ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14052, 3 May 1919, Page 3

ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

PLAYS AND PICTURES. (By "Fra Diarolo. y THEATRE ROYAL. Nightly —Pictures. .May 7,8, o—Carrie0 —Carrie Lanccley. May 20 —Commercial Travellers’ Concert. KING’S THEATRE. Nightly—Pictures. TOWN HALL. Nightly—Pictures. A Record Programme. Surely to-night's programme at the Town Hall is something of a record, including three star productions. Billie Burke will lie seen in “The Mysterious Miss Terry,” Harold Lockwood in “The Love Route,” and Jack Plckford in “Sandy.” Miss Carrie Lanceley. Miss Carrie Lanccley, the gifted soprano who appeared in Hamilton with the Chautauqua party, will return next week, and will sing at the Theatre Royal. She is supported'by a trio of talented New Zealanders —Misses Doris Strubble (pianist), Ava Syrnonds (violinist), and Nellie Simpson (flautist and ’cellist). Commercial Travellers’ Concert. An excellent programme has been arranged for the concert to be given in Hamilton on May 20th, on behalf of the funds of the Commercial Travellers’ Association. The following artists will contribute: Misses Cora Melvin (lyric soprano), Eva Sharp (contralto), Ellie Schneidermann (dramatic soprano), Muriel Brown (danscusc), Mina Lury (elocutionist), Messrs G. Smith (baritone), A. Joll (baritone), Mick Lewis (humorist), Allan Crossley (tenor), S. Holdsworth (monologist), Dave Weir (humorist), and the Pox Trio (instrumentalists). Harry Lauder Knighted. Harry Lauder, on arrival at Sydney tins week, received a cable stating that be had licen knighted. The honour has probably been conferred upon the famous Scots comedian for his war work, for during the war period lie has been indefatigable in raising money for various patriotic funds, and has also not spared himself in entertaining the soldiers, often in the danger zone. Harry Lauder, who was born at Portobollo, is 48 years of age. His only son enlisted and was promoted to captain, and was killed in 1917. The comedian, after his experiences at the front, published a book, “A Minstrel in France” in 1918 He last toured Australia and New Zealand in 1914. “The Little Peacock.”

Muriel Window lias been secured to tour Australia with Harry Laudey’s company. Mr E. J. Tait has written as follows about this artiste: “Pleased to say that I have finally secured Muriel Window’s signature for a contract. She is to get £7O per week, guaranteeing 16 out of the 20 weeks. I can hear you say that this salary ;s very big indeed for a single act in vaudeville, but we have sat out innumerable shows watching artists, and in comparison she is cheap to the great majority. ‘The Little Peacock of Vaudeville,’ as' Miss Window is called, is without doubt one of the- cleverest actresses we have seen over here (in America). She is refreshing, and her stuff is zippy without being suggestive.” Film, Folk. Mr E. .1. Righton, managing director of the New Zealand Picture Supplies, Ltd., who has just returned from a 'business trip to America, gives some interesting incidents concerning cinematograph artists well known, at least by sight, to people at this end of the globe. Mr Righton found the, world-famous Charlie Chaplin, in his public as well as his private life, so fenced round with guards and regulations as to render himself, except to the favoured few, absolutely unapproachable. Even in the hotel in Los Angeles, which is the heart of the moving picture industry, he creates as much interest on his entrance to the lobby as would King George. He is possessed of a charming personality and wonderful creative ability, directing all his own productions; and his brain is ever working night and day, devising new ideas and stunts for his pictures. Regarding Mary Pickford, Mr Righton has the highest opinion. She, is a delightfully unaffected young girl, he says, witli a magnetic personality and a charm of manner which endears her to all around her. Some idea of her importance in the United States may be gauged from the fact that she has influenced the people to purchase some millions of dollars of bonds for Liberty Loans, entirely by the magnetism of her personality and popularity. “Jack Pickford (a charming unassuming boy), Mabel Normand, Douglas Fairbanks, Tom Moore, and a host of others equally well known, we met, and can only say the same of all of them. “I must say a word about those so little known men of the screen world —the directors. They are wonderful men of vitality and pep, always on the go, and possessing those rare qualities, the ability to inspire work, and the genius which the copy books used to tell us. the art of taking infinite pains. “I have seen Charlie Chaplin, dogtired after a heavy day, rehearsing one small happening over and over again until he was satisfied, for perhaps two hours —then called for ‘camera’ —the result, 22 feet of finished film. And bear in mind that he didn’t spare himself either at the expense of his actors. “No fair idea can be formed by any person who has not visited the enormous film studios and plants of the size and importance of the industry. One studio I visited, the Goldwyn, covers four acres of ground, and every foot of this space is a hive of industry. The studios employ a huge staff, comprising actors, directors, property men, electricians, carpenters, cabinetmakers, upholsterers, bricklayers, and, in fact, every trade whose representatives are required to build up the stupendous productions, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, and which eventually find their way to far-off New Zealand in a little box weighing about 251 b. “The interest these people arouse in America is nothing short of wonderful. It is practically impossible to get into the studios, surrounded with guards, and not even the great stars, without exception, are allowed to take their friends or have them visit them while at work. “I feel sure that this industry :s steadily developing into one of the greatest in the world. The amount of capital invested in it’at present is enormous, and there is no indication of any reeedence, but rather to the contrary. “Regarding the war, T am afraid that i n the eyes of a certain section of the American press, America not only has won it, but has been the whole show. “One rather interesting item I forgot; All the artists I met told me that in proportion to the population they received more letters about their work and lives from New Zealand than any other country and they appreciate this interest.” Jottings. “Tarzan of the Apes" will be screened at the Theatre Royal to-night, and "The Sign Invisible" at the King’s—both good pictures.

The second production of the Williamson Comic Opera Company in Wellington was “Oh, oh, Delphine,” to he followed by revivals of “Katinka” and “The Pink Lady.” “Broadway Bill,” with handsome Harold Lockwood in the title role, will be screened at the Theatre Royal on Monday night. Mr Bert Boyle, New Zealand manager for J. C. Williamson, was not successful in his bid for municipal honours at Wellington on Wednesday. Demonstrations of a hre-pioof kinema film spool have been given in Dunedin. The invention seems a successful one, and 1 picture people have been keenly interested in it. The film is enclosed in an almost airtight container, and the theory is that combustion within the reel is arrested for lack of sufficient oxygen. At the New York Dog Show, Mr Francis X. Bushman, the movie star, j was successful in gaining most of the prizes in the Great Dane class. He writes me that Ids success with his dogs pleased him even more than any success he might score personally in pictures. Referring to Miss Cora Melvin, who will sing at the commercial travellers’ concert in Hamilton this month, a southern paper says of a recent apnearance: “Standing well out from the excellent diversified programme wore the artistic offerings of Miss Cora Melvin. Her vocal numbers, “April Morn” (Batter), “Who Knows?” (Ball), “The Fairy Flute” (Oliver) and “Someone Whispered” (Sydney Smith) suited her style of vocalisation perfectly, and outbursts of applause followed the singer’s interpretation in each instance. It is seldom that one hears in Taumarunui, such a gifted singer as Miss Melvin.”