Reporter’s diary

Press, 15 April 1986, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Last look NOW THAT only a “bomb site” between Cathedral Square and Gloucester Street remains after the demolition of the Carlton Theatre, it is appropriate to print a night-time photograph which had been given to Mr Noel Strack, who retired as manager of the cinema a year ago. The negative was given to Mr Strack about 15 years ago and after retouching it shows both cinemas (the Carlton was then the Crystal Palace) lit up for their evening screenings. Mr Strack does not know who the photographer was, and the name of the film showing at the Grand cinema is too blurred to read and cannot aid identification, but it is thought it may have been taken in pre-war years. The Grand used to have continuous screenings from 11 a.m. Choc champs ALL THOSE chocolate goodies which blocked the shopper’s exit from supermarkets before Easter have disappeared, and presumably been eaten. If you are now suffering from a dose of indigestion or weight-watcher-in-duced guilt conscience, take heart from the fact that the Swiss easily outnibble us as the world’s

keenest cnocoiate eaters. During Easter they gobbled their way through nearly 4000 tonnes of chocky eggs, rabbits and so on. There might have been some very sick people about, and especially when they realised

that a high-class chocolate bunny can cost as much as $3BO. Chinese link PLAYERS at the Court Theatre were themselves entertained, Chinese-style, when a delegation from the Chinese Federation of Literary and Art Circles gave an impromptu performance during a recent visit. The offerings included a traditional song, and a modern Chinese epic which had as its theme the lament of a young farmer. His tractor had broken down, he sobbed, leaving him unable to meet his commitment to the quota for his co-operative farm. Waving the flag for the West, the Court’s director, Elric Hooper, retaliated with an equally impromptu song from "Carousel.” Deciding there was safety in numbers, his fellow actors performed the dentist’s song from the "Little Shop of Horrors.” Just in case these gems of culture failed to stir the visitors, Oily Ohlsen emerged from the audience to lead a haka. East-West relationships were firmly concreted when Madame

Lang gave the theatre a Chinese platter which will be mounted for posterity in the actor’s “Green Room.”

Other end, please A WELSH county has been looking into the problem caused by rugby goal-kickers at a local playing field. So many balls have been ending up in a nearby car-park that the county’s education director has suggested a plan to have all penalties and conversions kicked at the opposite end of the field.

Comedy of

comets .

THE ACCIDENTS which happen to nocturnal stargazers in these frenetic comet times are almost as many as the reports on the comet itself. They vary from the painful, through the sad, to the downright hilarious, and are a wonderful consolation for those of us too sleepily bog-eyed even to bother trying to track down the phenomenon. One such sad tale is that of a woman who got out of her car along a stretch of the F-6 Toll-

way for a quick search for the comet. Her absentminded husband at the wheel forgot her mission and drove off without her. A telephone call to the toll-keeper about 20km away saved the day, and the unhappy husband was sent all the way back to pick up his starry-eyed wife — who by then was possibly a fiery phenomenon herself. ... and worse AMONG THE many tales of comet-seeking woe, this then, is one of the worst: A young woman went to view the comet, along with about 150 others, at St James Park, Papanui. The man with the communal telescope did not appear, having cancelled the evening’s viewing at 5 p.m. because of cloud, which had since, of course, gone. The street lights remained obstinately on. The woman gave up and returned to her car. Oh dear, flat tyre. The Automobile Association’s answering machine told her to phone a garage on duty. The proprietor of said garage was so rude and grumpy she opted to rouse her mother, who returned with the hapless woman to her car. Just put. jack on ... uh-oh ... she had left her keys to the boot at home. Drove back with mother, got keys, then back to car. The spare tyre went on, and went flat. With first tyre back on, they drove to a garage. The tyre, said proprietor, had been deliberately slashed outside the park and police wanted information. So, with second tyre repaired, they reported to Papanui police station. Closed. Phone outside: out of order. Back home, phoned Central Police Station, poured themselves a stiff drink, and looked at the comet which had been clearly visible from home all the evening. Good dig I DRIVING PAST the latest obstacle course of road works in Christchurch, a taxi-driver muttered to a colleague: “You know why they call it the Garden City, don’t you? Because they’re always digging it up.” —Jenny