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

February 24,.1923 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. 49 News and Notes from South Wales Better Business—Film Producer Charged—The ‘‘Prodigal Son. ” URING the past week we have seen a change in the management of the Mxchange and Club at Cardiff. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, who succeeded Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Edwards as manager and manageress respectively, resigned, and they have been succeeded by Miss Pearce, formerly of the Pavilion Café, Cardiff. She is well known to all the film people of the Principality, and lier debut at the Exchange has brought for her the good wishes of a host of friends. By the way, the Exchange is making steady progress, and London visitors wha eame here from time to time speak in glowing terms of the high standard of the institution. Business Better. Some people are inclined to think that the kinema has entered upon another boom time. At least, it can be said with certainty that in certain parts of the territory trade is vastly improved, and exhibitors who have been carrying such long faces for so many months are looking more pleased. They ‘are taking advantage of the opportunities, and are placing before the public really high-toned programs, with little innovations, which are proving popular attractions. During the past couple of weeks we hava been seeing queues awaiting admission into the picture halls. Last week at the Cardiff Capitol there were wonderful demonstrations during the screening of ‘‘ The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” People came in by epecjal trains from all parts of South Wales, and hundreds wera turned away at each performance. Mr. Whittaker is tc be complimented on the magnificent effects he introduced into the exploitation of what South Wales regarded as a great film. New Management. The Castle Kinema, Cardiff, has heen taken over by Mr. Percy Brelsford, who has left the legitimate stage to take up kinema activity, He is assisted by Mr. George Harris, who is well known to film-men in South Wales. This week, for instance, Mr. Brelsford is contributing to his program his own scena, entitled ‘‘ The Actor’s Chance.’’ Various alterations are being undertaken at the hall, and the Castle is likely to soon establish itself amongst the picture-going public of the city. Film Producer Charged. Lancelot Percival Malpagne, otherwise known as Thomas Ernest Montague Thacker, a native of New Jersey, U.S.A., and managing director of the Welsh Film Production Company, Royal Buildings, Port Talbot, and formerly of Newport and Swansea, was charged at Port Talbot Borough Police Court Jast week with obtaining £50 by false pretences from William L. Hill, of Carmarthen. Mr. K. S. Wehrle prosecuted, and Mr. Dan Perkins defended. Superintendent Ben Evans said prisoner had been in custody since the previous Friday on a charge of obtaining money by false pretences. The case involved an enormous amount of inquiry, and he was not prepared to go on with it that day. Subject to the convenience of the Bench he asked them to fix Tuesday as the day for hearing, and that prisoner should be remanded in custody. Mr. Dan Perkins said that when the prisoner was arrested a large From our Cardiff Correspondent. number of documents and papers in connection with the Film Company (Limited) were seized by the police, and these would be very material for the prisoner’s defence. It would be utterly impossible for him to prepare that defence unless he obtained an inspection of the documents. He applied for bail, and pointed out that the charge was one of misdemeanour aud not of felony, and that he was, therefore, entitled to bail. Mr. Perkins further applied for the sum of £8 18s. 6d. found in the prisoner's office when arrested to be handed over, as the accused was penniless, and in consequence of rumours friends had refused to come forward to his assistance. The Bench granted a remand until Tuesday at 11 o’clock, allowing bail, himself in £50 and two sureties of £50 each. No order was made for the return of the £8 18s. 6d., but, on the application of Mr. Wehrle, it was agreed that the Superintendent should hand over the books of the company. Charges Withdrawn, When the case came before the Justices at Port Talbot on Tuesday last it was stated that the accused had been interested in film production for some time past. A new film company was floated called the Welsh Films Production Co., Ltd., and it was alleged that the accused had stated that Mr. S. H. Byass, au ex-Mayor of Port Talbot, had associated himself with the venture, and had promised to give the loan of Lliandough Castle for taking pictures of the first film, and that he was going to hecome a director of the company. In the witness box Mr. Byass denied that he had ever had any conversation with the defendant. After lengthy evidence the Bench came to the conclusion that there was not a prima facie case againet the defendant, and all the charges were withdrawn. Light that Failed. The temporary failure of the Rhondda Valley's electric lighting on two occasions in December last had a sequel at the meeting of the Rhondda Urban District Council last week, when Mr. Colenso Jones, on behalf of several kinema proprietors, wrote complaining that they had sustained serious financial loss through the enforced interruption in their performances. Sir Walter Nicholas (clerk) observed that if the Council was sued by the kinema owners the South Wales Electrical Power Distribution Company (who were stated to be responsible for the Council’s supply) would have to come in as a third party to indemnify the authority. The matter was left to the Clerk to discuss with Mr. Jones. ‘* The Prodigal Son.’’ ‘*The Prodigal Son” and ‘‘ The Return of the Prodigal,’’ which were shown a couple of weeks ago at Cardiff by the Stoll Film Co., are likely to prove the biggest attractions we have seen in South Wales for soine time. The film has been booked for the Cardiff Capitol, and Olympia, Newport, and the South Wales representatives of the firm are having many inquiries from all over the Welsh area.