TALKING FILMS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 73, 19 December 1928, Page 17

TALKING FILMS

MR. EDAVIN GEACH'S VIEWS

That the synchronised sound film has come to stay is the decided opinion of Mr. Edwin Geach, one of the directors of Union Theatres, Ltd., of Australia, who arrived from Sydney by the Maunganui yesterday. . . „ Mr. Geach informed a ‘Dominion reporter that his firm are spending £147,000 to install equipment for synchronised sound films in twenty-one theatres on their Australian circuit. He explained that the talking films, to be released on the Union Theatres circuit, will give exclusive “Cinesound” (Western Electric system) presentations, which will represent the highest form of sound picture entertainment. Speaking of the huge building programme undertaken by Union Theatres, Ltd., Mr. Geach said that those theatres that were completed, and those nearing completion, had more than exceeded expectations. Referring to the beautiful Capitol Theatre in Sydney, which is designed in the Italian garden style, Mr. Geach stated that .since its opening some nine months ago, this first atmospheric house in Australia had been a tremendous success. The Ambassadors’ Theatre, Perth, a replica in size and design of Sydney’s Capitol, had also caught on in public favour. In Melbourne the new State Theatre, also “atmospheric” and in Venetian garden style, was rapidly nearing completion. Situated in the very best position in Melbourne, in Flinders Street, right opposite the railway station, it would not only add to Melbourne’s attraction, but from a building point of view would rank as one of the most beautiful theatres in the British Empire. The State Theatre, Sydney, to oe completed in April, will run Union Theatres into an expenditure of threequarters of a million pounds. It is being built in conjunction with a twelvestory shopping block in which 150 shops will be housed. High elevator lifts will be in service capable of handling 150 people every three minutes. The State Theatre will be in the period of Louis XIV, and will be the outstanding contribution to the tremendous building programme now being undertaken in Sydney. Mr. Geach, who was accompanied by Mrs. Geach, intends to spend a holiday in Wellington, and has taken a bouse at Day's Bay. He also intends to enjoy some deep-sea fishing at the Bay of Islands during his stay in the Dominion.