KING CARNIVAL REIGNS

Shannon News, 14 October 1927, Page 4

KING CARNIVAL REIGNS

JOY NIGHT IN LEVIN.

"Joy Night" was aptly named, and it has become an annual function for which Levin is rather famous. The fourth celebration of the kind took place on Tuesday (and early the next morning) in De Luxe Hall, and was attended by over 300 people, mostly young and full of enthusiasm for social gaiety. As a carnival dance, the gathering would rival some of the best held in the cities, and it is not too much to say that the promoters made it their aim to provide a tip-top show regardless of expense. Lavishness was everywhere apparent, from the sumptuous decorations and the frequent hand-outs of .novelties to the well-chosen supper. The interior of the hall was transformed into something approaching a fairy palace, with the aid of greenery, streamers, balloons, and special lighting effects. The main part of the scheme was carried out with weeping willow and lv'copodium, in festoons brightened with "tinsel, which reflected the lights in *>charming manner. There were also many pretty bunches of balloons hung like chandeliers from the ceiling, besides streamers and garlands of varied colours. Additional lighting had been installed by Messrs Lunn and Henley, and" the"'enclosing of globes in Chinese lanterns added to % the fascination of the secne. The orchestral stand was screened off by a striking representation of . a megaphone. The floor was in excellent order, and the dancing went with a merry swing right from the start to the finish. Novelty features were introduced at intervals, and gave a special character to* the. dance, which opened, appropriately tor a joy night, with a blare of squeakers and' toy trumpets. On one occasion straw' boaters were issued ajnd worn in the hall, to be replaced by fancy paper headgear. Grotesque masks were donned by the men, causing screams of laughter. There were also merry antics with streamers and with confetti. A balloon dance was another, bright feature. All the visitors, avlio came from the surrounding district and from places as far away as Wellington, Mangahao .ind Palmerston, were delighted with the scale of hospitality and-entertain-ment, that confronted them, and many of them thanked the committee for having assured them such a good time. The crowd- was a record one for the ■hall, and the function was practically the most successful of its kind held in Levin. Some of the Wellington guests I da-id they had been to bigger dances :n the city, but had not enjoyed themjelves so much, nor seen so many novelties offered.

The music was -a-great feature of die evening. It was played by-a-n orchestra of eight, comprising. Messrs J. Rikihana and E. Pink (violins), H. Barnet and W. Phillips (saxophones), E. Foster (solo saxophonist), G. Fox ■i cornet), B'. Parsons (piano), and' D. fox (drums)':' Extras were kindly played by Miss Rikihana, Miss George (Kuku),*ancP,Mr J. Rikihana; Ever and anon, some of ..the instrumentalists would burst into- song, in keeping with the standards of jazz, which has a prick appeal at such times. A hula lance was done by Miss Broughton, in he glow of the spotlight, and was a lopular' item. The supper was bountiful, and the committee are indebted to Mesdames T. Devine, C. E. Shaw, and J. Johnston for their supervision of this department, also to Mesdames Henderson and Parsons for valuable assistance in he preparation-of refreshments. - A district-wide reputation has been earned by "Joy Night," to which people flocked in buses and ears from Poxton and Shannon, and in cars from further afield. The affair was started in a small way a few years ago, but t has grown steadily and become one of the outstanding events of the year. About 2 a.m. the gathering broke up, iftcr the guests had joined heartily in according musical honours to their .entertainers.