Hello Popeye ” Revue

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 181, 3 August 1938, Page 10

Hello Popeye ” Revue

ORIGINAL OF THE CARTOONS When Mr. Billy Costello (the original Popeye the Sailorman), who is to be presented hero by J. C. Williamson Theatres in Frame Neil’s stupendous Hollywood revue, “Hello Popeye,” at the Opera House on Monday and Tuesday nights next and Tuesday afternoon, beginning at 3.30, arrived in Auckland recently by the Monterey, which berthed at 7.30 a.m., thousands of people congregated on the wharf to welcome the

artist who has entertained million* of people througuout the world by his voice in the popular Popeye the Sailorman cartoons. A largo number of thos who welcomed Popeye at tho wharf were children, including tiny tots who were accompanied by their mothers or

nurses, and who had assembled to obtain a glimpse of their idol of the screen. When tho box plans were opened for the Auckland season of “Hello Popeye” there was a record demand for seats and although daily matinees

aro being staged, tho Williamson theatre there is proving quite inadequate to accommodate tho largo numbers which endeavour to obtain admission. Daily a largo number of people gather outside tho hotel at which Mr. Costello resides, with the object of obtaining a glimpse of the original Popeye, and he is being besieged before and after every performance by crowds of grown-ups and children, and altogether his season is proving tho most successful and most remarkable in the history of the stage there. Critics are almost unanimous in stating that Mr. Costello is oven more entertaining on the stage than he is ou the screen, and at the close of his performance each afternoon and evening he was called before the curtain again and again. Joey Porter, the young London music hall comedian, made himself immensely popular when he originally appeared here in one of Frank Neil's revues, and his will be a welcome re-appearauce. He works in “Hello Popeye” in conjunction with 3yd Page, one of New York’s leading comedians, and they are assisted in their comedy scenes by Miss Peggy i Earle and Ruth Rudie, two very lino eccentric dancers and comediennes. The Elite Trio are artistic ballroom Adagio dancers, and the Kermondo brothers aro sensational acrobats. Billy Raves is a brilliant comedy juggler from tho leading New York theatres, and Horne Dargio is described as a wonder of the harmonica. Tho Bitchio brothers are international dancers. There are many other artists in 4 ‘Hello Popeye,” including Kay Zammitt, Mavis Ritchie and Betty Lambert, also Frank Neil’s famous Tivoli Beauty Ballet and chorus.

The box plans will be opened at Messrs. Collinson aud Cunuinghaine’s on Friday morning next at 0 o’clock. A queue will be formed from 8 a.m.