fix release dates for the P.C.T. R. H. Ainsworth : Only for their own productions. The CHAIRMAN laid the position seemed to be that the release dates were automatically fixed by the big on their licence that the standing accommodation would not he considered part of the auditorium On the motion of Mrs. Boultwood, seconded by J. W. Mills, it was agreed that the Secretary should write to the Watch Committee, asking that, where facilities existed, the cinemas should he allowed standing room in the same way as the theatres. Films at Religious Hall Inquiry was made as to whether the Wesley Central Hall, Fratton Road, was licensed as a cinema, arising out of the fact that a film dealing with the Bournville works and village was to he shown there twice daily for three days. The Chairman said that some time ago the Branch successfully opposed a licence being granted, on the ground that the hall did not conform with the requirements as to public safety which were imposed upon the cinemas. The Secretary pointed out that cinema performances could he given at, the hall during six days of the year without a licence, and it was stated that there had previously been a three-days’ show there. Mr. Blake suggested that a protest should be sent to Cadbury Bros, against giving a free film entertainment, and Mr. Gordon Pannell mentioned that he had been paid for showing a similar kind of film. The Secretary was instructed to write to Cadbury Bros, on the matter, and also to the Watch Commit tee. asking whether the hail now conformed to the conditions as to public safety imposed upon the cinemas. , , Reference was also made to the free exhibition of an Australian products film at a local cinema, but it was pointed out that in this case the hall w'as let for the purpose in the morning, and that there was no interference with the ordinary cinema performances. As Release Date Major Gale’s Attack Circuits. If a renter had an opportunity of putting a film into 300 halls it was only natural he would do so. Reg. Briggs quoted an instance in wiiich he had booked a film for October 19th, hut he was afterwards told he could not have it on that date as it was first run in Brighton, and he could have it on November 23rd. That date was not convenient to him, and he selected another. He was then t old t-hat he could not have the film on the date he had chosen because that was the date of the London release. Eventually he was told that he could have the film in January. Single Feature Shows In a discussion on the question of single-feature programmes, W. Fuller said there were bound to be difficulties in completing the balance. The Chairman : You can have all the pictures which the big houses throw out. W. Fuller said it would mean putting in four or five shorts. . , , R. H. Ainsworth said he had had as many as eight items in his programme. He would rather have good shorts than a bad second feature. Congratulations The Branch sent a telegram of congratulation to Thomas Ormiston upon his election to Parliament, and a similar message was dispatched to Chris. Marner. general manager of the Brighton Hippodrome, who on the previous day gained a notable victory in the Municipal Elections. Evening Trade Shows Randolph Richards reported that some notice appeared to have been taken of the protest by the Branch against trade shows being given in the evening. There had recently been several more shows in the day time. Novarro Song for “ Son of India” Owing to the demand for another film in which Ramon Novarro sings, Sam Eckman, jnr., managing director of M.-G.-lVf., has decided to include a new song number, Just a Kiss to Treasure,” in Novarro’s “ Son of India.” This number, which has been specially written for the picture, will be ready in time for inclusion in all release prints of this subject. Sussex Discusses A bombshell was hurled into the meeting of the Sussex Branch at Brighton on November 3rd, when J. Van Koert, who has been Chairman for the past two years, announced his intention of resigning the office, and also his position as Branch Delegate to the General Council. A difference of opinion has arisen, it appears, between J. Van Koert and Randolph Richards, the Vice President of the Association, and formerly Chairman of the Branch, but it was explained by the former, in announcing his resignation, that the matter was a purely personal one. and the meeting heard their respective views in camera.