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

36 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. May: 26, 1923. Kinema Activities in Liverpool Area Working Against the Fax—"Fhe Sheik’ Still Going Strong— Street Attractions for ‘ ‘Big Game” Film— a A Clarion Call: T has noty been decided that, on behalf of the North-Western _Branch of the C.E.A4., the chairman (Mr. J. H. Dovener) ‘and the secretary (Mr. G. Dudley West) shall wait upon the Clerk to the City Entertainment Licensing Justices (Mr. S. Barton) with’ regard to the question, about which there is considerable diversity of opinion, of the films to be shown at kinema matinees at which the attendance of children is in ‘excess of that of ‘adults. . The matter was in abeyance for some time during Mr: Dovener’s absence, from this country on holiday, and settle. ment of it has been further delayed by Mr. Barton having becn recently out of town. Mr. West informs me that he has now written to Mr. Barton, and hopes a meeting will be arranged for a‘date shortly after the Whitsun vacation. Having regard to the amicable relationships which have hitherto existed between the magistrates and the local branch of the C.B.A., it is hoped that an adjustment of the matince question, satisfactory to all concerned, will be reached. Working for Tax Abolition. ‘Alderman E. Trounson, immediate president of the C.E.A., and an ex-chairman of the North-Western Branch, is spending mitch: time at present in London in his capacity of chairman of the Entertainments Tax Committee. From the very inception of the movement to secure either the total abolition of the Entertainments Tax, or, at any rate, a substantial reduction of it, the Alderman has been one of its staunchest supporters. Certainly no one connected with any form of amusement catering throughout the country has worked harder than he to achieve the object in’ view, and the general feeling throughout the membership of the North-Western Branch is that they are extremely fortunate in having as the champion of their cause in this matter such an able and lucid speaker as Alderman Trounson, and also a gentleman who so ungrudgingly places so much of his time at the disposal ‘of the industry, not only in connection with the Entertainments Tax campaign, but also otber matters vitally affecting its welfare. A Strong Team. In Alderman Trounson, J. H. Dovener, F. W. Worswick (vice-chairman), and G. Dudley West (secretary), the NorthWestern Branch has a strong team to represent it as‘ delegates at the monthly meetings of the General Council of the C.E.A. Encores for ‘‘The Sheik.’’ That films of outstanding merit will stand showing several times even in the same neighbourhood, let alone. in widlely separated parts of a big city, has recently been demonstrated in the Edge Hill district in connection with the Famous-Lasky film, ‘‘ The Sheik.” Within the few previous weeks it was exhibited at two kinemas in comparatively close proximity to each other, and, despite that fact, so big is the demand on the part of the. public to see it, that when engaged by, Manager Peel Smith, to be presented for the closing half of last week at the Tunnel Road Picturedtome, which is within a stone’s throw of the other two halls, it attracted great business. Indeed, so much From our Liverpool Correspondent. so that at least on one evening a substantial queue’ was in evidence for the last performance as early as ten minutes past seven. Big Game. As hasbeen the case with the film, ‘* Blazing an Airway to India,’’ special children’s matinees will be arranged at the Trocadero, (Liverpool) when the Universal production, ** Hunting Big Game in Africa,’’ is shown at this kinema in July. Also, with a view to attracting public attention to the film, there will be parades in the city of lions, monkeys and bears, etc., while a comprehensive display of stills of outstanding features from the film at the offices of the company named is causing passers-by to stop and look. A Phillips’ Move. ‘ It is the intention of the Phillips’: Film Company to transfer their activities, at the end of the present month, from Vietorf Street to Brown’s Buildings, Islington. Vitagraph Specials. Frank Chisnall, local manager of the Vitagraph Company, t me that tbe seven-icel production, ‘‘ Masters of Men,"’ of whi he recently had a trade show, will ‘be released in September. This is the second of tivelve big Vitagrapli specials, the first: of which has already been released, and the remainder of which, commencing in September, will be available for’ public exhibition approximately at the rate of one per month. Meanwhile Frank, when I saw him, was in negotiation for marketing the first run in the territory of ‘* The Ninety and Nine."’ A Run on Sessue. Wilf Baines, on behalf of the Premier Film Services, Dale Strect, is at present negotiating the purchase, on a somewhat expensive scale, of a number of films, including pictures featuring Sessue Hayakawa; others with Vivian Martin as the star artiste, and various other subjects, in order to cope with the big demand which he is at present experiencing for productions of this character. Advertising in Yiddish. Appropriate to the subject primarily dealt with in the film “‘Tdols,”? which was shown during the closing half of last week at the Alhambra, London Road, Liverpool, Mr. D. Walsh, the new proprietor, had a portion of the advertising matter printed in Yiddish. : A Clarion Call. Messrs. Hodson and Jack Goddard made a point Inst week of specially ‘visiting Tiondon-to attend, the. trade show af the Alhambra, of thé Associated First National production, ‘* Whorn the Gods Would Destroy.’' of which they are arranging trade shows in Liverpool and Manchester. They are handling this subject for the Clarion Film Agency, Manchester, hy whom the Lancashire rights have been acquired.