Films and the Stage.

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 114, 11 February 1928, Page 23

Films and the Stage.

Sub-titles for Paramount pictures are translated into 37 languages, the pictures going into 61) countries all over the world.

The film rights of ''No, No, Nanette,” record-breaking musical comedy, have been purchased by First National.

Harold Lloyd's famous horn rimmed spectacles have risen in value, since an insurance company was found willing to insure them for 25,000 dollars.

Maud Courtney and Mr. C are still getting good and consistent bookings around provincial England.

Jennie Hartley, well • remembered here with Fullrs, is appearing as .principal boy in the pantomime "Aladdin” at Newcastle, England.

New Zealand Educational Films have purchased the New Zealand rights of ■‘Armageddon,” and the film will be shown to all school-children in the. Dominion by arrangement with the Education Department.

Dave Meredith, who lias been engaged with his band by the management of the Adelphi Cabaret to supply the music for the coming season, will arrive in Wellington next week with his band, and will open the new Adelphi Cabaret on March 1. New Zealanders will remember him as the eccentric trombone player of the Hells Bells Dance Band that toured this country a couple of years ago with "Kid Boots” musical comedy company. Mr. Meredith has just finished an engagement with the Melbourne "Green Mill,” probably, the most popular dance resort in the Southern Hemisphere.

Another musical centenary falls tins year—that of Franz Peter Schubert, who died in November, 1828, just twenty months after his great contemporary Beethoven shook his fist at the skies and breathed Jiis last (says a writer in a contemporary). It isn’t certainly known whether they ever met, or whether Beethoven realised .that here was a composer whose promise was almost as great as his own. Schubert was the usual precocity. By the age of twelve he had turned out songs, sonatas, ovettures and masses in abundance. His songs, many-of them glorious, numbered nearly 600. He died in obscurity al 31, leaving fifteen operas, seven symphonies and a bagful of concertos in manuscript. ,

Mrs. Patrick Campbell, whose reputation still keeps her soaring among the great figure of the English stage, has confessed that she went on the boards greatly to the horror of her maiden aunts. She further admitted in a speech at a dinner the other night that she played the leading lady in a.provincial company for a salary of £2 10s. a week, and when she was in “The Black Domino” at the London Adelphi on a salary of £8 the play was so slapped b.v the critics that she received a fortnight’s notice. At this period Mrs George Alxcnder noticed her work, and mentioned the actress to her husband, whereat she was engaged, to do Paula Tanqueray in the premiere of that famous play for £l5 a week. Her success was so enormous that.the gratified manager doubled her pay, an almost unprecedented hapnening in ihe ’nineties. That first night of “Tanqueray” is still remembered by old London tl'W'regoers. The piece 'aroused extraordinary enthusiasm, though the leading ladv did not participate in it. Unaware that she had become a grfeat figure in an evening, she left the stage after the final curtain, doffed the clothes and grease'paint of Paula, and went home.

Twelve years ago. when she was thirteen, Miss Bettv Blackburn, w|io has been charming London audiences with her singing, was getting up before daybreak and coiner to the mill (savs a London naner). For five vearc she was a mill m'rl in Blackburn, with a profound interest in sinmiig. Then a concert in aid of repatriated soldiers was announced. A singer was wanted, and a schoolmastef who had riven her some sinking lessons nominated her. She created a sensation at the concert, and a subscription was raised to send her to the Roval College of M"sic in London. One dav she saw that Mnie. Calve, the prima Bomia, woy- 1 d take as ~ protege l ’ anv girl who would ‘Snake a Carmen.” Miss Hlacl-burn applied She received a letter felling her to present herself, but when she announced her name Mme. Calve was surprised. The letter winch Miss Blackburn had received had been misdirected. However, Mme. Calve consented to hear her, and was astounded, and accepted her as her pupil. At that time Miss Blackburn was a contralto. Now—as the result of an operation to her throat—she is a fine soprano.

A portfolio containing letters from Governors of the forty-eight States expressing regret at her retirement was presented to Mme. Ernestine Sclrn-mann-Heink at the eml of her farewell song recital on December 10 in Carnegie Hall, New York. The singer announced she would devote her time to the discovery and cultivation of girl singers.

