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

4 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. HIS week has certainly been a pretty hectic one, as | the numerous things on have rarely been surpassed in any one week in the history of the trade. In addition to the Conference of the C.E.A., which opened at Margate on Tuesday, there has been the GoldwynStoll case, which oecupied the courts all the week, and the Report stage of the Budget, which came up for discussion on Monday night. What with attending the Law Courls in the morning and afternoon, rushing off to the House at night, and then journeying to Margate on Wednesdav to be present at the dinner, and back again in the carly hours of Thursday morning, believe me, life has net teen all honey. However, as it is our policy to be the first with the news all the time, I am gratified to be abie to give readers of this journal the fullest reports of each of the important functions mentioned above, in this week’s issue. A Pleasant Function. TUITE one of the pleasantest little functions at the Margate Conference was the presentation which Mr. A. J. Gale, the president, made to Alderman Trounson. the late retiring president, on behalf of the General Council of the C.E.A. Every member of the Association will remember the excellent work of Alderman Trounson whilst in the chair, and the presentation that was made in felicitous terms by Mr. Gale met with the hearty approval of everyone present. Alderman Trounson was obviously overcome at receiving evidence of such kindly thought and expressed himself as being only too happy to have served the C.E.A. in the past and would continue to do his utmost for them in the future. A Shrewd Address. R. GAVAZZI KING’S paper on ‘‘ Good Business,” M which he read to the Margate Conference, is one that is well worth the attention of every exhibitor in this country. At first, listening to Mr. Gavazzi King, I imagined that his paper was going to be merely an excellent advertisement for the C.E.A. Report, but as he delved further into it one could not fail to realise the shrewd common sense of the man and his grasp of the inner workings of this industry. The whole paper is so full of clever and well directed criticism, together with some excellent advice to exhibitors, that I can only say that it would be good business if they were to read and inwardly digest it. Certainly the reading of this paper made a big impression upon those present at the Conference, and there were many congratulatiopos showered upon the reader, who shows in the compilation of this paper that he has a big grasp upon the affairs of the industry. Mr. Gavazzi King, who, in addition tn being General Secretary of the C.E.A., has acnieved a reputation for his journalistic work, shows in this paper that his hand has by no means lost its cunning, and I heartily congratulate him upon the shrewd common sense matter contained therein. Exhibitors Hold Their Hand. CURIOUS situation seems to have occurred in the A Midland area consequent upon many of the Bir mingham exhibitors not making any further bookings unti} after the end of July. Whether this action has anything to do with the recent meetings of the C.E.A. in that area, and of which nothing has been reported, is a meot point, but it certainly seerns somewhat extraordinary that it is after these meetings that this action appears to have taken place. It would appear somewhat strange that such an important branch as Birmingham shosid have nothing to discuss at their meetings, that June 16, 1923. By the W A Weebly On Trade « is if we are to believe the statements of their president, and in view of the fact that this non-booking question hus come to light one cannot help thinking that this matter has probahly been discussed behind closed doors and the members pledged to secrecy. Of course, there is another point, and that is that exhibitors may think that hy refraining from booking they will get films offered them at lower prices, but in any case the exhibitors’ decision is having a bad effect upon the Midland trade. Two Lamented Deaths. Tis with very sincere regret that I have to record the I death of two prominent members of the exhibiting side of the business this week. Mr. J. W. Kennedy, the well-known Edinburgh exhibitor, who bad many interests in the show business in Scotlanil, passed away on Sunday night, and Mr. Hall, of the Empire Theatre, Longton, died the following day. Both these gentlemen were extremely well inown in the trade and were highly respected by everyone with whom they eame in touch. Mr, A, G. Granger, who was in Scotland but a few days ago, was in the company of Mr. Kennedy, who was then quite hale and well, and his death came as a sad blow to him. 1 feel sure I am voicing the feelings of the whole of the trade in expressing the sympathy of «ll with the families of both these gentlemen, First National 4 ctivities. Rt. E, BRUCE JOHNSON, of the directorial board M of Associated First National Pictures, Ltd., and foreign manager of Associated First National Tictutes (America), arrived on Wednesday, Jime 13, trem New York, and after a brief consuitation with Mr. Ralph J, Pugh and the directorial body will leave for thu Continent and Seandinavia, and other countries on a business tour of the already established First National offices, and to consummate plins already made for representition in a nuinber of cities and countries where First National is not alrealy established. Mr. Johnson will then meet Mr. Rebert Lieber, president of Associated Virsi National Pictures (America) in Paris, and together they will return to London, where the Second Annual Convention of First National executives, district and branch managers, and other provincial representatives will be held early in August. The Triumph of Mae Marsh, WAS exceedingly pleased to receive a letter in my I American mail from Mr. Louis Lee Arms, the husband of Mae Marsh, who writes me concerning the tremendous success of this clever screen actress in Griffith's latest pieture, ‘‘ The White Rose."" From the criticisms of the New York Press enclosed in Mr. Anns’ letter, the critics appear unanimous in saying that Misa Marsh has made a tremendous success, and each and