TALKIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 133, 8 March 1940, Page 2

TALKIES

TEA POTENT FACTOR IN BUILDING RAILWAYS Although lea in the movies has in the past, chietiy served to motivate such frivolous events as love duels between milady and her rival at Fngiish house parties or strained meetings between old enemies at court receptions, the ancient beV erage was recently revealed as the moving force behind such a his-tory-making project as the construction of America's iirst transcontinental railroad! The discovery, made by the famed producer-director Cecil B. De Mi lie, came as a result of the reams of research he had gathered for his new epic of the railroad "Union Pacific." Tea, according to the information collected by De Mille researchers, not only served as an excuse for building the road but was A fluid that helped float the project to completion! All through the endless Congressional debates, which resulted m government support of the enterprise. tea served as one of the most important points of discussion. Tea from China and other places in the Orient, said the Congressmen, was being used by Eastern America in increasing quantities, and if it could be shipped overland, instead of around South America, the saving would be enormous.

The sign on the outside of the lunchcar over which Miss Stanwyck so charmingly presides in "Union Pacific reading: "U.S. Mail TEA. —POTATO CAKES" tells another side of the story. For the thousands of workers who built the railroad were Irish Paddies fresh off the boat, and this reminder of old Erin helped to compensate for the hardships they encountered on the American plains. After helping stimulate the building of the "Union Pacific," tea serv ed as the champagne with which the road was christened. On the very day when the gold spike was driven connecting the railroad at Promontory Point, Utah, May 10, 1869. a consignment of tea was ship ped from San Francisco to inaugurate the overland trade with China and Japan, which has since become such an important factor in international commerce.

VIVID ROLE FOR NOTED BOY ACTOR

Freddie Bartholomew's career illustrates the worth of the old saying about starting youth and Avorking hard. When he recited a poem about a London policeman before family friends at the age of four, he was taking the first steps along a path which carried him from a quiet English home to a new land and world fame as an actor. Freddie has grown up, studied hard and worked to win his place mi the sun since that early childish effort years ago. His role as the co-star with Jackie Cooper in "Two Bright Boys," offers a test to his highest talents. As the young stranger whose life becomes entangled with that of Jackie, he is in rapid succession a rascal, a hero, a traitor and then a pal who proves his friendship at the risk of his life. Universal studio officials unanimously agreed that Freddie had Hie temperament, skill and experience to make him ideal for the part. Although his leap to fame was quick and spectacular, Freddie has remained at the top through study, self discipline and careful preparation for each dramatic assignment. During the five years since he came to this country from England, Bartholomew has starred in sonic of the greatest films ever to come out of Hollywood.

'GONE TO. THK DOGS'

HE'S HERE AGAIN If one were to ask who appeared in the title role of the alliteralive Cinesound's Comedy Cert., with Lois Green and several chaps like John Fleeting and Alec Kellaway, and directed and produced by Ken G. Hall, the answer would be George Wallace! And that would be 100 per cent correct.- "Gone to* the Dogs" sees George at his i»est and in this iilm he ably sustains his reputation as Australia s most popular comedian.