NEW FIJI CINEMAS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1933, Page 3

NEW FIJI CINEMAS

POPULAR. WITH NATIVES.

FILMS IN HINDUSTANI

SUVA, March 8

With the opening of the Lilac Theatre which lias just been complet--3(1 as a cost £IO.COO, Suva now possesses three well-equipped “talkie” theatres. A little over a year ago the town had silent pictures only, and the rapid extension of the picture business in Suva during the past 12 months has entirely revolutionised , the scope and extent of amusement in the Fijian capital. Except for the moderate support that was given to the silent pictures the bulk of the entertainment in Suva took the form of dancing and local concerts. With the advent of the “talkies,” however, ideas have changed. Residents who rarely patronised picture performances arq now regular patrons, and dances and other entertainments are poorly attended.

The attraction of the “talkies” is not confined to the European population alone. The Fijians and Indians are very interested in the sound pictures, and there is no doubt that with many of the natives and Indians whose English is limited the sound pictures tend to make them more f'a'm:«,Br . with the language. Even those who do not readily grasp the language aro not altogether deprived of this form of amusement, for they are generally accompanied by natives who interpret for them, much to the annoyance of those who happen tojie in the immediate vicinity.

For the older type of Indian, parttioularly the cultivating class, Who know very littio English, bne of the theatres has’an arningeriient for tlie regular supply of sound pictures produced in Lidia in. the Hindustani language, and these are very much appreciated by the Indian community. The advent of the talking pictures in Suva has resulted in a definite increase iu the standard of entertainment, and has brought the capital closer to the standards of othei countries, this point, being specially stressed bv His' Excellency, the actingGovernor, at thevopening of the new theatre last week..