JOYOUS JOSE MELVILLE.

NZ Truth, Issue 1035, 26 September 1925, Page 2

JOYOUS JOSE MELVILLE.

Joyous Jose Melville has made many friends since she first appeared m Wellington. The boys who sell sweets m the Grand Opera House have a very warm corner m their hearts for the popular star, as they demonstrated during , the recent Wellington season of "Kid Boots" and "Good Morning, Daarie." The boyis assembled at the stage .door one night to pay their respects to the star, and presented her with a large, box of chocolates, at the same time' showering colored streamers over the smiling and delighted Jose. The chocolates were handed round with many a cheering word. How like her! No wonder Jose is beloved..

Dolores and Helene. It is . a curious coincidence that the two girls were signed up just .three days before Warner bought the Vitagraph Company, with which their father, Maurice Costella, gained his tremendous popularity and following, so that the girls more or less make j their screen debut under the same auspices as their father. L #■'#■# Since Muriel Starr acquired a motorcar, she has been spending most of her time m the open air', and every day visits localities of scenic interest around Melbourne.' Miss Starr loves the bush, and her favorite outdoor pastime is boiling the billy. * # #•■ The cast has been completed for "Satan m Sables," 'Lowell Sherman's first starring Master picture for Warner Brothers. Helen Dunbar and Francis McDonald are the latest additions. Others of the players already announced are June Marlowe, John

Harron, Gertrude Astor, Frank Butler and Otto Hoffman. "Satan m Sables" is from the novel by Bradley King, and is being directed by James Flood.

At the Coverit Garden Opera House is now established a museum of objects connected with opera and great operatic singers. To the collection of relics, personal and otherwise, is now added a library of records. It made its i-eal beginning- this year, with records from singers who have made their mark, at least their appearances, there this season (closed last July). Columbia has furnished exclusive records of some of the stars. One under notice just now is Aroldo Liindi. His records, now available m New Zealand, are identical with those placed among the operatic archives m Covent Garden for future generations to listen to. •

Few actors are gifted with both the executive and critical ability possessed by Charles M. Hallard, whose polished and vigorous performance m "The Pelican" is delighting audiences at the King's Theatre, Melbourne. His critical sense was trained by his father, who insisted on his children seeing the best actors m the best plays; and, later, by his legal training. Mr. Hallard has appeared with the most famous managers, and m all the most noted plays since 1900. A list of the roles he has played takes up a page and a-half m "Who's Who m the Theatre." * * # George Gee, whose comedy work m "Kid Boots" is entertaining New Zealand playgoers, has spent practically the -\yhole of his life, on the stage. Ho assisted his father m a vaudeville act as soon as he was old enough to go on the stage, and spent all his spare time watching and imitating jugglers and dancers, and. prying into the illusions of the magicians. He learned all that he could about everything connected with the stage, even down to scene-shifting and the arrangement of lighting effects. Later, he graduated into revues and pantomimes, and worked so hard and played so many parts that, m his own w.ords, "he often met himself coming off the stage when he was going on again to play another part."