PICTURE PEOPLE IS PUBLIC

Evening Star, Issue 19455, 13 January 1927, Page 2

PICTURE PEOPLE IS PUBLIC

“ Citizen ” replies to Mr Johnston:— I am reluctantly compelled to once more encroach on your valuable space to answer the letter in your Tuesday's issue signed by Mr G. L. Johnston. I had hopes that the helpful suggestions for improvement made by your correspondents would have been disqjeetly acted upon by him, and the controversy ended. Snchf ho waver, is not to be the case, and as Mr Johnson has particularly directed attention to my letter I am forced once more to take up the pen (which, let mo remind Mr Johnston, is mightier than the sword) and endeavor by sweet reasoning to convince him of the error of his ways. In regard to his five “ challenges.” As he has studiously avoided the main points in my first letter, I will only deal with them briefly as follows; Firstly, if he will look up my letter he will not find any statement to the effect that the prices charged here are higher than those ruling in Christchurch, Wellington, or Auckland. These allegations, however, have been made by other correspondents, and, let me observe, still remain to be disproved. Secondly, no statement was made that the world’s best pictures do not come here. What are considered the world’s best pictures go the whole round in time, and eventually are screened m even the smallest towns. Thirdly, this is much the same as "challenge” No. 2, but his reference to the “ world’s best theatre ” is particularly unfortunate, for while not_ expecting the world’s best theatre in_ Dunedin, _we would welcome the erection of a building worthy the name, and, failing this, a reduction in prices when pictures are screened in unsuitable buildings. Fourthly, along with others, I still hold that the music is going back, and if my memory serves me right I have noticed the absence of flutes, ’cellists, trombones, and viola in our orchestras here. Fifthly, this challenge is couched in such language that the meaning is obscure.

In regard to the latter part of Mr Johnston’s “ challenge,” a word will suffice. As Mr Johnston has avoided all reference to the points brought up bv correspondents—viz., existence of a combination, weak first-night musical performances, “reserved seat” {inconsistencies, etc., further comment is unnecessary. This is riot a show of financial strength, and if Mr Johnston has anything like £I,OOO to spare he could not do better than hand it back to his patrons im the shape of a reduction in prices. As I have previously stated, the serious part of tho business is the attempt to gag the Press. This is resented by the public at large, who have never bothered about the rights and wrongs of the picture controversy, because it represents an effort by _ the minority _to suppress the ventilation of genuine grievances. A last word! It is futile to compare prices in one sense. The Octagon was built for the propagation of the Gospel and the teaching of the word of God. Quite apart from the spiritual side of the question, it is wholly unsuitable for a picture theatre, owing to the prevalence of protruding posts downstairs and tho side seats upstairs. Compared with the palatial northern theatres and the amount of capital invested, the price of admission should he in the region of Is. I do not wish to carry this argument any further, and unless Mr Johnston puts forward a clear explanation or a clear case to he answered this is the last word you will hear from me.

