The Deadhead's Diary

NZ Truth, Issue 570, 20 May 1916, Page 2

The Deadhead's Diary

Another event m Wellington early next month will be the Paul Dufault concerts. The French-Canadian tenor has been singing to wonderful business m the South Island. :: :: :: One of the biggest acts the Fullers have yet taken from America is on the water to this speck of dust at the present time. It is an acrobatic offerIng by "The Manchurians." This tr9upe is not composed of Chinese or Koreans, but comprises six exceedingly clever arid daring American acrobats. That annual theatrical event, the Williamson Pantomime, so eagerly looked forward to by youngsters and oldsters, will arrive m New Zealand next month. In former years the company made a start at Auckland, but this time Wellington will be the first town played by "Mother Goose." The opening date is to be either June 20 or 27. ■ . ■■.;■ .■ ••■■:. ■ : . ii . ' ' -it .' - . t: ' '■ ■■■'■_ Will Rayner, who was recently round these parts trying to convince himself that he was a pantomime comedian, has doffed the. motley and gone back to his proper sphere. He has signed up with Fullers and presents his new singing act m immaculate walking dress. Since he appeared m pantomime the moving about the stage Has (given him additional confidence which tends to make his turn much brighter. He is billed as "the Melody Man." The "Pink Dandies," regarded by Mr. Edward Branscombe as the best of his several companies of merry men and maidens, are to start their Dominion tour at Wellington early next month. Amongst the "Pinks" will be Mr. Roland Henry, who will be remembered as the funny man of the "Orange" Dandies, here a couple of years ago. It truthfully can be said of Henry that he is an artist to his finger-tips, for he materially enhances his effects by his clever finger play. •V.. '• :: ■•."■■"■■■" :: •' ■ : ■'a'-.''-':-'' ': ■ "Twin Beds," the latest Williamson farce, now playing m Melbourne, has proved something of a bone of contention amongst the married. The wife who wants to entertain, the husband who prefers to stay peacefully and quietly by his own fireside, as personified by Hale Hamilton and Myrtle Tannehlll, are a typical couple, and the- humorous side of the comparison that the married folk m the audience make is that the husbands Identify Blanche Hawkins as the counterpart of their wives, and the latter compare Harry Hawkins with their husbands. • »: •■ : ■ ii / i: ■":■■- The war drama "Under Fire" ends with the re-union of Ethel Wllloughby (Lizette Parkes) and Captain Larry Redmond (Julius Knight) m the ruined church with its crucifix suspended over the altar and the nave filled with wounded and dying soldiers. This ending, however, is not quite satisfying to "IJeadhead," for one, for after a long course of melodrama, writer has got used to the traditional happy endIng, which m the case of "Under Fire" Is left to the imagination. The play would round off better if the dramatist had provided us with another short act with the' scene shifted back again to the drawing-room of Sir G«o. WagBtaffe's London house. The valiant Captain Larry could be found wounded and wearing the V.C. (which his brave deeds undoubtedly warrant), but happy m the arms of his adorable Ethel. Enter Guy, the English Johnnie, also wounded and likewise happy with pert Miss Georgie Wagstaffe, and the pride of his fond mother's heart. The final curtain could now fall on an atmosphere distinctly redolent of orange blossoms and wedding march, and there you are for a proper finish! ■■"•'■. >* tt ■[.:«• Pearl M. Laight, of Early and Laight, who are establishing something of a laughing record at His Majesty's, Wellington, this week, Wants it to be distinctly understood that a continuous simulation of intoxication does not necessarily mean occasional intemperance without simulation. In their "Water Waggon" sketch Early and Laight have a right royal domestic battle, and inadvertently the lady drinks whisky which has been liberally added to her favorite drinking fountain. The result is the most ludicrous of partial intoxication on the part of one who m the sketch has been condemning Ini temperance right along. Pearl Laight Is famous for this imitation through America, but for all that she is off the stage the most ardent of teetotallers. "I'm a six o'clocker," she says, "And I look on myself as a sort of temperance reformer.." One woman wrote me once saying, "I used to drink a bit now and then, and I guess occasionally I went about as far as you're mipposed to go m your sketch 'on the Water Waggon.' Since I saw you, however, I've out it all out. I said to myself, 4 lf I look as silly as she does, m the future it's me for aqua pura."\ What a chance for the New Zealand Alliance to secure a Prohib. advocate.

