THE PANTO AND THE PICTURES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17934, 30 July 1920, Page 5

THE PANTO AND THE PICTURES.

ONLY ONE NIGHT OF “THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.” AND NO MATINEE FOR THE KIDDIES. MR. BERKELEY EXPLAINS THE WHY AND WHEREFORE. Mr Charles M. Berkeley, who for many years has piloted the big “J.C.W.” productions through New Zealand, was in Wanganui on Wednesday in connection with the approaching visit of this year's pantomime—“ The Sleeping Beauty.” The usually genial “Charlie” was not in the best of moods, and when he chanced to meet a representative of the “Chronicle” he did not hesitate to give eloqeunt expression to his feelings. “Yes,” he said, “Wanganui can only provide one night's accommodation for ‘The Sleeping Beauty,’ absolutely the biggest and best panto, the firm has ever sent to this Dominion. One night! A hundred and thirty people to 'travel, truck loads of scenery and wardrobe to transport, some of the artists drawing more salary per week than the average man earns in a year—and one night! Why? That’s what I want you to tell the people, and why we are only able to show one night instead of the usual two nights and a matinee, why we have got to charge our patrons 10/6 instead of 7/9, and why the thousands of youngsters who have been looking forward for months to the annual joy of the pantomime matinee are to be deprived of their long anticipated pleasure. Why? Because the Borough Council in its wisdom has determined to make Saturday night a close preserve tor its Paramount Pictures. A huge and costly concern like the Pantomime cannot be kept cooling its heels in a town like this to suit the whim of parochial Bumbles. Our itinerary must of necessity be mapped out on a not a parish, scale. When our North Island tour was being planned iu Wellington it was found that the dates for Wanganui, if an unbroken sequence was to be assured, would be Friday and Saturday, 6th and 7th August, and accordingly the lirm’s representative in Wellington endeavoured to secure those dates. Mr Pickford was approached and asked about the Saturday uight. That gentleman showed a courteous disposition to meet us, and, after the situation had been explained to him, iniimated that so far as he was concerned he would agree to our having the bouse, although, under the circumstances, we should of course have to pay more than usual ior it. When asked what the rental would be he said £2O, which was promptly agreed to. However, when I came here I find the Borough Council adamant. Despite Mr Pickford’s willingness to oblige us, the Council says, 'No; you cannot have the Opera House on Saturday night. That night is reserved exclusively for the pictures. You may have two or three week nights if you like, but Saturday is definitely barred.’ I asked what were the average Saturday takings, and was told about £5O. I offered to pay that amount, but my offer was declined. Hence only one night (Friday) and no matinee, and hence the necessity, in order to cut our loss to some small extent,, the higher admission fees we are compelled to charge. We go from here to Auckland. The special train will cost close on £5OO, and the one night’s taking will not nearly cover our transport charges. With these absurd restrictions on the only theatre available there is only one thing to be done—to cut Wanganui right out of the Williamson itinerary. It is quite immaterial to Williamson's, Ltd. So long as we know where we are it will be a very simple matter to allot to other centres the dates which otherwise would be fixed for Wanganui; but nevertheless, for the sake of our local patrons, we shall be sorry to have to do it. 1 think you may take it for granted that The Sleeping Beauty’ will be the last Williamson panto, you will see here. But, of course, you will have your ’municipal’ pictures on Saturday nights.” MR. PICKFORD’S VERSION. THE CASE FOR THE PICTURES CLEARLY STATED. As Mr A. M. Pickford, director of the Paramount Municipal Pictures, happened to be iu town, Mr Berkeley’s grievance was communicated to him. In reply, Mr Pickford made the following statement:— I am sure that my friend Mr Berkeley must have forgotten for the moment that he was not working on oue of those famous advance stories of his, when explaining to you. the position re the dates for the Pantomime. Evidently his story has suffered somewhat in the telling, and therefore, may I suggest that before publication you might submit same to Mr Royle for repairs and overhaul. Mr Royle. who is J. C. Williamson’s representative in New Zealand, is the only person with whom I had any dealings in this matter. To make the position quite clear, I must first explain that at the time the members of the Wanganui Borough Council were considering the question, of providing the people with good pictures at a moderate* cost. I pointed out to them as strongly as 1 could, that with the very strong opposition in existence, it would be .useless entering into the business unless ever}' point was made a winning one, meaning that the best pictures, the best and most comfortable accommodation. and the most efficient service must be provided; otherwise the venture would only result in failure. Further, i»-view of the fact of it being a municipal undertaking based on the understanding that patrons, after supporting the theatre during the weeks when only medium to strong pictures were being shown, would not be penalised in prices when masterpieces or other big productions were screened, ex-

