NAMING A THEATRE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13159, 4 July 1908, Page 9

NAMING A THEATRE.

To decide on a name for a new theatre is by no means an easy task. Mr William Anderson, who is erecting a hew play-house in Russell street, Melbourne, has got the Australian public to assist him in christening it (says a Sydney paper). Tho result is that the title. "Tho King's" now stands in rich gold letters on the top of the structure. Mr Anderson called for suggestions, offering a prize of £5 5s for a name that might be adopted. In less than throe weeks considerably more than 10,000 suggestions came in. Thoy came, from east, from west, from south and north. The- name of every Governor Australia has had has been proposed— "T\\3 Hopetoun." "The Dudley," "The Tennyson." Politicians have not been ignored. "Tlio Deakin Theatre," "The Kingston," "The George Reid. , ' All Australian birds and animals have been repeatedly suggested. "Tho Emu," "Tho .Tackass,"""Tho Wnllaby," "The Kangaroo." From New Zealand, too, came scores of "Kia-Oras." One Australian wrote "The Boomerang" because, as he, explained, anyone seeing an Andersonian production is bound to come hack. Next to "The King's Theatre." Mr Anderson considers the best suggestions were "The Theatre Australia." "The Commonwealth." and "The Federal." "Tho Southern Cross Theatre" was suggested hy many hundreds. Scores paid, "Why not call it 'Anderson's -Theatre'?" More than a few submitted "Tho Theatre Eiicenie." <iftt»r the popular actress, Miss Eugenic Duggan. From various places far away from civilisation came several urgent wires. "Am I too late?" nskod on". "I suggest 'The Australian.' " Another wired, "Austrolympus," meaning "the seat of the cods in the South "