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

NCE again the report stage of the Budget is delayed, and many members of this trade are beginning to wonder when this elusive subject will come up for discussion in the House.’ However, as far as I can glean it is fully expected to be reached on Wednesday or Thursday of next week. Lobbying has been taking place in the House all the week and I noticed numerous members of the Tax Committee quietly but effectively keeping members of the House up to their promises. When the report stage is reached it will, of course, clash with the Summer Conference of the C.E.A., so that it would appear that some members of this latter body will not be present during the Conference at all, as they will be required to be on hand in the case of eventualities in the House of Commons. It is generally believed that the Chancellor will accept the De Frece scale, which, after all, is better than nothing. Assessments. AM glad to see that the assessments of kinemas, now proceeding under Schedule A, is receiving the careful consideration of the General Council of the C.H.A. Mr. Gavazzi King, with commendable promptitude, has sent a letter to all members of the C.E.A. advising them to lodge an appeal without delay with the local inspector of taxes, intimating that the matter is still being further considered and further communications will be sent in due course. Mr. Dudley West, the secretary of the Liverpool Branch, has contributed a very sound and sensible letter on this subject to Mr. King, which is printed in thé notice sent out to exhibitors, in which Mr. West, who is a prominent accountant in Liverpool, points out that the most important point to impress upon exhibitors is that the appeal must be lodged against the assessment before August 31, 1923, and if the Schedule “*A’’ Assessment is not greater than the Poor Rate Assessment they have no right whatever of appeal. It is therefore, beholden upon individual proprietors to see that their Poor Rate Assessment is appealed against and brought down to the lowest possible figure. The correspondence, which we reprint on another page, should be noted by every exhibitor in this country, and it is to be hoped that they will follow the advice of Mr. Gavazzi King and lose no time in putting in their appeal. A Born Organiser. "FAHE Motion Picture Theatre Owners’ Convention, which opened at Chicago on May 24, makes exceedingly interesting reading. I notice that Mr. Sidney S. Cohen has been elected president for the fourth year in succession, despite the fact that he announced his intention some time ago of not standing. His election appears to have been unanimous and there is no doubt that in again securing his services the M.P.T.O. have made a very wise move. Cohen is a strenuous worker and has put this organisation in the very powerful position it occupies to-day. When I saw him two years ago in New York he confided to me that one of his pet ambitions was to visit this country and I should not be at all surprised if he did not find time to do so in the fall of this year. The president of the M.P.T.O. is a man of steadfast courage and not afraid to say what he thinks. He has worked himself up to a proud position in the industry by sheer merit and is # born organiser. His presidential speech ranged over a varity of matters each of supreme importance to members of his Association and might easily stand as a model of common sense for leaders of the Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Association to follow over here. As I have beforé remarked, it was a tremendous pity that the C.E.A. was not represented af this Convention, as whoever was there would have undoubtedly been able to have brought back some highly interest THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. June 9, 1923. ing information regarding how America runs her conventions. Another ‘' Call of the Road.” R. A. G. GRANGER spent several days in Glasgow M last week, where he met most of the prominent exhibitors. Mr. Granger travelled specially to Scotland to be present at the trade show of ‘‘ The Seandal,’’ which met with such a fine reception from the crowd of exhibitors present. This Granger-Davidson production was shown at the Picture House, Sauchiehall Street, and Mr. Granger was especially struck by the projection and also by the splendid music provided by Mr. Norman Austin and his orchestra. Preparations are already taking place for the next Granger-Davidson production, which, I understand from this popular renter, will be another ‘‘ Call of the Road.”’ It will have an allstar cast featuring such popular artistes as Victor Maclaglen, James Lindsey, Marjorie Hume, Fred Wright, and Mary Rorke, and is produced by Mr. Arthur Rooke. This picture goes into production on Monday, and every exhibitor who knows the drawing value of “The Call of the Road "’ will wish Mr. Granger every success, and hope that his new picture will turn out just as successful. Settlement of Wanger Case. REAT interest was evinced in the case that Walter Wanger brought against Provincial Cinematograph Theatres, and which was heard in the Courts last Friday. Many prominent members of the trade were in Court, although the actual proceedings only took a. very few minutes. As will be seen at a glance at the report of the ease given elsewhere, a settlement was arrived at which, I understand, was very satisfactory to Mr. Wanger and all concerned. I am very glad that this happy result came about, as it is certain if the case had gone on there would have been much washing of dirty linen in public. Both parties are, therefore, to be congratulated upon their excellent common sense. Maurice Elvey’s Magnum Opus. T is very satisfactory to note that the most outstanding picture trade shown during the past week was the Stoll masterpiece, ‘‘ The Wandering Jew," which was acclaimed with great favour by a crowded audience last Friday. There is no doubt that in the production of this photoplay Maurice Elvey has easily eclipsed anything he has before attempted and the result is a picture that for its dramatic intensity and imaginative production is hard to beat. Mr. Elvey and Matheson Lang both received big receptions at the trade show, and it was good to see such enthusiasm over a British picture. This is another nail in the coffin of those pessimists who continually aver that we cannot produce pictures in this country. By the W A Weekly On Trade | {