COMMUNITY SINGING

Evening Star, Issue 22069, 1 July 1935, Page 2

COMMUNITY SINGING

RECORD CROWD AND COLLECTION Few musical events, at least of local origin, could create such appeal as to fill the Town Hall. That large auditorium was completely _ occupied for the special community sing on Saturday night, however, and though it was > generally conceded that a capacity 1 house would be in attendance, expectations that the function would be a popular success had under-rated the unprecedented furore the “sing” created. This happy result (from both the entertainment and financial view-

points) was not due so much to the Crowd —the Dunedin public is liberal in its enthusiasm and its support of > any ’vorthy collections—but to Mr Alan Brown, leader of the singing, and to Mr H. E. Goodland, the xuamst. These two Christchurch visitors swayed their willing choristers from the opening concerted number, the New Zealand National Anthem, until the concluding item over two and a-half hours later.

As the mayor (tho Rev. E. T. Cox) explained befox-e tho proceedings commenced, the cause was a worthy one —the installation of wireless sets in relief _ camps. Toe H, under, whose jurisdiction the appeal and the “sing” were conducted, had already been responsible by its efforts in having 12 sets donated to the camps. Tho success of the occasion may be measured by its financial result. No charge was made for admission, but a sum of just over £lO6 was collected in booking fees. When to this amount was added about £l7 received in the collection boxes at the doors, and approximately £ls which comprised donations handed in in return for broadcast “ cheerios,” it was found that the gross takings for tho evening were about £l4O. » The programme was a long one, but even after nearly three hours the enthusiasm of the full-throated crowd showed no signs of abating. All the old favourites wore sung, and variety and novelty were communicated to the proceedings by the innumerable artifices and tricks of the experienced “sing leader.” Mr Brown was the life and soul of the function and never allowed things to drag even for an instant. Among those who contributed solo and specialty items were Miss Hazel Walker, Mr Arthur Macdonald, and a juvenile ballet fi'om the Lily Stevens .School of Dancing. All the numbers wore greatly appreciated, and in some instances attracted special donations to the funds. The interest taken in the “sing” was reflected in. the widespread nature ;of the distribution of “ cheerios.” This conductor, speaking into the microphone, passed on greetings to persons • as far north as Christchurch and as far south as Bluff. The total number of such greetings for which donations were made was so large, in fact, that it was found impossible to deliver them individually.