FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21911, 21 September 1934, Page 8

FIFTY YEARS AGO

CHOICE OF AMUSEMENTS CIRCUS AND THEATRE M SATURDAY NIGHT AUDIENCES Auckland's evening amusements of 50 years ago provide an interesting con. trast with those of to-day. The Ne* Zealand Herald of September 22 1884, comments as follows: " The Auckland people are certainly libera! patrons of public amusements. It was computed that on Saturday night fully 7000 people attended various places of entertainment. This certainly does not look like dull times. It may be questioned whether any other comm unity in the colony, in proportion to population, expends so much money on public amusement." The great attraction was apparently " Chiarini's Royal Italian Circus," opened on the reclamation ground fao. ing Breakwater Koad and Customs Street. The Hebald reports that the " equestrianism was excellent and graceful, the clowns lively and taking, but the great feature of the show waj the Faust family, whose acrobatic feats excelled anything before shown in New Zealand."

The stage was represented by Clark and Kyman's Comedy Company at th« Opera House with " Sparks," advertised as " the latest American success" and " Muldoon's Picnic," billed as "the most successful Irish comedy ever pro. duced in the world." The Herald critic found that " both plays were well cast, and the character acting was decidedly good." but that " the pieces abound in humour of a rough and not altogether acceptable form, which nevertheless appeared to please the taste of the audience."

Another attraction was a " Twelve Hours' Walking Match/' which wag held in the Theatre Ko\al for a stake of £SO and the proceeds of the house. This commenced»at 11 a.m., there be. ing two contestants. At 8.45 p.m., however, one retired with cramp after having covered 47 miles, while the second contestant, " finishing in even style," completed his 12-hour task, having walked for 58 miles.

A large baby show was also held, and in face of all these attractions it is not surprising it was reported that " the popular attraction at the Temperance Hall, under the auspices of the Independent Order of Good Tem piers was repeated on Saturday, but owing to counter-attractions there was only a small attendance."