PERSONAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17865, 5 June 1926, Page 20 (Supplement)

PERSONAL AND GENERAL .

(Supplied by the Film Exchange I Association of New Zealand.) WELLINGTON, June 2. Mr C. F. Eskell, manager for Universal Film Manufacturing Company, returned to Wellington on Monday last after a few busy days spent on business in Auckland. What is known in film circles as “ Fox Week,” will be celebrated from September 4 to 10 inclusive, and Mr G. Dagnall, general manager for Fox Film Corporation, Wellington, advises that exhibitors all over the country are cooperating with the exchange by booking extra programmes and big special attractions for screening dtiring that W. W. Duff, general manager of Famous Lasky Film Service, Ltd., returned to Wellington early this week, after having spent some busy weeks in the South Island. Mr Duff, accompanied by Mr R. S. Davison, publicity manager for Paramount, sailed yesterday by the Ulimaroa for Sydney to attend the annual Paramount Convention to be held shortly. The F'ox special attraction, “ The Iron* Horse.” is still playing to remarkable business in the country districts, and a number of exhibitors have written Fox Films asking for repeat bookings. * Mr 11. Bardslev, manager of Exhibitors’ Alliance Films, Ltd., is at present on a business tour of the country Errol F'uller, manager of Selznick Pictures, Ltd., who has been travelling the South Island for some weeks, has returned to Wellington. Alan M’Gowan, manager of Australasian Films, Ltd., reports that the bookings for the picturisation of Robert Keable’s well-known book “ Recompense ” are tremendous and that exhibitors who have already played the picture are loud in their praises of it as a box office attraction. Mr Tom < raigie, manager of the Britannia Theatre, Wellington, has secured the second run of this picture in Wellington. and as many hundreds of people were unable to gain admission to the Empress Theatre when “ Recompense ” was first released it is anticipated that the capacity of the Britannia Theatre will be taxed to the utmost. Much interest has been aroused amongst the clergy and many religious bodies in the F'ox special, “ The Fool,” which lias just concluded a most successful week’s run in Wellington. This production is one which makes a very deep impression on the serious-minded members of the community, being the story of a } oung minister who sacrificed nearly everything he held dear to act up to his principles. The ecclesiastical settings of the film were most faithfully produced, and the lesson it contained is one which cannot be ignored. Mr C. Wood, manager of the new Film Distributing Company, U.F.A. Film, Ltd., is now busy making arrangements for the release of his firm’s first picture, “ Seigfried.” The Grand Opera House, Wellington, has been the scene of much excitement since Wednesday last, when the premiere screening of the big British attraction, “ The Only Way,” featuring Sir John Martin Harvey, took place. At the evening performance on Wednesday his Worship the Mayor of Wellington, Mr C. J. B. Norwood, formally opened the season and commented on the pleasure it gave bim to see the great advance being anade in film production by British producers. His Worship also tendered a welcome to the “ Sunbeam Children ” «,f Sydney, who have been brought to New Zealand to play in conjunction with “The Only Way.” The Sunbeam Children, numbering forty artists, received a wonderful reception fr<»m the public at the termination of The Wedding of Baby Kerr,” and at the conclusion of the picture, “ The Only Way,” the huge audience showed their appreciation by hearty applause. The Opera House was gaily decorated both inside and out, and the whole atmosphere was in keeping with such a fine show. To Mr Stanley Wright, who is in charge of publicity for “ The Only Way ” and “ The Sunbeam Children,” great credit is due for the manner in which he carried out all the arrangements, and for the wonderful publicity given the show. Universal’s unique attraction, “ His People.” has just concluded an excellent run at the King’s Theatre, Wellington. Despite the setback of very wet weather for the entire season, each night's takings were “above fine weather ” average, the final night being the biggest house of the season, excepting Saturday. “The Phantom of the Opera,” UniVersal's current super-production, is, despite the winter season, working very solidly at present, and all reports indicate excellent business, despite persistent wet weather. The far-reaching advertising campaign launched by Universal at the outset has gone a long way to establish the records created with this picture. On the day on which Universal's Jewel picture, “ The Storm Breaker,” opened at Otaki, that town was visited by a terrific hailstorm, lasting many hours, and which resulted in considerable damage to the local theatre, much 1 o the sorrow of Mr Eric Morse. The stalls portion of the house was flooded, and patrons of “ The Storm Breaker ” vere compelled to view the attraction per medium of the dress circle. It would appear that, any pictures of House Peters containing “ storm ” in the title have a rather significant association. “ The Eagle,” Rudolph Valentino’s big special lor Uoitec»^ rt * sts * ,s doing enormous business at ahe De Luxe

last Friday. Up to date the box office receipts have been wonderful, and they have increased each day, which goes to prove that \ alentino in his new role of a Russian Cossack soldier is just as popular as when he portrayed the part of “ The Sheik.” (- harlic C haplin in his great comedy. Ihe Gold Rush, ’ has returned once more to i\ ellingtorr, and is screening this week at the Princess Theatre, and needless to add is drawing big houses both day and night.