Shades Of Other Days Linger Still Back-Stage Of Regent Theatre

Chronicle (Levin), 5 March 1949, Page 4

Shades Of Other Days Linger Still Back-Stage Of Regent Theatre

No matter be it. the Drury Lane or the least known theatre 3n the world, these buildings, will continue to hold a strange fascination for every lover of stage and film. Never is a theatre realjy empty. Always there remains that feeling that the spirits of actors and actresses long since forgotten are hoverin'g somewhere near at hand — critical, appraisive or scornful of th.ose who have followed. " " * " A "Chronicle" reporter who explored back stage of the Regent Theatre felt this strongly last week when, concealed behind the dust of years, he found posters of days gone by, announcing the arrival of some touring company, -and cartoons and signatur es . of dne time famed personalities. Most interesting was a tour of maru). The contest was. decided by the dressing rooms off the landings voting coupons being distributed at of the spiral iron staircases, just each performance, and there is a behind the screen. Here could be suggestion that the winner was

seen advertisements for films and fiesh and blood shows dating backi 25 years. "A New Strata in Vaude- . ville — See the Great Bullet Catch- j ing Trick and the Greatest Living Ventriloquist" reads one. Then there is a movie, the greatest -catch being the "All in Natural 'Sound" footline. "The Sunbeams from Sydney" also record their visit to the theatre — then called the De: Luxe — by the date line 1926. "The New Grace Moore" reads another poster advertising the picture "When You'xe -in Love." The musical comedy "Belle of New York" was also staged there in 1931 by the now defunct' Levin Operatic and Dramatic Society. And so it goes on— scribbed signatures — some famous — others unknown. A solitary silver spangled shoe — a remnant of costume material, now faded but still with a hint of glamour — ean also be seen as one| steps among the accumulation orj stage "effects which litter the floor> behind the stage. Choosing "Miss Horowhenua" Of particular interest is the De Luxe sponSored "Miss Horowhenua" beauty contest, which is recorded in a large poster featuring the photographs of the contestants. « Tne first prize was a first class return fare to Auckland and the second prize a first class return fare to Christchurch. It is not j known how • Christchurch would feel about this, but it is to be supposed that either trip would be quite a prize worth winning then. There is no date of when the contest was staged, nor of the winners. * Not all the • nameS of the contestants were: legible, -but here are some: Misses L. Cowler (Te Horo), Mattea Sarcich (Otaki) , Florence Speirs (Otaki) , Edna Pink (Levin) , Phylljs . Brimble (Levin), E. H. Eayes (Tokomaru), M. Hock ( ), Tere Parata (Waikanae), Maudie Shaw (Otaki), Stella Gawler (Te Horo), E. Cook. (Otaki) and-^essie Peach (Toko-

Miss Brimble. From the town clerk, .Mr. H. L. Jenkins, it was learned that .the erection of the theatre was begun, in March, 1924, together with the municipal offices and shops, on the authority of a poll of ratepayers taken in 1923. The name was probably changed to Regent when Kerridge Theatres, Ltd., took a sub-lease from the original lessee. Competition in the theatre world was an all out affair with no holds barred in those days and many and varied were the methods used to entice the public to --showings, . or interest them in serials of the Tom Mix and Pearl White varlety. War of the Theatres The local theatre even went so far as to declare war on the Palmerston North 'theatres, and on February 5, 1930, the then management ran a special train from Palmerston North to Levin for_ the "Broadway Melody," the one ticket covering rail fare and admission to the theatre at a cost of 3s 6d. Naturally, it was we1! patronised and for the convenience of passengers a temporary station platform was erected adjacent to the Bath Street level crossing. Mr. Jenkins. has one of the rail tickets, endorsed "Broadway Melody," pasted above his office door. It is also interesting to note that the theatre was one of the first of the larger theatres in the North Island to offer patrons a free cup of eoffee in the lounge at half time during the -winter. According to the general manager of the company now leasing the theatre, Mr. E. H. Garrett, .this | is- prohibitedi by law, no theatiA to- . day being allowed to offer special inducement sto patrons. It is possible that some local residents may be able to add to these little -sidelights of the early 'days of Levin's theatre, and thus - Ikeep fresh these memories of the Ipast, which will soon vanish for 1 ever 'neath the new plaster wiiich is to enhance the interior of the Regent.