The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

May 5, 1923. THE. FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. 5s ROUND THE MANCHESTER TRADE THE WEEK'S ACTIVITIES IN THE NORTHERN CENTRE. The Right to Speak at C.E.A, Meetings—Sports Association Picnic—Councillor W. Leslie Knight dead—A Rumour Denied—The Theatre Royal For Sale —Another Exhibitor Joins the Renting Side—Renters’ News. HILST there may have been some justification for the W cormplaints made at the meeting of exhibitors in Preston last week by Mr, A. Wilkinson (president of the C.P.M.A.), that the C.E.A, had ignored overtures of co-operation on the subject of the tax from his body, neither this gentleman nor Mr. W. H. Huish, the C.P.M.A. general secretary, can complain that they did not get a fair hearing on this occasion, They found an indulgent chairman in Major Gale, O.B.E, It is true that during Mr. Huish's peroration some of the members became restive, but, then, they wondered by what right Mr. Huish was in attendance at the meeting at all. Myr. Huish claimed the right because he had been appointed by some 20 members, and at one time during the proceedings mentioned something regarding 17 proxies, Still there was wonderment. I don’t know anything regarding the constitution of the C.E.A., but it surely does not provide that 1 member may appoint anyone to represent him at a meeting, as, for instance, his office boy, or the husband of bis charwoman, or even a crank who is opposed to the films and all and everything connected with them. The pressmen have been missing a big chance if it does, for in the past, when they were excluded from meetings (Mr. Huish was C.J.A. branch secretary at the time), they might have gone along and said they'd been appointed to represent members whom they could have found out beforehand were not likely to attend. Had it worked once it may have been worth while. Major Gale ably presided oyer the Preston meeting, and the wisdom he exercised in a difficult situation had probably a more desirable result than the wight of right which less patient chairnen would have called into action. Benefit to Veteran ‘‘ Star.'’ On Wednesday, May 16, at the Palace Theatre, there is to te a complimentary benefit to Mr. Ifarry Liston, the veteran entertainer of ' Merry Moments * fame, who is about to celebrate his 80th birthday. Mr. Tiston is not unknown in the Joeul film world, for when he was over 70 he assumed the management of the Rusholme Electric Theatre. It was here, hy his Kind permission, that ‘' The Movies Concert Party,’* an organisation formed by trade members to entertain wounded soldicrs and to nid war charities, gave its first performance. And on that occasion Mr, Liston, althouvh he must have then been around the age of 75, guve a ‘turn '’ which included a dance. His friends in the trade will wish him a bumper benefit, “ Charlie " Murray, Slide Writer. Speaking of Mr Liston reminds me that another “* star" of other days who has passed the allotted span of life is identified with the trade here as a slide writer. I refer to ‘t Charlie ' Murray, Who has topped many bills in his time, and whose name lias been one for managers to conjure with, His slides ave exceadinaly artistic and woll written considering his great age, and I'm glad to say he lias a fair number of clients to keep him going, Eye Strain Relieved at Piccadilly. An apparatus which, it is said, reduces eye-strain bas been adopted at the Piccadilly Thestre, and according to a Isy critic who has had it specially demonstrated, ‘ it is one of the biggest things for the kinema discovered in recent years.’' ‘* Backward '' Sub-Titles. The idea of presenting pictures from the rear, which has been introduced lately to Manchester, is not new, although tha methods in connection with it may be. There was, and possibly is still, » hall in Bolton where the audience could sit both in front and back of the screen. Of course, those at the back paid the low prices, for they had the difficulty of reading the sub-titles backwards, ‘* Whom the God's Would Destroy.”’ Miss Seligmann, of Clarion, has now news of the long-awaited big production, ‘* Whom the Gods Would Destroy.'’ This is to be screened in London next week, but probably not until the end of May here. Mr. Seligmann is going to its premiere, and whilst in the Metropolis hopes to negotiate one or two big deals, particulars of which should be forthcoming for next week’s issue. Theatre Royal for Sale. The latest information regarding the Theatre Royal, the vicissitudes of which, since it became a kinema, have kept attention focused on it, is that it is to be sold by private tender. This-is pursuant to Order of the Registrar of Companies (Winding-up) dated April. 16, It is to be sold as a going concern, and the official notice says that the theatre is held for a term of 99 years from June 24, 1921. The usual forms can be obtained from Messrs. Wedlake, Letts, and Birds, solicitors, of London, and Messrs. W. B. Peat, Wenham and Co., chartered accountants, of 21, Spring Gardens, Manchester. Sports Association Picnic Date Fixed. The third annual picnic under the auspices of the Trade Sports Association is arranged to take place on Sunday, June 24. Matlock will bo the destination. It may not be generally known that this will be the sixth picnic organised for the trade members in these parts, two' of the most sucecesful having had Chestet as their venue. Death of Prominent Preston Exhibitor. It camo as 4 very great shock to me, as it must have been ta all who knew him, to learn of the death of that prominent Preston showman, Councillor W, Leslie Knight. Only a week or so ago I was present at the meeting of West Lancashire exhibitors in-his town, at which be was in attendance, and, as reported in our last week's issue, spoke, briuging up tho subject of the P.R.S» for discussion, From particulars to hand, I understand that he was on duty at his kinema, the Theatre Royal, Preston, on Saturday, but on Sunday took ill, and within 300 feet of Lancashire News for Lancashire Audiences. PARKSTONE Phone 310 Only Young But Growing Fast NEWS SERVICE NOW DOUBLED in Length. — The First Lancashire News Weekly. — POST : STUDIOS, LYTHAM, YOU write “for Dates — Prices — and Sample Copy. Telegrams: “‘Parkstone"’ Pa