STAGE AND CINEMA

Southland Times, Issue 17655, 12 February 1916, Page 9

STAGE AND CINEMA

MUNICIPAL THEATRE BOOKINGS. Feb. 23-24 —Dramas, Ltd. March 17 — J. McNamara (pencilled). June 1 to 4 —Boxing Association (pen). June 8 and 9—J. Wallen (pencilled). July 12—Orange Lodge (pencilled), August 19 to 21 —E. J, Carroll (pen). Nov. 23 and 24 E. J. Carroll (pen). POPULAR PALACE. Continuous Pictures, 2 to 5, 7 to 10. GRAND THEATRE. Continuous Pictures, 2 to 5, 7 to 10. Albert Chevalier, the most versatile genius the Knglish stage has ever known —he reached tiie top ol the tree in comedy, drama, burlesque, and as a.writer and singer of coster songs, won world fame —lias achieved the crowning success of his career through his wonderful work before the camera in tiie turned drama built on his notable song, “Aly Old Dutch.” The military might of Russia will be shown in picture form at the Popular on Alonday, and because of tiie great work which our eastern ally is dding the him should be of more than ordinary interest. It is of considerable lengtli and very comprehensive. J. and N. Tail, who are busily preparing for the production of “Peg o’ Aly Heart” in Sydney next Easter, have received advices of the wonderful success of the comedy-drama in the Irish capital. Crowded houses were the rule during the season at Dublin, and the company, headed by Aliss Sarah Allgood, who will undertake the name part in Australia and New Zealand, had a most cordial reception. Miss Allgood is a Dublin native, and commenced her stage career as a member of the Irish Players at the Abbey Theatre there. The Dublin papers were unanimous about her powers as an actress, each paying the warmest' tributes to her histrionic ability and beautiful voice. One need not wear evening dress in the stalls of the London theatres nowadays. The managers of the theatres are encouraging their patrons to do as they please. Time was when a tweed suit looked conspicuous in the stalls of a fashionable theatre, but that time has gone. The arrival of khaki put the conventional black out of conceit with itself. The approach of winter, the shortage of taxi-cabs, and the discomfort — for many people—of getting to and from the theatres in light clothing have combined "to bring home to playgoers, as ■well as managers, tiie common-sense view that the evening-dress convention is not in accordance witli the spirit of the times. The people of the theatres — managers, actors, and actresses —are making a splendidly plucky light to keep the flag flying, and, as they are trying to give London some opportunity to think for an hour or two, they only ask the public to help them—therefore evening dress does not matter. “Take off your hat and enjoy yourself” is what the manager says. The manager of the Popular Picture Palace lias had many requests to sing some of ills well known humorous items at his theatre, and it is probable that he will bo heard at an early date in some of his popular songs. It is not generally known that Air Credgington holds the record for a continuous season at Pullers’ vaudeville theatre in Dunedin. This was when tiie vaudeville was being given in tiie old Alhambra Theatre, and, of course, Mr Credgington was then performing under his stage name. “The Pioneers,” tiie Australian £IOOO prize notol, is being lilined hy Franklin Barrett. Oosford (N.S.AV.) lias been selected as the location, and a company of picture-players has been camped there for some weeks. The east includes Charles Knight, Lily Roclifort, Winter Hall, irve Hay man, Alartyn Keith, Fred Neilson. AN'ill Dyer, Nellie Rose, and Alma. Rock Phillips.

A Him production which has caused more controversy and discussion than any other photo-play produced is the sociological drama “The Nigger" (GOOOftl, which has given students of racial and social problems much food for serious thought. The magnitude of the production may he gauged by the fact that over 0000 people took part in the play at a total cost of production of fr>o,ooo. In one week 110,000 people, it is said, witnessed tiic screenings at the New York Hippodrome, the largest picture theatre in the world. The author of the play from which the picture is adapted is Mr Kilward Seldom. The picture will lie geen in Invercargill next week.

Another srirl from Australia is making a his name for herself in the 111 ms of the London Film Company, Wanda Radford. This little lady went to Fngland some few years ago and became a wonderful child reciter, later on appearing before Royalty in special peculation performances. For a few years very little has been heard of her, an occasional paragraph telling of her whcieahouts. Now she is appearing with the Rom.on Film Company.

Mark Twain's works are to be filmed In America, which has secured the world's rights. "Tom Sawyer.’ "iluckleherry Finn," ■■Roughing It,” "Ihe Jumping Frog,” and scores ol short stories have been secured by the Lasky Company, who can he trusted to get the very best that can he got out of them. 'L’he famous Flayers Film Corporation has turned out a remarkable photo-play. The Crucible,” in which .Marguerite Clarke, a girl who has leaped into (lie front rank of film players, shows some exceptionally line acting. She is at the top of the tree in the picture world, and that she has reached it without the assistance of a press agent is a proof of

her great ability. Those who are .Marguerite Clarke's supporters use this argument whenever the name of, say, .Mary ■Rieklord, Anita Stewart, or some oilier big star is mentioned. Sir Arthur I‘inuro is enthusiastic over the concession of "smoking in theatres” reeojitlv granted by the Lord Chamher-p-iin in London, “it is a fulfilment of what I have long been working for, - ’ said the distinguished dramatist to a newspaper i-nre.sentati ve, “and 1 am very glad indeed to see it done. 1 am lor free trade in places of amusement. So long as a theatre is safeguarded against the danger of lire, and so long as the entertainment is wholesome and cleanly, the manager of a theatre .should he aide to do Just as he [ileuses in such matters Bs this.” Mabel Normand, the Keystone slur, while attempting a daring feat in an aeroplane on the Ist .December, RJiO,

