LAST CURTAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 10 March 1930, Page 8

LAST CURTAIN

VAUDEVILLE GOES OUT FULLERS' CHANGE OVER SYDNEY, 27th February. The ringing down of the curtain at Fullers' New Theatre in Sydney on Saturday night marked the passing of vaudeville in Sydney—the passing of a form of entertainment that had attracted thousands during many years—that had made fortunes for its promoters, 'Whether the exit will be permanent remains to be seen, but the fact is that the popularity of the talkies has made impossible Hie successful and profitable running of vaudeville entertainments in Australia. Fullers' was little less famous than the old Tivoli, which shut its doors to vaudeville last September. Both theatres, fought bravely against the onslaught of the talkies, but both succumbed. Sir Benjamin Fuller was philosophical about it all when he discussed the fortunes of the theatre. "For 25 years the old theatre presented the same kind of euterlaiiinienl," he mused. "Of course, it is no secret that, until a year or so ago it was a goldmine. But it has lost thousands —say tens of thousands —during the past year." The end of the entertainment which the people had enjoyed for years was inevitable, he said. The desires of the people had changed. The consolation, if any, was that six famous vaudeville houses in London had ceased to give that kind of entertainment, and now there were only two well-known vaudeville houses in the whole of tin? United Stales.

"Some day, maybe, we will get back to a similar type of entertainment," he continued. "But I do not think that it will ever be the same. What form it will take T cannot prophesy. I will not say, however, that we have been defeated, because we are going to use the theatres for talkies, and do not forget that our theatre was built for the voice. But in the meantime, it is exit vaudeville."

The passing of the vaudeville did not affect the player to any lappuront measure. It was just the same Fuller show, this last night—bright and cheerful comedy, anil in the end bouquets were handed up to most of the players. Phil Smith, known to all New Zealand theatre-goers, was there. Was it his final curtainV Mike Connors, the leader of the revue company that ushered out the old, thanked the comparatively small audience, for the encouragement it had given the company. He then announced that the theatre would change its name, and would in future be known as the Roxy. "Sydney has shown a preference for the 'canned' art." he said, "but it will want vaudeville again before long." Who knowsV With vaudeville closing all over the world whtire are the vaudeville artists coming from?