Gala Opening of "Lost Horizon" in Sydney

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 266, 6 August 1937, Page 16

Gala Opening of "Lost Horizon" in Sydney

T'HE Hollywood way of launching its big pictures with flourish of trumpets, battery of lights, parade of celebrities, radio broadcast, cameramen and other impedimenta of occasion is known to all.inhabitants of the movie capital and New York. London follows suit frequently in the traditional English style, which means less ballyhoo but just as much glamour in a dignified way. Australia, up to the minute in smart showmanship, is not to be outdone, so Sydney followed the lead set by the above-mentioned capitals and gave “Lost Horizon” an opening that lacked nothing in social or show-world importance.

A battery of floodlamps from a building opposite bathed the front of the Embassy Theatre with light, and a red carpet from tiie vestibule to the footpath added regal tones. Extra attendants resplendent in gold-braided uniforms lined the entrance steps, extra police held curious sightseers in queue form, enabling pedestrian traffic to keep moving. A microphone in the vestibule was uuder the care of a popular radio announcer and lady fashion commentator. Special and commercial identities rubbed shoulders with Mr. and Mrs. Everyone. The auditorium being packed to capacity, the lights were switched off, the carpet rolled, doors closed and Sydney resumed the even tenor of its ways. Another event in the movie world! School to Teach Players Make-up ATEL BERNS, director of make-up at the IIKO Radio studio, has started a make-up school for the studio contract players. It is compulsory that the new and inexperienced players attend the school at least three hours a week. With the more experienced ones it is optional, although many of them drop in to brush up on their make-up lore. In the time that the school is held. Berns takes each pupil in hand, goes over the points of their faces with them, and works with them, showing them how to make the most of their good points. Diana Gibson, for instance. has a lovely mouth, but could not quite master the knack of applying lipstick to its best advantage. Several lessons with Berns, and the young actress is delighted with the results. Joan Fontiane, who has just finished the lead in “The Man Who Found Himself.” has been experimenting with shades of powdei and the arts of subtle eye make-up, with Berns’s help. He shows Barbara Pepper and Anu Hovey bow to wear their hair and make up so that their faces lose a little roundness. Thelma Leeds, the attractive radio and night club .singer who makes her debut in “The Toast of New York.” has been attempting an entirely different coiffure in this new school. When he is not occupied with supervising the make-up of his chargee, Berns gives half-hour lectures on the basic idea of make-up, the way in which features may be brought out or subdued, the difference between artificial and natural lighting where makeI up is concerned, as well as talks on I motion picture, stage and street makcI up.