At 58 years of age George Robey is by way of being a remarkable man. “I have never missed a performance hr y life,” he said recently. “In my -10 years' of music-hall and theatre work no management has had to provide a deputy for me, nor has my understudy —where there has been an understudy —ever gone on for me.” “Forty years without once missing a performance must be a record.

Announcement has been made of the New Zealand tour of another splendid musical and dancing comedy, “Tip Toes.” This fine attraction will be followed by*another equally good “Queen High.” The J. C. Williamson Company will open at Auckland about the second week in February, and will include several famous comedians and specialty danmerfi direct from London. “Tip Toes” is produced by Mr. Harry B. Burcher, and the ballets arranged by Miss Minnie Hooper.

. The most unusual announcement I’ve heard made in a theatre marks Robert Loraine’s management of the Apollo, where he is playing "Cyrano de Bergerac” (writes a London correspondent). The gallery is always filled with lovers of the romantic drama, scores of them young girls, and the janitor cheerily announces in a voice to be heard all over Ihe theatre: "You may smoke, ladies!” -And they do.

Miss Dorothy Stanward, who is appearing in the'farce comedy "Apples and Pairs” at the Palace Theatre over the other side, is a Melbourne girl, onlv I 1.) years of age. She was the Toiideleyo of "White Cargo’’ in the second Williamson comedy. Miss Stanward had a quick rise to fame. She has been given excellent notices by all her work, and many of them say that she has a great future.

The correspondent of “The Times” in Madrid reports that the whole nation paid homage to Maria Guerroro, Spain’s Sarah Bernhardt, who wag buried recently. The King and Queen of Spain and other royalties prayed before her body -,and thousands visited the remains in the Princess Theatre, the scene of her triumphs in Madrid.

New York gave its most picturesque contralto, Mme. Ernestine SchumannHeink, sixty-six-year-old veteran of the concert stage, an affectionate farewell at Carnegie Hall recently. The voice, which began thrilling Americans back in 1898, was never more applauded. Carnegie Hall, with a seating capacity of 4GOO, had an extra 1000 standing. People sat on the platform and stood in the parquet, dress circle, and balcony. There were official testmonials, flowers, speeches, and a great many lump's in the throat. The pluilip little mother sang out, for it marked her farewell concert appearance in the city. This was the twenty-fifth appearance of the singer in a seventy-five engagement 44,000-nnle concert tour, which began on October 5 in Sioux City and will extend until the middle of May throughout the United States. She will conduct a master class in singing for five weeks in Kansas City in the middle of March. In June and July she will attend the principal music festivals in Europe, after which she intends to return to America and devote the rest of her life to teaching and establishing community opera companies in American cities which have hitherto not been able to afford opera. Mme. SchumannHeink made her American debut in Chicago on November 8, 1898, in the part of Ortrud in “Lohengrin.”

Produced in France, in the same towns that the author .mentions in his book, and wifh a French cast, “Les Miserables,” Victor Hugo’s story has been brought to the screen by Universal. “Les Miserables” is generally considered Hugo’s, greatest work. Parts of it were planned and written before the revolution of 1848, and is the tragic life story of Jean Valjean, a labourer, who is condemned to prison for five years for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving wife. After his release, and through the kindly offices of a bishop, he devotes his life to helping the helpless, despite persecution.

\ Chester Conklin and George Bancroft, a new comedy team, are at the Regent Theatre this week in “Tell It To Sweeney.” They are both engine-drivers, one in charge of a decrepit old engine, and the other the driver of a crack locomotive. One has a daughter with i whom the other falls in love, not knowing she ; s engaged At first he is jealous of his rival, but as things fall out eventually helps hint to marry.the girl.

Clara Bow will next be seen in Wellington in "Hula,” which opens at the Regent Theatre on Friday, March 16. It is a story of Hawaii apd gives Clara Bow wonderful opportunties to display the bewitching personality that she is endowed with' Clive Brook plays the leading male role.

“The Kid Brother,” Harold Lloyd’s, latest picture for Paramount will be shown on March 2 at the De Luxe Theatre.

The latest English actor to gain fame in the film world is Clive Brook. He went to Hollywood a few years ago, and after a few contracts with miner companies, was kept in the background until, about twelve months ago when "he was signed up for a long term with Paramount. After' his work in “You Never Know Women,” he was given bigger parts and now plays the male lead to Pola Negri in “Barbed Wire,” which is probably one of the biggest pictures of the year. This picture which tells an unusual war story, will appear at the Regent Theatre on. March 2.

