The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

March 31, 1923. 4 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. 41. Kinema Activities in Liverpool Area Good Friday Shows—Pictures for Juveniles—Liverpool Renters’ Grievance—Sale of Reynolds's Waxworks. N Ellesmere Port, that rapidly-developing township on the Mersey banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, Good Friday performances are to be permitted in the Queen’s and Hip podrome Kinemas, but on the basis suggested by the Cheshire County Constabulary. At a meeting of the justices on Wednesday applications were made on behalf of the picturedromes named for an extension of the licences on Good Friday from 6-30 to 10-30. Superintendent Ennion stated that he had been instructed, as usual, to oppose on the ground that the applications constituted a variation of the conditions of the licences. He added that, notwithstanding his objection in previous years, the applications had always been granted, and he suggested that should the magistrates see their way to again approve the applications they should make it a condition that the shows should conclude not later than 10 p.m., and also that a copy of the programs to be submitted should be forwarded to him in advance. Subject to these conditions the Bench granted the applications. They also gave permission for a sacred concert on behalf of the funds of the local Cottage Hospital to be given in the Hippodrome, on Sunday. Pictures for Juveniles. | Apropos of police action in Liverpool with regard to the sub inission in advance of programs at kinema matinee performances not specially arranged for children, I see the matter was mentioned af a recent meeting of the Portsmouth Branch of the C.E.A., and it was stated that a practice obtains, to some extent there, amongst kinema managers and proprietors of exchauging films with each other in cases where certain pictures are not considered particularly suitable for juvenile viewing. As far as one can judge this practice seems to be attended with success in Portsmouth, and, doubtless, if it commended itself to the general body of Liverpool exhibitors a similar system of exchange could be instituted here. On the other hand, however, it is really, in the opinion of a section of the members of the North-Western Branch, what is regarded as the unjustifiable action of the police in the matter with which tb2v are mainly concerned, and want to get to grips with. Mean while the question, so far as Liverpool is concerned, is in abey-— ance pending the return of the branch chairman (Mr. Dovaner) and the fixing of a date by the clerk to the Liverpool Intertainment Licensing Justices for the reception of a deputation co! members of the branch on the subject. Fox Fixtures. Lupiuo Lave, the great comedian, was not the least interested of the many persons who were attracted to the Fox trade show at the Prince of Wales Picture House, on Tuesday last, when, amongst other films, he witnessed himself performing in ‘‘A Reckless Son.’’ Commencing on Thursday, April 19, Gordon Dartnall will hold seven weekly trade shows at the local Kinema Exchange, this being a new departure so far as Fox's are concerned. The local staff of Fox’s will, next week, take up their business abode in spacious accommodation which has been rented on their behalf in the new premises, Central Buildings, 109-111, Islington. A Renters’ Grievance. . Amongst at least a section of the representatives of renting houses in Liverpool there is a growing feeling that the arrange From our Liverpool Correspondent. ment by which the majority of meetings of the local section of the K.R.S. are held in Manchester leaves the Merseyside almost entirely in the cold, while their Manchester brethren are trying to manage Liverpool business. For instance, for dates between March 21 and November 20 this year ten meetings of the branch of the K.R.S. in question have been summoned, and in each case the meeting is in Manchester. One recalls how, a year or two back, a special Liverpool and District Branch of the K.R.S. was formed, and vested with what practically amounted to local autonomy. A small band of renting enthusiasts bent their backs to the work with a will, and a really live branch of the organisation was evolved, by which, it was generally conceded, much good work was accomplished in adjusting the differences which from time to time arise between renters and exhibitors. Subsequently a new arrangement was come to whereby the Liverpool district has representation upon a sort of combined branch of the K.R.S., but by the sanction of Merseyside rentors referred to it is felt that the system at present in vogue is not a satisfactory one by any means. In fact, to quote the words of the manager of a leading renting house: ‘* We feel that a committee or branch which holds practically all its meetings in Manchester, notwithstanding the fact that Liverpocl is represented upon that branch, and no matter how good its intentions are, cannot do full justice to the great variety of interests which affect renters in such a big and densely populated area as that of West Lancashire, including Liverpool, Cheshire, and North Wales. At the same time if there is to be a re-introduction of a special committee for the Liverpool area,’’ added this renter, ‘‘ it should be on the distinct understanding that the renters, generally speaking, in the district will take a practical interest in what, after all, is a matter primarily affecting their o6wn welfare, and not leave it, as was the case previously, to a comparative handful of patriots.’’ Deputation to the Chancellor. Alderman KE. Trounson, J.P., the immediate ex-President cf tha C.E.A., and a former chairman, and present prominent member of the North-Western Branch, undertook to represent the branch as a member of the united deputation of all sections of the entertainment industry which was to be received last Monday by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in connection with the Entertainments Tax. Sale of Reynolds’s Waxworks. In connection with the sale last week of the contents of Reynolds’s waxworks, which was one of the first establishments in Liverpool where moving pictures were shown, it was freely acknowledged by purchasers, in explanation of the poor prices bid for the various lots, that waxworks is now a form of entertainment of a bygone age, and has had, to reproduce the words of one showman, to bow the knee to the ‘‘ all-conquering kinema.”’ Allied Special. D. J. Clarke, proprietor of the Argyle and Hippodrome Theatres, Birkenhead, and actively identified with various other entertainment enterprises, has booked, through Tom Griffin, the Allied Artists’ picture, ‘‘ Way Down East,’’ for a run at the St. Helens Hippodrome, commencing May 7.