GREAT THEATRE COMBINATION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 October 1924, Page 15

GREAT THEATRE COMBINATION

‘ LONDON, NEW YORK AND AUSTRALIA. PLAYS IN FOUR COUNTRIES. LONDON, Oct. 2. “I have been instrumental in forming an international combination of theatrical managers, comprising John Golden and C. B. Dillingham, of New York, J. C. Williamson/ Ltd., of Australia, and a leading Londoner,’’ said Sir George Tallis, chairman of directors of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., who- is in London after a three months’ tour of the United States. Sir George left Mr Thring, managing director of .Electric Theatres, and Mr Gibson, managing director Australasian Films and Union Theatres, in America, where they are investigating moving pictures with the object of making purchases for Australia. “The combination will produce sucEnglish plays in New York, and New \ ork successes in London. Afterwards these plays will be presented in Australia and South Africa. “At present it takes years for a play to cross the Atlantic. For instance, ‘Lightning,• ‘Turn to the Right’ and ‘The First Year,’ the English rights of which I bought from. Mr Golden and Mr WinehelL Smith, were never produced in London. “We have arranged with Guy Bates Post and a company for a tour comprising four continents. Thev will begin at Christmas -in Australia with Archer’s ‘Green Goddess,’ ‘The Masquerader’ and other plays. After a year in Australia, they will visit Africa and London for six months’ seasons, subsequently playing in New York under our management. “In selecting plays for Australia, I was faced with the usual difficulty of the tremendous difference between American and Australian taste. Only three c.f 100 plays I saw were likely to appeal to Australians. They were ‘Rose Marie.’ with delightful music by Friml; ‘Kid Boots,’ a great * musical success, which we are producing with Alfred Frith in the chief comedy role; and "The Show Off,’ the season’s outstanding comedy. “I also saw ‘What Price Glory? 1 a play bv an American ex-soldier, which is exciting the greatest controversy, eclipsing, owing to the vividness of the language, anything in ‘Pygmalion’ or ‘Aren’t We All?’ “It is a powerful satire on the war, reproducing the language df the Jia.rracks and the trenches. There was talk of police intervention, but the' police officers who attended were so delighted that the idea was abandoned. The house is now packed nightly. “I was most impressed ~ with tho growth of broadcasting in America, where it was even more popular than in England. From the Pacific to the Atlantic you see receiving sets in almost every home. Once dance music was most popular, like listening in to the Savoy Orchestra here. Now people want lecturettes, leading men’s speeches, and the best music. England also appreciates these. “Broadcasting has an enormous influence on home, life, and the ideas of the nation. It is a political factor of the- first importance, just as it is here. With apparatus so perfect that a speech can be heard throughout the continent; the ability to talk for the radio public is a big asset. It may soon decide the elections.”

.Sir George Tallis will leave for Australia in January.