The Deadhead's Dairy

NZ Truth, Issue 585, 2 September 1916, Page 2

The Deadhead's Dairy

More picture theatres for Wellington. One Ln . Courtenay-placc and another m Manners-street. Fifty-four thousand scenarios and synopsis have been received m William A. Brady's contest, which the World Film Corporation is conducting. Duke Kahanamoku, the dusky Hawiian champion swimmer, is the latest to go on the vaudeville stage. Presumably, he'll finish up as Merman to Annette Kellerman's Mermaid. The mighty spectacle, "The "Birth of a Nation," now drawing big business at the big Town Hall, is a picture that should not be missed by anybody with eyes to see and a mind to appreciate something worth whilel :: :: :: Have you noticed what splendid pictures Ted Busby is screening at MacMahon's Theatre these days (and nights)? This is the result of Ted's new contract with the Paramount people, and his patrons are now regaled with features which it is no exaggeration to describe as the pick of the newest releases. Some notable pictures will be on tap m Wellington next week. These will be "Seven Sisters," a romantic drama, featuring Marguerite Clark at the j King's; "The Waif," featuring Matty Roubert, a wonderful boy actor, at Everybody's: and "Tho Fighting Chance" at the Empress. The latter is adapted from the famous novel of that name by Robert W. Chambers. :: :: :: Dorothy Brunton, who has added to her successes by her delightful performance as June m "To-night's the Night," at Her Majesty's, Melbourne, was asked whether, if she had her timo over again, she would become an actress. "Of course, I would," declared Miss Brunton, unhestitatingly. "There is nothing eiBQ at all that I could adapt myself to. All other professions to me are drab and uninviting. I am never so happy as when I am on the stage. It is my whole existence. I heartily sympathise with every girl who has to earn her living otherwise than as an actress." ji :: :: - As Norah Marsh m "The Land of Promise," to be staged shortly at Melbourne Theatre Royal for the first time m Australia, Madge Fabian will be seen m a role m which she achieved a big success m South Africa, under the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management Associated with Miss Fabian m this production were two other artists well known In Australia, A. S. Homewood, who appeared here with the Brough-Flemlng Co., and Stephen Ewartt, who was leading man ln Australia with the Ethel Irving Company. :: :: :: A picture manager was complaining of the size of his theatre last week, and amongst other remarks he said that every Saturday night there were over two thousand' inhabitants of this windy city crowded out of seeing a picture show, at every session, which means six thousand disappointed picture citizens each Saturday. Come to think of it, there Ss not a really up-to-date picture theatre here. That is, one with a sliding roof, really comfy seats and other necessary adjuncts. Someone will wake up some day. II M iJ • Eva Belfour, who plays tho lead ln "Five Nights," is a Chrißtchurch girl. Before she wedded artist "hubby" Balfour sho was known to the world as Eve Hulston. After her marriage she went to England and eventually became understudy to Mrs. Pat Campbell. Unlike most understudies, her opportunity arrlveVl one night owing to tho illness of her principal. Shemade good, and has since appeared m a number of. photo plays, notably productions by the London Film Company. Her work m "Five Nights" Is one of the few redeeming features m a feeble production. it :: :? Mankin, the frog, who is among Ben J. Fuller's recent American bookings, has the reputation of being the most sensational contortionist .that has come to this country. He works ln a picturesque grotto. Tho curtain rises disclosing a huge shimmering green frog Billing on a toadstool. The frog, emerges to gambol realistically (for a frog perhaps but uncannily for a human). Tho wonderfully natural frogKkin conceals tliat part of the act which might not be tho plcasantost thing m the world to witness, and gives to it a quointnesp that brings ripples of amusement as j well aa gasps of astonishment. Mankin Is well styled "the almost lm possible*" Evidently "Ferry the Frog" over again. Nothing new under tho sun. "Deadhead" rises respectfully to protest against the indiscriminate playing of "Gorsave" at Wellington picture shows. At tho King's they give It you coming and going. At the beginning of the show the National Anthem is sung reverently and heartily, but at the finish it Is played to the usual stampede for the exits by 9? per cent, of those present. But what wo want to kick against is the habit somo orchestras havo of commencing "Goraavo" whenever the King appears m a topical '•Gazette." His ttoyal Niba la generally only on view for 30 sees, or no, but some orchestral* always mop dead In the presence of KoynJty and Uush off into tho Anthem (ono after the other).- Ji»3t when thoy arc Kinling Into their snide iho scene changes, whereupon the musicians generally make tho best of a bad Job by tlnlshlng tho piece at a gallop. Let u« havo reason m all things, please!