Advice is to hand to the effect that the directors of London Museum have purchased from Paramount a copy of the film “Chang,” the picture of the Siamese jungle that has astounded the world with its realism. It is their idea to seal the film and it will not be opened until 1977. It is believed that in fifty years hence, some of the animals shown in the picture will be extipct, and the film will be of considerable value to students of animal life. “Chang” had its first showing in Australia a couple of weeks ago. in Melbourne, and will be seen in Wellington at Easter.

The big musical hit in Sydney at' the present time is the J. C. Williamson production of “The (Jiri Friend,” which lias equalled the box office success of “Rose Marie.” A feature of the production is the performance of Annie Croft', who is already 'he idol of Sydney. This is a newspaper summing-up of her success:—“London loved Annie Croft. So does Sydney. She,is a girl who sings and dances her way into your heart with no apparent effort.”

“Dynamite” Universal’s dog actor once wore demonstrates his intelligence and prowess in "Fang’s of Destiny." t By his antics in his latest picture it could be imagined that even a dog possesses a sense of humour and knows how to express it.

In the London production of "Queen High,” the lively musical comedy and dancing production to come to New Zealand, Joseph Coyne played the part of 'the principal fun-maker, and Sir Alfred Butt, who was responsible for the production expressed the opinion that it was one of the most. attractive shows he had ever seen on the London stage.

The appearance of Beppie de Vries and James Liddy in "The Merry Widow” will be of particular interest, for Mr. Liddy will appear as Danilo, as played by him 'some hundreds of times in America, and Beppie de Vries will give her Continental rendering of the role of Sonia, in which she has won much lame. It has been said that only a foreign artist can give that "atmospheric” interpretation of the role as Lehar intended it should be’ given, liven the members of the chorus in “The Meiry Widow” are keenly interested in the performances of Miss de Vries and Mr. Liddy. At rehearsals they cluster around on the fringe of the stage and remain throughout the rehearsal to, watclf these two artists "in action.”

There has been a change in the cast of "Queen High,” the musical comedy at the Theatre. Royal, Melbourne. Byrl Walkley now has the role played by Jessamine Newcombe, and Miss Walkley’s part is filled by Rowena Ronald, who, in Sydney recently, gave a brilliant/performance of the principal role in “Castles in the Air,” which made her the sensation of Sydney “Queen High” is noted for the fact that it has at least five musical numbers which come under the category of “best sellers.” In addition, it is packed with comedy. Another outstanding feature is the dancing of Josephine Head, Albert Hugo, and Ramona, the specialty dancers from the Folies Bergeres, Paris.

Half the reading public, if not more, have chuckled, over the exquisitely funny situations of Ben Travers’ joyous book, "The Cuckoo in the Nest,” which amusing storv skims light-heartedly over thin ice. J. C. Williamson Ltd. have a new English company in Sydney which is drawing crowded houses to the Criterion Theatre to see this diverting fatce.

“The High School H,ero” is an entertaining romance of the campus, wherein two athletic rivals become rivals in love, but a novel twist is led to the conclusion of the story by the fact that the girl turns both down, and decides on the quiet -young chap who doesn’t win any laurels. A- youthful cast interprets this modern story, with Sally Phipps as the little co-ed.

James Gleason, celebrated as coauthor of the successful stage play “Is Zat So” is a film actor of no mean ability. He will shortly appear in support of Charles Ray in the Universal production “The Count of Ten.”

Reginald Denny will be seen shortly in “That’s My-Daddy,” wlTich is his latest Universal starring vehicle. Barbara Keut plays opposite him.

Miss Elsie Prince and Mr. Jimmy Codden having expressed a desire to' appear in the musical play “Mercenary Alary” before their departure from Sydnew, Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller have arranged for this production to be staged at the St. James Theatre in. Sydney on Saturday, February 18. The season will be limited to four weeks only. The play is ' one that not only gives Miss Prince and Mr. Godden plenty of opportunities to show their ability as entertainers, but it is also most’suitable to the casting of the present company. “Mercenary Mary,” with its interesting plot, delightful music, and novel dancing, is a fitting .production for the farewell of the company’s successful season at St. James Theatre, Sydney, which will be followed by a New Zealand tour.

