BACK TO FAVOUR.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20790, 25 February 1933, Page 5

BACK TO FAVOUR.

RETURN OF VAUDEVILLE. MISS ELLA SHIELDS'S VIEWS. .•« Miss Ella Shields, who is one of the principals of the Frank Neil vaudeville and revue company now in Christchurch, told "The Press" yesterday that she is convinced that the time is ripe for a return to that class of entertainment in those countries in which it. was so popular before the advent of the talkies.

"There is a definite swing back to vaudeville at Home and in the United States," said Miss Shields. For several years vaudeville artists had a difficult time endeavouring to make both ends meet, and many of them had to receive assistance from tho relief societies set up for the purpose. Some of the better-known artists, like myself, for instance, organised companies, and made tours, but we found that in a good many instances there was hostility shown us by those engaged in other branches of entertainment. We persevered, however, and to-day it is pleasing for us to know that success is coming to the music halls again. Conditions wefe bo bad at their worst that only 500 artists wero able to find employment at their calling out of the 10,000 who had done so in prosperous times. Continuous Performances. "After a long rest, continuous vaudeville entertainments aro boing given again in such well-known music halls aa the London Pavilion, tho" Metropolitan (Edgeware road), the Tottenham Palace, the Walthamstow Palace, and other popular houses, and I am advised that the movement is spreading. It was Mrs Anderson who conceived the idea of starting continuous vaudeville entertainments in London again," continued Miss Shields. "She opened in the Pavilion, and so successful was the venture that it was not long before it was taken up in other music halls. There seems to bo no doubt that flesh and blood shows have returned to stay. In the United States, too, there is a return to this class of entertainment, and recently no fewer than three all-British companies sailed for New York. It is about 50 years since such a thing happened before-

"As for Australia and Now Zealand, the company with 'which I am associated has been together now for 12 months, and was recently strengthened by Mr George Wallace. We have enjoyed great popularity wherever we have appeared, thus showing that our class of performance is appreciated." In Brisbane, added Miss Shields, the company gave three performances daily, and in numerous other centres bad appeared twice daily. "Burlington Bertie" in G-erman. Miss Shields'a eongs are famous not j only in English-speaking countries, but I in others as well, and slio has Bung "Burlington Bertie" in French, and German, while the popular number, "If You Knew Susio," which she gave with so much success when in Christchurcli 10 years ago, she alsg sings in foreign tongues. She first sung, "Burlington Bertie" at the Argyle, Birkenhea,d, in 1914. "This is a famous music hall," said Miss Shields. "It is the ambition of all visiting artists from abroad to perform there. Sir Harry Lauder appears at the Argyle for a.period every year at his original contract fee of £ls a week. He does bo because of the consideration of the management in the early years of his success in postponing his appearance in ordor to allow him to perforin elsewhere. "I find that wherever I go old friends who have heard mo sing at Homo turn out to greet me. This was caße in the United States, in Australia, and also in the Dominion. Secently, at the conclusion of a performance in Wellington, about 30 women were waiting at the stage door to give me a greeting, having heard mo sing at Home." Miss Shields says that vaudeville entertainments provide a great deal more employment than pictures. "For instance," she says, "in Mr Frank Neil's company we have 42 travelling members, in addition to which we engage orchestras, and assistants for various parts of the house. We pay board, spend money in tho shops and generally provide a good deal of work for the benefit of those living in the towns we visit." When she finishes her New Zealand season, Miss Shields expects to return to England, where sho has engagements in London. Her itinerary there, however, will not be finally arranged until she actually arrives in the metropolis.