The Deadhead's Diary

NZ Truth, Issue 605, 20 January 1917, Page 2

The Deadhead's Diary

The picture managers m Wellington are asking, "Who's next?" There does not seem to be anything m the story that Tom Donovan is to be appointed managing director of ' the New Zealand Picture Supplies. After making a close inspection "Deadhead" is of the opinion that there is no manager at The King's this week. One does not seem to be needed. Why don't picture people write like human beings. Clara Kimball Young scrawls a note m "The Common Law" of about two lines. "When it is thrown on the screen it is half a page. The picture is too good to be spoiled by these trifles, but all the same they, do worry one... Next Saturday at Everybody's a good picture will be, featured, entitled "Eye of the Night." The picture' is strongly redolent of war and amongst the general war damage, is a war baby. As tl^e little bounder doesn't actually pop up until the last reel he managed to get past the censor: but 'twas touch ■ and go, so they say. ; s: :: :: A , flapper . friend of . "Deadhead's" wants to know what Olga Petrova does with her dresses after she has finished a picture. She — the flapper, we mean — has counted ninety-nine not including nighties and other things during the last few months and reckons she — the flapper again — could do with some of them. Come to think of it, it is somethin to speculate about, when you're tired of the'w.ar. : it : : : s , In a. coming Triangle Ince productioned called "A Corner m Colleens," ■Bessie Barriscale wears pants and a false mustachio. If you will not tell anybody, we will let you m on a secret. You'll wonder whose pants she wears! She.. stole-; them from' one of the stage hands. When he got them, back, the boy bought, a glass case for them and has it labelled— "-Them trousers, which wuz mme — wuz worn \by the famous actress Bessie Barriseaie m 1916." On Saturday another new Charlie Chaplin picture will. be shown m Wellington. "The Count" is^ tho title and it is distinctly funnier than quite d few recent Chaplins have been. By, the 'way, Charlie bought a new : walking stick t'dther day. He paid exactly 34 cents for it, which brings his total expenditure since he started earning 1^ his 670,000 dollar screw to the sum total of two dollars 52 cents. Harry Lauder isn't m it with Charlie, when it comes to saving hoot. „ , . The London "RefereV* m a recent issue, thus referred to an Australian favorite who has done well for himself "m the Old Country: "At the London Hippodrome on Wednesday evening, a feature of the revue, 'Plying x Colors,' was tho appearance of Mr. W. S. Percy m, the place of Little Tich, who was aW sent. An admirable substitute was Mr. Percy, who, m a task of great difficulty, came through. with flying colors." Little W.S.P. is making a brave fight to win his rightful place on the London stage and all who know him will welcome his success. Tbe Christie Comedies have struck a new note and mighty good one. They are about the best things m laugh getters that we have seen, yet there is no silly exaggerations and impossible freaks doing crazy things, just men and women. of every day — some pretty and charming girls they've got, too— in things that might happen to anybody any day. If "Deadhead" could write picture comedies, he sees enough funny things m Wellington that would -have i\\6 bo called knock-about funniooities "skinned to death." Anyhow, thank the Loard for something new! When Tom O'Brien persuaded a Wellington damsel to don flowing draperies and a mask and pose m the vestibule of the Empress Theatre, while a well-known pictorial advertising artist (disguised aa an alleged Bohemian) made divers studies of her anatomy, he pulled 6ff. one of the best advertising stunts that has evpr been worked m Wellington. The same bright and brainy boy intended to work another stunt m front of Everybody's to boost "The Old Folks at Home." He had arranged for a nice clean old man and a swept old lady to sit and look sloppy, In an appropriate sottincr, when at tho eleven (h hour tho old man jibbed, lie anld he'd do It If they'd lot him block his face. Ye Gods! Fancy impersonating Sircrbert Beorbuncr Tree with ,a burnt cork complexion! In the early days of his stage career, Arthur Stlgant, again appearing as dama m the J. C. Williamson panto. •'Tho House that Jack Built," at Melbourne, made a .speciality of "old men " part**. In uno .season of Irish drama lusting six weeks. Mr. Stlgant - played eighteen Priest. piirtHi The actor confesses that even now he has a hanker ing after drama roles. "Sometimes 1 get very tired of playing nothing but the Dame," wild Mr. fiU).\'int. "it mrtainly is a fai part." he adri<>d. "but Unpeople «et tho idea that an not or who plays one particular sort of part can do nothing else. Tho worst feature of playing" Dame m an Australian punto-' mitifi is that during x\\o pun vh<" wuuiht'j\ Tor the moat, part, is hot. and 1 swelter m the hi/rivy c'oihlnj; to nui^li an extent tliul at Uh- em! of the season f am a very lean exponent of a rut ]»nrt.'" ! s : : : : There are two item* m (he big J. C. Williamson pantomime. "The House That Jack Built." that provide an element of-mymery to use aurik-noft not usually' asHodat i-d with a pantomime. Tho first Is the hifr "Jinß'e Johnny" that, lowered from i-ho 'lome of Uic theatre, .s':"jri 'he- vnorus of flihla Ciuiver's sonpr. and answers ouesilonu. O£ course, t J j • ■ tfener.-il . «sipr>u;;li{on i. k! V:,:iX Uiere is a rn:in insldo. h'.jt the jh>>(i\c In the .tlreri: t'livht can »'■<• the empty Interior of tho Krol«-.stju>* flfriiff through, the open fli.p from which th< 1 Homul omitrccs. And n.^ to the sfamophone <nipj»osi'i! to f.f invMe. Ui.u :si:p- --* position is di!">jK>:i('u of by ihe tuvi ih;it ,iii',;,','in Johnny ii'l>l»^> inli-iiui^ntly to (H:!':;tloti.s, and rol'ors to various |jeopie. m tl.f thufitro to wlmn he ib'»irts< that miniature representations of him::t-ir should be presented.' Tho other mystery relate* to the dolls that help to back the iinnK, "B*by Doll." These ;ire carried by the ehiitlron v/ho aßp.ha, un<> jon bo'mj: pl.tcr-a uprJKlu '-r\ tb" «;.'if:'*. thi-V i.i;:iu'lS. ; U-!.v <l.u>(''.- m i'.irnuu-.y with Chi- r!i"rnti, hr«.-(»iiiK l ! er/C-r ! . n;;if. ' "\V^r!../(l by \virep" or "Wouiul up." say i tin- p,-o;»h' m fro?)?. Which ever way ; tiny may 1»».« »»ve»'»tevl. the (1o!it; nr<i ! nv:r\>-il(Mi:-i rn\v.i".ns of modem ftt.-tjf«i | !>.::«-Miwy s ;itul. nV-v.n v.-Sth "J\nair- ! johnny." :u!i'. h«f:iensesy u> tliy lntere.*jt \ '\r.\l rtUr.u^'.lV'.vjcjiii «f she .•sl-.otv.