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

ga THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. June 23, 1923. Trade in the Yorkshire ‘Territory. The Tax in Parliament—Kay and Kilner in Leeds—A Wardour Note—Humorous Renting Yarn—A “ Showman's Proposition.” URTHER to my note last week on ‘‘ Come Into the Office,’’ F or the renters’ plea to exhibitors to make more use of the renting offices in Leeds for transacting business, there was an interesting sequel-discussion in the smoke-room of the Kinema Exchange the other day on the reception some exhibitors give film travellers when they call to do business. The parties to the discussion were mainly renters or renters’ representatives, but the exhibitors were also represented. Some very interesting and entertaining stories were told of exhibitors and their methods, or lack of them, while on the other hand some equally funny stories were retailed of renters’ subterfuges to see their clients. The burden of the renters’ plea was that times being hard and often rather disheartening to film men, the least an exhibitor could do was to try to see the representative, at least for a minute, and take the trouble to find out what he had got to offer. The Casting Vote! One of the best stories was of a certain Lecds film traveller who attended a kinema directors’ board meeting, at which it was to be decided whether or not his film he booked. Tho procedure was for the film man to be interviewed and questioned concerning the film, and during this business he was asked from time to time to retire. Finally it came to a vote of tho directors, and, curiously enough, the board forgot to ask tha representative to withdraw. When it came to the show of hands, up went the film traveller's hand, and the story goes that his vote booked the film! The Entertainments Tax in Parliament. There was some concern in the trade in Leeds last Tueslay when the result of the first day’s debate on the Entertainments Tax was read in the morning papers, and until later in the day a very brief interview by an evening paper with Mr. Arthur Cunningham produced the reassuring news that Monday night’s vote by no means finally disposed of the question of the tax as it affects the kinema trade. Mr. Cunningham intimated that there were another half-dozen amendments to be considered, any one of which might yicld some slight concession. Margate or Blackpool ! Mr. T. Herbert Kaye, chairman of the Leeds Branch of the €.E.A., Mr. Arthur Cunningham, Mr. J. Martin, and Mr. F. M. Rush, secretary of the Leeds Branch, represented the Leeds exhibitors at the C.E.A. Conference at Margate, and whatever else that Conference achieved, it :ertainly has sent them back looking well for their change of air. I am ercdibly informed, though, that more Yorkshire exbibitors were at the Blackpool Carnival than the Margate Conference! Alec Lever in a Motor Smash. Alee Lever, the popular Sheffield and South Yorkshire representative of Stoll Films, while motoring on the Worksop road on a business journey last week, in rounding a sharp corner at Anston, near Rotherham, collided with a motor "bus and From our Leeds Correspondent, badly damaged the front of his car. Happily he escaped with nothing more serious than a very severe shaking, from the effects of which, however, he has now completely recovered. Leeds v. Manchester at Cricket. The Yorkshire kinema trade is to meet the Manchester kinems trade at cricket, the match to fake place at the Oval, Roundhay Park, Leeds, next Wednesday, to commence at 2 p.m. An informal lunch has been arranged at the Exchange for noon on that day. In order to facilitate and help to make the more successful this cricket engagement, Mr. Sim White, the bon. secretary of the Kinema Exchange Angling Club, and the kinema anglers have postponed their cff match at Ryther, near Ulleskelf, until the following Wednesday, July 7, when it is hoped they will, in turn, be well supported. Kay and Kilner in Leeds. Leeds always was popular with the heads of renting firms in London. Mr. A. M. Kay, the popular Ideal chief, was here for a few days last week, and he must have been pleased with the reception accorded ** This Freedom,” Anyhow, he looked very happy surrounded by a group of exhibitors last Wednesday. Mr. F. W. Kilner was another visitor from London last week, when ‘‘ Bob’’ Bruce, his Yorkshire. manager, had a very successful screening of '‘A Madonna In Chains.”’ A Wardour Note. Mr. W. F. Stephenson, outside representative for Wardow Films, under Bert Marshall at Leeds, will be absent from his usual ground next week and the week after. He has been srt up to Neweastle to manage the Tyneside Branch in the temporary absence of Mr. McGregor, who is on his honeymoon. Mr. Marshall, by the way, hopes to trade show next month 6 big production entitled ‘* Iniquity,” and is expecting to do big business with ‘*'The Fighting Blood ” serics of two-reel dramas and Mirthquake comedies. ~ 3 BAA A Showman’s Proposition. Mr. H. A. Whincup, one of the few independent renters in Leeds, has a fine showman’s proposition to offer in ‘ The Man They Could Not Hang,” a film version of the life story of John Lee, with a special narrative by Frederick Haldane, the eminent actor-orator. The film is being shown for six days commencing next Monday, at the Picture House at Castleford, and Mr. Whincup is arranging to take a char-a-bane party ot interested showmen over to see it one day. Briefs. Mr. W. Eyres, from the head office of Butcher's Films in London, has come down to Jecds to take charge of the inside work at the New Briggate office of Butcher’s. Mr. Daniels, of the W. and F. Film Service, is to trade show “ Safety Last ' (Harold Lloyd) ut the Majestic next Wednesday at 11 prompt.