TOLL OF THE TALKIES

Evening Star, Issue 20263, 26 August 1929, Page 7

TOLL OF THE TALKIES

Mft H BUG HAN SPEAKS [Special to the ‘Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, August 24. These are sad times for Mr William Heughan. After six years of world touring, now that concert expenses are high and concert returns are low, he has almost resigned himself to the talkies. “ Next time I como back to New Zealand I’m afraid it .will, be in a little tin box,” he told a reporter to-day. Musical artists willing to tour New Zealand have become fewer and fewer. “ It is a tragic thing for the dominion,’’ thinks Mr Heughan, “ for young musicians and composers can’t develop without hearing the greatest artists.” He still thought, however, that for its size and limited population, the dominion’s welcome to musicians was outstanding in the world. Of all tho countries he has visited, Mr Heughan has a special feeling for New Zealand. Ho had hoped when his concert years were over to settle here, occasionally touring through tho country to meet old friends, but the modern age lias changed his plans. With harder work, more concerts, increased expenses, and decreased returns, tho life of the concert artist was a difficult one. so when he leaves .New Zealand for Canada, Mr Heughan Will go into the talkies. The talkies, he believes, will kill world tours. The younger generation will know musicians only on the screen. will be unable to realise how great is the difference between the celluloid and the real. “This is both a cheerful' and a sad occasion,” said Mr H. Waters (general manager of Christchurch Cinemas, when a presentation was made to Mr Alfred J. Bunz,who after nine years is relinquishing tho conductorship of the Crystal Palace Orchestra, which is known far and wide as one of the finest orchestras in New Zealand; “cheerful 'inasmuch ns wo are able to demonstrate to Mr Bunz the regard we have always felt for him, and sad because the advent of the talkies has made the orchestra unnecessary to-day.” “ The public is demanding talkies,” continued Mr Waters, “ and, with the demands growing more insistent, it has been found necessary to wire the Crystal Palace Theatre ”