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

aoa meee coe ae a ee a ee a ere 9a a etched = + z £ eas a re | nF D THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. r Pen QED tee art ap me ee r mwewr-.. «8 o 6 ~~: te oa ee April 14, 1923. T rade Movements in the Midlands. £758 5s. Od. for Unemployed Fund—Privilege T ichets—Lighting Problems—Opening of the heats dilate. | Trade Changes. HE final balance-sheet of the trade's latest appeal for T charity, viz., the recent effort on behalf of the Lord Mayor of Birminghani’ s Unemployment Distress Fund, nas been issued. This shows that the net amount raised was £758 5s. It will be recalled that a cheque for £500 was handed to the Lord Mayor at the luncheon which preceded the annual meeting of the Birmingham C.E.A., while Alderman David Davis has just gratefully acknowledged the receipt of a cheque for the balance. Local exhibitors have agreed to grant the request to show slides in connection with appeals for Miss Ellen Terry's Fund to provide a Home for Meutally Defective Blind children and the English Order of the ers of St. John of Jerusalem. Privilege Tickets. A few months ago the attention of Birmingham exhibitors was called to the fact that it was contrary to the Chief Constable’s order for policemen to seek free admission to kinemas. It has now come to the knowledge of the C.E.A. that it has been the custom at certain halls to grant privilege tickets at reduced prices to members of the Railway Servants’ Association. The exhibitors concerned are to be approached with a view to the branch securing full details as to the :eason for the introduction of such privileges. A Lighting Problem. When the Joint Committee of Birmingham exhibitors and Justices meet later in the month, one of the subjects to be discussed will be the Continental system of lighting kinemas. Mr. J. L. Lyons, who has just returned from the Continent, has been co-opted on that Committee in order that he might explain in detail the system whereby the light is reflected from the screen. The New Contract. Under the new contract the Birmingham C.I.A. are desirous of controlling the renters’ charges in the different Midland towne, and with that object a special sub-ecmmittee has been appointed. This will consist of Messrs. IE. Hewitson (vice-chairman of the branch), G. F. McDonald, W. H. Bull, H. Devey, C. O. Brettall, Bryant, Pilkington, Elbourne, Parker, Rogers and Mitchell. The Broadway. On Easter Monday I accepted the invitation of the proprietors of the Broadway, Bristol Street, to attend the formal opening by Councillor S. W. B. Stephens of that new hall. The ceremony attracted not only a representative crowd of exhibitors and renters, but also a contingent of city councillors. In few houses in Birmingham have the convenience and comfort of patrons received closer attention, while from the decorative point of view internally it ranks as the most artistic in the city. Not a single harsh note is struck, the walls, the furniture and the carpets all blending harmoniously. The tributes paid by Messrs. Lewin, P. Samuel, E. Hewitson and Councillor Stephens were thoroughly By our Birmingham Correspondent. deserved, and under the general managership of Mr. Frank Leedam, until recently in charge of the Midland Branch of the furopean Company, the Broadway should make rapid progress. A Surprise. Much surprise was expressed the other day when it leaked out that Mr. Moryd Sheridan had left the Regent, as the Theatre. De Luxe became known when the C. and D. Syndicate took over control. A popular and experienced manager, Mr. Sheridan had had charge of that’ New Street hall for several years past. His successor there is Mr. Bert Dawes, who returns to Birming. ham from Rugby, where he had charge of the Empire. He was | formerly manager of the Imperial Picture House, Moseley. A Gaumont Change. Last week-end was marked by the departure from the Birmingham Branch of the Gaumont Company of Mr. W. H. Thompson after two years as Midland manager. Having been associated with the company for over a decade, Mr. Thompson has gone to London to become sales manager and branch supervisor for Gencral Kinema Films, Ltd. Prior to coming to Birmingham he had charge of the Cardiff and Manchester branches of the Gaumont Company. While there he took an active interest in the K.R.S. and filled the office of chairman of the local centre. His first lieutenant, Mr. 8S. H. James, has also resigned his position. The new Gaumont manager is Mr. R. L. Sheridan, a brother of Mr. Moryd Sheridan, to whom I referred earlier in these notes, who, prior to joining the company’s head office staff, had charge of the Leeds territory for them. Mr. Sheridan has also had several years’ experience on the exhibiting side in various parts of the country. A Wardour Note. A change has also taken place at the Birmingham office of the Wardour Company, where Mr. E. Shaw has been succeeded by Mr. M. Lawton, who also comes down from London. Uatil recently he had contro] of the Glasgow branch for Stoll’s, during the brief period when Mr. John Jacobs was in Birmingham looking after the Midland interests of that company. Mr. J. T. Mitchell, formerly with Gaumont’s and Walkergraph’s, has joined the Wardour staff, and will cover the Staffs., Herefordshire and Worcestershire territory. Mr. G. H. Moore wul continue as outside representative for the Notts. and Derbyshire area. Other Changes. Mr. Victor Jones, late of Wardour’s has joined the outside staff of the Europe*n Company under Mr. H. Jackson. At the eleventh hour the appointment of Mr. A. Caltiff as outside 1epresentative for Kilner’s Exclusives fell through owing to circumstances over which Mr. D. M. Robertson had no control. Wilner’s will, therefore, be represented in the Nottingham area by Mr. J. Beardmore, who was formerly with the Stone’s Mutual Company there and at Leeds. _