YPRES DAY.
THE CINEMA THEATRES.
24
The Ypres Times.
Through the generous and patriotic influence of the London Branch of the Cinemato
graph Exhibitors Association of Great Britain and Ireland, and the personal interest of
Capt. J. W. Barber, C.B.E., Chairman of that Branch, we were given permission by the
companies controlling the Cinema Theatres to sell the song of the Ypres League,
"A Corner in Flanders," at their halls in London on Ypres Day.
We cannot be too grateful to all concerned, to the directors of companies and pro
prietors controlling cinemas who so arranged their programme as to enable our song to
be sung or played and sold in their theatres and hallsto the managers for taking a
personal interestand to the staff of the cinemas who entered whole-heartedly into the sale
of the song. Everywhere we went we found interest in our League, and this is not surprising
when one realises the large part the screen played in the War. The cinemas in London
employ a great deal of labour, and everywhere where it is possible ex-Service men are on
the staff. In some places the entire staff are old soldiers and even the lady attendants
selected are widows or girls who have lost their breadwinners on the fields of France and
Flanders.
Mr. H. Sheffield, who controls the Premier Super Cinema, East Ham, and the Ilford
Super Cinema, etc., met Kathleen Viscountess Falmouth (Chairman, Entertainment
Committee), and Mrs. E. Edwards (Hon. Secretary) at the "Premier," where Mr. Cannon, the
manager, had arranged a most delightful evening. The song was sung by five charming
young ladies dressed in red white and blue, and Mr. Ernest McCauley's artistic arrange
ment and production of the song was greeted with deafening applause. He is the
Musical Director, and an Old Contemptible. Nearly 2,000 copies of the song were sold
in his hall alone. The Mayor of East Ham, who was present, told us that 20,000 men
from East Ham joined the Colours. At the Ilford Super Cinema, a most beautifully
designed theatre, the manager, Mr. L- O. Hillier, and his entire staff took equal pains
and sold almost as many copies.
Mr. Sydney Bacon, one of the pioneers of the cinema industrywho started fifteen
years ago at a small hall at Carlisle and now controls an organisation comprising 16 theatres,
halls, etc.gave us his powerful support, and we had such sympathetic help from all his
staff that the cheque we received from his cinema astonished us.
Mr. A. Abraham, of The Blue Hall, Hammersmith, sent us a very handsome cheque,
and in spite of the constant calls of charity to which he is ever ready to respond, he still
found time and place to help the League.
Major Gale, O.B.E., J.P., who controls a circuit of theatres, gave us all possible help,
and we realised how great his influence was, for he holds the important position of President
of the C.E.A.
We had our funds much augmented by the sales at the Cinemas controlled by Alderman
Davies, J.P., especially at the Tower, Peckham. The cinemas of the West End who could not
arrange their programmes so as to have our song sold, played the music during their
performances, but the Strand Cinema under Mr. Bookbinder, the Piccadilly Circus Cinema,
and the Great Windmill Street Cinema did us a great deal of good and we are very grateful
for their help. Sleatley House Circuit sent us a big cheque. Mr. Herbert, managing
director of the Old Ford Picture Palace, allowed us to sell in all his Cinemas Captain Henry
MacDonnell, the manager of the Old Ford (late 9th Batt. East Lancashire Regt.) sold
out all the songs supplied. This also occurred at many houses, where they were unable
to secure a further supply owing to our telephone being out of order from the fire at our
offices on October 30. Messrs. Prideaux and Webley, both of whom served in the Ypres
Salient and elsewhere from 1914 to 1918, did splendidly for us at the halls under their