“Suburbia” writes:—Now that Mr Johnston has attempted to vindicate his policy of motion picture theatre management, 1 should like him to explain the fact that the average North Island provincial theatres put on a better and longer programme than the loading picture houses in Dunedin. _ To mention one example. Tho Gaiety Theatre, Napier, when I was there < regularly screened two star pictures, ! two comedies, or one gazette and one comedy, every evening. Now, sir, surely, if a small town theatre can screen that programme every evening, 1 there is no reason preventing our theatres from doing the same. The Napier theatre also employed a firstclass orchestra, which is undoubtedly superior to tho orchestra of one theatre , in this city, and the interior fittings, l particularly in the circle, were miles ahead of any local picture house, prices being similar to l ocal places. When ! one has to pay high prices for admission, surely there is no leasou why longer programmes should not be screened. The time wasted displaying advertising slides is another point, i Slides are an undoubted source of ; revenue to theatre proprietors, and, as such, are simply given tho general public in order to Ml time, making ; picture patrons pay fantastic prices for the privilege of reading advertisements | of general merchandise. Now, sir, Mr Johnston says that his policy has conduced to better entertainment at fair pricas. Since he “ personally” resents the accusation that he has not given the best value possible, will lie explain why lie does not put on two star pictures with two comedies (or, , say, a gazette and one comedy), and cut down the slides, cut down the interminable orchestral overtures, and screen a longer and better-balanced programme? Since tins is possible in ; other theatres, there is no apparent i reason to prevent this policy being i given effect to here. j With regard to the Octagon Theatre, I on the Saturday evening ‘ The Ten Commandments ’ was screened I tried to get admission at about 7.30, and was informed that all seats were , reserved, but would 1 wait? I tried again a little later, and was given a seat in tho circle, and yet just before the picture started an _ usher curtly asked mo to vacate this seat, and I was placed on a bench right at the back of the circle in a most draughty and inconvenient position, and as I had no option I had to simply take what was offered, Mr Johnston says that prices charged in Dunedin are similar to prices charged in other centres, and overlooks the fact that theatres in other centres _ are fitted up in a proper manner, entirely different from the dismal interior fittings | the Dunedin Theatres have. These | np-to-dato theatres must have higher overhead expenses. ‘The Sea Hawk,' when being shown in Auckland, was preceded by a special dance prologue, in addition to other special effects; yet these were absent here, in spite of special prices charged. Mr Johnston’s challenge is too am biguons to be taken seriously. Ho simply stutters out challenges like sparks from a squib, and expects this attitude of indignation to allay the storm of criticism his own policy has provoked. The mere fact of so much interest being taken in this controversy conclusively proves that some re- j form is urgently needed. The fact that this agitation is confined to Dunedin also proves that this town is being badly treated in this direction, and if this does not prove to Mr Johnston that things are amiss in local theatres, then he must be a unique the special price charged.

Arthur Picard writes:—lt is all very well for Mr G. L. Johnston to challenge the writers to conic across with £IOO or £I.OOO, and prove certain’ things connected with the movies in this city. He knows jolly well we have not got the money, but if his challenge were taken up and the matter gone right into properly I believe he would be a loser. 1 have been to a picture show in Christchurch, had a tiptop seat downstairs, a rattling good all-round show, with a good orchestra thrown in, alt for sixpence! This is a fact! 1 mean a night show at that, and a good one, too. As regards Mr Johnston’s assertions about the world’s best being put on here, in

* eome cases that is correct, but in others we get the world’s very worst. The music has fallen off badly. The Queen’s had a splendid orchestra. It has been cut out, and other shows did at least on occasions have extra 1 players, but now all except the Octagon and Empire have the piano only It seems a very paltry thing to withdraw advertisements on account of 1 people demanding what rightly belongs to them. As we pay the managers and : nil connected with the screen their salaries indirectly, surely the public ! ought to have a say in what the bill of faro of amusement should be. We must have these things. They are actually necessary for our well-being, and amusements, food, shelter, human companionships, and the mixing tof ether of both sexes are a part of life, he gods have ordained it so!.

“ Plain Business Mqn’a ” contribution: —Let me remark that it is most unfortunate that the present picture theatre controversy should have included the subject of music. Some of the letters do distinct injustice to one of the finest picture orchestras in New Zealand. I refer to the Octagon Orchestra, under Mr Austin. I feel sure that many of your correspondents do not intend to include this orchestra in their scathing comments. I feel that ■ they must' make a mental reservation where the Octagon is _ concerned. At tho Octagon one invariably hears good music well played, and if some jazz is included as suitable accompaniment to a lighter picture it is well played also. I make these remarks as a regular picture patron of the rather critical type, not being a child or an hysterical female, but a plain business man who happens to have received a good musical education. The other aspects of the controversy also interest me, and much of the criticism is well justified, especially that regarding the class of picture being unsuitable for children and distasteful to adults pretending to any degree of culture. But I shall not enlarge on this, as my letter is directed mainly, as above, to remove the slur cast upon a musical combination which would do justice to a much larger city khan Dunedin.

