The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Sep-Oct 1922)

Ott£7,-T922. THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS (Technical Supplement): ria THEATRES AND THEIR EQUIPMENT— Continued. showmanship, and his insistence on placing the work of the producer in a fitting frame. ‘‘ Every man in the Majestic orchestra,’”?> says Mr. Denham, ‘‘ is an accomplished musician, a ‘star’ among orchestral musicians.. The Majestic sees the realisation of my dreams and my ambitions. I make bold to say the orchestra is the finest picture theatre orchestra in the world, Also, I believe, it is the most expensive. ~ The cost, however, is being amply repaid... Our musical intermission reaches a high standard, and ‘its. popularity is gratifying. At every performance it is encored, : and the -second’ number given usually takes the form of a violin solo with organ accompaniment.’ Mr. Denham, who is arranging for ‘autho aah hchting displays at the entrances of the theatre indicative of the musical attractions, is a Yorkshireman with the Yorkshireman’s inherent love and knowledge of-music, : The General Manager. In‘his native town of Elland he opened the Central Picture House. in $911, and, joining the renting side of the business, took control of Walturdaw films in the territory. As is well known in the industry, Denham activities have all’ been attended by great When he left Walturdaw he became an independent renter in association with Mr. R. Rigg, and on this partnership being dissolved he acted as agent for Walturdaw. Next he purchased the Theatre de Luxe, Halifax, and in 1919 joined forces with the late Mr. Harry Hilton, of Roundhay, Leeds, and bought the Headingley Lounge, which Frep Krrcnen, Musical Director, . success, was developed out of all knowledge, and is a monument to Mr.. Denham's foresight and business ability. © His success in offering a residential. population:a high-class musical program and screen entertainment is too well known to be detailed. In 1920 the Lounge was. merged into the Leeds and District Picture Houses, Ltd., circuit, of which Mr. Denham is managing director.. Last’ year he also becanie general manager of the Theatre Royal (Bradford), upon its conversion to the moving picture entertainment, so linking up with Mr. Francis Laidler. He has since taken an interest in the Grand Theatre (Searborough), and finally has become a director and controlling influence at the new Majestic, where his co-directors are Messrs. J. C. , Thompson, A A. Nisbet, F.C. Meyer and H. F. Tattersall, Resident Manager. The efficiency of his control is evidenced on all hands, but he has a most capable resident manager in Mr. Andrew Robertson, who is a son of Andrew Robertson, formerly of the Palace Theatre (Bradford), and of the Kentucky Minstrels. Mr. Robertson gained yaluable experience on tour with his wellknown parent, For two years he ran al fresco concerts at Ilkley, and also toured with Gale’s companies in the ‘* Royal Divoree and other productions. Circuit in the North of E naland—abheewise Black’s Pictures— he was associated with this firm when it was taken over by Digitized by Gor gle Joinmg the George Black. and Collins and it-was with Thompson Enterprises, this connection his company at the Grand Theatre (Newcastle) that Jed to his present appointment at Leeds. Fnough has been said of the Majestic and its staff to indicate its eminent position among British theatres. In many respects its place among our picture theatres is unique. Its possibilities are immense, but only those who visit and inspect this imposing theatre can realise its dignity and beauty, and the great part it is playing in raising the moving picture to its proper place in the entertainment world. of to RORERTSON, Resident Manager. ANDREW DISINFECTING KINEMAS. T the Royal Sanitary Institute Congress at Bournemouth recently, Mr. T.) W Barlow, Medical Officer for Wallasey, said that during recent influenza epidemics the uses to which disinfectants were put reached the high-water: mark of credulity and stupidity. One noticed the common practice in luxurious kinemas of sending round a boy in gorgeous armed with a squirt, discharging an odorous liquid in the air in the form of a spray. What it was hoped to accomplish in this way heaven only knew, but the average layman fondiy hoped and imagined that in some magical wav the air had been disinfected, and he had been saved from some noisome, infectious disease. It was wasting the kinema proprictor’s money and the valuable time of the boy. More could be done in a few seconds by opening the windows. The best disinfectants were boiling water and the sun. When soap and water were used to their fullest extent there remained. very little for disinfectants to accomplish. uniform, THE PERFECT ARC. MOST interesting little booklet trade by Messrs. Charles H. Champion and Co., of Carlton House, Regent Street,. proprietors of Ship Carbons, for the purpose of placing before managers and projectionists responsible for the adequate light’on the screens of this country, the results of different experiments undertaken by Ship Carbons. The book is admirably got up, and contains various charts, reproductions from original phetographs, and references: to the maintenance of the perfect are. .No: manager or operator should’ be without a copy, which can be obtained on application to the firm. . ; : A review of the booklet, which is of considerable value and’ interest to projectionists, will appear in the next issue of the Supplement. has been issued to the Original from NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY