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

56 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. June 30, 1923. Trade Movements in the Midlands. Trade Easing Off—In School and University—Three Brum Schemes—A Stoll Quartette—Gaumont News— A First National Experiment. HE late arriva! of real summer weather gave exhibitors hopes of a fair mid-year season, but from reports 1 gathered last week-end, the unfavourable conditions of the past month have not proved so financially beneficial as they did in pre-war days. Returns from the Labour Exchanges in the Midlands show that in many industries trade is steadily declining. That this is so is corroborated by the diminishing bank returns for the month. Throughout the Midlands the ranks of the unemployed and short-time workers are growing week by week, in School and University. The Birmingham Rotary Club have taken the initiative in several movements which have proved highly beneficial to the public generally. The Education Committee have so far beev very lukewarm in regard to introducing films as an educative agency, but it would surprise me if, following the address by Mr. C. R. Buckle, of London, to the members of the Rotary Club, that organisation of business men did not revive the controversy. Mr. Buckle, who was formerly a shcoolmaster emphasised the use of films in illustrating school and university courses, and as a means of recording scientific phenomena Another Wedding. Yet another trade wedding has to be recorded. Last week Mr. T. E. Gathercole, the popular manager of the palatial Oak Kinema, Selly Oak, was married to Miss Dorothy Hawkins, a member of his staff. Prior to the opening of the Oak a few months ago Mr. Gathercole had charge of the Picturedrome, Selly Oak, which out-of-date hall was only kept open until its successor was ready to open its doors. Three Birmingham Schemes. At least three Birmingham kinemas are now in course of erection. The Reconstructed Pringle’s Palace, Gooch Street, is rapidly approaching completion, while operations are proceeding apace in connection with the Delecia, Gosta Green, and the West End Kinema in the centre of the city. Curzon Hall, which stands on the site of the last-named hall, is now being demolished. Here it was that Mr. Walter Jeffs, the Midland pioneer, gave the citizens their first films in the form of topicals ** shot '’ by himself. A Stoll Quartette. Mr. Claude Solomon, of Stoll’s, asks exhibitors to make ao special note of his trade shows of ‘‘ The Indian Love Lyrics " and ‘* Samson and Delilah.’’ The presentation of the former at New Street P.H. on July 13, will be on a large scale, an augmented orchestra and vocalist having been engaged. A week later, at the same theatre, ‘‘ Samson and Delilah,’’ the adaptation of the famous opera, will await exhibitors. The latest Matheson Lang feature, ‘‘ The Wandering Jew,’’ has been By our Birmingham Correspondent. eagerly snapped up by the leading halls, while that production and also ‘‘ The Mystery of Dr. Fu Manchu " series are booked up solidly throughout the territory. Finally, Mr. Solomon is offering for immediate release Stoll’s remarkable exclusive, ‘‘ The Eruption of Mount Etna." Gaumont News. To make the personal acquaintance of every exhibitor in the Midlands is a big task, but that is the ambition of Mr. Sheridan, who came to Birmingham two months ago to look after the interests of the Gaumont Company. As time permits he intends to fulfil that task. At the moment he is extremely busy satistying the requirements of exhibitors in regard to that wonderful feature ‘‘ Love, Life and Laughter.’’ Rarely has competition for dates been as keen as it has in connection with this production. He issues a preliminary notice that his next important offering, ‘‘ Fires of Fate,"’ the British production, featuring Wanda Hawley and Stewart Rome, will be screened to the trade next month. A First National Experiment. The experiment of Mr. Ernest Reed in holding weekly trade shows of First National ordinary features in the private theatre at the company’s Midland headquarters, 1-5, Hill Street, Birmingham, ‘has proved fairly satisfactory. Still, Mr. Reed readily admits that he would like to see still more exhibitors at these Sunday evening and Monday shows. He is doing well with his latest trio, ‘‘ What a Wife Learned,”’ ‘‘ Scars «of Jealousy,’’ and ‘' Stranger Than Fiction." Renters’ Briefs. The trade show of the new Chaplin comedy, ‘‘ The Pilgrim,” afforded Mr. Mortimer Dent, of Pearl Films, an opportunity of seeing many exhibitors who know the drawing powers of all Chaplin films. This has been secured by P.C.T., and will have a fortnight’s run at that company's Birmingham house commencing September 3. Mr. Bertram Wilson (Walturdaw’s) has just returned from an extended visit to the Nottingham and Derby area. A profitable journey it has proved too, for, in his own language, it has produced ‘‘ a budget of contracts.’’ On Wednesday next Birmingham and district exhibitors will be invited to a special presentation of ‘‘ Catherine the Great.’ : Mr. E, Lorton (Wardour’s) will shortly commence trade shows of the series of two reelers entitled, ‘‘ Fighting Bloods.”” He is doing well with both ‘* Quicksands '’ (Helen Chadwick) and ‘‘ The Sheik of Araby ’’ (Violet Hemming). Mr. George Maigels (F.B.O.) is now open for bookings on the Edwin Carewe all-star cast production, ‘‘ I am the Law." Victory Motion Pictures, of Holloway Head, have secured new premises in Hill Street, Birmingham.