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

_January, 27, 1923. Notes from Alleged Breaches of Contract— N more thau.one occasion during his two years of office us chairman of the Northern branch of the C.E.A., Mr. J. S. Snell has complained of the members not attending the meetings as they ought to, and on vacating the chair: last week he made an appeal for theni to turn up in larger numbers.. The Entertainments Tax question was the means of bringing Mr. Dixon Scott to the meetings, and he admitted that he had been impressed by the amount of work that had been done Ly tho Association in other directions, and he promised to attend the mieetings of the branch as much as possible in the future, as he had got' interested i in the business. Councillor Grantham, who does a large amount of publi¢ work in Newcastle, and therefore has not paid as much attention to ‘the branch as he would have liked, turned up at -the annual mceting, and froin what he heard of the doings of his colleagues his interest had been aroused, and he also promised to become: a regular attendant. Thcse were very wel@ome assurances to Mr. Snell, and it is to be hoped that more -of the members will follow the example of the two gentlemen named and rally round the new chairman, Mr. William Carr, of Seaton Delaval. ‘ Free Music, Exhibitors in the territory frequently declaim against the charges of the Performing Rights Society, and regret that there is not, more free music to be had, Mr. Ritson, of North Shields, is always on the look-out for anything that will prove "advantageous to his colleagues in the trade. He recently drew the attention of the members to an appeal issued a short time ago by the Free Music Society, as a result of which Mr. Alfred Smith, the secretary of the Northern branch, was instructed to get into communication with the secretary of the organisation . with a view to obtaining all the necessary information in regard to the. matter. Tax Tags. Mr. Perey Lloyd, the territorial manager, for Pathé’s, has notified the members of the Northern branch of the C.E.A. that THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. By our Own Correspondent. 67 Newcastle Area. Exhibitors and Trade Shows his firm has agreed to fall into line with Gaumont’s and .Dopieals and add little Entertainments Tax tags to the Gazette. Alleged Contract Breaches. A question that is claiming much attention on the part of exhibitors in the territory is the allezed breaches of contract ou the part of renters, several complaints of which were voiced at last week’s meeting of the Northern branch of the C.E.A. One of the allegations made was that a firm of renters had put forward the excuse that a film, when received back from a hall, was in too damaged a condition to be sent to the exhibitor who was next on turn to receive it. As a result, it was alleged that this exhibitor suffered a let-down after having advertised extensively that the film was to be shown. Jt was further alleged by the exhibitor concerned that his reputation with his _ patrons had suffered, suffered. to the solicitor of the Association for consideration and advice. A New Departure, Mr. F. W. Morrison, the local manager for Impcrial Films, in commenting upon the néw method ‘adopted by his firm of | inviting exhibligys to a house where a film is on view for the first time to the public, expressed the opinion that by that means the exhibitors would be better able to estimate the values ¢ of the subject than they would at an ordinary trade show. ~ There are cxhibitors, however, who do not agree with this view, and hold that the films should be submitted for the consideration of the men in the ade before they are screened publicly. First Run Fixed. ; Mr. R. Tappley, the local manager for the Stoll Film Co., "has succeeded in arranging for the first run of ‘t Dick Turpin ’ “tor Neweastle. The film is to be released in April, and it will be on view for a week at the Queen’s Hall. ‘ The Mirage ”’ is another subject that is being favourably reported upon, FILM CLEARING HOUSES, LTD. Extended Activities. we hear this week that he has completed arrangements for Film Clearing Houses, Ltd., to take over the physical distribution of the films issued by the Mereury Film Service, Leeds, as and from February 4. On and after that date all Mercury films will be distributed from the local Film Clearing Houses depét at Albion Place, Land’s Lance, Leeds, (Phone: 22884); Yorkshire exhibitors dealing with the Mercury Film Service are particularly requested to note the following alterations in the system of dispatch and return of films. customers instructions as to where to return films after exhibition, In future, no instructions will be sent except to advisg a direct cross-over from one theatre to another. Where no instructions are received all films are to be returned direct A S a result of Mr. R. G. Booth's recent trip to the North, to Leeds, and, for this. purpose, exhibitors will reverse the slip-in labels ans). attach the tie-on or tag which will be enclosed in the ¢ransit case in which they receive. the films. _ by Mr. James MeHare. It has been the Mercury custom in the past to send all . “man of the Liverpool . presidency. €.E.A. NORTHERN BRANCH. Nominate Ga'e & D:venor T the last meeting” A of the Nerthern Branch of the C.E.A. it was decided to nominate Major Gale’ for This is the finger print of London’s most ruthless criminal the presidency on the motion cf Mr. W. See S. Shepherd, seconded Mr. Jan John Barrymore waed the nave ot ur, | a8 Sherlock Holmes in J. H. Dovenor (chair§ es e 1e Branch) for the vice. Mor lal t y . This wag : seconded by Mr. Snell, and agreed to. The Great Goldwyn Picture | His boxoffice receipts had certainly . The branch have decided to forward the complaint : Be sh?