The Yi'Kes Times.
135
of his very successful performance of last year. The song was sung each evening by five young ladies
dressed in red, white and blue and wearing blue cornflowers which had been presented to them by
Kathleen Viscountess Falmouth. Mr. Ernest McCall's artistic arrangement and production of the song
was greeted with great applause. He is the Musical Director and an Old Contemptible. Last year
Mr. Cannon sent us a bigger cheque from the proceeds of the sale of the song than any other cinema in
or near London. This year he has again repeated his achievement, for which we thank him heartily.
Certain Cinemas wrote to us stating that they wished to sell the song the week after Ypres Day,
as the film that was being shown was more suitable and would assist the sales. The sale of a song
like ours depends largely on the film which is being shown at the time that it is offered for sale, and
we were only too glad that Cinemas should sell it on whatever days were most convenient to themselves.
Kathleen Viscountess Falmouth and Mr. C. J. Edwards visited the Maida Vale Picture House
on Armistice night at the invitation of the Manager, Mr. W. Thornton, who served as a dispatch rider
at Ypres. He had arranged for the song of the Ypres League to be sold throughout the week, while
the film Reveille was being shown. They were received by the Manager and his staff, all ex-Service
men, and a diminutive Boy Scout presented Lady Falmouth with an exquisite bouquet. Maida Vale
inhabitants are very fortunate to possess such a wonderful theatre in their midst, and we were very
gratified by the public support received for the League. Lady Falmouth and Mrs. Edwards drove
down after the performance and laid the bouquet on the Cenotaph, amid all the other emblems of
gratitude and love.
Mrs. Courtenay Welch, through the kindness of Sir Charles Cottier and the Manager, Cavaliere
Renné, arranged for the sale of cornflowers and songs at the Criterion Restaurant. We would like
most heartily to thank Mrs. Welch and her helpers for the sum they raised for the Ypres League funds.
Many interested in the League met at the Criterion on the afternoon of the 31st. Mrs. Van Neck was
entertaining Lady Plumer and a large party. Mrs. Bulteel had a table, at which were Lady Falmouth,
Hon. Alice Douglas-Pennant and others. Several other ladies had tea parties.
Mr. Sydney Renney (The Pavilion, Kensal Rise), who is one of the best supporters of the League
in London, and who served during the War, gave us a great surprise. He started selling the song in
his Cinema two da.ys before Ypres Day, and sold out. He- 'phoned up for more, and again sold out
before the end of the week. We would like very heartily to thank Mr. Renney and all his staff for what
they have done to assist the League.
We had the very great advantage of our song being sold at the Pavilion, Marble Arch, where the
Manager took a personal interest in our cause. Few people realise the importance to our Society of
having our name brought forward at a theatre of such repute, which attracts one of the most influential
audiences in the West End of London. The support we received was a source of great gratification
to us.
Mr. J. Tilnev, who is known to everybody connected with Cinema organisation, owns a magnificent
theatre, The Alcaza, at Hounslow, and we had the privilege of being the first charity organisation that
made an appeal at this theatre. Mr. Tilney and his Manager, Mr. Persival, and the entire staff, including
the Musical Director, worked very enthusiastically for our cause, and they not only sold out the first
quantity of song ordered, but we had to send them post haste further supplies. Mr. Tilney was well
known in South Wales for his patriotism during the War, and has been so willing to help a Society
whose motto is Lest We Forget."
Mr. Pearle, the proprietor of the Wilton Road Cinema, and his very capable Manager, Mr. de Silva,
again supported us this year. Mr. Pearle controls several Cinemas, and we have in him a very great
friend of our organisation. The music was beautifully played during the ten minutes' musical interval
which always takes place at this theatre, and the sales effected were excellent.
At the Red Hall Picture Palace, Walham Green, Mr. G. Westwood, Miss Dean, Mrs. Sheen and
Miss Davis sold the song for us under the direction of Mr. T. A. Adams, the Manager, and sold out every
copy they had in 30 minutes, and could have sold more if we could have provided them.
At the Sydenham Rink Cinema, we have again to thank Capt. F. T. Lake, Assistant Manager, and
Mr. Goossen, Musical Director, who arranged for the song to be played last year and this. The sales
this year were, if anything, better than last year, and were effected by our helpers, Miss JLawrence,
Miss R. N. Scrivener, and Miss G. W. Judge.
Mr. R. J. Brent, King's Hall, Leyton, once again assisted us, and the sales he had effected in his
Cinema surpassed those of last year, thanks to the Musical Director, Mr. Serene, and the salesmanship
of Mr. Ede, and Misses Thame, Yoell and Potter.
At the Avenue Pavilion, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, through the interest taken by Mr. S. Still,
the Manager, the excellent rendering of the song by the Musical Director, Mr. Michael Frederick, and
the energetic work of Miss Foaks, who sold the song, a good sum was added to our funds.
Mr. J. Alexander, of the Trafalgar Cinema, Greenwich, sold our song for us. Last year the
Trafalgar Cinema, which was then under different management, sent us quite a good sum of money,
and this year the sales were equally good.
Mr. Marcus, the proprietor of the Coliseum at Harrow, helped us for the second time, and that
there were so many sales were due to the excellent music provided by his Musical Director, Mr. H.
Freeman. We sent down an ex-Service man to sell and had a very nice sum of money from Mr. Marcus.
