SCENES OF THEIR YOUTH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16895, 27 November 1925, Page 10

SCENES OF THEIR YOUTH.

CELEBRITIES COME BACK. FILM ACTOR REVISITS CHRISTCHURCH. LIFE AT HOLLYWOOD. (Srecial to the Herald.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. “Like birds that weary of their reaming,” if tin: words <>f the ballad may be permitted', many celebrated -folk who spent their youthful days in Christchurch have ratumed recently to fieq oid friends, old places and to renew acquaintances. Among them have been. Sir Ernest Rutherford, Miss Stella Murray, and Mr. W. Templer Powell. To-day another Christchurch man, who can claim a good share of recognition abroad, returned for a brief holiday. He is Mr. Winter Had, an actor of other days on the New Zealand' stage and a celebrity among film folk at- Hollwood. He is accompanied by his wife, whom Christchurch knew as Miss Katie Young when she was a brilliant pianistd. When a Sun man invaded a- house on the Cashmere Hills this morning he found Mr. Winter Halt so engrossed in the view that it was some time before tiie actor could be persuaded to speak of himself and liia work abroad. “Just look at that. Isn’t it magnificent: Thoro is nothing like that at Hollywood,” exclaimed Air. Hall as ho pointed out over the brilliant flower beds and across the chequered plains to where the sun lighted the blue distant hills. “Yes. It is boiler than Hollywood. Its not commercial,” agreed Mrs Hall, who was standing bv. ' Nine years ago Mr. Hal! landed at Hollywood. lie started to act in bis first' picture ten days later, arid since then ho lias played in many screen stories, mnnp of which have found their way to Christchurch. Tf is to get a rest from picture work that Mr. Hall ami his wife have come to New Zealand. NERVE- RAC KIN G WOR K. “It. is nerve-racking work reaiiv after Ihe first fine, flood of excitement is oxer,” be said, “u-mj there are limes when it gets monotonous —the waiting tires one so.” But for all that Air. Hall would not leave the film studios. Their fascination —the fascination of work which is his life—is too strong, and now that bo has carved a niche for himself among the screen folk he says, himself that it would be foolish to think;of giving up his .work. The slump which occurred in the film business two years is now ever, and last .year the sum of 67,000,000 dollars was spent by. tlio various firms in tlie making of pictures. No wonder Hollywood can claim to be the capital of the motion picture world. When Air. Hall left America every studio was working at top speed. That thousands of young people with ambitions of becoming* world famous stars flock to Hollywood each year is no idle rumor. The -number grew to Such ait extent tha t the Californian. Chamber of Commerce ibid Other organisations in the . studio a:rea implored the screen people to write to the ambitious ones and tell tbdm that their chances 'were decidedly uncertain. “MIGHT-BE PICTURE . PEOPLE. ” Talking of “might-be picture people,” Alt’. Hall said that many beautiful girls cannot stand the camera test; tliat is, they 'do not photograph well, whereas a rather ordinary-looking girl might be •particularly, good. He cannot explain why'this'is’so. .Even the sunshine at Hollywood is improved upon bv the camera men. When scenes are being “shot” in brilliant sunshine reflectors are used to concentrate the light. “There may be a chance of producing good -pictures, in .New Zealand if this were done with our limited amount of sunshine,” the Bun man suggested, and Mi’. . Hall agreed. By the way, the visiting actor looks as though lie had just stepped out of one of his pictures. This is easily explained. Mr. Hall is not tied down by a contract to play whatever part is given him. Ho is a particular typo and he will not play “crook” or like _ parts. This the .producers know, so if they need someone to act the part of a doctor, a judge, an English gentleman, or a banker they immediately send for Mr. -Hall. Ho -abhors beards and all facegrowths of that,ilk: that is why lie retains his own individuality. “The visitor to Hollywood secs all sorts of queer people about ihe streets.” lie said. * “Some have curious beards, while others have weird growths of hair. All of them nr 0 preparing for some picture or other,, and then there are the freaks who always are sure of a day’s work in comedy or drama.” Airs. Hall does hot act for the films, but shejfsees a lot of the film folk. Some (if the children of jj£e celebrated play, ers are her pupils. She toadies them the piano.