FROM MALTA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 120, 24 May 1938, Page 5

FROM MALTA.

NIGHT CLUB OWNER. AUCKLANDER'S RETURN. VAUDEVILLE ARTIST. % After an absence from Auckland of 10 ,-ears Mr. Charles Holt, who played the cad in the "Smart Set Diggers,"' a con•crt party that toured Sew Zealand and Vustralia for nearly six years immediitely after the Great War was concluded, j •eturned l>y the anganella from »vdiiev tliis morning. Mr. H°>lt, who i viu; born in Auckland, is now resident 1 11 Malta, where he owns a night club. J Jo is 011 a short holiday visit to see his | notlier, who was 011 the »vharf to meet | lim. J Mr. Holt saifl that the lant time 110 ! played "111 Auckland was when the Civic . flieatrp o]iened. He did a double turn | i itli Mr. Ivor Weir, a native of Christ- j •liurcli. who. lie regretted to say. iia.l ' tone blind in London. He also men- , ioncd that Miss Mabel Morgan, well mown in Australia and New Zea'and is principal boy in Williamson pantoliime companies. was in charge of his ■lub in Malta during his absence, and she was assisted by Miss Daisy Har■ourt. who did many individual turns on lie Fuller circuit some years ago. Before going to Malta Mr. Holt clayed in vaudeville combinations throughout the United Kingdom with Miss Graeie Fields. ■ Recently, lie said,

lie had made a tour of Italy and Sicily, uul had also given entertainments in Algiers, Tunis and Gibraltar. He had crossed tlie border from Gibraltar to Spain, but saw no signs of war. The iistriet he had visited was normal, the people being engaged in producing butter. eggs. vegetables and other produce for Gibraltar. Italy's War Spirit. "Ttaiv talking war all the time." -aid Mr. Holt. "In the trams and trains uul in the streets soldiers are always in evidence. A trip through Italy reminds nup of the conditions in Great Britain during the Great War when one met men in uniform at every turn. Even the boys of 14 years of age are dressed like soldiers." Referring to Miss Gracie Field? Mr. Holt raid that she was a most popular figure in He had .ieen "united to her home on the h ie of Capri, where -he and her scenario writers and composers concentrated on new acts and plays. "Tliey all go to the island a* if "li holidav and arc a'"lc to do «heir work without interruption."' he sn-d. "Gracie Fields is certainly a marvellous woman. She ha« a tremendous income, but distributes nianv thou.-ands of pound- by way of charity."