John Gilbert plays the role of Prince Danilo in "The Merry Widow,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s reproduction of the famous musical comedy-drama. This picture should be one of the really big screen events of the year, and preparations are being made for its showing at the De Luxe Theatre.

Joe Brennan (New Zealand’s comedian) of. pantomime fame, is presenting his own revusical musical company at His Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, this afternoon. After a very satisfactory box 6ffice success in Melbourne, the company, headed by Joe Brendan and Cytil Northcote (the heavy-weight comedian) came to New Zealand and have been engaged by Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller for a short season. Mr. Brennan is a favourite here in his own country as elsewhere, and his experience is world wide. As a Dame impersonator, he stands alone, and it was while playing tints type ot character with the J. C. Williamson company that he first achieved fame as a comedian. Mr. Brennan has with him a company of 12 principals and a smart cabaret ballet of six girls. Two specialty dancers are also included in the cast.

‘ Jack Morrison, who became so popular in “Mercenary Mary,” and “Betty Lee,” while these two productions were being staged at St. James Theatre, Sydney a year or so ago, will probably accompany the “Archie” company on its tour through New Zealand. A musical comedy star in Australia, Mr. Morrison can claim success in almost every other pa'rt of the world also. New Zealand knows little of him, but if present negotiations are successfully carried through, this clever comedian will shortly have an opportunity of proving his claim to popularity here as elsewhere,. “Mercenary Mary,” it will be noted, is one of. the three productions that the “Archie” company will present here during the season which commences about Easter.

“Paid to Love” will shortly be shown here by Fox Films. The story is an entertaining one, with George O’Brien and Virginia Valli in the leading roles. O’Brien is cast as the scion of royalty, who is more interested in mechanics than in women, and wfio is giving his financially-embarrassed father an anxious time. To this interesting kingdom conies Peter Roberts, a wealthy American willing to, finance the principality, providing the young man places things on a more settled footing by marrying, and providing the kingdom with a future queen. The manner in which a lovely girl is bi ought to the kingdom to interest the young man, and the succeeding adventures, makes “Paid to Love,” a romantic, comedy-drama, with J Farrell MacDonald cast as the breezy American.

A fast-moving film is promised with the advent of “Pajamas,” featuring Olive Borden. The Canadian Rockies was chosen as the scene of many incidents in the film, and glaciers, towering peaks, and valley scenes form a background for the story. Lawrence Grey and Jerry Miles are in support of Olive Borden.

Miss Tameo Yui, a Japanese student, who is spending a year in England, declares that British films are “so confusing.” "‘But what means the film?’ asked many of my compratriots after visiting a London cinema for the first time. “They do not, perhaps, speak English so well, and go to the cinema hoping to improve, their pronunciation thereby, and are very disappointed that nobody speaks at all. ‘‘Only headlines are in English, and these flash by so quickly that they cannot read them. “In Japanese cinemas there are, of course, headlines, and also we have obasan (old nian), who sits in Japanese style on his heels in one corner of the stage and reads the whole story as the film unrolls.

“When I’ve really finished with this wonderful production, 'Rose Marie,’ ” said Frederick Bentley, the Never <rmedian and dancer with the J. C. Williamson Company now at vl.e Grand Opera House, “I will possibly fulfil some engagements .in vaudeville ( In London between, productions I have frequently done this. It is quite the thing there. I think that good vaudeville will alwavs be an attraction.’’

Samuel Goldwyn has engaged Noah Beery for the part of the Duke of Alva in “Leatherface,” the newest Ronald • 'Colman-Vilma Banky feature. It is a tale of the occupation of Belgium by the Spanish in the 16th century.

Dolores Del Rio is being starred by Fox Films in “The Red Dancer of Moscow.” With Miss Rel Rio is Charles Farrell, the lovable “Chico” of “Seventh Heaven.”

“Lightning,” a Tiffany production to be shown by Master Pictures, has been completed It has an all-star cast, headed by Margaret Livingston and Jobyna Ralston.

