CHAPLIN’S “CITY LIGHTS”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 114, 16 May 1931, Page 6 (Supplement)

CHAPLIN’S “CITY LIGHTS”

AN EXPENSIVE PICTURE Charles Chaplin’s latest picture, “City Lights,” promises to bo one of the greatest theatrical attractions which have ever been presented to the public of the world. Reports already received from Europe indicate that; it is enjoying a record season wherever it is shown. In order to demonstrate to the motion picture industry that his personal draw-ing-power is far greater now, in. spite of the popularity of talking films, than ever it was, Chaplin took it upon himself to rent a theatre in New York for the first presentation of his picture. The theatre was the antiquated George Al. Cohan Theatre, a legitimate house which had not had a successful production on its boards for over five years. It is a small theatre in Broadway, which contains only 1300 seats. During the four weeks of its run in New York, “City Lights” was screened at eight performances a day, and the takings were from £lO,OOO to £14,000 for each week. Chaplin repeated his success in London, where the first week’s takings were £lO,OOO. This is reported to be a larger sum than any theatre has taken in London with any sort of attraction. Tn London the picture was not actually presented by Chaplin, but was sold to a syndicate for a. guarantee of £40,000 hire, against 60 per cent, of the gross receipts, with a minimum run of 20 weeks, and the payment of a deposit of £20,000 on the signing of the contract. These amazing terms created a sensation in London. In Paris the picture was knocked down to the highest bidder, who offered 2,000,000 francs against 5(1 per cent, of the gross receipts. On April 4 Sir Oswald Stoll re opened the London Coliseum as a legitimate theatre after 24 years of variety, with a musical play, “The White Horse Inn, ” by Erik Charell. The proprietress of the inn is Lea Seidl, the Viennese singer who appeared in London last autumn with Joseph Hislop (coming to Wanganui) in “Frederica.” There is a great deal of dancing in the new operetta, and music is provided by three orchestras; a symphony orchestra, a combination of Tyrolese instruments, and a jazz band. The landscape effects, it is said, give an impression of great space and distance, so that the audience fed themselves Io be “taking part in a. happy Alpine holiday.” While the Coliseum desserts variety, the Alhambra has once more become a music-hall, albeit a “strikingly different one from anything that has been seen before.” This metamorphosis took place on •' Easter Moudav.