IS HE ALIVE?

Southland Times, Issue 21717, 1 June 1932, Page 9

IS HE ALIVE?

THE MECHANICAL MANNEQUIN. NOVELTY FOR INVERCARGILL. “Is he alive?” will be a question on the lips of many people who chance to be in the neighbourhood of the Post Office at a quarter past two this afternoon, for at that time there will be introduced to the Invercargill public an innovation designed to stimulate interest in trade. This question has been asked scores of times in northern centres where Monsieur de Patou, wrold-famous mechanical mannequin, has made his appearance. Now, in the course of his Dominion visit, he is at present in Invercargill under engagement to Messrs H. and J. Smith, Ltd., with the object, as he told a reporter, of putting life into trade. Monsieur de Patou, who has been engaged by many of the large Continental stores, imitates a mechanically-controlled robot with such perfection that it is well-nigh impossible to detect a human element even in the slightest detail. Dressed with immaculate evening clothes, complete with opera hat and cloak, and with facial nmscles rigid and a fixed expression, the mannequin will proceed to-day from the Post Office along Tay street to the Progressive Stores where at 3.15 p.m. he will give a display in the tea-rooms with fashion mannequins. It is anticipated that considerable interest will be evinced in the novelty by the people of Invercargill.