■ cept when the cost was prohibitive. I advised the members that unless ihe Council decided to run th.’ business on strictly commercial lines, and with the necessary export direction and management in what is a highly intricate business, muuicipal pictures should not be undertaken; at any rate, not with a view ,?f expecting interest on the outlay :u alterations from it. The Wanganui Borough Council wisely decided to run the business on commercial lines, and this meant, among a number of other points, that every pound spent in advertising must produce its full measure of results. Thus it was necessary to have some stability in the matter of definite show,ng days, and as much continuity of showing as possible. Saturday in the picture bfijiuess is always the advertising day for the week, and as Monday and Tuesday are the days most likely to benefit from Saturday’s advertising* these three days were made the permanent showing days. On this point, please I remember that the week's supply of film has to be paid for in any case* so that definite revenue-getting days | had to be provided. This arrangement left three days in every week, viz., Wednesday. Thursday and Friday. which were open for the booking of other amusements. Now as tb the dates for the Panto, and in reply to Mr Berkeley’s statement: I wish to make it quite plain * that .1. C. Williamson. Ltd., early in June, definitely booked Wednesday and Thursday, July 28th and 29th, at the Panto, dates for Wanganui, and no fuss or trouble appears to have arisen at that time. Therefore, it can be assumed that these dates were quite satisfactory Now the Panto, arrived from Sydney a day or so later than expected. It proved to be a good Panto, and Uie Wellington showing nights were extended, so that the l provincial touring dates had to be altered, and it was the alteration of the dates which caused the trouble. I submit that in the case of alteration of dates to suit their own ends, the chance of securing other suitable dates must be taken by the person who wishes such alteration. In general conversation with Mr Royle. some days before this specific case cropped up, I mentioned to him that in respect of Wanganui, 1 would, with the consent of the Council, meet him as far as possible in any difficulty in the booking at any of his companies. A few days later this specific case of the Pantomime cropped up, and Mr Royle communicated with me by phone, and asked me if it was possible to get Saturday. August 7th, for Wanganui. I told him definitely no. Saturday could not be given up, but that 1 would communicate with the Council in respect to any other days which he might like to suggest, provided of course, that if any day was selected upon which pictures were usually shown, meaning any day apart from Saturday, his firm would be required to compensate the Council for the non-showing. Possibly this is where Mr Berkeley obtains his weird idea of £2O. Mr Royle’s answer was to the effect that unless he could get Saturday, the Panto, would not go to Wanganui. 1 then rang Mr Murch, ' Town Clerk, and explained the position to him. Both of us then studied the details of the arrangement made by the Council and myself, and both came to the conclusion that no power existed for either the Council or myself to depart from such arrangements. Soon after that date, to be exact,’ I believe June 29th. I was in Wanganui when the Town Clerk receied a telegram from Mr Farrell, J. C. Williamson's manager, asking again for Saturday, August 7th. (Evidently up to that time the tour had not been definitely re-booked), and the Town Clerk replied to the effect that, under the arrangement to show municipal pictures, neither the Council nor myself had power to vary the showing days which had been decided upon. On July 2nd J. C. Williamson definitely booked Friday, August 6th, oue day only, for the showing of the Panto. Please remember that at this time, apart from Mr Hopkins, who had. booked July 28th and 29th when these dates were surrendered by J. C. Williamson's and Alan Wilkie, who had booked another two days, three days every week were still available for bookings for the Panto. In conclusion, I might state that I have the greatest admiration for J. ■ C. Williamson's tor bringing such wonderful productions to this country, and for Mr Royle, Mr Farrell j and Mr Berkeley I have much personal regard, and would do all possible to assist them, but neither the Council nor myself can do impossibilities and break what is a most vital and essential point for the success of municipal, pictures in Wanganui, 1.e., regularity and continuity of showing and the obtaining of the greatest results for the expenditure incurred iu providing the people of Wanganui with a fair deal in their bread and butter line of amusement —picture#.