I Maurice Costello is appearing with ' the Consolidated Film Corporation, and I will be starr.ed m "The Crimson Stail • Mystery." (a serial special). ti et :: Melbourne is to see the first production m Australasia of "The Cinema Star," one of the most successful English musical plays of recent years. When are they going to release the second Mutual Chaplin film, "The Fireman"? Chaplin's third Mutual production, "The Vagabond," is now on its way here, so what is' the little game m saving 'em up like this? The Famous Players and Lasky Film concerns have affiliated. They are two of the oldest producing firms m the film industry. The new organisation will manage their business on a paltry twelve million dollars! { Hale Hamilton and Myrtle Tannehill will appear m the lively farcecomedy, "Too Many Cooks," m Melbourne. In this case it does not concern the spoiling of the broth, but tht building of a bungalow, which is seen m various stages of the building process throughout the play. "Sometimes," said Madge Maitland, the Irish- American ' comedienne now appearing at His Majesty's, Wellington, "sometimes I get kind dt afraid of my own reputation. Naturally. I'm pleased to know managers think enough of me to bill me big, but, believe me, whenever I see my name about a mile high outside a theatre, I get a cold shiver down my back." If the above is true, judging by the way Madge is being billed In Wellington, we should say she'll shiver to death if they don't move her on. A few privileged "Deadheads'," such as the writer, the Hon. Jas. Allen, Minister of Defence, Brlgadier-(3eneral Robin, and a lot of officers, With plenty of gold lace and. time to spare, caw a private exhibition of the war film, "France on the Firing Line, Fighting Around Verdun," at the King's Theatre, Wellington, on Tuesday afternoon last. These films have- never lieen shown m Wellington before and from a military educational standpoint are a revelation. The pictures are. full. of action and are most comprehensive. It is little short of marvellous how the operator has secured the pictures of shells bursting over the trenches. The first portion of the film deals,, with the Battle of Champagne, while the second portion deals with the fighting around Verdun. :: :: * :: . Illustrated sub-titles have been appreciated novelties ,m the films for some little while, notably m the Triangle productions, "Bullets' and Brown Eyes" and "The, Raiders' 1 ;* but now Triangle have gone bhti better, and have engaged Mon Randle, the wellknown American caricaturist, to work on them. The drawings typify the happenings m the present or coming scene of the film, the first example being m "The No-Good Guy," William Collier's first comedy drama, which is a better film than its name' suggests, and which should come this way soon. Albert Chevalier, the prominent English music !hall star, who became famous m this country by his work m "My Old Dutch," has just completed a photo-dramatisation of one of his music hall dialogues, entitled "The Fallen Star." The critics say that Chevalier has given the world an even more powerful characterisation than his Coster type In "My Old . Dutch." ''The Fallen Star," as its name indicates, concerns the rise and decline of an actor. There is great pathos m • the picture, which will, let us hope, be secured for New Zealand m due course. :: :: :: What an important part is played by the telephone m the American species of "movie." Most photo-dramas depend on the use of tho 'phone for the development of tho plot, but we never realised how necessary the telephone was to the motor-picture producer till we saw "The Green Swamp" at the King's this week. In this play the actors and actorines spend 76 per cent, of thejr time either ringing up each other or answering a call to the 'phone. Cut out the übiquitous 'phone and this picture for one could never have been evolved or produced. II II I! There are three American comediennes who, starting iti tho vaudeville business at the sumo time, failed to arouso any Intense enthusiasm nt the outset of their careers, but ultimately reached the top with one simultaneous swoop. Those are Stellu Mayhew, Kva Tanguay, and Madge Maltlund. Mlsh Mayhew is now being featured with Al Johnson In the big Winter Garden show; Eva Tanguay is tho great hit any time she likes, to star m New York: and Madge Maitland (with an unhappy bereavement forcing a long holiday) has como to Australia and New Zealand to tho very good^ fdrtuno of the Fullers. Years ago tho three comediennes appeared on the.samo bill till drawing email money; now they arc doing slightly bettor, thanka. Mjulkc Maitland, after booming through Australia, commenced a New Zealand tour of tho Fuller Circuit at His Majesty's, Wellington, last Monday. t: :: it Tho Allan WHklo Tercentenary Shakespearian company, which ia to inaugurate a season, ut tho Grand Opcni House commencing shortly, Intend to present during tho season six productions on a high-class scale and at prices lowor than before. For tho leading roles, Mr, Allan Wllkio and Miss Frediswyde Hunter- Watta, both well-known English artists, havo be«n specially ongttged, Mr. Wllkle has nppeurad at most of the lwullntf London theatres ami has been associated ut various time* with Sir Herht;ri Tree, MJsis Julia Merlon and Mr. 1-Yi'd Terry. Ho liuh appeared on several occuHlons b«.'for« the laut Kins j ICdwnrd VII.. Including a. command per- ! forrnancu m which ho played the Karl of Northumberland m Hlohard 11. For six years ho toured all the principal I cUk'rt of th« Mrltish Islojs us a Shnkt!*- j pearlan juur with his own company. Miss Hunter-Watts haw played the I leading purl* In nu fewer tlmn eJeven ] Shakewpuurian play*, ranging from HoxalimJ to Lady Macbeth. After j several years of vnluablu vxpaHtMico In j Knglund she was specially <.<nKnK<"i m \ It'll for v starring ongagvmeiu m t-'jil-cuttu durhiK the vi«U »>f the KltiK ar.d Quoi-n m cotttU'ctlun with the Durbar, j This \va» followed by a \quk tour ut j the Orient. Ml»» Hum or- \Yiiu« who j lioHsosW'H »i Hnc< mUiko presence, m w-ld to by ftn actress of rt«m emotional jxiwer. The first production of tho • forthcoming season will bo the jiubllrne inifjeUy, "lUunlut," t" be followed by ■Tbo Merchant of Venice. j'wntfili NlKhl/' '■Othello. 1 ' •|U>im>o jwh! Juliet," :in«l "Ak You Like H." Truly #\x glorious productions for Wellington,