CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21245, 17 August 1934, Page 6

CITY THEATRES

♦_ CIVIC "ON THE AIR" "Up to the Neck," the.Ben Travers comedy starring Ralph Lynn, Winifred Shotter, and Mary Brough, which has delighted large audiences at the Civic Theatre this week, will definitely finish to-night. Both young and old will be well catered for at the Civic to-morrow, when the British Lion musical comedy, "On the Air," will begin its Christchurch season. The largest number of radio, screen, and stage stars ever to appear in one picture will be seen in "On the-Air," and patrons will have the opportunity of seeing and hearing many famous artists who in the past have only been known through the radio or gramophone. Roy Fox and his wonderful band head the cast, which also includes- Clapham and Dwyer, Anona Winne, Teddy Brown, Davy Burnaby, Jane Carr, Hugh E. Wright, Scott and Whaley, Derek Oldham, Mario di Pietro, Reginald Purdell, and Edwin Styles. Outstanding dancing js also introduced by Max Wall, Jimmy Jade, Laurie Devine, and that well-known dancing trio, Wilson, Keppell, and Betty. A most original and clever story is interwoven, thus making an entertainment that is seen only too seldom on the screen. Miss Iris Mason, who has received a wonderful ovation at each session during the last week, will be heard in a complete change of musical numbers. She will play a specialty, "Milestones in Music." which introduces popular musical numbers from 1710 to 1934 Further numbers will include "Oldtime Melodies" and. by request, "Oh, Play to Me. Gypsy." * Box plans are now open at the theatre, where seats may be reserved at no extra cost. THEATRE ROYAL "PALOOKA" AND SILLY SYMPHONIES Mickey Mouse has become the Charlie Chaplin of the Ecreen cartoon. Like the mournful Charlie, he is a fate-buffeted creature, always on the edge of disaster, with nothing to save him except his wits. The little Mouse's world is as full of menaces as Charlie's was full of policemen. Mickey has now become the greatest star of the animated screen, and the Theatre Royal is paying a fine tribute to his creator, Walt Disney, by devoting the first half of the programme which starts to-day to five of the famous artist's films. Disney's all-colour Silly Symphonies are perhaps more poetical than the Mickey Mouse cartoons, and "Santa's Workshop," which is to be shown on this programme, is one of the most famous. It has the distinction of having made the King and Queen laugh at Buckingham Palace. Another of the famous symphonies is "Babes in the Wood," a recreation of the famous story of the two children who are captured by the wicked witch and lost in the forest. "Old King Cole" is another subject for the Silly Symphony. That jolly old ruler of story-book land is also recreated hi this cartoon. These cartoons represent the screen equivalent of joyous pantomime, and in brilliant colour they are a sheer delight. They mingle picture-book romance with delightful fun. Jimmy Durante, Lupe Veto, Stuart Erwtn, Marjorie • Rnmbeau, Robert Armstrong, and Thelma Todd are the featured players in the hilarlrfus comedy, "Palooka," which will complete this great holiday bill. "Palooka" tells the story of a lovable but. iio!-loo-bright lad, whose mother tries to prevent him from following in the footsteps of his bright-light loving dad. Box plans at the D.LC. PLAZA "FASHIONS OI 1!),' H" "Red Wagon" will conclude its season at the Plaza Theatre to-night. "Fashions of 1934," a brilliant production presenting one dazzling scene after another, will begin at the Pla/.a Theatre to-morrow. Warner Brothers, knowing the value of beauty and smartness in any film, have gathered together some of the most beautiful girls ever seen on the screen, and have presented them in a series of Hems that are the last word in stage, <>r rather screen, presentations. As is indicated by the title, fashions are the chief motif of the show, which Is a comedy-romanee revolving about, a "high pressure" promoter who corners the Parisian fashion markets. One gets all sorts of tips on how (he fashion people get new ideas and how they manage to create new vogues. Of course .there Is a love story running through the film, and plenty of comedy as well. The cast is large and contains the names of several well-known stars, chief among whom is the popular William Powell, who plays the part of a "super-racketeer," who steals French creations and sells them to the lesser trade through an elaborate system of bribery and photographic copying. Bette Davis, anjprnamcnt to any show, plays opposite Powell. Others in the cast are Frank McHugh. Verce Teasdale, who is one of the chief fashion displayers, Hugh Herbert, and Reginald Owen. Foremost among the spectacular scenes is the fan dance, in which 20 specially selected beauties, each carrying two enormous ostrich feather fans, are seen in one of the most enchanting acts ever staged. "The Symphony of the Living Harps" is another scene which for sheer beauty has seldom been rivalled. Then there is the mannequin parade wherein beautiful models display the most ravishing creations of the dress designer's art. The settings are as elaborate as they are beautiful. Box plans at the D.I.C. LIBERTY "IT'S TOUGH TO BE FAMOUS" AND "HOLD THE PRESS" "She Made Her Bed" and "Midshipman Jack" will be shown finally tonight at the Liberty Theatre. "It's Tough to be Famous." an hilarious comedy, and "Hold the Press," a newspaper drama will comprise the new double-feature programme at the Liberty Theatre to-mor-row. "It's Tough to be Famous" tells the story of a coup l - whose love story becomes public property through the young man's heroism in a submarine crash, and a nation's subsequent hero-worship. Many interesting scenes are woven into the course of the Story, which has the added advantage of swift action and unabating interest. The acting of the principals is particularly notable for "naturalness," their work making 4 hem appear as two ordinary human individuals living an ordinary human existence. The star, Douglas Fairbanks, jun., has the feminine support of Mary Brian. "Hold the Press" is a gripping American drama of newspaper life played against a background of gang feuds and graft. Tim McCoy, Shirley Grey, and Wheeler Oakman head a talented cast. . . Box plans are at the D.I.C.

Divorces granted in Canada during 1933 numbers 923, a decrease of 72 from the figure of the preceding year. Ot the total, 399 were granted t>y the courts of seven provinces and 24 to residents of Quebec by special acts of Parliament. Prince Edward Island had no divorces-—has had only one in its history.