STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3234, 8 March 1916, Page 63

STAGE GOSSIP.

Hose Lee Ivy has signed another contract with the Fuller firm, and will stay some months. Boris Hambourg, the 'cellist, has settled in New York, and intends to teach and do periodical concert touring. Miss Hilda Spong has made a hit in New York as Kate Cavanagh, an Irish widow, in a new play, entitled " Bunny." Miss Daisy Jerome and Victor Prince's '' ltevusical" Comedy Company are sharing the honours at the Princess Theatre this week. '• So Long, Letty" has proved on Sydney experience to be one of the most successful musical comedies which J, C. Williamson (Ltd.) have of late produced. Mr Edmund Waller (the late Mr Lewis Waller's son), lately fighting in. the Naval Division at the Dardanelles, has been invalided home, too weak for further active service.

Mr Frank Kenny, late of Allen Doone's Dramatic Company, arrived in Auckland from Sydney the other day to arrango for the screening of the Alien Uoone film, "The Rebel."

Maud Allen, terpsichorean and pantomimic interpreter par excellence, has sailed for Europe in order to fulfil a London engagement prior to her American tour during the season of 1916-17.

The beauty actress, Vera Pearce, of Tivoli Follies, was presented with a massive boomerang of flowers on the occasion ef the reopening of the Follies in Melbourne. By the way, Vera is now known as. " The Boomerang Girl." Manager: " What's the leading lady in such a tantrum about?" Press Agent:

" She got only nine bouquets over the footlights to-night." Manager: "Great Scott! Ain't that enough?" Press Agent: "No. She naid for 10."

Wirth's Circus is finishing up its New Zealand tour, which opened at Dunedin at Christmas, at Auckland. Mr Petersen, the touring manager, before returning to Australia, stated that, despite the war, business had been excellent everywhere. Lady Wyndham, wife of Sir Charles Wyndham, the distinguished actor, dkd on January 12, after a. short illness, at the age of 73. Although she was never connected with tha stage, Lady Wyndham wais a keen theatregoer. Lady Wyndham was the daughter of Mr J Silber.ad.

A new opera by Franz Lehar, composer of " Gipsy Love," the " Merry Widow," etc., called " The Star-gazer," was down for production in Berlin for the first time on New Year's Eve. Lehar returned recently from the Austrian battle-front in Dalmatia, where he served as an officer. " The Fox Film" has opened a branch in Sydney, under the management of Lieutenant J. P. Andcison, of the U S.A. army, and their productions will be released from time to time, and shown by J. C. Williamson and Co. (Ltd.), at the various houses controlled by them throughout Australasia. Muriel Starr left for America last week after a iccord engagement under the management of J. C. Williamson (Ltd.). Prior to leaving Miss Starr again signed on with the firm, and will return during the year, her present trip, therefore, being in the nature of a holiday. Mr Charles A. Millward has also left for America,

Mr George W. Anson, a comedian, perhaps, fondly remembered by Australian playgoers who saw him as Eccles and in 30 other parts during the Brough-Boucicault season from 1835 to 1892, has" just celebrated his fiftieth anniversary as an actor. This event took place at Spokane, U.S.A., last December, when he was entertained by the members of " The Lie " Company, and. presented with 'a silver loving-cup.

The probability that the British Government will forbid the importation oi kincma films has created consternation in the industry. At a meeting of the trade, held in London, speakers stated that Italian, French, and American films gave variety to the programmes, and if their importation were forbidden, the majority of the picture theatres would close down. Moreover, no films in Great BrUain were being manufactured with the celluloid base. Minnie Everett, who has figured so prominently in the success of J. C. Williamson pantomimes and other musical productions, in change of the arranging of the ballets and dances, leaves for America this week. Miss Everett is to search out the latest idea in connection with J. C. Williamson's future productions and the next Christmas pantomime, for in the theatrical business no time is lost in making arrangements a long way ahead. Miss Everett has made a number of previous trips abroad on behalf of J. C Williamson (Ltd.). Ml- J. M. Glover, the Drury Lane conductor, pillories the alleged comedians of revue and their " reference to the 'generosity ' of Harry Lauder, a music-hall artist, who seems to have had the bad taste to give his son a university education and a commission, £IOOO to the Prince of Wales Fund, and pay a Scotch recruiting band £IOO a week to walk from Scotland to London recruiting in the King's name, instead of

spending all his income in public-houses, betting, and relying on the Music Hall Benevolent Fund to care for his older age.