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THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE CABINET FILM
By Cecil M. Hepworth
You ask me to write you a brief article for the new edition of the Kinemato graph Tear Book, giving the real inner history of the Cabinet Film about which there was so much talk last summer. Without betraying any confidence, I think I may say that the first thing that happened was an application from a lady, well known in social circles, for aid from the kinematograph industry for a charity in which she was very much interested. Her suggestion filtered through to a gentleman, who, though not connected with the trade, has been interested in several kinematograph ventures on the sporting side. This gentleman took the idea to Mr. W. G. Barker as a typical representative of the industry in this country, with a view to learning what the exhibitors of kinematograph pictures would be likely to do. He, with characteristic vehemence, said they could do nothing, and gave as his reasons that exhibitors were at the moment in a state of being very hard hit by the war and the conditions contingent upon it, such as the Amusement Tax and the Daylight Saving Bill, and so on.
The gentleman of sporting proclivities was by no means inclined to take No for an answer, and Mr. Barker at length suggested that he had better apply to Mr. A. E. Newbould, the Chairman of the Exhibitors' Association, who was the best man in England to speak authoritatively for the exhibitors. Mr. Newbould's answer was very much the same as Mr. Barker's, but with this proviso, that if any scheme could be evolved which would enable the exhibitors to get some sort of boom which might help in a small measure to counteract the depressing influences already mentioned, they would certainly be willing to do everything in their power to help the charity in question. It was not a case of giving them a quid pro quo for their assistance, for the kinematograph exhibitors have shown, over and over again, their willingness and anxiety to help every worthy cause to which they could be of any possible assistance. But here they were faced with a situation which simply did not permit them to think of helping any charity on such a gigantic scale as was suggested in this instance. Give them some means by which they could make a little money, and that money could certainly be at the disposal of the charity. Thus Mr. Newbould.
The British sportsman, nothing daunted, asked Mr. Newbould, with sparkling eyes, what he would suggest.
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