The Deadhead's Diary

NZ Truth, Issue 580, 29 July 1916, Page 2

The Deadhead's Diary

Yera's shapely limbs divine will be on view at the Grand Opera House, Wellington, next week.

John Fuller, junior, Is doing nicely m Sydney, thank you. Oh, no, he is not anxious to return to New Zealand.

Ben. J. Fuller is taking no chances. It is said that prior to offering his services to King and Country, he took out a life Insurance policy for £10,000. :: ■ " :: i: Dainty Dorothy Harris, the only ra-a-hag-time singer that Fullers' have given us who Is worth remembering, has arrived back m Australia again, after a year m America. Of course, she signed up with Fullers, and Is now on the circuit again. In due course she should reach these shores.

Everybody's Theatre, Wellington, has got another new manager In the person of a Mr. Melvln, who landed from Sydney on Monday morning and straight away got Into harness, being traced thereto by Paul Latham, who had showed E. J. Righton that It was not Inhumanly possible for one man to do the work of three men. Mr. Melvln, "Deadhead" gleans, is new to picture management, but that is not a valid reason why he should not succeed. ...'■'..■ . ..

All m the picture business are on the qul vlve for developments m the picture world, of New Zealand. The departure for Sydney of Johnny Fuller, jnr., is said to have convinced a lot that the Fullers are pulling out of the pirture business, and that, m due time, vaudeville and drama, etc., will be shown or given where pictures are now the vogue. There are numerous picture supply concerns springing up, and, generally, matters have reached an interesting stage.

Quite a novelty m advertising was Instituted m Wellington, shortly before the picture "Cabarla" was shown, and the novelty m question was an invitation to the general public to seek out a certain young lady at the booking office and see what seats were available. The young lady resented the reference to her virgin-like features, and "bucked." Presumably, the advertisement achieved what it set out to accomplish, and that was talk. In ye olden days it would have ended m the girl's brother looking for fight, and somebody getting hurt. How times have changed.

:: :: :: Charlie Chaplin's first release since he joined the Mutual, m "The Shopwalker," showing m Wellington this week, Is rather better than any of his Essanay stuff, but It will take a lot of trying on. his part to improve on the Keystone productions m which he appeared, and which were directed by Mack Sennett. The only thing that marred the Keystone was their vulgarity, and the Mutual deserve a pat on the back for they appear to be aiming at a cutting out of the blue stuff. Meanwhile, Charlie is sedulously earning his £135,000 a year or so; but it is hardly as yet, to say that he is enjoying it, for the Essanay people reckon he broke his contract with them, and they are suing Charles for 600,000 dollars (say £100.---000). N.B. — This doesn't sound much If you say it quickly! I

:: :: :: Added to her other gifts Dorothy Brunton has a remarkably retentive memory that makes the learning of a View song: or role a very easy thing for her. The afternoon before the fulldress rehearsal of "To-night's the Night" at Melbourne Her Majesty's, ■Mr, Hugh J. Ward handed to Miss Brunton a new song, "Monterey," that he wished included m the Gaiety piece. Miss Brunton played it over that afternoon, and fixed the ear-haunting melody firmly m her mind. That night, after the show, she learnt the words. The next morning, prior to the fulldress rehearsal, she sang it over for Victor Champion, the musical director, and when Mr. Ward asked her whether she could do the number at the rohear« sal, she smilingly replied that she thought so. Miss Brunton did "Monteroy" without a flaw m words or melody, and at the first-night performance it was one of the sensational successes of the evening, receiving six encores. "The less I study a part the quicker I remember it," says Miss Brunton. "I generally tackle it at the last minute — say, three or four days before the final rehearsal. I never seem to have the slightest difficulty In committing it to memory nor do I ever forget it. I find it merely a matter of mental concentration,"

It is very evident that tho brainy Ben Fuller is out after scalps. Whose need not be mentioned, but It can be surmised that the J.C.W. concern Is not going to have things all Its own way m the future. Ben J. took a flying trip to the United States, the only place, seemingly, where tdlent Is available, and booked up turns for tho Fuller circuit, which extends all over Australasia 'and up to India's coral strand. He was barely back m Sydney when he decided that his top-notch managers and right and left hand men should get American color, and straight away he issued Instructions to Bill Douglas to get two of everything, put 'cm In a suit case, and hike out for America. Bill Douglas had hardly been given time to Iwarn to talk through his nose, when Ben figured It out that his left hand man. to wit, Harry Patrick Muller. should 'embark on a tour of moral agitation," and, accordingly, lust week. H.P.M. passed through New Zealand en route for tho States. Harry just looked In, as It were, to straighten up a few private affairs, having a week or so previously lost his aged mother, who resided at Palmerston North, and as filial devotion is a good trait of a man's character, 'Deadhead" would like to say that Harry Muller always had been a good son, and being proved a good son, he has proved a good husband and n wla«.» father. However, "Deadhead" Is not setting out to no Into the private affairs of Harry Muller. All who know the man, also know that he is a white man. However, since the day that Harry managed the Palmerston North Municipal Theatre, or from the time that ho decided that bakors. butchers, publicans, grocers, etc., made good citizens and wise councillors, and were honest fellows generally, but shocking, sad-eyed shrieks as controllers of an opera house, or critics of what was good, bad and Indifferent In the theatrical line, and accordingly told the butcher, baker and candlestick maker what good fellows they wcro In their own particular lines, he has not looked back. From a subordinate, almost humble, pout m the Fuller vaudeville employment he has climbed the ladder of aucceiiH. and It is hard to nay whoth«r Harry Muller thinks more of mn Fuller, or Bon Fuller think* moro of Marry Muller. It Ih a sort of reciprocal! vtj "hero- worship." However, and It l« pleading to recall tho fact. it was just outald* "DendheadV s.ineturn. but within this* ncribe'* hearing, thnt Xlt-n Fuller, one day, five or nix yours u«o, intimated to Hurry Muller that he would soon be ably to place him. And placed Harry Muller has been since, Hen Fuller, the "Governor" of the vaudeville buulnwu. has branched out In other directions. He m now Jn the drama and pantomime (jt'oduclntf Mm*, and Harry Muller'H minion is 10 juTiiri' Use talent nw?Hhury for punt<.mtm««. Trum Hurry Muller to Rot tho be* l available In America. It win. » lucky day for both lien Fuller and Hurry Muller whtn they bunuvtl each other m "Truth" ou1c«.

