PICTURES? OR VAUDEVILLE?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1333, 10 January 1912, Page 4

PICTURES? OR VAUDEVILLE?

INTERESTING VISITOR. Among the passengers from England by the Somerset, which arrived here on Monday, was Mr. Alexander Galley, -who, for many years, has been associated with vauaeviilo management in Leeds, Shefueld, and Manchester. For over seven years Mr. Galley was on the staff of Sir hdvrard Moss's great vaudeville concern, Moss's Empire, Ltd., u company with a capital of ,£2,000,000 and over forty halls scattered in various provincial towns. The l'alaco Theatre, Manchester, and the Leeds Umpire claimed Mr. Galley's attention at different times, but, recently, ho decided on coming to the Dominion to inquire w'hat were the' prospects of vaudeville here, his present destination being Auckland. ' i

According to Mr. Galley, tho musicha.lls r Are,;uo > w..beginning,,fo, recover from the effects of the picture boom, and vaudovillo promises to be more popular than, ever in the Old Country. Immediately that the boom of pictures came on in England the effect was to close up some of tho music-halls, and picture entertainments flourished everywhere. Now tho picture-halls were beginning to feel the slump, and many of the establishments that wero constructed only a matter of twelve months or so Could now be bought for much less than they cost originally. A similar remark applied to the skating rinks.

It has been a staggerer to the theatrical world during the past few years (saye Mr. Galley) to witness the number of "topliners" that have come over to vaudeville. It is the profitable business, for by playing a sketch of twenty minuteE at tho music-halls these artists J can earn more money than for an all-night performance at the theatres. The mention of such names as Madge Temple, Laurenco Irving, Curtis Pounds, and Bransby Williams will demonstrate the tone and class of performance served up to English music-hall audiences. In London, tho performances at tho Coliseum could always draw the cream of the West End audiences.

The good clean comedian is the man that draws tho business, whether ho represents low comedy or select comedy. Tho immense possibilities in the business for clever artists wero instanced in the cases of Harry Laudel , and Goo. Formby, both of whom were not so very manyyears ago drawing moderate two-figure salaries, but who were now booked years ahead at enormous weekly salaries. Novel turns were always being looked for, and colonial and Continental turns wero always placed on top of tho bill, such, for ins'tanco, as the Australian AVoodchoppers. In addition to artists already mentioned, others that had drawn big business in recent times wore A r esta Tilley, Vesta Victoria, Alice Lloyd, Eugene Stratton, Harry Fragson, Geo. Robey, Harry Tate, AVilkie Bard, and R. G. Kuowles. Tho majority of theso have appeared in America also with great success. _^