EFFECT OF TALKIES

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1930, Page 6

EFFECT OF TALKIES

UPHEAVAL IN THEATRICAL WORLD. WELLINGTON, May 1. “Never in my life have I'known anyiiing like tue disturbance in the theatrical situation such as has, been experienced in the last twelve months,” said Sir Benjanp'n Fuller to a ■‘Dominion” representative yesterday. .“Hitherto public taste, in entertain.nient has changed gradually with some .ogicVd sequence,”- continued Sir Ben:amin, who arrived from Sydney this, week. “One form, ’'of entertainment Ims developed out of anot her—from opera boufte to comic ypera. comic opera to musical * emedy, musical comedy to revue, and m oh. Thi.s was. rational evolution. Vfiiid you I think the silent pictures ' are had an effect in bringing about such change?. They taught the public to ike action and plenty of it, and to. mjfSiut ;waste time between tupns, andj generally , to add ‘pep’ to the perform-,* nifeh,, . ... But the change registered in the last twelve months has been revolutionary. The ‘talkies’ have upset 'he calculations’ of everyone. The?pub’m has said pretty plainly that they 'o rot want anything else. They said 'bat by staying away from the shows. We have only three revue shows left

those headed by Jim Gerald, George Wallace, and the Paul-Conn'ors combination, any they are only carrying on owing to existing engagements. We had to compromise with Mr Fred Eorbes (who was producing musical comedy quite ably), but the business did not justify the continuation, of the Engagement. He lias gone back to England. * It is the same story every where. The little companies which,go out from Sydney to the country towns have all been trailing back broke to the world, owing to the introduction of tb° talkies in the local picture theatres.”

AMAZING FIGURES. “In some cases the figures are amazing,” said Sir Beniamin. • “At showtime in Glen Innes last year the silent pictures took £92 in five nights; this year the talkies took £6OO in the five nights. “We have no flesh and blood shows in New Zealand at present, and are not likely to have any this year. We have put talkie installation in all our theatres, and are right into the buftiness, both here and in Australia.”

“Will it last?” asked the interviewer. “Who can say?” replied Sir Benjamin. “All we know is that the public has turned down all other forms of theatrical entertainment, riot only out here, but in other parts of the world, for talking pictures, and a 1 long as they aire in that mood, so long will the talkies prevail; and, as;it always was and always will be, the theatres giving the best pictures will get the largest audiences.. The play is still x be thing even if it is only a shadow play so we are improving our theatres and refurnishing them in some instances, so that op the score of comfort there will be little or nothing left to be desired. His Majesty’s Theatre here is now being completely recarpeted and otherwise freshened up, and holds its own well with the best theatres in Austrahasia. We are also doing a great deal in that direction in Australia at the present time.” P-’r Beniamin mentioned that “The Belle of New York” has been revived by ,T. C. Williamson. Ltd,, and “The nfa 'VI of the Mountains” was also successful in Mejhourne. » He leaves for Sydney again to-day having come across to attend a conference in connection with the FullerHa v ward picture’ theatre interests in New Zealand.