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

June 16, 1923. COMPLIMENT FOR NEWCASTLE RENTER. ETURNING from a brief stay in Newcastle last week, an American visitor, Mr. M. P. Harwood, of New York, who is an executive of Associated First National (America) pays, unknown to the recipient, a tribute to a British exhibitor in the person of Mr. George Black, of the Queen’s Theatre,. Newcastle. “Tt is a real pleasure to sec a picture presented and a house managed in the attractive and efficient manner employed by Mr. Black, and I could not help but compliment him on his management,”’ writes Mr. Harwood. ‘* Mr, Black’s success is the more notable from the fact that the main entrance of the Queen’s Theatre being in a side street, Mr. Black’s kinema is somewhat at a disadvantage from the point of view of attracting passers by. A gratifying item was the fact that at the Queen’s Theatre there are even more people in. the more ‘expensive seats than in those which are generally held t6 be the popular ptice chairs, from which it may be inferred that this exhibitor had made real progress in the task, which it seems to ine. is the task on this side, namely, that of attracting to the kinema in increasing number those people (usually of the so-called ‘ better class ’) who have hitherto held, and I fear still continue to maintain, a. supercilious attitude towards the kinema. ‘*Mr. Black’s formula for attracting lies, apparently, firstly in avoiding the cheap and banal in pictures, and in backing this up with particularly well chosen music, with the result that the musical accompaniment forms a complete musical atmosphere. I found that this exhibitor spends an adequate sum per week in the newspapers, and uses posters to great advantage, not neglecting 48-sleets in the general lay-out. Mr. Black, too, exercises a great deal of ingenuity in the way he makes up poster matter of his own, using the publicity supplied by the renter as the components and dressing it up in attractive fashion. ‘The attraction at this kinema during my visit was ‘ The Voice from the Minaret,’ commenting on which Mr. Black made no secret of the fact that First National Pictures have done a great deal in the good work of attracting, not merely the general audience, but in aiding him to win in increasing degree, audiences from that class of people in his town whose habit it has long been to look without favour on, if not to despise, the kinema house and its offering.’ THE FIRST MARGARET LEAHY FILM. Release Early in July. ILM BOOKING OFFICES announce that they have secured F “The Three Ages,” starring Miss Margaret Leahy, who won the famous ‘‘ Daily Sketch *’ competition and went to America under the care of Miss Norma Talmadge as the representative of British screen talent. Miss Leahy is supported by Buster Keuton and a strong cast in her first effort, which, according tc udvance reports, more than justifies the highest expectations of all who maintain that this country can ‘produce kinema stars equul, if not superior, in talent to any other. The picture will be shown for two weeks at the Marble Arch Pavilion beginning with June 25, as a pre-release run. The release for London is fixed for July 8, and the provincial release will bo concurrent with the run at the Marble Arch Pavilion. Tho first day’s takings at the Marble Arch Pavilion will be entirely devoted to a charity. This is in accordance with the special wishes of the star, and no deduction whatever for expenses will be made by the management of this theatre. Miss Leahy will be in England for some time, and will put in appearances at approved theatres in key centres throughout the country. THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. 45 THE NEW FAIRBANKS PICTURE. Outdoing “ Robin Hood.” ,OUGLAS FAIRBANKS has again set for himself the task D of producing the photoplay sensation of the year, and, according to reports from the studio, is well on the way to succeeding with ‘‘ The Thief of Bagdad,” plans for the production of which are now under way. After several months’ work, William Cameron Mexzes and Irvin J. Martin, specially engaged by Mr. Fairbanks to create something wholly new and different in the way of settings, have produced what it is believed will bring forth a startling innovation in motion picture edifices. All the magic which has made the Arabian Nights live for centuries will, it is said, be incorporated in ‘‘ The Thief of Bagdad."’ There will be the magic carpet transporting persons through the air; the wondrous crystal will disclose realms pictured in fancy since childhood; but the methods by which this is to be-done are secrets being carefully guarded. Ono of the unusual sets will have for its base a concrete floor, which covers one and a half acres, and is estimated to cost 20,000: dollars. Around the edge of.this floor, which will serve as a sort of patio or plaza, will be constructed:the bazaars of Bagdad. Other ‘sets, foundations for which aré being laid, will tower above the turrets of the King’s castle in ‘‘ Douglas Fairbanks ‘im ‘Robin’ Hood,”’. dwarfing the castle ‘to. what will appear quite ordinary proportions. More players will be used in filming ‘‘ The Thief of Bagdad ’” than appeared in ‘* Robin Hocd,”’ according to Robert Fairbanks, production manager. Raoul Walsh will direct the production, and Arthur Edeson will head the staff of the camera men. Despite the announced magnitude of the picture, it is hoped and planned now to have it ready for autumn release. KINEMA FIREMEN. HAT can only be regarded as a satisfactory arrangement, W as between the authorities on. the one hand, and kinema proprietors and managers on the other, has been arrived at in Liverpool on the subject of members of picturedrome staffs being permitted to deputise for firemen during the temporary absence on holidays of the regular firemen. I am indebted to Mr. G. Dudley West, secretary of the NorthWestern Branch of the C.E.A. (writes our Liverpool correspondent), for a copy of a letter which he has received from Mr. L. Everitt, the Assistant Chief Constable of the city, with regard to the matter. A copy of this communication has been forwarded to every member of the Association in the area concerned. It runs as f llows : ‘With reference to your letter of the 4th instant, the Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade will test applicants for the positions of temporary firemen to act during the absence only of the regular firemen on holiday. Such an applicant should be a member of the staff of the particular kinema, and will be given a certificate authorising him to act within the dates named thereon, such dates being those, which he should be prepared to supp}y. during which the fireman proper is away on leave. If he acts outside those dates the matter will be reported as a breach of the Justices’ Regulations. He should wear a fireman’s cup when acting as a fireman. * **T am of opinion the regular fireman, or his substitute under the above conditions, should be always in a position accessible to the operating box in every kinema. Too great a distance, or non-acecssibility thrcugh obstruction of any kind, should be avoided. ‘I am greatly obliged to you for undertaking to convey these views to your Tenibers; who, I know, are anxious to conform to any ideas having for their object the safety and comfort of the public.”