■with Chester Conklin, had a narrow escape from instant death. The hip military monoplane got beyond control of Conklin, and, before he could stop it, Aliss Normaiul was dragged nearly a hundred yards with great force, sustaining injuries which will incapacitate her from film work for some time. Conklin was in the driver's seat, and before lie could be extricated was burned severely on tiie legs and arms. Alahel Normand had barely recovered from an almost fatal accident, sustained in a comedy scene, wherein she was accidentally hit on the head, and miraculously escaped concussion of the brain. That grand opera is still a card to play, in tiie Knglish provinces, anyway, is shown hy the iact that the return of the Koval Carl Kosa Company in its week at the Grand, Plymouth, reached £ 1100 Os. Alary Pickford, after listening to various people who have pointed out to her that it is only specialists who succeed, and versatility that fails, lias taken the lesson to heart, and consequently the "World's Sweetheart'’ will return to her stylo of acting which made her famous. The first of these parts is entitled "Rags.” Little Alary and her company left Los Angeles recently for the “Famous Players” studio in Nfw York. Allan Dwan, tiie brilliant picture producer, will iu future direct all of Alias Pickford s plays. “Hags,” the latest of his productions, is replete with heart interest and comedy. The him is on its way south.

Air Will Douglas, general manager in Australia of tiie Fuller circuit, has received from a patron of tiie National Theatre, a Sydney business man, the accepted account of the origin of the word vaudeville. He mentions that lie came across it when reading that quaint hook "Curiosities of Literature,” written bv Isaac Disraeli, father of Lord Bcaconsfield. Disraeli these quotes ascertain French antiquary who states; Our fathers had a custom to amuse themselves at tiie dessert of a feast by a joyous song. Each in his turn sang allchornssed.” Remarking that he preferred Hi is ancient gaiety to the tameness of the time. Disraeli adds: “These arc tiie old Frencli vaudeville formerly sung at meals by the company. These vaudevilles were, originally invented by a fuller of Van dc Vire, the valley of the River Vire. and were sung hy 1 1 is men as they spread their clothes on the hanks of the river. They were songs composed by some incident or adventure of the day. At first these gay, playful effusions were called the songs of Vau do Vice, till they became known as 'Vaudevilles.” The quotation is found in the second volume of "Curiosities of Literature” published in ISSS. A fuller is tiie old-fashioned trade name for thickeners of cloth. The suggestion is apparent that if a fuller inaugurated the name, a Fuller is perpetuating it in Australasia. Says a writer in tlie N.Z. Observer: — It seems almost too strange to he true, but the ".Million Dollar Aiystery” is solved at last. The hidden Hargreaves is discovered on the screen of ‘‘.Every - body’s,'' “The Black Hundred” ahe raided, Braine and Olga are banished to Siberia, dear little Flo and her hoy Norton get married. I’m glad tiie mystery is solved, because it has cost me many sleepless nights worrying about those dollars.

MOVING I’ICTUUK SHOWS. CONDITIONS IN AMKRICA. PHONOGRAPH PROPOSAL. 1 Jui-inf? his .seven months’ holiday trip to the Western States of America, California, and British Columbia, Mr Henry Hayward, a member of the linn of Hayward's Pictures enterprises, Ltd., who returned by the Niagara, arriving at Auckland on Monday, lias made a special study of the picture theatres and cinema palaces in those parts. In conversation Mr Hayward stated that competition among the picture siiow films in the States and in Canada was much keener than was the case in Australasia. There wore, Mr Hayward said, mine picture theatres in proportion to population, and tlie prices were cheaper than in Now Zealand. There was, continued Mr Hayward, a tendency on the part of the large film proprietaries to ■’enchain" the exhibitors, and the whole business of supplying films to proprietors of picture palaces was fast being turned into a trust. There was a growing disposition on the part of the public to forsake the "legitimate" theatre —drama and musical comedy—for the cinematograph theatre. Some of the greatest drunuuie artists in America had realised that there was more money in acting in photo-jdays than on the “legitimate" stage. There lias been a great deal of talk in the States, said Mr Hayward, regarding equipping the cinematograph with the phonograph, but .as yet the proposal was only in an embryo stage, Mr Hayward said he had little faith in the. proposal, because lie considered tile cinematograph had taught the people to think rapidly and there would, he thought, lie a tendency to "slow up" the screening of pictures if the phonograph were introduced and made lo act in concert with the cinematograph machine.