THE QUEEN'S THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2946, 5 December 1916, Page 7

THE QUEEN'S THEATRE

A SUCCESSFUL OPENING Tho newest picture-theatre in AVollington, tho Queen's Theatre, in Cuba Street, was oponcd Tor business last night. Tlioro was a full auditorium, and tho approaches and tlio appointments of this luxurious picturo house wero very much admired. Tho opening act, a very short ceremony, was performed by Mr. U. Fletcher, M.P. Ho mado only tho briefest of speeches, declaring tho theatre open, congratulating the promotors on their ontcrpriso, tho architect, and all others concerned for their part in oroctmg and fitting out tho building, and wishing tho thoatro and its owners all success. Tho peoplo aro not left in black darkness while the show is in progress in this theatre Thoro is a soft rose light always from lamps high up, but tlio light does not at all affect tho brilliancy of tho pictures, while it certainly does make things much moro pleasant for tho peoplo. The projection of tho pictures was faultless last night, and faultless first nights aro a rarity even in a kinoma house. Tho piece do resistance was a drama by the Lasky nrm, starring an actress of note, Miss Geraldine Parrar. The story is one of some complexity, and it has some unpleasant features and unpleasant peoplo in it. But very few good stories are about all good people. Reno Dupreo is a singer, and sho and her fiancee eko out a living as musicians at a cafe.' Tlioro a great impressario hears the girl, and arranges for a trial of her voice. In tho ond he gives her a big part in tho opera he has running, and sho makes a prodigious success. Then tho producer offers tho girl wealth and fame, promises to make of her the greatest prima donna in all tho world—but tho opera master is a bad man, and thero are conditions. So Reno Dupreo decides not to be that kind of prima donna. In- . stead she goes homo, and with her fiance, now her husband suffers extreme poverty. After a timo tho man, who also is a great composer, almost loses his reason and his life worrying about a great opera Tie has written. It can never be produced because only one man is able to do it, and ho will not, except at a prico which cannot he paid- In tho ond, howovor, tho opera is produced with marked success, the composer's life is saved, and something happens which makes it unnecessary to pay tho cruel price. Thero aro other pictures on the programme, all o£ them comic. Tho best ono is chiefly about a pretty girl, a young man, and a beauty soap, but before the young man and tho young woman reach the "happy over sttterVnrds" stage a great many things fifteen. In future tho Queen's Theatre will ho run as a continuous show kinema house, opening daiy at 11 a.m. _ Tho immediate supervision of the lino

now thealro was hi tho hands of Mr. W. It. Johns, and others who contributed to tho success of tlio undertaking wero Mossrs. Bird and Jensen, who supplied tlio seats; Messrs. I!. Y. Walls and Co., ( tho generator set; Mr. J. Stewart, the' electrical work; Messrs. Lawrence and Hailson, tho electrical fitting; Mr. TWells, painting and decorating; Messrs. M'Arthuv and Millikin, steel for constructional work; Mr. V. Lnngslono, Auckland, representing Messrs. W. V. Harris and Co., Sydney, steel for constructional work; Wellington Gas Co., lighting for billiard-room and healing appliances for tho Marblo Bar. EXTRAS AT THE THEATRE. Ono of tho most important appliances for meeting tho needs of patrons_to tho theiitro and tho public is tho apparatus for boiling water for tea and cou'eo, and hot milk. Tho appliance that has boon installed does this instantaneously. It supplies two hundred-and forty pints ol boihng water per hour, and has been manufactured and installed by tho WelJington Gas Company,. Ltd. Tlio boiler is of handsome appearance, is mado of planished copper and heavily nickelplated. Tho Gas Company havo also installed a largo gas cooker below stairs, wliero tho culinary department is located, to bo used for grilling, boiling and toasting, and, in addition, a water heater of tho latest type has been fixed for supplying hot water for sterilising tho glasswaro and for washing up ana other purposes whero a constant and immediate supply of hot water is required. The handsome billiard saloon over tho entrance'to the thoatro has also boon lit throughout with gas, and tho result is exceedingly pleasing, and makes tho. Toom ono of tho best lighted of the kind in tho city. All tho gas arrangements havo been carried out by tho company's -chief inspector, Mr. A. M. Taylor, under tho supervision of tho architect,. Mr. J. Bcnnie.—(Published by arrangement.) THE LIGHTING. '' Tho 6emi-indirect marble bowl electrical fittings at tho abovo theatre demaud special attention. These wero supnlicd by Messrs. Lawrence and Hanson Electric Co:, -15 and 47 Lower Cuba Street, and embody tho latest designs in indirect electric lighting. Tho effect produced' by these fittings is very charming, and by their means all objectionablo shadows aro eliminated, the light being thrown on tho white ceiling, and thus a perfect lighting effect is produced which is uniform in character, and. any objectionable cyo-strain is entirely dono away with. Many designs of these fittings and also many others are held in stock' by the firm in question at their showrooms, 45 and 47 Lower Cuba Street, and a cordial invitation is given to anyone desirous of inspecting same. This opportunity should not bo missed, as everything electrical and the latest design is also on view.'* 4