BLIND MILLIONAIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

BLIND MILLIONAIRE.

STILL RUNNING A THEATRE.

BRIGHT OUTLOOK ON LIFE.

Mr. Archibald Nettlefold, the millionaire manager and lessee of the Comedy Theatre who, as reported recently, is still supervising plans for film productions though he has lost his sight, is undeterred by his affliction.

" I am not going to let myself become depressed," he said to a Daily Mail representative. " After all, I have four senses left, and that is something to be thankful for. I have had plenty of enjoyment out of my life up till now, and I intend to get heaps more yet." A desperate struggle by specialists preceded Mr. Nettlefold's blindness, and now, in his beautiful house near Wrotham, Kent, he is trying to accustom himself to his new conditions.

" I hope very soon to bo having new plays read to me," Mr. Nettlefold said, " and to continue at the helm of the Comedy Theatre for many more years. The rebuilding of my film studios at Walton-on-Thames has just been completed, and there also I intend to be active."

When Mr. Nettlefold was young lie wanted to take up music. Ho was always wealthy onough to be independent of financial gain, but ho was told that his health would not permit the necessary study. lie turned to farming and made a great success of it. Ten years ago Mr. Nettlefold became interested in West End theatres. In his early days as a manager ho took parts in two of his productions at tho Kingsway Theatre. Not long ago Mr. Nettlefold purchased the tinv Burgh Island, some 20 miles from Plymouth, and is now building a hotel there. Ho is also interested in tea-rooms in London, and is still running his model farm at Wrotham Park.