MOTION PICTURE LECTURE GIVEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19238, 27 November 1930, Page 16

MOTION PICTURE LECTURE GIVEN.

MR F. ARMSTRONG TEi-LS OF HIS EXPERIENCES. As „a. preliminar> r to the firm’s children’s concerts at Christmas, the staff of T. Armstrong and Co. were entertained to a motion picture lecture last evening by Mr F. Armstrong, who has recently returned from a world tour. Some 150 of the staff attended the address. Starting with the arrival of Father Christmas on Friday afternoon at the High Street shop, the films, which are of educational interest, will be shown in the concert halls of the firm’s two stores, and dancing b}' Miss Iris Edmonds’ pupils and entertainment by the latest of talking dolls will also form part of the special features for the children. During the course of his tour Mr Armstrong visited Alaska, Honolulu, Canada, and California, and in these places the majority of the pictures were taken. Films of animals and comedies provided additional variety. The first of the films was shown in colour, made possible b\ r a special screen, and these gave the onlookers some idea of the beauty of the gardens of the well-known Ro\*al Hawaiian Hotel at Honolulu, and also showed the botanical gardens with their richly coloured begonias, lavinia, and hibiscus, and also the celebrated “ flame tree.” With the non-coloured pictures Mr Armstrong took his .guests from Sari Francisco to Alaska, back to California, on to Honolulu, and, later, back to New Zealand. Perhaps of most interest in San Francisco was the Legion of Honour, which, the speaker explained, was a picture gallery and statuary presented to tl?e Americans b\ r the French. From this point the audience were taken up the Yukon River in a paddle steamer into Alaska, the river in one place being only the boat’s width, pr.d the steamer having to be pulled through with chains. In Alaska glimpses were show r n of an Indian village with its totem poles. The grandeur of the mountain scenery and a glacier were ver}* impressive. Returning to California, various scenes in and afound San Francisco were followed by some splendid views of the celebiatc-d Mirror Lake; wild bears in their native haunts: the famous tree of the motor spirit advertisement; an alligator farm just out of Los Angeles, where the young ones were shown feeding; the ostrich farm adjoining; lion cubs; and an elephant drinking a bottle of lemonade. Other interesting places visited in California were the Balboa Park, just outside San Diego, with its famous lily ponds, and the Santa Monica beach, one of thfe most beautiful seaside resorts in the State. Then there were the old Spanish buildings in southern California, and the orange plantations at Orange, about thirty miles from Los Angeles, followed by scenes taken e.i the Aorangi during the voyage from Honolulu to New Zealand, the animals in the Auckland Zoo, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes’s residence at Otahuna, and scenes around Mr Armstrong’s own home. 1 The next film took the onlookers back once again to Honolulu, giving further views of the beautiful surroundings of the Ro3*al Hawaiian Hotel, and showing the unusual cloud effects there. Full of interest, too, were the “ shots ” of Waikiki Beach, with the surf riding of the natives, natives diving for money at the ship’s side, speed-boats racing along the canal, the golf links up in the hills, and the arrival of the German warship, Emden. * Of more than usual interest also was a picture of bull fighting in Spain. Beginning with the bulls at the training grounds, this film showed the training of the bull fighters at the village fiestas until they are allowed to wear the pig tails and regalia of a matador, and then an actual bull fight with its thousands of cheering spectators. Mr Armstrong was accorded a round of applause for his addresses.