The Bioscope (Oct-Dec 1931)

November 25, 1931 THE BIOSCOPE 25 Complaints Against Excise Complaints were made regarding the manner in which exhibitors and their employees were treated at the local office of the Customs and Excise, and it was decided that the Chairman and G. H. Blackburn should interview the local head of the department, and, if they could obtain no satisfaction, then the matter should be taken up with London. Lord Mayor's Christmas Fund It was agreed to start the annual collections for the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Dinner Fund earlier this year, and the Branch Secretary asked members to send the amounts collected to him, so that they could go direct to the Fund. Not Passed On A complaint was made that, though the circuits had agreed to the principle of passing on the increase in the Entertainments Tax to the public, the cinemas belonging to the A.B.C. circuit in Bristol had not done so in the case of the Is. 3d. seats, which remained at the old price. It was agreed to write to the General Secretary of the Association on the matter. Dinner and Dance The Secretary drew attention to the fact that the tickets for the Branch dinner and dance, which will be held at the Royal Hotel. Bristol, on December 2nd, were now ready, and he asked members to let him know' as soon as possible the exact number they would require. Benevolent Fund A letter was read from C. O. Viveash, requesting the support of the Branch in connection with the Christmas Gift Scheme which was being run on behalf of the Trade Benevolent Fund. Co-operative Bookings West Lancs Suspends Judgment Sympathy with the idea of a co-operative booking system was expressed by members of the West Lancashire Branch of the C.E.A. at the meeting held at Preston on November 17th, but they are not at all convinced that that of the F.I.C.S., Ltd., merits their support. The pronouncement on behalf of Percy Broadhead, the spokesman for a circuit of seventeen theatres, is flatly against participation. Finally, the Branch decided to postpone further consideration of the plan until the next meeting, which will be held on December 15th. A COMMUNICATION from a member w'as read, with reference to the renters’ charges for films. The percentages, he said, were very excessive, but he would like to know if the renters had a fixed percentage for pictures according to the run. Was there a reduced percentage for fifth, sixth, or perhaps tenth runs ? Were exhibitors called upon to pay the same percentage for the tenth run as for the first run ? F. Foster : I can give you my experience for a ninth run. I am paying the same percentage as I did for a third run. The Secretary said he had always had to pay the same percentage irrespective of the run, but he was taking the matter up and hoped to make a test case. “ Would-Be Super Exhibitors ” Speaking on behalf of Percy Broadhead (principal of a circuit of seventeen music halls and cinemas), E. Snts made the following statement in reference to the co-operative booking scheme : — “ Why should we old exhibitors be asked to help a firm of new wouldbe super exhibitors to gain a footing into our business, to fight for super pictures to compete against us all with ? To help the co-operative scheme is to strengthen those who want to swallow us up without the cost of buying us up, or the trouble of fighting us. “ The only good thing about the scheme, I think, is its name. It leads one to suppose it will be like the real Co-operative Societies, where a pound of tea is the same price to all on the same day. We know with films it’s exactly the opposite. It is a question of first use or run. or tenth use or run, and the big exhibitors get the best runs and selections. “ All the co-booking schemes or co-operative schemes of the last 30 years in the entertainments industry have gone bust on this rock. There are so few' surefire attractions, and so many want them that 9-10ths of the members quit quick." When It’s Cheaper to Pay 40 Per Cent. The Chairman said exhibitors knew' that along the lines of co-operation something might be done by way of getting relief from heavy film costs, but it w'ould have to be by agreeing in their own towns not to pay more than a certain price for films. Mr. Atroy then made a survey examination of the personnel of the new society, and directed attention to certain clauses in the contract, one of which specified t hat the exhibitor placed himself entirely in the hands of the company, in the matter of the disposal of their films and in the matter of price. “ If we have need of a co-operative scheme to help us out of our troubles,” said the Chairman, “ we W'ant an independent man at the helm. Bad as t hings are now, a false step might be equivalent to the signing aw'ay of your independence. I have paid 40 per cent., and even 50 per cent.., for films, but I w'ould rather pay these percentages and attract the people than pay 15 per cent., or 20 per cent., for pictures the public does not W'ant.” Can London Book Successfully for Lancs ? The Chairman commented on some of the difficulties that might be experienced in operating this scheme, and added that the man had not yet been horn who could hook terms for cinemas in Wigan. Burnley, Lancaster, Morecambe and the other Lancashire towns, outside the large cities, with complete success, from London. J. Howson asked what was the motive of the scheme. There might be a risk in exhibitors supplying the information w'hich the promoters called for. " If there w'as to be any scheme of co-operative booking, it should he sponsored by the C.E.A., with its 3,000 theatres. “ And organised into branches,” added the Churman. “ Hotv can a company, booking films for three or four exhibitors in one tow'n where they all w'ant the first run, hope to give satisfaction ? ” The Secretary intimated that a special meeting of the General Purposes Committee w'as to be held on Friday, to consider a request for an investigation of the scheme, put forward by the North-Western Branch. E. Angers commented that the renters must welcome another booking circuit, because it would tend to reduce the dictatorial attitude of the other circuits to the renters. A. Wiles : Will the scheme put. forward bring rentals down ? The Chairman : If you do get them down and don’t get the people into your theatre, you are no better off. According to my reading of the proposed contract exhibitors are required to sign, the society can give you what films they like. Moss Empires Circuit ? One exhibitor