FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 16987, 8 March 1919, Page 9

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

[By Loitekee.] "It's all in a lifetime, but I don't want to repeat the dose," writes Ben J. Fuller of -his varied experiences in trying to get back to Sydney before the pasenger servico between the Dominion and the Commonwealth had been resumed. He sailed by tho Kauri, and record's that she took nine and a-half days to make Melbourne. They struck a gal© off the coast of Tasmania, and Ben. J. states that after the things lie saw that boat do it will take tho dickens of a lot to scare him at sea. They were going l-.nck part of the timo, he avers; the log was away ahead of the boat, and when- they threw some scraps overboard and the albatrosses came down to eat them, tho birds had to rise out of the water to avoid the stern.-of the boat, which was making stern wav as fast as the scraps. Mr Fuller spent a week in quarantine at Melbourne, xmd was released just to miss the last train that got through to Sydney. He hung round the Victorian capital for eight or nine days, and then shipped as assistant purser - on a coastal boat. " I had more comfortable quarters," he complains, " but I was not tho only company in them. The flat 'brown backs' were very thin, and they made a good meal off me." Mr Fuller's letter is dated from Sydney, February 20, and on that date, according to him, the main street* of Sydney were deserted to such _ degree that Dunedin would be a bustling city compared to it. , According to the staff of His Majesty's Theatre, the queue assembled before the doore opened on Tuesday night for the ' You're in Love ' revival wa.s the largest ever seen outside the theatre. The snake stretched across Crawford street and right along to the ' Star' premises. But the whole season was a wonderful success and another convincing rebuttal of the mouldv quirk that Dunedin is the "actors' RT«ve." Mr W. F. Eussoll, one of the best-known of the J. C. Williamson, managers, has not found it so. He says that not only was tho musical comedy'season above referred to a record financially__but that his 19 visits to Dunedin in chargo of " the firm's " attractions have but twice involved him in tho necessity of cabling for money. The remaining 17 visits have all been profitable. These are facts convincing enough to discount the not uncommon wail that Dunedin should be " crt out" as a show town for visiting attractions. _ A new head-liner coming to tho Princess Theatre on Monday is Louis Nikola, whose problems in magic are bewilderingly clever. Nikola, it may be remembered, was one of the biggest of the head-liners with Ada Reeve. A correspondent asks why Maud Fane did not appear with the musical comedy company. Her contract had expired, and fthe is following the example of other Australian favorites in seeking recognition abroad, probably in tho States. Barriers of language fall before the real cleverness of the French entertainers Mdlle Rieuso and M. Georges Roger, who have been giving such .unique entertainment to Fuller patrons this week. This pair are accomplished pantomimists, who could " get their comedy over" if they rover moved their lips in speech, and they are established in the opinion of patrons aa one of the most classy acts the Fuller firm have imported. It is good news that they are to" be retained for another week, and that while M. Roger will furnish fresh songs, his chic partner will replace the Salome dance burlesque with a Snanish dance. .lim Matheson has discarded his ser-geant-major's khaki for the " civies," and is on the roads once more, this timo blazoning the perfections of ' Nothing But tho Truth.' the new Williamson show, starring M. B. Figman. Jim announces that the Dunedin dates of the show are March 20 to 24, and that the comedy is on novel lines, depicting the strenuous adventures of a man who wagered to speak nothing but the truth for 2-4 hours. The personnel of tho company includes Pirio Bush (who went to America with Fred Niblo), Nellie Wilson (late of the Royal Comics, a-ud also just back- from the States), Mac. M. Barnes. Lucie Carter, Emma Temple, Kenneth Brampton, Leslie Victor. Primrose Caryll (daughter of tho composer), and Evelyn Cooke. By the wav. both the general manager of the tour and the "advance" have the surnamo of Matheson, and both are Dunedin-born. George is the given namo of the former. J. and N. Tait's ' De Luxe Annie' registered its 100 th Sydney performance on January 21. It is stated that Muriel Starr may shortly essay such roles as Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice.' Rosalind in ' As You Like It.' and Katherine in ' The Taming of the Shrew.' It appears that during her enforced vacation during the_ influenza outbreak tho player has been devoting her leisure to tho study of Shakespeare. The player of past generations, with inevitable long apprenticeship in "stock," had a dozen Shakespearean roles in repertoire bv tho time distinction came. But this is the day of short out«, "types" overnight successes, and long runs; and fewplayers get tho chance (coram pnpulo, at any rate) to establish a classical repertoire. Mrs Clement Scott, widow of the famous hard-hitting dramatic critic of the London 'Daily Teleeraph.' has started a- series of articles ba.'.ed on tho diaries and correspondence of her clever and versatile, but pugnacious and irascible husband. Scott was always pen-fighting some opponent or other. His long connection, with the ' Daily Telegraph' was finally severed in conseouence of a blistering article on the morals of the acting profession. He then fctarted the ' Free Lance.' a weekly, in which ho let himself go properly. His widow puts in a big claim on his behalf "Nobodv can possiblv realise with what earnestness Clement Scott fought singlehanded. He raised the once-despised traoe to a fine art " She also credits him with the discovery of Henry Irving. Four members of the Gonsaloz Opera Company—Count Fillipini (just married to a Sydney girl), and Signers Balboni, Cacctalii, and Lois—have been appearing recently at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, in.' Cavalleria,' 'Pagliacci,' and ' Rigoietto.' under Frank Rigo's'direction. They have been supported bv Australian singersLeah Meyers (Santuzza) and Nellie Leacr. {Nedda), "while Gustav Slapoffski (musical director) controlled an orchestra of 40 and a -chorus of 60. In 'Rigoietto' Miss Gertrude Johnson and Miss Gladys Verona alternated as Gilda. "The very best audience we have had the pleasure of playing to." Such is the testimony of the principals of the J. C. Williamson Musical Comedy Company to their audience of Saturday night, whan ' Oh, Boy,' was staged. And when those in front catch the infection of a piece and seize all the points the performera seem to react to the stimulating current. It is but rarely an audience becomes thus perfectly attuned to the medium. When they do the result is a full voltage of enjoyment, aa on th-e Saturday occaeioa.

