DE LUXE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 138, 6 March 1936, Page 15

DE LUXE THEATRE

Change of Management and Complete Modernisation REOPENING THIS EVENING In the one short week during which the theatre has been closed, an amazing transformation has been wrought in the interior of the De Luxe Theatre, which is to reopen this evening under the direction of Warner Bros. —First National Pictures. Lighting, decorating and furnishings have been transformed and modernised, so as once more to place the De Luxe in the very forefront of houses of entertainment.

The speed and thoroughness of this transformation are probably in large part due to the energy of Mr. George M. Dillon, general manager for New Zealand for Warner Brothers, who has had extensive experience in the modernisation of theatres all over the world. He has brought his knowledge .to bear on the De Luxe Theatre, with amazingly successful results. “When patrons visit the reopened theatre I think they’ll realise we’ve done a thorough job of work on it, and not just washed its face,” said Mr. Dillon yesterday. Since last Friday three shifts of workmen have been engaged 24 hours a day. “I was told it couldn’t be done in a week,” he said. “But it. will be.” And it has been.

Soft gold is to predominate in the colour scheme of the interior, but for the most part the change has resulted from a series of small jobs, a general clearing up and cleaning up which Las produced a pleasing, spacious and .modern appearance. With the change of management, the De Luxe Theatre was destined to become the show-window of New Zealand for Warner Brothers pictures, said Mr. Dillon. It was not that they wished to control more theatres —they already had a vast chain. It was mainly an expression of confidence; such confidence in their productions, in which over four million dollars was invested, that they would not ask anyone else to gamble with them, but. would do it themselves. Commencing this evening with the spectacular adaptation of Rafael Sabatini’s “Capain Blood,” the De Luxe would screen sucn productions as Max Reinhardt’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “I Found Stella Parish,” “Anthony Adverse,” “Page Miss Glory,” “The Petrified Forest,” “Charge of the Light Brigade.” “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” “Sons o’ Guns.” “The Story of Louis Pasteur,” “Ceiling Zero,” “Three Men on a Horse,” and “Dangerous.” In addition to the diversified range of major films and fine short subjects, it is intended to present “fleshand blood” items of the best available standard. The orchestra, which will be under the direction of Mr, L. D. Austin, has been augmented, Miss Iris Mason will bo heard at. the Wurlitzcr organ, and the best talent in the country will be enlisted. “I do not believe that because New Zealand is a small country you must bring your artists from overseas,” said Mr. Dillon. “From what I have seen I think you have artists here as good ns can be found anywhere, and a good many of them are going to appear on the De Luxe stage.”

An interesting point in connection with the prices of admission was mentioned by Mr. Dillon. “IVe intend to fix the prices and they will stay fixed,” he said. "There will lie' no unexpected rise for a particularly good production —year in and year out prices will remain the same.” Mr. Dillon expressed himself as delighted with New Zealand; so much so. -in fact, that he is staying indefinitely and intends bringing his wife and family out.