TO LOVERS OF FAIR PLAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1914, Page 5

TO LOVERS OF FAIR PLAY.

FIRE BRIGADE FETE MATTERS.

[To The Editor Stratford Post.]

Sir, —In the interests of myself and those on the committee of the Fire Bri-

gatle Fete who have so kindly supported me iu my efforts to help the Brigade, I think you will agree with me that the following matters should be made public. His Majesty's Pictures do not, I feel bound to say at the outset, deserve such scurvy treat m out

When tlie Fete was tirst mooted, 1 made an offer to the Erigadc to give a benefit show on the night of the Carnival, agreeing to give half the gross proceeds to the funds of the Fete. To some people, I know, this may seem to be of the one-for-the-Brigade-aud two-for-myself sort of offer, but it is far from being anything of the kind. First of all, on receipt of the secretary’s letter accepting the offer and thanking mo for it, I made arrangements to procure a programme suitable for the occasion, namely, among other films, those ; setting forth processions somewhat I similar to some to be held on Thurs- [ day. I specially stipulated that the ] programme should be a star one, and I was assured from the source whence all my exclusive pictures are obtained that no effort would be spared to suit my wishes. It must be remembered, also, that this.is not the sole expense incurred. 1 have, besides, to pay the I members of my orchestra, electric | current bill, freight, etc., all of which I you will agree, nxns into a tidy sum. | It is not all “beer and skittles,” as the saying goes, in running a picture show. What do you think, then, of the action of the committee in turning down my offer and accepting the opposition show to put on pictures for part of the entertainment on the night of the Fete? In my offer, the committee was standing to lose nothing; simply, they had to hold out their lianas and x-eceive half the gross proceeds or His Majesty’s big night; but such is the bad management of this big affair, which is being run in the interests of one\of our most deserving public institutions, that, instead, the committee go to the trouble of arranging lb> a short concert programme, and, mind you, a picture show by the opposition, as well as a dance after the entertainment, the latter part of which rarely returns the promoters anything like a sum commensurate with the trouble and expense put forth in its initiation. \ou, sir, and others will see quite plainly that there is some element on the committee opposed to myself, and, also, what is more to be deplored, that element is sadly wanting in business acumen, as is shown by their action in placing the secretary of the Fete in such an unpleasant position, not only in tin's ease, but also in others of which report has come to my ears. As for Mr Bradley, the energetic secretary of the Fete, I believe, if he had been left alone, the Fete would have been one of the most successful affairs which have ever been seen in Stratford, but the way in which lie has been “messed up” must prove very detrimental to the ultimate financial position. 1 have to thank Mr Bradley and those who have expressed to me their personal regret at the turn affairs have taken, and while hoping that the Brigade, in which f have always taken a keen interest, will do well out of the Fete, I say in conclusion that on Thursday night lovers of fair play will have, as usual, the opportunity of witnessing a selected programme of all-star pictures at His Majesty’s at popular prices of admission.—l am, etc.,

ANGELINA J. T. BERNARD Stratford, March 11, 1914*