CALIFORNIA.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19852, 13 February 1930, Page 16

CALIFORNIA.

WONDERFUL LAND OF CONTRASTS. MR L. L. CORDERY'S RETURN. "California is a wonderful country," said Mr L. L. Cordery, of Christchurch, to a Press representative yesterday on his return from a three months' trip to the south-western portion of the United States. Some interesting information and impressions were related to the reporter by Mi' CorCery.

"VVliere Los Angeles stands there was originally a fairly steep chain of hitls with a small marshy creek running into the sea," said Mr Cordery. "As there is 110 rainfall for about nine months in the year, the river was perforce suiail. The hills were washed away to little more than a slope by hydraulic power to build the town. Tlie river was dredged by suction as it was mostly of a sandy base and land was reclaimed out to sea with the spoil from the river and hills. A breakwater, miles long, was built and there is now a good harbour."

Tremendous Quantity of Traffic. There were, second-hand cars in Los Angeles by the hundred in open yards that looked like rubbish dumps ; The city was an enormous one with 1,000,000 inhabitants Mr Cordery and his party were greatly struck by the wonderful lighting effects, practically the whole business part of the city, particularly Broadway, being literally ablaze with all kinds of illuminated signs. Added to this the city was extravagantly decorated for Christmas with frost and red belfries at every street corner, coloured lights in rope fashion crossing the streets in every direction and four loud-speakers at each intersection in the shopping area broadcasting carols. The motor and tram traffic was .appalling to a stranger. As there were over one million cars in Los Angeles, and as there were tram-cars running in one continuous flow on double tracks, one could form some idea of the traffic volume and the problem of its control. This was, however, managed perfectly, and had to be seen to be believed. The motor-driving was wonderful, everybody speeding along at 35 to 60 miles an hour on beautiful concrete roads. Before landowners were permitted to sell lots (as sections were called 1 ) they had to concrete the roads, lay the footpaths, put in underground telephone and electric wires, connect with the water and sewer supply and erect street lamps, so that for miles out of the citv there wero lovely roads, splendid street lighting. and often practionllv no houses. "Los Angeles and Hollywood, outside the city centres, with their lovely boule-' vards and palm-lined streets, beautiful houses and fence-loss gardens, concrete roads and excellent footpaths, are eertainlv very fino cities," said Mr Cordery.

Inside the Picture Studios. "Being interested iu the picture business, I went, armed witli what I thought a good letter of introduction, only to find that I was shown everything that did not count lor much and that the sound-proof studios where the talkies are made is holy ground. Through the medium of a letter and through the kind services of Miss Rachel Smith, of Paramount Studios, however, we spent three days in the studio and saw some twelve talking pictures shot, including one by the Two Black Crows, and one by Ruth Oliatterten. We were introduced to about 30 stars, and altogether our time at the studios was very pleasant, and our visits to some of the stars' houses very enjoyable. Besides the sound studiqs we went over the furniture store, reference library, and wardrobe and' saw many cabinets full of imitation jewels, said to be worth over a million dollars. Perhaps most interesting of all we had lunch on two occasions in the studio dining hall, where all the stars meet and have wonderful times."

The producers of pictures were attempting to suppress as much as possible the American inflexion in the voices of stars. English talking voices, apart from being more pleasant to the car, carried better through the talkie apparatus. Mr Cordery was presented with some very fine autographed photograplis of most of the Paramount stars.

"Friends of Mr F. W. Jones, late of the International Harvester Company, will be pleased to hear that ho has almost regained his good health. We spent some enjoyable times with Mr and Mrs Jones and had some good runs in their new car. They have built a very beautiful house iu one of tho millionaire quarters of Los Angeles and the house suits the locality. As guests of Mitzi Green we lunched at ,the Paramount studios with several actors and actresses and Mr H. Upjohn, County Superintendent of Schools for the Los Angeles County and the composer of tho well-known 'Marr,heta' and Miss Carrie Jacobs, the composer of 'The Perfect Day.' Mrs Bona has a very delightful personality, and after lunch she played and sang many of her songs for us.

"The picture theatres of Los Angeles and Hollywood are very fine, particularly the Paramount Theatre in the former and the Chinese Theatre in the latter. It would take hours to relate all the nlavs we visited such as the 'Passion Play' and the 'Blue Boy,' the wonderful motor drives we had ail over Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and down to San Clement-e, through lovely Pasadena, with its palm-bordered drives and palatial mansions, through the great oil fields where derricks grow as thickly as trees in,, a forest, and the great 'Tom Turkey' Christmas dinner at Mentons, half buried in beautiful ferns, magnificent flowers, and electric lights. It is claimed that the Wiltshire Boulevard. 20 miles in length, is the finest in the world, whilst the traflic on it night and day is almost terrifyinix."

San Francisco not as Busy. Mr Cordery left for San Francisco alter spending the holiday of a lifetime. San Francisco was, notwithstanding its 1627 hotels, a quiet city after Los Angeles, the traffic in its principal thoroughfare, Market street, uot being equal to the outlying parts of that city. A delighful day was spent at Palo Alto at the Stanford University, 36 miles away from the city, and the students' dress was of great interest. Freshmen (first year students) wore blue dungaree trousers and cotton singlets, and as they advanced they were entitled to wear lemon coloured corduroy trousers and cotton singlets with short leather coats. The more worn, the trousers looked the more they were appreciated. Wonderful concerts were given by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Alfred Hurtz.

"After three pleasurable weeks at San Francisco we left by the Tahiti, keen to return to little New Zealand," said Mr Corder.v. "We found the feeling of the Cahfornian people towards England and New Zealand most cordial. Mr Ramsay Mac Donald's visit to the United States certainly did a great amount of good.

Honolulu Overrated. "Beyond the lovely palm trees and tropical vegetation, Honolulu is I think, oveirated as a holiday resort. Much better places for spending a vacation are to be had in New Zealand."