Miss Harriet Bennet, the talented artist who plays the part of Rose Marie, was asked at a party given to her in Wellington the other day lor a few hints on the secret of. her complexion “It is quite easy,” Miss Bennet said, “it really is quite easy. For any type of skin,” she declared, “two things are essential—fresh air and a reasonable amount of sleep. If women would only realise it, a beautiful skin is an inexpensive thing to acquire. The best of lotions lose their value if placed on unprepared soil. I believe in the simple recipes—good cold cream, and (for a lotion) honey and almond. My mother has used the latter on my skin ever since I was a baby To have a perfectly clear skin one must keep it in good condition Clean the face thoroughly each night. This is a virtual necessity Everv scrap of make-up, however small, should be removed. The skin must breathe, vou kjiow, just like the lungs of the body. Clog the skin and vou enervate the body: That is all there is to it.”

Richard Barthelmess is responsible lor a cleve’ characterisation in “1 he Patent Leather Kid,” the First National super-special, now at the Paramount Il,e--atre As "Tne Kid,” a braggart, overbearing. insolent, egotistic voting East Side pugilist, Richard engages in primitive love-making. Molly O’Day, as the golden dancer, gives a sample of screen portraiture, powerfully dramatic “The Patent Leather Kid” is a brilliant plav upon the emotions, and the story which is wov.-ri against the glamorous backgrounds f war and the prize ring, concerns the regeneration of a coward Ml E J Tait, manaeiii" director <>l Messis J C. Williamson, Ltd., ami of J. C. Williamson's Film, Ltd., arrives in Auckland to-day on a business trip to the Dominion. The restriction says a spepial message to the London Press, is a blow to the cinema owners.

Stephanie Deste, the clever actress and dancer, who portrays Wanda in “Rose Marie,” hates hats. “In America,” she explained, “it has been customary during the last two- years for girls, especially actresses, to go about without hats. One interviews a manager, for instance, carrying one’s hat in hand.” She tried to walk abroad in New Zealand without a hat, but found herself receiving too much attention.

The Danish authorities have forbidden the exhibition of all sorts of films based on the Great War. This decision is directly due to the German film, “The Emden,” which shows the adventurous episodes of that ship, but generally. the authorities desire to prevent all tendentious films in the matter.

Josephine Head, Albert Hugo, and Rotnana, from the Folies Bergeres, Paris, are coming to New Zealand with the specially selected company to appear in “TipToes” and “Queen High.” They introduce dance novelties never previously seen.

Mr. Robert Atkins, a leading London actor and stage direetpr, recently took a Shakespearean company to Cairo for a season of ten weeks. Apparently, Alexandra rather prides itself upon its artistic leanings, for great was the indignation and disappointment of its population when it was learned that Mr. Atkins v and his players would not visit the city. The “Egyptian Gazette” regarded the matter as of sufficient importance to justify a leading article, in which it asked plaintively, “Is Alexandria not to be permitted to see them? Can it be really true that Shakespeare will pass the city of Alexandria bv ? Has she no syrens which she can station on her quays to charm Mr. Atkins and In’s comrades on their return from Cairo, which possesses a large community whose native tongue is English, and a much, larger community well versed in the English language r

A special topical film to be shown by Master Picture is “The TransTasman Flight.” Messrs Moncrieff and Hood were' under contract to Union Theatres to go on a lecture, tour throughout Australia and New Zealand, and no one ever dreamed that the (light would come to such a sad end Among the remarkable scenes amongst other incidents are shown the assembling of the plane at Pt. Cook, Melbourne, the trial flight from Melbourne to Svdnev, and severe tests of the Ao-Tea-Roa over Svdnev by Air Mechanic Ward, who is shown being congratulated bv Moncrief! and. Hood Nigh' scenes of the plane leaving Svdnev. flu final farewells, and the actual hop-off were filmed bv the aid of power'll! arc lights The plane passing ovei Sydney was filmed from another plane with a powerful searchlight Ihe waiting thousands at Trentham, the wives and families of the daring airmen, the Verev lights and ground flares lighted bv the Defence Department to guide the airmen home at 2 a.in. on January 11, are all clearly shown.

Heeney, the New Zealand heavyweight champion boxer, is now one of tm. must talked of stars in the puglistK arena. All New Zealanders are very proud .of him, and are looking forward very keenly to the advent of the moving picture taken of his much-talked of light with Sharkey. Many ringside critics are >f the opinion that Heeney won the fight, while the description of the fight made by leading boxers to have been a .very solid slogging match with honours about even. This picture arrives in New Zealand on the 13th, and is to be screened immediately rigin throughout the country.

