ENTERTAINING THE BLIND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 16

ENTERTAINING THE BLIND.

TALKING FILM AT THEATRE. INVITATION TO THE REGENT. Owing to tho fact that a numbor of children who were to have attended were suffering from severe colds, tho entertainment for Mind children, which was to havo been provided at the Regent Theatre yesterday afternoon, had to be postponed until next Thursday afternoon. Tho director of tho Jubileo Institute, Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, informed tho manager of tho Regent Theatre, Mr. E. Greenfield, that only a small number of tho children would bo able to attend, and ho thought it desirable that they should go as a body. Sir. Greenfield concurred in this view.

In addition to tho treat for children, about 50 of whom aro expected, to attend, 150 adults from tho Jubiloo Institute will bo present as guests of tho management, while during tho week another 100 blind persons and thoir escorts will probably avail themselves of tho invitation.

As manager of tho Regent- Theatre in Dunediu Mr. Greenfield was responsible for' tho innovation of admitting blind persons freo to tho theatro after the introduction of "talkies." Ho found that tho invitations to attend wero most popular, and that his guests wero able to follow tho talking films with an uncanny •accuracy, while thtjjr enjoyment of tho new amusement was unbounded. As there aro fewer blind persons in Dunedin than in Auckland, Mr. Greenfield found it possible to issuo oach with a freo pass admitting them and their escorts. Usually each blind person had with him a companion who was ablo to explain tho plot and action at any time it could not bo_ easily followed by hearing alone, and with this small aid tho blind wero ablo to form an excellent impression of tho production tliey wore hearing. Many became frequent visitors. That this privilege was appreciated was shown by tho fact that when Mr. Green fiold communicated with Mr. Clutha Mackenzie with a view to providing the enter tainmcnts next wook, ho was surprised to find that Mr. Mackenzie had already heard of his work in tho South, and ex pressed his gratitude for what had already been dono for blind people.