Some idea of the diversions that take place in the roof and restaurant shows of New York may be gleaned from the following extract.'from "the New York ' Dramatic Mirror ' : " Comment upon the evening- entertainments can't pass without a little montion of tho way they go in for 'shimmying.' Only la.sfc week it was reported that this evolution, which has come to us via the Chicago black belt, had been banned in all dancing places by the police department. If the slioulder-and-arms dance has been barred, the Broadway restaurants do not seem to have heard of it. Only the other night upstairs at Rector's everyone was shimmying' with a vengeance—and getting away with it. Anyway, the theatrical managers haven't been warned. The shimmy runs all through the Ziegfeld Frolics, despite Bert Williams's song. 'You Can't Shake, that Shimmy Here. And tho Centurv roof show is a riot of it. There they go Ziegfeld's tight fitting shimmying costumes one better by making it a brief one-piece affair. And talking of tho Century roof entertainment, Morris Gest has certainly staged a syncopated pagan revel. Gest has started poiuething with his song. ' Button Me Up the Back,' In which the chorines invade the audience in bloomers, carrying their costumes, which (hey slip over their heads at the chorus. Then they back up to ,a table, and it's up to file audience to do tho rest." " W.K.8." writes :—Your " Footlight Flashes " of Saturday stated that Fred Macabe started life in Liverpool as an auctioneer's clerk, but you did not state the curious circumstances under which Macabe relinquished auctioneering. This was the story : One morning the auctioneer arrived at business earlier than usual. He summoned his chief clerk and announced that the whole staff were dismissed from the end of the -current, month. About an hour afterwards the cleric was again summoned to the presence and consulted about business falling due soveral months ahead. The clerk naturally asked why business was being shouldered on to men who had been sacked. First the boss did not know what was meant ; and then repudiated responsibility for tho dismissal scene. As Macabo had arrived late that movnin,?-, suspicion fell upon him ; and his confession led to his dismissal. Of course the clerk's first interview was with Macabe, disguised as the auctioneer. Tin's was tho beginning of " Begone, Dull Care," Tho programme was a good one. and the changes were very rapid.. I have heard many people declare that the female impersonation ("Miss May," I think) must have been done by a woman; the face, figure, height, etc., being quite different from Macabe'.s male impersonations. I suppose this was as fine a compliment to the actor as anybody could pay. I witnessed Macabe's performance in" Liverpool in 1668. Ho visited Now Zealand in the early "eighties." The above story was current in Liverpool in my boyhood..

