MOVIE STARS WELCOMED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4895, 26 October 1925, Page 3

MOVIE STARS WELCOMED

TRIBUTES TO MISS FREDERICK. “ACTRESS OF REAL GENIUS.” There was a representative attendance of those engaged the moving picture industry in New Zealand when a luncheon was given at the Grand Hotel, Wellington, in honour of Miss Pauline Frederick and Miss June Elvidge, who are playing at .the Opera House in Wellington, and to Mr “Snowy” Baker, the Australian actorathlete. Mr C. F. Eskell presided. Mr Eiskell extended a cordial welcome .to Miss Frederick, and said how glad they were she had been able to include New Zealand in her tour. They hoped, he said, it was only a forerunner of other visits. ABOUT NEW' 7 ZEALAND. Mr O. N. Gillespie proposed "Our Guests,” and in doing so said that while New Zealand was a; small country, with only a minion and a quarter population, they were people who were all Britishers. If he wanted to brag about New Zealand he would isay it .was a beautiful country witlh better fiords .than Norway, better mountains than Switzerland, better lakes than Scotland (laughter), and more wonderful thermal regions, and more variegated, than Yellowstone Park. New Zealand also possessed other advantages .especially in regard to weather, and in Wellington' they were able to produce all the different climates of New Zealand in a day. (Laughter.) They had had many distinguished visitors to New Zealand, and now they had Miss Pauline Frederick, and no one would go away more honoured than she would. (Applause.) Looking at her success on .the stage it made him feel sad about the film industry, but they still hoped she would .make some more pictures. (Hear, hear.) They realised the important place that the film industry held in the world, and he believed .they had even passed the chewing gum industry and knocked its figures flat. (Laughter.) So far as Miss Frederick was concerned all. classes of the community liked and honoured her, and appreciated her real genius. They welcomed her to New Zealand, and. were sure she would be a real ambassador for the Dominion upon her return home./

WELL-KNOWN AND POPULAR. „ Mr E. J. Righton supported the toast,- saying he had pleasant recollections of his 'first meeting with Miss Frederick in America on Armistice Day. It was a great day for New Zealand to have Miss Frederick. Miss Elvidge, and Mr “Snowy” Baker with them, and how Avell the people knew •Miss Elvidge- was shown „by the reception accorded her at .the Opera House on her opening night. He met her first at Madison Square Garden, New York, and. regarded . her as one of the loveliest women in America. (Applause.) Mr Baker was known all over the worhl, and. in Australia as a famoqs athlete. He was the greatest screen artist Australia had produced, and most of them would remember his first picture, “The Lure of the Bush.” As an artist in outdoor life he was equal to anything America had produced,x although he. had not had the advantage of having money spent, no him as’ lavishly ap wa's the case with Tom Mix and other; stars. His love-making*; was equal, to anything on the screen,. (Applause.)

The toast of “The Visitors” was then' honoured with considerable enthusiasm and musical honours.-. Miss Frederick, on rising to reply, received a great ovation. “Thank you very much indeed for your very warm welcome of myself and by she said. “I am very happy ,to be here with you all. Thank you very much.” ’

Miss J. Elvidge, who was also accorded a- warm reception, said she was very glad to be present. She hoped they would not judge her by .the little -part of “Mona” she'was playing. She recalled ,a conversation with a lady she met upon one occasion, when the lady remarked, “You played the- part as if born to play it.” (Laughter.) Another lady admirer remarked, “I do certainly like her better‘in the part Of a bad woman than fl good, woman.” (Laughter.) Her manager, when told of this, said, “I don’t think it makes much difference. You are about as bad in one as, in the other.” (Laughter.) She thanked those who had made it possible for'her to come to New Zealand, adding that it had been a real joy to come. “SNOWY” BAKER—IMPERIALIST. Mr “Snowy’’ Baker expressed appreciation of the kind remarks made, .and said he had been chosen .three times to come to New Zealand to play football, twice for swimming, and once for boxing, but this was the first visit he had made. He claimed to be an ardent Imperialist, and he was very glad to visit New Zealand. It was due to Mr E. J. Carroll and the J. C. Williamsofa Company that they had been induced to undertake this long journey. It was a good thing tfiat they should be ambassadors for the Empire, and visits of that kind would do much to cement friendships with other- countries and so help to secure the safety and existence of the world.

Mr A. Davis proposed the toast of "The Ladies,” to which Mr L. A. Quinn responded, and “The Press” was proposed by Mr A. McGowan, and responded to by Mr C. McKinnon.