CHRONOPHONE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1964, 27 December 1906, Page 2

CHRONOPHONE.

-the Stonhaiii - Morrison Company’ which hist evening introduced what is termed the Gaumont Clironophoue tu tlio Gisborne public, gave its first ciilertiiiiiiuent to a crowded liou.se, and the display made is certainly one of the best seen in Gisborne. They produce not only a first-class picture, but by means of the chronophono. the representations of tiie figures appear to talk, laugh, and sing. The synchronising of the actions of tile tigure with the records of the machine is wonderfully exact, and the effect produced is marvellously realistic. in what was seen at His Majesty's Theatre Inst evening the public saw no doubt what is but the beginning of a new era in picture entertainments. Snatches of opera were listened to, and one of

these days no doubt a whole opera may be seen and listened to under similar conditions. Of course room still exists for improvement in the tone of voice reproduction by mechanism, but time will no doubt have effect there also. The ebronopbone items given last evening constituted a fair proportion of the whole programme. Don Ctesar was seen and beard singing the well-known air from “ Mari tan a,” “Let me like a soldier fall''; the charming “swiimsong’’ duet from “Veronique” formed a dainty contribution, both to eye and ear; and in humorous voin n duet from

•• The French Maid ” and a “ Laughim' song” were provocative of lmich mciriment, Several other ehronophonic #l'cins were also quite successful in pleasing. Apart altogether, however, from the the StonhamMonison Company's repertoire of animated pictures is a very fine one. stamping the entertainment at once as

first class. For instance, no finer picture lias been seen in Gisborne than the lengthy and striking depiction of “ A Detective’s Tour of the World,” which is most comprehensively illustrative. Equally good was the picture of “ The Giant's Causeway.” a magnificent panoramic effect being here obtained ; while from a scenic standpoint “Monte Carlo ” was also particularly good. The clearness and steadiness of the production of all the pictures deserves emphasis. Many other interesting pictures showed the desire of' the company to ca;er tor all tastes, and

a slroiig point ol 11 10 programme win without (luiilil, found in tJm Imim nms coi n posit ions, which, ns is the o-iso with thu others shown, mo till now to those ' purls. A more ludicrous idon could hardly have hoon worked out tlum tlmt shown in “ The Stolen Bride.” while the “ h'our Hooligans,” “The Happy .1 talkie," and “The Unfortunate Mushund’’—all curiously enough based on domestic troubles —not to mention numerous others, kept the audience wreathed in a perpetual smile. A coloured picture that deserves mention was that, showing welding operations in ironworks at I’ittsbm-g, was a brilliant example of colored cinematography. The ■ Company appears at His Majesty’s Theatro again to-night and also to-morrow night.