suggested that this might, be the nucleus of a Moss Empires circuit. It. w'as well known that their theatres w'ere being wired. Renters’ Restraint of Trade F. Foster : If renters decide they will have nothing to do with the scheme, what will be the good of it ? They say they will not supply films on a co-operative basis. This led to a further remark by a member that the renters might find themselves up against legal difficulties, by acting in restraint of trade, which was a serious proposition. If they refused to supply films, the authorities might pass a Bill through Parliament to clarify the position. The Secretary : “ Does London know w'hat the provincial exhibitor w'ants ’? ” Tins question was asked after several statements had been made emphasising the big difference in public tastes in London and the industrial towns. Films at 25 Per Cent, or Less Wanted F. Foster said he was sure there was not one exhibitor who would not be willing to he associated with a co-operative booking scheme if he could be certain he would get. his films at 25 per cent, or less. The Chairman : The only way to do that is for exhibitors to get together in their own districts and agree amongst themselves. The trouble is that you cannot get exhibitors to trust one another. The Secretary said he had no faith in the scheme, and he thought it would be a waste of time to attend James Atroy H. Hargreaves the meeting of the General Purposes Committee, to be held in London. H. Park (Kirkham) felt that the co-operative scheme could not be adapted to the cinema industry, which was in a category quite separate from any other business, yet he would like to hear the arguments that, would be put forward at the C.E.A. meeting in London. Who’s In Favour ? “ Is there anyone here in favour of this scheme ? ” asked the Chairman. Although there were no definitely affirmative replies, it was evident that some members desired further information. The Secretary asserted that in his opinion the C.E.A. should have nothing whatever to do with this scheme, because it wras a private concern. Finally it was decided on the motion of C. Simpson, to defer further consideration of the subject until the next meeting, W'hich will be held on December 15th, at Preston. Tax Tickets The Secretary read correspondence between himself and the general secretary, with reference to the notching of Entertainments Tax tickets, and the proposal that the tickets should state the inclusive price of admission, instead of the price of the seat and the amount of tax. The General Secretary wrote that he was informed no change could he made until the existing stocks of tax tickets were used up, but the suggestion would be borne in mind by the authorities at. the appropriate time. Carriage on Films Concerning the suggestion which has been put forward by t he Brancli t hat renters should pay carriage one w'ay on films betw'een their offices and the theatres, the Secretary' read a letter w'hich he had sent, to headquarters on the subject. He pointed out that owing to the heavy cost of carriage by rail, big quantities of films were now dispatched by road at so much per reel. Prior to the introduction of “talkies,” a reel wTas approximately 1,000 feet, but to-day, with “ talkies,” it was often found that a 6,000 feet feature w'as made into nine or ten reels. Thus, unnecessary expense fell on the exhibitor. As the renters had put, cinemas on sharing basis, it was only right, and proper that they should pay half the cost, of carriage. Mr. Hargreaves mentioned that, the cost of carriage on films to members of the branch per annum ran into a big four-figure sum. Tlie General Secretary replied that he would bring the request, for a reconsideration of the terms of carriage on films before the next meeting of the General Purposes Committee. Tax Position ; Percy Broadhead’s Statement Reports were called for as to the position in regard to the Entertainments Tax in the various towns. It appears that all the exhibitors in Lancaster and Morecambe, as well as in other towns, have passed on the full amount of the increased tax. The Chairman said he had had forwarded to him a handbill, which emanated from a Preston theatre, stating “ Save Your Pockets ; Great, Reduction in Prices of Admission ; Now the Cheapest, Cinema in Preston.” Mr. Atroy said he thought the proprietors of this hall would he the very last t,o risk starting a price war in the town, because not only w'ould they suffer, hut every other theatre. It also followed that,, if prices were cut until exhibitors lost money, the renters also would lose money. He suggested that, a letter should he sent to the proprietors of the theatre, pointing out the disturbing effect of their action in reducing prices at a time when it had been expected every theatre would loyally pass on the increased amount of tax. E. Angers said that sort of thing cut. the ground from under the feet of the other exhibitors in the town. He moved that a resolution of protest he adopted and that this be forwarded to C.E.A. headquarters, for them to bring the matter to the notice of A.B.C. A Disastrous Week “ We have been badly hit,” said Mr. Sims. “ Both cinemas and music halls last week had the most disastrous week I can remember. If we can go in for a reduction in the amount of tax we should do so immediately.” E. Angers pointed out that, the wray things were going, exhibitors w'ould find it, impossible to improve their theatres, and also to improve the entertainment. The tax was a millstone round the neck of the trade and it would become more serious both for the trade and the public as time goes on. It would he interesting if they could get the Board of Trade figures for the week ending November 9th. because he believed they w'ould prove that, an enormous amount of business had been lost to the halls. A letter should be sent to the General Council, asking them to take into consideration the possibility of getting a reduction in the amount of the tax. Appeal to Headquarters W. Onda commented that it w'as the manufacturing towns and not London that experienced the full brunt of the tax, and conditions had undoubtedly become very difficult. Unless relief w'as forthcoming, many exhibitors might have to close down. On the proposition of E. Angers, seconded by F. Foster, it w'as decided to send a letter to headquarters, incorporating the various point* raised in the discussion. E. Park : If the tax does for pictures what it has done for beer, wo shall soon he ready for closing.