THE THEATRE WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22022, 3 August 1933, Page 14

THE THEATRE WORLD

SIR BENJAMIN FULLER’S AIM “A POSTGRADUATE COURSE.” I am going to take a postgraduate course in entertainments,” said Sir Benjamin Puller, of the Fuller Theatres, who passed through Auckland by the Monterey, en route for Los Angeles. “My first call will be Hollywood,” he said, " and then I will go on to London, which has not seen me now for eight years—the longest poiiod I have been away from the centre of the Empire since I arrived in Auckland in 1805, I have been across the Tasman 70 times, but ray brother John can beat that record.

“ Everything in the kinema and theatrical world is subject to rapid change, During the last few years there has been a change in every direction, and I am going to see what it is all about, and adapt the newest phases to opr business in Australia and New Zealand Flesh-and-blood entertainments are stjll in the doldrums, but I have the greatest faith that the younger minds wi}l evolve something to cater for their own contemporary class. I firmly believe that it is impossible for an age-old industry such as the stage to be wiped out. Man i? still a gregarious animal, and likes to see the actor in the flesh. I don’t mean by that that he walks away from the screen, which is more popular than ever,” Sir Benjamin said “ Music in the Air ” was being staged in Sydney, It was a modern play and a little ahead of its time, but was doing good business; in fact, all the places of entertainment were doing well considering the limes. The kinema was the cheapest form of amusement and had its millions of votaries the world over. Business in the Commonwealth, generally speaking, was improving. The four years just past had been terrible. His firm was developing the Bijou site in Bourke street, Melbourne, whore a St. James Theatre was to be erected and completed in time for the Melbourne centenary cel-brations. AUSTRALIAN FILMS. Sir Benjamin said Australian film production was proceeding satisfactorily and four pictures were being made. Mr F. W. Thring was ambitious and practical and had schemes for placing Australia firmly on the kinema map. He was extending his activities by building studios and equipping theatres to employ actors between pictures. That was sound, economically. Cine Sound was also extending its operations. When he returned ho hoped to take part in production development. British film had come into favour. At one time its announcement discounted box office anticipation by 25 per cent. Now it bad a start on all other nationalities. Sir Benjamin Fuller does not devote the whole of his time to theatrical business. He is president of the Howard Prison Reform League in Sydney, the New Health Society, and of the Racial Hygiene' Society, a member of the committee of the Industrial Blind Institute, and is connected with many other social organisations. He is keenly interested in education and established a students’ loan fund, which carried on throughout the years of depression. He also established a scholarship, the funds for which are in the hands of a board of trustees of which the Governor of New South Wales is chairman. “ When I die,” he said, “ all that I would like to have as an epitaph is, ‘ He was a community man.’ ”