To her general popularity with the public Dorothy Brunton has added the distinction of being the soldiers' idol. The marching song, "Good-bye and Good Luck," which Miss Brunton sings m "So Long, Letty," has, caught on. During "Holy Week" m Rome recently, the Vatican gave permission to three American kiijematpgraphers to photograph certain of the .Papal functions. The Canons, protested to the Cardinal who gave the permission and then refused to remain at the function while the camera-men remained. The majority of the Canons are said to have gone away, and the incident naturally caused a sensation m the Vatican. This is not the first appearance m Australasia of Jack Martin, the cowboy comedian,, now showing at the Auckland Opera House. He was here m the successful Captain Brunswick act which played the Fuller circuit for 36 weeks. Martin is no~w working on entirely new lines, blending his champion rope-spinning with some original chatter that gets big' laughs. The cowboy holds the world's championship for fancy rope-spinning, winning it from Tex McLeod, at Pendleton, Oregon, m 1913. , st .**'... «» Many and persistent are the rumors concerning the future operations at the picture trusts m New Zealand, and. as usual, it is difficult to get at tho bottom of things. Some people aro definite and cock-sure of their knowledge that the Fullers are pulling out of the picture business m New Zealand, but those most concerned give the statement the lie direct, and assert that such a thing is impossible. Tho story has gone the rounds, m fact is going the rounds, that when Brother Ben Fuller paid a flying visit to these islands, he attended the various theatres, directors' meetings* etc., etc.. and shook things up. Incidentally, it is known that Brother Ben is not greatly enamored of pictures, and has ventured to predict that the day is dawning -when the average picture patron, will possess a plant of his own i and will bo content with miniature films, and that when that day arrives, the picture. show will be. a thing of the past, Anyhow, after the departure of Ben J. to his Sydney head-quarters, news leaked out that John Fuller, Jnr., or rather City Councillor Fuller, a once prospective Lord Mayor of Wellington, was busily engaged packing up his traps, In readiness to depart, to Sydney, and there take ,an active part m the management of vaudeville affairs. As John, jnr., actively represented the "Earth" on the directorate of the Picture amalgamation, it looks as 'if the Interests of the firm m the picture business are to bo delegated to another: It cannot be to Brother Walter, (notwithstanding that he is a director), for, as head of the vaudeville business m New Zealand, ho has as much as he can do— and incidentally, does it well, and m true Fuller style. Of course, John Senior is to be counted, but that old war-horse loves his Auckland too well, and besides, after a rather strenuous life of it, is entitled to an evening of rest. However, with the proposed departure of John, jnr., for Sydney, where the skies are blue, the girls pretty and the beers "thrippence," or, at any rate they used to be, E. J. Righton has assumed almost supreme control of the picture business, and "Deadhead" ventures to predict anything but an easy time ahead for him. I! SI • :! It is not necessary to be financially Interested m a picture show for one to know that the ploture business m New Zealand at the present time is not all "cream." The war has played merry Hades with business, and as the war proceeds, picture shows will suiter more. Besides no one blinks their eyes to the fact that a picture show is a good source of revenue to the Government, from a taxation of profits point of view, added to which is the possibility of , opposition coming from the J. C. Williamson picture concerns, which are said to have cast covetous . glances to this land where milk is 'supposed to flow along with honey. E. J. Righton Is regarded as a strong 'man, and It is claimed that all along his has been the guiding hand of the trust. He will need to be a strong man, because the future Is so uncertain. Whoever has been responsible m the past for the policy followed deserves to be severely spoken to over some of the "tripe" which has been passed along for consumption by patrons of the theatres under the trust's control. Incidentally, now that it is known that E. J. Righton is the top-dog, developments are awaited. And there have been- some already. 11 »s tt On Monday last the announcement was made that there had been changes In the management of "Wellington picture theatres; the brainy and Bhrewd Tom Donovan, who had been associated with the successful Everybody's Theatre, being transferred to an even more useful sphere of activities. Tom Donovan is succeeded by the capable Paul Latham, lately of the King's, while the hew manager of the King's Is a Mr. Bernard, who is credited with possessing new notions, or rather notions picked up while on a recent tour 'of the Yewnited states. The clever and artistic Hank Portere, lately the roan In front of the Star Theatre. Newtown. has been transferred to headquarters, and there his artistic abilities will be put to their proper use. Portere is a genius m his poster work, m fact too good for New Zealand, where opportunities are, small, and it will not com« aa any great surprise If Hank suddenly hoar* a "call," from tho 'Wild, or any other OKI plßccn hum Saturday night the Btaft of the Star farewellod Hank In customary fashion, and Hank's reply, bolwcon drinks, Is salt! to have b«en unique, m uddition to being eloquent. Incidentally, there is uome talk of a Theatrical Managers' Industrial Union being formed In Now Zealand, and no doubt this, If accomplished, will add to tho difficulties of managing directors and others who make money per medium of the film and its accessories.