Among the victims of the big fire at New Plymouth were the films of "Neptune's Daughter" and "Lights of London.'

It is given out, and it has yet to be verified and publicly announced, that the J.C.W. concern is about to erect a picture theatre m Courtenay-place, Wellington. As pictures cannot bo shown m the Grand Opera House under a penalty of forfeiting £1000, the necessity for a new picture palace, at least under J.C.W. direction, is apparent. . -

Eileen Fleury, the young and precocjous impersonator who toured through New Zealand on the Fuller circuit last year, when she chiefly gave Daisy Jerome a lot of cheap advertising, by singing the latter's songs better than Daisy herself, is now to have a chance to make good on original lines. Recognising the undoubted talent of the child, Ben Fuller has been instrumental m securing vaudeville contracts m America for her. Ben reckons that if she gets a couple of years' experience m the wide field of American vaudeville, Eileen Fleury will come back to these parts a headliner.

: : : : : : A rather interesting fact m connection with ''The Story of the Rosary," the drama J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have acquired for production m Australia, la that after a lengt"hly run m England, American managers awakened to the attractiveness of the drama and its money-making possibilities and competed eagerly for the rights of production m the United States. Walter Howard received so many offers that he was able not only to pick the highest bid but to also make his own terms as regards the production. The stipulation was made by the author that he should

produce the play m America, select his own artists, and that the amount spent In putting on the play should be such aa to give It an elaborate spectacular presentation. These were agreed to, and result was an enormous success throughout America. Even Boston, the "City of Culture," welcomed "The Story of the Rosary" with packed houses.

Frank Harvey declares that he has never had to work so hard In any play In which he lias appeared m Australia as In "Romance," In which he la now filling: the rolo of Rev. Thomua Armstrong and the old Bishop at Melbourne Theatre Royal. "In 'Under Fire* my role was strenuous enough," said Mr. Harvey, "but It wan easy compared with the strenuous pan of Rev. Thomas Armstrong In 'Romance.' It la such a complex character, and on* that requires not only forceful acting but also restraint. Rev. Thomas Armstrong Is a man of oxtreraes. At one time he la shyly shrinking from the advances of the Italian opera alnger: the next moment he Is declaring his love. In one scene ho rises to the pinnacle of emotionalism and reaches a frenzy of passion that culminates m a thrilling situation. Then his sanity returoß, and he retreats subdued, 'humble, and upologetic. It will, therefore, be soon that tlit> part ia extremely difficult 10 play without losing In effect or realism, and even when I let myself 'go' I have to be ready for the moment when repression and not forcefulness must bo the keynote of the situation. Still, on account of these very complexities I thoroughly enjoy playing the part-"

Miss Wish Wynne, tho celebrated English comedy actress, who Is proving hernelf a gold mine to Fullers, was only twelve years of age when she mado her first stage appearance as a child dancer m a Drury-lane pantomime. She stayed there for ihreo seasons, and during that time waa under the tuition of Mme. Kattl Lanner, one of the leading London dancing mistresses. Some muwicul comedy turns followed, and then Mlus Wynne drifted into drama, playing small parts m such pieces an "Kast Lynn" and "Tho Shuughraun." Before *ho waa Hovontefin yearn of ago «tho was playlnft leading lady In v repertoire company. It wax decidedly not ot a London standard. Tho part* bad to b« learned ofl««n «t a f«*w hour*' notice, and member* of tho company often bad to make tho nuitic costume null three Or four character*. There wan not much money m It, either. Mlks Wynne then decided to try her luck at the mu«lc halls. Bbc had a heart-rending struggle. Agent after agent and manager after manner turned her down. At la«t xho got a trial at (Jrrcnwleh Prtlact? Theatre, made good, and In ft f\»w weekn later wont on at the London PsivlMnn at a «»iury of £2 J0« a wfclt. Within a ywr that tut lory hud gone sky-high, and the manner* who had originally turned her down. jo»tl?d «ach other to get contract* with her.