SNA PS IN THE STUDfOS. Showing to-day at the Plaza is a big feature, 'A Debt of Honor,' featuring clever and pretty IWy Hyland. It is the story of a girl who did not forget—who saved the honor of her guardian, and hid his wife's perfidy, to her own hurt, A still more imposing feature- coming soon to the same "house' is an eight-reel version of 'Camille,' with Theda Bara in tho famous Bernhardt role. Constance Talmadge has a new picture by Cosmo Hamilton entitled 'Who Cares?' It is the story of a girl's philosophy that did not apply to herself. J. D. Williams, well known in the moving pictnro enterprises of New Zealand and Australia, is reported to have died from the" flu " in 'Frisco. Charles Chaplin's comedy ' Shoulder Arras' _ has the distinction 'of being tho only picture shown more than one week at the Strand, Sew York. ( Alma Rubens, who left tho Triangle Company, is now at the head of her own producing company. Those who remember Chaplin's ' Shanghaied ' will not be surprised to hear that it is considered worth while showing again shortly. Another Chaplin revival is 'His New Job.' Wm. Farnum is said to be the highestpaid male dramatic star in the movie firmament, having signed with Fox for £156,00fJ a year. The gigantic elephant who will be seen in ' Tarzan of the Apes ' shortly.is said to be 109 years old—this week. _ Mary Pickford has purchased the screen rights to ' Come Out of the Kitchen,' the popular stage play of that name. This will probably follow ' Daddy Long Legs' and ' Pollyanna,' Hay wards are making a. specialty of children's programmes on Saturday afternoons. It is aimed to provide distinctive interest as well as humorous items. p. W. Griffith is at work on a play with Chinese characters, entitled ' Limehouse Nights,' presumably based upon Edmund Burke's fascinating tales of London's Chinese quarter. Lilian Gish will be one of the " stars." Elinor Glynn's novels have a wide circle of feininrne admirers and have met with astonishing success when transferred to the screen. ' Three Weeks ' had some difficulty in squeezing by the Government consor, but less trouble" was experienced with ' The Reason Why.' in which Clara Kimball Young appears at Hay wards tonight. Tho wonderful drosses which Miss l'oung wears in this picture were specially designed by Elinor Glynn's sister, a modiste of some prominence. When Mrs Josephine F. Bushman was granted a divorce the other day from Francis X. Bushman she was also given substantial alimony, assessed at £B,OQO, which F.X.B. will havo to pay out of his earnings as a screen star. Tho grounds for the severing of the nuptial knot were cruelty and neglect. In addition to above amount respondent was ordered to pay house rent of petitioner, who is to have custody of the five children. 'The Crisis,' Winston Churchill's great story of the slave days of America, makes a splendid photo drama and is pleasing the large houses at the Queen's. Thomas Santchi is the star. Vitagraph have released a picture version of ' The Lion and the Mouse ' (played here by Katherine Grey and Wm. Desmond) as thy third of the Alice Joyce star series. Here is the best press story about Mae Marsh : Mae has a pet lady-bug named Cecilia., Cecilia lives among the .geraniums in the Riverside Drive apartment, and she Hies on Mae's finger when she calls. Won't some kind pictnro "star" adopt a baby elephant? Pathe's serials for 1919 will be 'The Long Arm' (by the author of the Craig Kennedy stories), featuring Ruth Roland, and ' The Lightning Raider,' featuring Pearl White. "" With these pieces Pathe will have produced 22 serials since ' The Perils of Pauline,' making millions upon millions for exhibitors and producers. Frank Keenan now produces his owrpictures and distributes through Pathe Exchange. His latest is a, 'Saturday

Evening Post' story entitled ' Wild Cat. ' Albert Gappelani will direct Nazimova in her next picture, ' The Red Lantern.' Goldwyn's super-productions for the year will be Mae Marsh in 'The Racing Strain'; 'Go West, Young Man,' with Tom Moore; ' Day Dreams,' for Madge Kennedy; Mabel Normand in ' Sis Hopkins ' and Geraldine Farrar in ' Shadows. Lilian Gisii and Bobbv Havron both caught the flu. D. W. Griffith was therefore forced to hold over the- work at the- studios till his leading people recovered. Negotiations have been concluded bo-, tween Jesso L. Lasky and Evangeline Booth, representing the Salvation Army, for the filming of a big motion picture telling the remarkable story of the Salvation Army both in war and peace. The story of this motion picture finds its basis in historical truth and in recently-deve-loped facts, and in its production the Famous Players-Lasky organisation will have the full co-operation of the Salvation Army. Commander Booth herself will appear in the picture as she discharges her regular daily duties, and the story will be filmed with'tho duo reverence and respect the subject calls for. The photo-play will include'an all-star cast made up of favorite film plavers. It was expected that the picture would be ready for release, as a Paramount-Artcrnft Special, early this M Earle Williams- has written a photo play scenario entitled ' Americas Aioe, Fi'ed Niblo is .said to have recently refund an offer from J. C. Williamson to return to the Australian stage. He prefers to remain with his wife, Enid Bennett, in pictures for a time. ' Ourand of tho Bad Lands, the new coming to the King's to-day, is said to be a story that gives Dustm 1 armym a real chance to show his wondortul art. In tl'i© beginning he's as keen and calculating an outlaw aft ever blackened the history of the West, and in the end he comes out a 100 per cent, man, with a wife and three orphan kids he rescued from Indians who attacked a settlement. _ Douglas Fairbanks is going over to France to do a series of pictures. Mad*e Kennedy, well remembered here in'Goldwyn films like ' Nearly Married, due at Everybody's next Wednesday in m" bright and somewhat daring picture called"'The Danger Game.' Madge is described in the picture as the worlds most beautiful burglar. " You give to that unworthy scamp the love that" should have been mine if only by rifht of purchase "—thus the husband in the Norma. TaWdgo picture By Right of Purchase," to be shown at the queen s shortly.