MR HUGH M'INTOSH

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2518, 20 July 1915, Page 9

MR HUGH M'INTOSH

A PERSONAGE IN VAUDEVILLE MANAGEMENT

FIRST VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND

Everyone ia Now Zealand knows tlio name of Hugli D. M'lntosh, of Sydney, proprietor and controller of tho Rickards' ffivoli circuit of theatres, but up till a week ago few had met him. Hi was a man who bad established himself in our ken by the big way ho tackled everything, and. tho success he commanded by bis energy and resource. He bustled into Wellington yesterday afternoon by the Auckland express, and wheu seen by a representative of .The Dominion seemed to have already grasped the character of the town and the idiosyncrasies of tho people. "We're going to do well here," he said, with certitude. "We arrived in Auckland, and had bad weather, and we picked lip the rain in a couple of hours away from Wellington. The town looks grey, but the people are bright, and lose no time in getting to the spot. Everybody, is in a hurry. That's good! It shows they've got an interest in their work, and where you see _ that you'll find that they take an interest just as keen in their pleasures. We've got a great show to give them,' and we'll do well. If it's not a great show, I give you leave to say so."

• It's your first visit to this country ? "Yes, except a pass through Auckland to America. And what a good little country it is in a lot of ways. Jove, you have done well over here over the war. Our boys at the front say that tho New Zealanders are a great lot—hearts like lions. Then I come over here, and find your boys saying' the same about the Australians. That's as it should be | It should help to pave the way to a scheme of perfect reciprocity. What golden things they have all been saying, too, about those Australian nurses on the- Willochra. It only shows you how • our' women are rising to the occasion, as I know yours are, too." '

And your intentions regarding the future?

"Well, I'm over here.to have a look round. Reports are 110 good to me. I want to see things for myself, so I took the opportunity of accompanying this show of mine through the country. .We did not open too well at Auckland, but the business grew by leaps until we couldn't crowd them in. Auckland is all. right—it only wants the goods, and I think I can give them that. It is my firm intention to send rfood companies regularly through New Zealand. Not shows in which the publio has to sit through three or four queer turns unfil a good one happens along, hut shows in which every turn makes good, just as it is at the Tivoli in Sydney and the Opera Houso in Melbourne. I may establish a permanent circuit in tile four'centres in Now Zealand, but that is a matter for- the future. : "

"I recently built a new .theatre in Brisbane, which- as a . vaudeville house I don't think has a rival in Australia. I know His Majesty's here is a great house—well, the Brisbane house was' designed by the same architect, Mr. Henry E. White, and' lie hns gone one better in Brisbane.- There tho theatre has a roof-garden .(an elevated auditorium besides, tho ground floor one) and on Saturday*} we give two shows at the same time'. ;-, i I think so highly of your Mr, White that I intend to give him the contract for erecting a new theatre for me in Sydney in the near future, and, as the Americans say, it will be some theatre."

"Do ' you think it "is' the opportune moment—"

"Every moment is the opportune moment when you. think right,"' replied Mr. M'lntosh quickly. "This war is not going on. for ever, _ and it is not going to deprive a public of its desire for sane amusement. If it were otherwise, you would have a proportion of your people going melancholy mad, and you don't want that. God knows these bravo boys at the front have my good wishes and sympathy, i but I am sure they would uever dream of thinking .that it , was the duty of everyone at homo to mope and .rust for lack of a little rational amusement. Surely that notion is not far short of tho truth. Mr. M'lntosh, who_ leaves for Sydney again on Thursday, is at present staying at the 1 Empire Hotel.