“Tip-Toes,” as its name implies, is a dance comedy. Elizabeth Morgan, who plays the part of the dance girl, is a dainty thing, and she can dance. In the production Gus Bluet .hares the honours with Miss Morgan. The trrsic is spirited and tuneful, the ballets are colourful and original, and there is a connected' story well spiced with humorous and snappy dialogue. “TipToes” commences at Auckland on February 15.

“The Desert Song,” the musical play to follow “Rose Marie,” is alleged to have more comedy than the over-boom-ed story of the Canadian Rockies. And the music is distinguished and a long away ahead of other modern pieces of the same stamp. Sigmund Romberg—composer of “Mavtime,” a stirring opportunity for Gladys Moncrieff in New Zealand in 1919, has weaved the melodies for this story of Morocco and the scoundrelly, murderous Riffs.

Edna Thomas, “The Lady from Louisiana,” who toured New Zealand two years ago, is giving a series of matinees at St. Martins Theatre, London, when her programme will include negro spirituals and Creole songs, street cries and plantation melodies It was at a big party, given by Mrs Lionel Harris about five years ago, that Miss Thomas made her London debut. This beautiful hostess inaugurated the American Women’s Club in Grosvenor Street on that occasion, so it was suitable tha an artist, of Miss Thomas’s calibre should appear.

Some of ns were a little surprised by the unconventional methods of Ann Suter, a comedienne from the southern States of America, says a Melbourne journal. ‘She sings, of course, but, above all, .she acts. Her songs are undeniably clever examples of "jazz” composition, and while she sings she exhibits remarkable mobility of expression and elasticity of limbs, contorting her body into positions which would be an inspiration to most caricaturists—possibly even to Mr. Max Beerbohm himself. Not everybody admires this negroid kind of thing, but as interpreted by Miss Suter, it is extremely popular with Tivoli audiences.

The effective use of novel camera angles, coupled with realistic colour, is what Lars Moen hopes to accomplish in the series of short technicolour films he is making for the North American Society of Arts. Mi. Moen believes that th'ev have not hitherto made use of the most modern camera technique of the European studios, and he ie wo- king at the combination. The problem is a difficult and a fascinating one, since the whole question of make-up and lighting must be differently approached with the technicolour camera.

A multiciplicity of secret panels, hidden trap-doors, moving chairs, and other strange devices make “The Thirteenth Hour,” a new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, one of the most thrilling mystery dramas in years. Napoleon, a new canine star, makes his first appearance in this film.

Lilian Davies, rhe famous London comic opera star f has been offered by J. C. Williamson Ltd., the record salary lor any comic opera artist to come to Australia under the management of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., to appear in the leading roles in “The Vagabond King” and {‘Princess Charming” (says a Melbourne paper). Miss Davies, who is now the leading comic opera star in London is said to have the best "comic opera voice” in England It 1 is claimed by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., that the completion of these negotiations for the appearance in . Australia of Miss Lilian Davies will mark a new era in stage history in this country.

The search for voices for the MelbaWilliamson grand opera season, to begin in Melbourne in March, has extended’to Sydney. Dame Nellie Melba, accompanied by Mr. Fritz Hart, director of the Melbourne Conservatoriuni, Mr. Andrew McCunn, musical director for the firm, Mr. John Lemmone, and Mr E J. Tait, attended at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, to hear the female voices, and give judgment on their quality. Twelve young ladies presented themselves, and of these nine were accepted—four sopranos, one mezzosoprano, and four contraltos.. The sopranos proved to have voices of good range and quality, and each sang with ease and confidence. The contraltos pleased the experts beyond expectation, the soft, velvety quality of the voices' being generally admired “I think the voices we heard are wonderful,” said Dame Nellie. “They are delightfulmuch better than we listened to in Melbourne. Nowhere in the world would better voices be heard hi the chorus. I am charmed with them.”

Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard, who have made an outstanding hit in London in “Lady Luck.” are coming back to Australia in September with their own company under engagement to the Fuller firm. One first remembers Madge Elliott as a solo dancer in 1917 in “You’re in Love,” the American musical comedy that exploited to the full the celebrated Maude Fane. Then she was the telephone girl and solo dancer in “Going Up,” and a small part artist in “Yes, Uncle,” and “High Jinks” (revival). In 1923 Miss Elliott starred through New Zealand--after successful seasons in Australia —in “lhe Cabaret Girl” and “Kissing Time” (costarring with Nel] Pavne). _ Williamson’s would rather have indifferent musical cotnedv stars from England, so Miss Elliott and her dancing partner, Cvril Ritchards, went abroad and found success. Dorothy Brunton was the first of the Firm’s leads to -join the opposition . then Gladys Moncrief!; now Maude Eliott and Cyril Ritchards. Maude Fane will probably lie lhe next.

