THE "TALKIES"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16838, 29 December 1928, Page 3

THE "TALKIES"

DISTURBING FACTOR FOR THEATRES MR, H. HAY WARD'S VIEWS "The 'talkies' are a very disturbing factor. They have produced an uncertain element, in the whole or! the entertainment business. This is not. only affecting the mid ion picture business, but it is viewed with a. certain amount of anxiety by those controlling the legitimate stage." Mr. Floury [Jay-ward, managing director ot the hTillcr-liny ward Theatres, who returned to Auckland by the [ilimaroa from Sydney, .made the above remarks on the latest .film development, the talking film. fie has 1 nto Australia on a com bined business and pleasure trip, and from Ins remarks one gal ho red that the advenl of the talking film had rivaled :i certain amount of consternation among the theatrical folk across the Tasnian. Mr. Hay ward said thai his (inn proposed to instill the talking film in three theatres in New Zealand —one each in Auckland, Wellington and Chrisiclmrch. lie could not say definitely when they would be ready, as the mechanics who are at present engaged on the installations in Australia will also carry oui the work in New Zealand. ••The shadow over the oiiferfaininoiil world at present is mechanical," said Mr. II ay ward. " We do not know u hal will happen. It may be that hi time private houses will have their own 'talkies.' Such a thing is quite possible, though no! for some years io come. "The talking film is very costly, each installation running into £SOOO. This, of. course, will prevent it from going into the smaller theatre's until it heroines cheaper. The tendency al present is for (he talking film to go Into only the first-class picture theatres. ' In Sydney the new enter tainmeiil is going into the Prince Edward, < of the three leading film theatres there, .and the advertisements state that the 'ta!kie,s' shown there will not be exhiibted at any oilier theatre in Sydney or I he suburbs. "This advent of mechanism into the entertainment world is disturbing even the legitimate theatres. , My own per sonal opinion is that it will be years before the 'talkies' become a perma nen! 'entertainment, and thou only as a sister art to |he silent picture, which ihev will not supercede." Mr. llayward, in recalling the feeble efforts of the cinema of 20 years ago, said that criticism of the "talkies'' must be very cautious. Time would probably place them in n prominent position' as entertainment. The question was whether they would ultimately displace the legitimate stage and whether people would be content with ;t replica, of the big,London and New York musical comedy and operatic successes, or would they stiU desire the personality of the living artists?

With the restlessness in (ho minds of the public because of the mechanical development in entertainment, there was a tendency to support only the best shows in the legitimate-theatres. During his visit Mr., Llayward found that 19 of the legitimate theatres in Australia were temporarily closed. The three big picture theatres in Sydney—the Prince Edward, the Capitol and Regent—were doing very well. Another elaborate picture house, the State Theatre, was in the course of construction. It would cost £400,000. There was a tendency to get away from the "atmospheric" theatre, and the State will be on classical lines. "The general tendency of the people is for it dignified class of theatre," said Mr. llayward. '.'This is more restful and not so obtrusive. Our two new theatres, one in Wellington and one in Christchureh, will, both be of classic design. One of my reasons for going, to Australia was to make a final decision on this point."

Speaking of other entertainment m Sydney, Mr. Hayward said that the once popular tin-har.e racing was now dead.—Auckland Sun.