PRINCESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 247, 9 January 1928, Page 13

PRINCESS

“ROSE OF THE GOLDEN WEST” Monterey, California, a civilised community years before the revolutionary war, the site of California’s first capital, and one of the most impressive combinations of land, sea, and trees in the Americas, furnishes the background for the action in “Rose of the Golden West,” now at the Princess Theatre. Founded in 1770 by Father Serra, when he built there the second of California’s 21 missions, Monterey was California’s first real city, and was

a more important community than San Francisco up to the time gold was found on the Sacramento River. From that time Monterey faded, and San Francisco became a glaring yellow light on the Pacific Coast. It was in Monterey in 1846 that Commander Sloat landed men from an American warship anchored in the bay, and with the aid of Thomas Larkin, American Consul, took possession of the capital. It was there that Robert Louis Stevenson lived and wrote. Monterey claims California’s first brick house, its first customs house, its first theatre and first whaling station. The story of “Rose of the Golden West” is built around the stirring historical events of 1846. and much of it was filmed on the very spots where the history-making action took place. The featured members of the cast of the story include Mary Astor, Gilbert Roland. Montague Love, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Flora Finch, and others.