Mack Sennett has recently signed a new comedienne whose name will be a familiar one to Nem Zealand audiences. She is Daphne Pollard, one of the famous Pollard troupe, and gained her early stage experience in the old Pollard juveniles. Since those days, the diminutive comedienne has gained herself very considerable stage fame both in England and the States, her last success being as the star of the “Greenwich A’illage Follies” m New York. Miss Pollard signalised her entrance into pictures with an impromptu chnstening when she fell into the lake at Holenbeck Park during the taking of some of the earlv scenes, and had to oe rescued by some of the other members of the company.

The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer • epic, production, “Ben-Hur,” will be presented in Wellington for the second time at the King’s Theatre, commencing on February 24. An atmospheric prologue will be produced for this season, and the special “Ben-Hur” musical score will be rendered by the King’s orchestral

Murray, who performs feats similar to those associated with the name of Houdini, has been engaged to appear on the Tivoli circuit in Australia. About twelve mouths ago he performed a stunt in London that held up the traffic in Piccadilly Circus for nearly fifteen minutes. The crane on the top of the new Swan and Edgar Bulding, 150 feet above the ground, lifted Murray feet first and well trussed up : n a strait jacket, into the air. For fourteen minutes he struggled with his bonds; then he removed the strait jacket, swung .himself upwards until he could reach the chain, and released his feet. A. moment later and he was lowered to the roof, amidst the cheering of the enormou crowd that collected in die street below. He has given performances all over the world.

The following is from "London Stage”: ‘As a rule, John Kirby told me die other day, Australian actors are without honour in their own country. J hey come to England or go to America” to make their name. He astonished me by saying that in almost every theatre in London there is an Australian artist. When he was in “Lady Luck,” there were four. Cyril Ritchard, Madge Elliot, Jose Melville and himself. Other notable' instances are Clarice Hardwicke, at Drury Lane; Gladys Moncrieff, Vera .’-’earce, Kitty Reidy, and Rita Nugent. Dorothy Brunton, who appeared recently in “The Climax,” is another who may be cited as an exception to the rule for, before she took up straight acting, she was the most popular musical comedy actres* in the Antipodes. The outstanding example of an Australian who has made good away from home is Albert Whelan, who, when he returned some time ago, was as big a success over there as he is here.”

Theatrical management looks the easiest thing in the world ,but amateurs who blissfully butt in mostly get nothing out of it except scorched fingers (writes the “Svdney Bulletin” correspondent) . The’ partners of a city printing firm and a Svdnev bovs’ schoolmaster who backed the Grand Guignol venture at the St. James are the latest to put their fingers in bandages. Like the shows arranged last vear by. Concert Tours, Ltd.,’’ it deserved success, and, also like them, it failed through lack of knowledge in the steering of theatrical craft. The classic Australian example of amateTir failure was the crash of Stephenson, who organised a firstlate musical comedy company that lasted only six months.- In learning that theatrical management isn't easy he spent £30,000.

•Many famous British contemporary playwrights started as newspaper men, sav’s a writer in “T.P’s and Cassell’s Weekly.” Foremost among them is Mr. G. B.'Shaw, who at the outset of his career was associated with, the “Pall Mall Gazette,” the “World,” and the "Saturday Review.” Sir. J. M. Barrie was for some time a leader writer on tjie staff of the "Nottingham Journal’ ; Mr Arnold Bennett was assistant editor ot "Woman”; Mr. Edgar Wallace was a war correspondent in South Africa; Sir Hall Caine wrote the “London Letter”/of one of the Liverpool papers; and Mr P G. Wodehouse was formerly associated with the “Globe.” Other playwrights who began as journalists are Mr. Alexander M. Thompson, wno for many years was the Labour correspondent of tlie “Daily- Mail,” as well as Mr. Blatchford’s colleague on the “Clarion” j Mr. A. Neil Lyons and Mr. Ash* ley Dukes.