THE “TALKIE” YEAR

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 85, 4 January 1930, Page 22

THE “TALKIE” YEAR

A CRISS IN THEATRE-LAND ' \ DAY OF ELECTRIFIED ! ENTERTAINMENT BROADCAST MOVIES COMING . (By H.P.) ■i “I rang the electric bell.. My breakfast, electrically-cooked, came up by ‘electric chute. . . Later I descended by the electric elevatqr;, was; whirled off in an electric taxi (in. which I enjoyed a cigaTette lit by an electric lighter), and so, by electric escalator, to my office at the Electric Theatre, where we show pictures by electricity, made.audible, by ' elecfrically-stepped-up voices and music.” -■ ‘ ’ With such, a picture of city life ate it i Is to.-day, one would imagine that there can be nothing more invented that will be as surprising as : the discoveries; in which electricity has played so conspicuous.'a during'the last decade But' the surprises - continue to happen along with almost unfailing and ' . bewildering regularity, i.. .;Fbt, example, Berlin' papers of last month announced definitely that oh December ,16 the ; broadcasting of animated pictures would be inaugurated in tliat iclty. ' That means the.Kinema in the-home.' ■ -Everyone .in time will have,'their o.w:-.little 4ft..screen .in the drawing-rbom, and at certain hours of thejijay they will be. able to “switch on the .pictures” just as we'switch on radib ?music now. It is coining—-how longfftt will take to reach New. Zealand whoi.Can say? But when it does come, whift effect is it going to have on picture- theatres?. If the new invention proves; as 'successful as sound radio — where are we?

Staggering Combination. The mere mention of the combination of radio-television- and its: application to animated pictures (not all acted ones, but actual “shots” of horse races, military displays, boxing contests, speed thrills, and the countless events that go to form the world’s activities), is staggering. It is too vast to be taken In; at a breath. ■ In the meantime the advent of the “talkie” picture last year has'been a sufficient staggerer to all connected in any 'way with the 'theatrical business, for no matter what might be said to

the contrary, the triumphant “talkie” 'has punched the old show business fairly in the solar plexus, and it has not .yet-regained its breath. Everyone in the business, from three-

a-day vaudevilieans to concert imprer sarios, have been made aware of the change in the order of entertainment throughout the world. We in New Zealand will see. it reflected in fewer visits from dramatic, operatic companies; and concert stars. Even artists .of world renown will find their stamping grounds curtailed, owing to the “talkies” having rail-roaded the business. In the “shorts” now presented you can hear and see Martinelli, Gigli, Jeritza, and Rosa Raisa in grand opera, whilst all the world of.vaudeville is trekking

to the “talkie” studios to enrol their packs to a listening world. -Famous authors, artists, politicians, poets, kings, and princes speak to and smile at oue from the magic screen, so why be particular over seeing Indifferent flesh and blood upon the stage or platform?

Effect of the "Talkies” in New Zealand.

In New Zealand, as elsewhere, the advent of the “talkies” came almost as a bolt from the blue. Everyone had read bits and pieces about them, but it all seemed rather vague and experimental—and the “silents” had be? come so good 1 No need to worry. The honour of being the first to give the public a “talkie” entertainment in New Zealand belonged: to Mr. W. R. Kemball, who equipped the Paramount Theatre in Courtenay Place with a De Forrest set, and set it going on March 8 last, the main picture being “The Street . Angel”' (sound synchronised), and the real ‘.‘talkie” features, speeches by Geo. Bernard Shaw; King Alfonso, of Spain, and a very funny comedy, “The Star Witness,” featuring Chic Sale. The production was hot wholly satisfactory; like the curate’s egg, it was good in parts, Shaw and King Alfonso being extra special. That, however, was not the first “talkie” exhibited. That took place in the Grand Opera. House, some four years before, when' an attempt was being made‘to form a company in New Zealand to. secure the rights over the De Forrest equipment. This was a private show, and the. . quiduncs . present were not at. all impressed. They admitted/it was a beginning, but it was not ready for the public—it Was on the way. But Mr. J. Kirkwood, of Stratford, who had imported the apparatus, had prescience of what was coming, and succeeded in forming a company which bought the New Zealand rights, and still holds them. . In - the meantime, the De Forrest Corporation have improved their process;'.particularly the sound-on-film idea, and( now'vie, with the other suppliers l of > “talkie” equip- ’ ments the" world over.. Few, however, who sat in the gloom of the Opera House dress . circle that blowy day foresaw what-: was J coming. It hit New Zealand in March with the Paramount Theatre movement; but there was no further advance, till May, when the Regent Theatre came along with the big “talkie” film, “The Bellamy Trial”; then,' as the populace followed the talk, other, theatres came into line, so that to-day all the city first-run houses have gone “talkie.” The silent picture, •in the parlance of the American trade journals, is “as dead as Dickens’s coffin nail”—and getting deader. Effect on the Stage. Whilst some conceded a success for • sound pictures, no one accurately foresaw their effect on legitimate theatrical . entertainments, yet that effect has been most drastic. Hundreds of theatres, throughout America and the , British Empire, hitherto open to nought save what they please to call “legitimate,” have been equipped for talking pictures, and, as in New Zealand, the theatres for touring companies are nowmumbered in the “talkie”’ regiment. They have thrown the ordinary theatrical and concert business out of focus, .and no one dare prophesy when it will, get in again. Moving pictures came gradually, working up from the nickelodeum flickergraph, but "talkies”'hit the whole world within a twelve month,. and so this disruption. And it is not all over; There are •

many improvements coming which will bring a load of trouble and anxiety to the exhibitor,, namely, the. stereoscopic film, the coloured film, the giant screen —and what is the most significant bogey of all to the theatre,, broadcast pictures.