BOWLERS FOREGATHER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 85, 27 June 1944, Page 5

BOWLERS FOREGATHER

ANNUAL SMOKO

END OF SEASON SOCIAL

The annual smoke concert of the Whakatane Bowling Club was held l in the Caledonian Hall on Saturday evening - , upwards of sixty members and l ofthers being present. All who attended 1 were entirely in spirit with the occasion and the evening' was unanimously voted an unqualified! isuccess. For the better part of four hours the hum of voices mingled with the clink of glasses .an'cfl all combined to make {the smoke concert one of the best in years, During the evening many popular items Avere given, Mr Horace Waite in particular, proving to be something after the nature df a wjhole concert on his own. To all appearances a piano is as Avax in his hands. To the average person, a piano is but a piano, but to "Horrie." it is almost any instrument he cares to imitate. A pianola is one of hiis favourites, and one could certainly never tell from listening alone tihat it was but an imitation. But his achievements do not stop there. He is also a highly entertaining monologist—an accomplishment which served to make him very popular on Saturday evening. FolloAving the Loyal Toast, a community sing was entered upon, all present airing their vocal chords with that heartiness and gusto usually associated only Avith auctioneers, It is certain that no member failed to uphold his section of the community. When things had quietened doAvn to a certain extent, and various vocalists had ceased soloing in, undertones, Mr L. Littlejohn, President of the Association, proceeded to present prizes Avon by various members in the competitions. These were as under:— Champ Singles: C. Loane. Pairs Champs: C. Loane and F. Darvill. Handicap Singles: R. F. Smith. Handicap Pairs: A. C. King and G. Taylor. Junior Champ: M. Martin. The popularity of the winners Avas amply demonstrated by the hearty applause Avhieh followed. A vocal number by Mr A. O'Rourke who, it is rumoured joined not in the community singing in order to preserve his voice for soloing, Avas very Avelli received and encored heartily. His second number Avas every bit as popular. Mr Horace Waite next took the floor, or rather the piano, and pro- j ceeded to entertain in his oAvn inimitable manner. "Home SAveet Home," the main theme in his item Avas run ragged. After playing it "straight" he proceeded to render it as it Avould be in (apparently) every country known to man, as aa*gll as as yet unknoAvn. Mirth ran riot, as the assembled bowlers endeaA 7 oured to imagine "Horrie" as an Indian complete with turban and loin cloth, playing "Home SAveet Home" on a one-stringed fiddle. The fact that it was actually played on a piano served only to heighten the illusion. FolloAving this it Avas played as an Irish reel, the blood and hearts of all true Irishman present rising to the theme. Scotland had her turn next and the ancient Scottish ancestory dating back to Bruce and the spider showed itself plainly in the faces of many of the listeners. FolloAving this, the Communist brethren had their turn as they listened to it played as it Avould be in. a Rusian hot-spot. Germany came next, and the interlude finally Avound up with "Home Sweet Home." as the Americans would play it. All members are to be congratulated on their show of self restraint. None of them AA 7 ere moA'ed to perform the jitterbug. An encore Avas at once demanded, and seA'eral more pieces AA T ere played by the "pianistic wizard." Next, Mir J. Bridgeman entertained AA'itli his guitar and a \ r ocal number which AA'as also encored. "Horrie" again followed up with a musical monologue entitled "The Working Man" Verse after verse Avas recited and literally rocked the crowd. Very hearty applause brought forth the desired encore.. The toast list Avas as under: King. "Men on Active Service," Messrs 11. Warren and S. Shapley. "Kindred Sports," Messrs G. Otley and W. Henderson,, "The Ladies," Messrs 11. Dainton and J. Stewart. "The Press," Mr R. F. Smith. At the close of the evening, the boAA'lers bowled homewards and let it be creditably said, all Avithout bias.