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

Beb.. 10, 19231 THE. FILM RENIER & MOVING. PICTURE NEWS. | (Technical Supplement). 87. | Theatres & their Equipment. New Super Kinema. . Po oan nn nn ee nn En EE REE oe ee Ee No. 8.—THE CLAREMONT CINEMA -* MANCHESTER. JDESIDES having more kinemas in proportion to its populaB tion than any other city or town in the country, Man_ chester makes the proud boast that among them it possesses some of the finest halls in the country. A newcomer, the Claremont, will add strength to this latter claim, for already in the lay Press it has been styled ‘‘ the pioneer of the suburban super kinema.”” With Manchester and its suburbs so well supplied with kinemas before they sought to erect ‘‘ Tbe “Claremont ’’ Messrs. Circuit Cinemas, Ltd., for ‘avyhom it has been built, ‘avere exceedingly fortun‘ate in discovering the — ideal site it now occupies. It is situated in Greenheys in the heart of a good class residential district, standing as it does at the corner of Claremont Road and Upper Lloyd Street at a tram terminus, ‘The main entrance has been arranged of leg-room has been left to ensure the comfort of patrons. On each side of the hall there are also three well-lighted exits, in addition to the ordinary entrances. There is a different and superior type of seat in the balcony, this being of the semi-tub style, upholstered in old gold-shaded satin, and the floors are covered with thick carpet. It is claimed for this baleony by the Claremont proprietors that it is one of the finest in the North of England, and from the points of view of comfort and vision, it is surely ideal; an excellent view being obtainable from the furthermost seat in the place. Great pains have been taken to equip the operating chamber in the most up-to-date manner, and a good deal of space has been utilised in order to provide the operator with greater freedom for hia duties, It contains two Kalee machines, supplied _by the local branch of so as to extend to the corners of each | street, whilst admittance to the cheaper seats is gained through an entrance situated at the rear of the hall in Claremont Road. Immediately on the left of the foyer is the broad, well-carpeted staircase to-the balcony, and ‘next to this in order come the manager’s office, conveniences for. ladies and gentlemen, and the general switch room. The scheme of decoration is the same throughout, and, though simple, is exceedingly effective, oak panellings forming the lower part of the walls, surmounted by a colouring of cream. Wedgwood blue is also introduced in connection with a series of beautiful frescoes. which ornament the walls on each side near by the screen. These depict Hatred, Comedy, Dancing, ‘Sorrow, ‘Science, Music, Tragedy, Art, Motherhood, and Literature, and have been executed in an exceedingly artistic manner. Central between these on each side are two plaques in cream, cut out, on which in gold are the words of the following quotations: ‘‘ Art is the right hand of Nature. The latter has only given us being, the former has made us men,’ and “Tt is the glory and good of Art that Art remains the one way possible of speaking Truth.” . The seating capacity of this kinema is estimated at about 1,700, and of these there are 1,200 seats in the auditorium, all of the tip-up variety; in réd plush. Between each row of seats -and-down--each side-of the hall are -strips-of carpet, and plenty Tar CLareMonT CINEMA. ~ Jury’s, fitted with the * latest Dallmeyer’ Jens sup: plied by the same firm, and a really fine natin is obtained with a 118-feet throw. From the operating box the screen curtain is electrically controlled, and also much of the central lighting. In an adjoining chamber is housed the motor generator, and there are excellent arrangements for the rewinding of films with speed and care. The screen, which is 20-feet square, was provided by ‘‘Jimmy’’ Marks, o cinematographic pioncer, who, nowadays, with patents of his own, is a screen specialist. Without being tilted the screen he has installed affords a perfect picture from any part of the house, and with it the Claremont directors have expressed the greatest satisfaction. ” Besides a rose-coloured velvet curtain, a gauze curtain..with silk hangings protects tbe sereen when not in“use, and in front of it there is sufficient stage room to accommodate a speaker or singer. The nearest seats to the screen are sufficiently far enough away to avoid the necessity of neck straining, and between them and the screen is the orchestra well, which, at the present time, bolds a band of seven, but is capable of holding more. This orchestra has been supplied by Mr. A. L. Ward, whose band combinations have ‘proved eminently satisfactory with sevcral ether halls in the Manchester area, and it is under the directorship of a dy ‘violinist. The Claremont, it should be stated, is the latest addition to ff