The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Jan-Feb 1923)

January 1, 1923. REVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE G.E.A. THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. How the Association has stood up for the Exhibitor and fought the Hostility of the. Authorities. (By Alderman E. TROUNSON, $.P., President of the C.E.A.) EVIEWING the activities of the C.H.A. during my year of office is a task not to be lightly undertaken. Were I merely to record: the decisions reached by the General Council, I should convey but a small part of the Association’s operations, and, ,yet that part, viewed in the light of the agendas, is formidable enough, and altogether too much to condense into a brief article. The Council has a mass of correspondence to deal with at each meeting, but great as is the correspondence submitted, it does not represent more than the barest fraction of what reaches headquarters. That correspondence is strong evidence and the autlurities have to be dealt with after the conditions have been imposed. A striking illustration of the difference in the attitude of the Government Departments concerns the new regulations of the Home Secretary. The draft of the proposed regulations was sent to the C.H.A. for the Association’s ecnsideration and observations. It was proposed by the Home Oftice that not more than two openings should. be left unsercened at any one time. That a separute room must be provided for re-winding, which must not communicate with either the enclosure or _. the auditorium. That no spool of more than 12in. should be used. That no of the confidence members have in their Association. In the manifold difficulties which members have to face they do not fail to realise the help they can receive, nor do they underrate how enormously their position is strengthened, by having the C.E.A. behind them. Troubles from the Act. From the day upon which the Cinematograph Act was placed upon the Statute Book exhibitors’ troubles with the local authorities have been steadily accumulating. Had the C.H.A. existed in 1909 the Act would never have been allowed to go through in its present form. It has consequently been a large part of the Association’s work, and not the least onerous of the President’s duties, to ease resistance, with the exception of the controller for the motor used to drive the projector, should be placed within the enclosure; no fuses _may be placed within tlic enclosure, and many other things of a like character. Saving Effected by C.E.A. . As a result of a number of interviews with the Home Office, these clausés: were substantially modified, and will. not apply to existing theatres, and, where certain small alterations aro necessary, a period of two years will be allowed to exhibitors in which to carry them out. Through the Association’s intervention the exhibitor with a medium-sized hall has been saved about £400, or enough to pay his subscription for the next eighty years. In the case of some the situation for the exhibitor. At first the licensing authorities indulged in pinpricks, but year by year they have strengthened their hold, and the inen:bers are faced with regulations and conditions which do now and will still more in the future hamper their business and add to the expense of conducting it. The activity of the scientific faddist over the subject of eye strain was niarked in the early part of the year. Had there been no C.E.A., many exhibitors would have been regulated out of existence. Standing alone, his case would have been brushed aside. Seats would have been cut out ruthlessly, and theatres pulled about in such a fashion as to make closing down the only escape from ruin. But, tackled by the Assceiation, something approaching reason was allowed to prevail, and whilst it remains menacing, and may involve large expense, the situation has been greatly eased. Government Kinder than the Municipalities. It is interesting to record that the trade receives more consideration from the Government than it does from Local Authorities. The latter pack on their conditions too frequently without any kind of notice to the licensee, ALDERMAN TROUNSON. ; of the larger halls the saving will amount -to as much as £2,000. If the C.E.A. had done nothing else since it has been in existence every member in this saving alone would have been reimbursed many times over the amount he has paid in subscriptions. That is one of the advantages of being a National Society. When our recommendations were forwarded to the Hoine Office their permission was asked to publish their confidential draft and our comments, partly to let exhibitcrs know what was happening, and also to be sure that our recommendations would be supported. The representative of the Secretary of State, who replied, said he did not think this was necessary, as the C.Ji.A. was a very powerful Association and thoroughly representative for their purpose of the exhibitors of Great Britain. Problem of ‘‘A’’ and ‘ U.”’ The latest development of Licensing Authority activity has been over ‘‘ A ’’ and ‘‘ U ”’ films, and strong efforts are being made to have children excluded from viewing “A” films. The chaotic conditions which would ensue (Continued overleaf.)