LUCKY EXHIBITION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4976, 19 May 1926, Page 3

LUCKY EXHIBITION.

A SIDE-SHOW SIDELIGHT. SUCCESS OF AMUSEMENTS. . A Wellington 'resident, who was in close touch with the Dunedin Exhibition’s activities frcEn the outset, informed a “Dominion” reporter that nearly everything that l happened immediately prior to the opening of the Exhibition seemed to be. against the general, success of the enterprise. At very gi’ea,t expense the Exhibition autfiorities introduced novelties for the Amusement Park. They offered the rights of .the scenic 'railway and all gear attaching thereto, he says, far what was a bagatelle, but feould get no one to take them', as many were sceptical as to ,the temperament of the people of Dunedin in relation to such amusement as l the railway would provide'. To the amazement of every-, one the scenic railway’s, takings were over four figures in the 'first three days, and it remained one.of the popular amusements throughfllut, .the Exhibition.'. Similarly the “Dodge ’Em’s” rights were offered for a song without any success, yet. that game produced thousands: of pounds, for the Exhibition.

“It is said,” continued the informant, “that .the rights of letting the seats round the bandstand could'have been purcha,sed for £250.f0r the whole six months. As it turned out .that sum would have been returned within a week, and a fortune could have been made in the six months with this concession alone. The only big expenditure made far entertainments that, did not pay was on the Festival Hall, People declined to sit down for a, couple of hours: to hear , a conceit, while they were possibly missing ‘all the fun df the fair’ in the Amusement Park. of the entertainments in .the hall played to ghastly business, not because of the quality of the performance, but simply because .the sightseers wished to be where the ‘fun whirled' and the lights glistened.’” . \