Thus Pat Johnstone: I can fully endorse all your correspondents say about the poor quality of the picture shows in Dunedin. Since coming here I have been a frequent patron at them. Coming from down south, I naturally thought to see something of a better quality, but have been sadly disappointed. I have seen a better picture show down south than Mr Johnston ever showed mo, with a good orchestra as well, and no screwing up the admission prices as he and his compatriot .at the Empire do. , . . Last Friday at the Octagon the musical part of the programme was fairly good, hut I have heard too much poor music on previous nights. After the overture it is generally “ slap dash and hero wo are again ’’ style. I think the people ought to withhold their patronage from fchem all till they come to their senses.

“Family Man” writes: To end all the ink-slinging, how long will it be before we have a coterie of business men from this city importing British films for Now Zealand? Now is the time for a few live-wire business men with capital to import British films. I have a library at home containing close on 300 books, mostly by British authors, and the possibilities for the film , people to construct pictures from the classics are infinite. Yet we have the American films dealing out painted women, petting party style of films. What the slogan needs to be is “ British films . for British people,” not this American trash that we get. Good healthy scenes from good old England will suit New Zealand. Now is the time for some of Dunedin’s capitalists to -put their money into an up-to-date picture theatre and show us tho healthy English films. Healthy picture competition is needed, not a combined picture management, and at prices the people can pay.

“Anti-Combine” writes: I notice that some picture manager states that the picture programmes are no different from the other towns. They are different in Christchurch. The programmes are longer, 7 to 10 o’clock (and longer on many occasions). The prices are the same all the year round, and there are' not special prices for good pictures (when they got them). 1, notice that the picture advertisements have been taken out of the ‘ Star ’ as tho result of these letters, but tho ‘ Star ’ is to be congratulated on tho stand it has taken in connection with these letters, and it is to lie hoped that the working classes will not forget it. Tho picture theatres have wanted to cut the programmes a long time, and tho Exhibition gave them the opportunity. . . .

“Old_ Timer” sends the following;— Would it not be more manly for these so-called clever people, who think themselves such great critics, to come and assist tho orchestra, who are always pleased to add to their numbers. We are getting tired of reading these letters in the paper—such nonsensical twaddle. I am constantly travelling, and visit the shows, and understand good music. I can safely say that the theatres here, have the best of management, ami produce good pictures and music, which are greatly appreciated. Dunedin is always to the front in the music lino; also in theatre managers. There are some people who are so habitually irritable that they are commonly referred to as “ grumps ” —never happy unless they are finding fault. These people who are so wonderful should sign their names to their letters. We could then call on them to educate our knowledge on the items which should he played. I am doubtful if they could do so, or tell ‘ Barney Hooligan ’ from ‘ God Save the King.’

“ Traveller ” writes As one of the audience at the Octagon Picture Theatre last night, I think it time something was heard of tho manners of some of our Dunedin picture patrons in regard to tho appreciation of tho music rendered by the orchestra. After the criticism now being published surely someone should look at it from the orchestra’s side. Many of their programmes are exquisite, and the one rendered last evening was of a high standard, but entirely spoilt by the hanging down of seats "and the constant talking during tho rendering of the selection. Not only that, "but the grossly selfish habit of leaving tho theatre before the end of the programme, as if a few minutes spent standing while the National Anthem is being played, wmuld he a hardship, and not an honor. This last point, sir, is most annoying, not only to an orchestra, but to others present, and it is no wonder that tourists and visitors to our country should leave absolutely disgusted with the manners, or want of them, displayed by New Zealanders. In conclusion, I might state that in France, ftaly, or anywhere in Europe people creating a noise during the rendering of any music are not tolerated, ami the sooner that obtains here the sooner mav we expect to hear good music, and all of It.

“Reduction” lias a word:—Allow me to congratulate you on the stand your paper has adopted. Judging from the expressions I hear from quilc_ a number of picture “ fans ” your action has the support of the majority. Tn conversation with various people the general opinion is that the public should boycott the shows. We have been exploited long enough with this “ No unreserved seats dress circle, nil reserved, 2s 9d,” take it or leave ft sort or method. If the public were prepared to look on for a while I fancy there would soon come a change. Why is it, by the way, that the bulk of the theatres do not advertise * their prices of admission?