When Sir Benjamin Billed the "Smalls”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 244, 5 January 1928, Page 13

When Sir Benjamin Billed the "Smalls”

FOURTH EDITION

EARLY days recalled FULLERS’ NEW VENTURES Through the “smalls,” Jike Mercer iml Ngaruawahia, on the telegraph , oS 0 f which he used to stick the show bills of the Fuller firm, Sir Benjamin pyjj er has just driven in h!s RollsKojree coupe. ll© has been renewing his acquaintance with the towns which saw the trials, troubles and triumphs of the Brm 30 years ago. e -Most of the places like Hamilton, Hrhich had then only 4,000 residents. I (nirdly know again,’* lie said, “but I’m jure some of the telegraph poles are Identical ones I operated on; they [inve stopped the practice long since,’* be added. The announcement that the splendid B ew theatre St. James’s would open on \Uy - 6 with “Archie,” a musical romf,iv starring the popular Elsie Prince ln ',l Jimmy Godden, was made by Sir Benjamin this morning. The roof of the building which will be an improvement on even Sydney’s famous St. Lima's will be in position by the end >f the month. At. present Mr. G. N. von worthy. managing architect and Mr. S'orman White, son of Ilcnry JO. White, [lio Sydney architect, are in Auckland supervising the work. To-day the last wooden shop in hitmen Street between the Town Hall ind the wharf is being dismantled to make room for the theatre. After the “Archie” season Auckland n*ill hear the Gonsalez Italian Grand fiprra Company, which will probably >pen at St. James’s about the end of Lady Fuller and two daughters Fir Benjamin has been touring the S'orth Island. He arrived In Auckland last evening after motoring through from Rotorua. He will tour the South Island next and leave from Bluff for Melbourne on January 28.