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

8 THE FILM RENTER ‘& MOVING PICTURE NEWS. FIVE PROPOSED BIRMINGHAM ‘May 26, i923, KINEMAS “GO WEST.” Companies NotIna Position to Proceed. DIFFICULTIES OF NEW SCHEMES IN MIDLANDS. (By our Birmingham Correspondent.) the schemes for the erection of new kinemas in the city and suburbs which have been hanging fire for the last few years. Five of the nine schemes have. collapsed, while one of the old halls in the centre of the city, the King’s Hall, Corporation Street, closed its doors on Saturday, the licence then lapsing ‘pending alterations being ‘catried out to meet the requirements of the Justices. T HE Birmingham Licensing Justices have severely. pruned New. Schemes Considered. The licence for the Gaiety Palace, Coleshill Street, which has been closed for several years, was renewed conditionally upon it lying in the office of the Clerk to the Justices until the surveyor reports that the improvements desired had been completed. Mr. C. H. Darby, representing the licensee, Mrs. Millicent Hebden, informed the Justices that plans had been approved and thie contract given out.’ The work would be proceeded with forthwith, and it was anticipated that the Palace would -bée. reopened atthe end of November. -The first of the new schemes to be considered was the New Premier Picture House, Victoria Road, Aston, which it is intended should replace the existing out-of-date .hall in Lichfield Road. On behalf of Mr. A. w. Rogers, the nropiicton Mr. H. H. Willison explained that, the property on the site was being demolished, and the erection of the new house would be commenced forthwith. His client had experienced great difficulty in securing vacant possession, but only one tenant remained. He was prepared to go out on seven days’ notice being given. In reply to the chairman, Mr. Rogers stated that the financial position wag satisfactory. The Justi¢es’ renewed The ‘licerice of the present house until November 5 next, when Mr.: Rogers would be-able to report progress in connection with the Victoria Road hall. Renewals and Withdrawals. The provisional licence for the new King’s Heath kinema was renewed for a similar period. Mr. ‘Avtlvur Ward, on behalf of the promoters, who first came forward in May, 1922, pointed out that progress had been impossible owing to the site being occupied by houses and shops. They had experienced difficulty in finding alternative accommodation and in coming to terms with the tenapts of the shops. One of these originally demanded £1,000, but ujtimately aecepted £125. The present proposal was in reality an amalgamation of three previous schemes. The Justices withdrew the licence of the new Heather Road Picture House, Small Heath, the solicitors for the promoters sending a letter stating that his clients were not in a position at the moment to proceed. | The licence of the Delicia, Gosta Green, was renewed, Mr. J. Eccles, the promoter, stating that building operations were in progress. To accominodate the tenants of the houses demolished, he had erected six houses at Witton at a cost of £4,000. He hoped the new hall would be open in November next. The solicitor to the Greater Scala (Birmingham) Company wrote that his clients had decided to allow the scheme for the new -Scala, Smallbrook Street, to lapse. If however, ‘they decided at some fuutre date to go on, they would make a fresh application. This licence was, therefore, withdrawn. Failure of Flotati-:. The promoters of the Station Road Picture House, Stechiord, failed to reply to the Justices’ letter or to appear at the Sessions, and the provisional licence was withdrawn. Similar action was taken in regard to the Orient, Suffolk Street, which was intended to be a rival to the Futurist, Birmingham's premier kinema. The solicitors wrote stating that the promoters had instructed them that in consequence of the failure of the flotation of the company, they regretted they could not proceed with the scheme. Discussed in Camera. After Jaying the foundations of the Taunton Road Picture House, Balsall Heath, the promoters met with financial dificulties. Mr. A. C. Hayes, solicitor, explained that the company phiced a contract tor approximately £30,000, When laying the foundations ground difficulties were encountered, and instead of ‘costing only £705, they actually cost £4,741. That rather staggered the promoters and delayed the erection of the halt. In addition they had a difference of opinion with the architect. and litigation was threatened. It had proved a hard struggle, but they hoped to surmount their difficultics. Asked what was the prospect of the scheme being carried through, Mr, Hayes preferred to discuss the position in camera and this the Justices After retiring the Chairman (Mr.” 8S.” E. Short) next wi any be granted. agreed to. announced that a renewal to November 5 The fifth licence ta:be withdrawn was. that of the. Washvood Heuth Road Picture House, Saltley. Here the Justices had approved of the plans, but when the promoters secured that approval they were not aware that part of the site was scheduled to be dealt with by the Corporation for street widening purposes. The Public Works Committee declined to accept the plans and. therefore, at the moment the promoters could not proceed with; the, scheme.. :