Mexborough and Swinton Times, December 2.
No Smoking – Operator and Denaby Picture House Fined
On Tuesday, at Doncaster, John Raby, a young man living at Conisborough, and employed at the Denaby Picture House as an assistant operator, was summoned for smoking in the operating box, and Thomas William Goodison, the manager, for permitting the offence.
Superintendent Minty explained that in the course of his duty he visited this cinema at 8.25 on Friday, November 3, and spoke to Mr Goodison. Afterwards they both went into the operating box, where they found the defendant smoking a cigarette – a most dangerous thing to do.
Mr Goodison at once called the defendants attention to a notice forbidding the practice.
Inspector Dance bore this statement out in evidence, and said the defendant was standing near to the machine, which was working. He took the cigarette out on his mouth as they entered. It was lighted, and smoking. He drew his attention to the danger of it, and Mr Goodison said to him, “You ought to know better; there is a notice,” pointing to one on the wall, adding, “this job will cost me 40 Bob. (£2)” The cinema was full of people.
Reply to Mr William Lindsay Crawford, the inspector said he had had no previous complaint against Mr Goodison.
Mr Crawford said the police had very fairly pointed out that all the regulations are being properly observed, and that the picture house was managed in a model manner. If they were satisfied Mr Goodison had taken all reasonable precautions, they could if they so desire, dismiss the summons deal with the defendant under the Probation Act, and that was what he asked them to do, having reference to all the circumstances. Mr Goodison was, of course, responsible, but it was admitted he thought he had endeavoured to see they were carried out.
Mr Crawford went on to point out that the operating box had been specially constructed and was fitted with fireproof partitions, which made it impossible, if a fire did take place in it, which was extremely unlikely, for it to spread into the main building.
Proceeding, Mr Crawford also pointed out that the films manufactured nowadays would not take fire from a glow. It was necessary to apply them to a flame.
On this evening the defendant Draby was watching the machine during the temporary absence of the senior operator. He happened to go out and while out lit a cigarette. As he went back in he nipped the lighted end off, but upon arrival in the room the end was still smouldering, and he was holding it in his hand when the inspector walked in. He would deny he was smoking, although of course it was an offence for the cigarette to be alight.
The cinema was one of the best managed in the district, and there had never been a complaint.
Mr Goodison and the other defendants gave evidence, and the bench, inflicted a fine of 40 shillings