OBSERVATORY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 237, 17 May 1928, Page 4

OBSERVATORY.

Handy Extras. Some interesting particulars in regard to the payments made to film stars was given before Mr. Justice Horridge in London. In evidence it was divulged that allowances for extras alone were on a scale beyond the dreams of most men so far as their total income is concerned. In this particular case it was stated that Miss Dorothy- Gish had entered into a special contract to appear in England in the production of three or more British films, for a salary- of £IOOO per week, plus travelling and living expenses for herself, her mother and a maid. There was also a reception, when Miss Gish met representatives of the press, which cost £SOO. The living expenses alone amounted to the handy item of £BO per week. A Mere Babe. According to Dr. J. H. Jeans, secretary- of the Royal Society-, although 10,000 generations of men mave walked the the earth for 300,000 y-ears, humanity, looked at on the astronomical time-scale, is onlyat the beginning of its existence—a mere new-born babe. Dr. Jeans stated that a million million years hence, so far as scientists could forsee, the sun would still be much as now. The year would be a trifle longer, and the climate quite a lot colder, while the stores of coal and oil would be used up. However, enough bottles of energy-—electrons and protons remained unbroken in the sun to provide light and heat for millions of millions of years to come. New Madame Tussaud’s. Three years ago Madame Tussaud’s, the famous exhibition of waxworks, was burnt down. To-day-, a new Madame Tussaud’s has just been opened, which not only houses wax-works, but a cinema and restaurant as well. All the old collection Las been remodelled, and sporting favourites, such as Jack Robbs and Jack Dempsey, added. The new Chamber of Horrors has been brought up-to-date, and once again the management offer a reward to any-one who will spend a night alone amongst the Horrors. British Film Triumph. Four copies of the British naval film, “ Battles of Colonel »nd Falkland Islands,” have been purchased by the United States Navy and one copy by the Japanese Navy for exhibition to the crews, officers, and naval personnel. This picture demonstrates more effectively than any yet n ade the high degree of workmanship and technical efficiency attained by British studios. The film has been acquired for exhibition purposes in the following countries: Canada, South Africa, India, Australia, Burma, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, Malay States, China, Germany-, Austria, Hungary, C/cchoSlavakia, Jugo-Slaviu, ; . p,,.-t u . gal, Denmark, Argentine, Uruguay-, Peru, Bolivia,. Ghile and Ecuador.