PLAZA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 656, 7 May 1929, Page 15

PLAZA

“THE SINGING FOOL” Record crowds continue to attend all sessions at the Plaza. Theatre to seo and hear tfc? line all-talking programme now being presented. A 1 Jolson’s great work in “The Singing Fool” is one of the finest pieces of acting seen in Auckland. With its many singing, dialogue and music sequences, "The Singing Fool” is a really outstanding “talkie.” When the other night clubs in the city were closing, the fun was just starting at Blackie Joe's. That’s how it happened that a certain well-known play producer gave a waiter the chance of a lifetime. A 1 had never liked being a waiter, especially since he fell in love with Molly, the entertainer at Blackie Joe’s. He had written a song in his spare moments, a ballad which he asked Molly to sing.

At the very moment that A 1 was singing, a certain well-known' producer was seated at a table with his party, and it occurred to him that this was a song that would go over big in a theatre. It also happened that Molly, who was always out for opportunities, had urged Blackie to introduce her to Marcus as soon as lie came :in. She had tried vainly to interest him in her, hut his interest was entirely focused on this unknown waiter. When Marcus wanted something, he usually got it, and in ten minutes he was talking business with Al. Three years later nearly all of the music shops in the city were advertising Al Stone’s latest hit. There had been 30 since the days at Blackie .Toe’s. As an added attraction a certain shop had on display Al Stone’s photograph and beside it that of Molly Winton, the successful singer, in private life Mrs. Al Stone, who was putting his songs across. Al had become the proprietor of a very successful night club and the most popular song-writer in the business. While Molly, who had, of course, attained the success she had always desired, was carrying on a clandestine affair with John Perry, a friend of Al’s, Al was extolling her virtue to the world. Even when she told him one night that she did not love him, he refused to believe her and went on living in a dream. He was totally blind to what was obvious to everybody else so that when Molly finally packed up and went away, baby and all, the shock was too much for him. He disappeared from the show world, but returned to again skyrocket to stardom. The really poignant scenes come at the deatli of his little boy, from whom he had been separated. A really excellent supporting programme of short "talkie” features is also presented, opening with the “Tannhauser” overture, played by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Then there are two beautiful violin, solos by the famous Mischa Elman. Solos from the popular opera, "I Pagliacci” are heard as sung by Giovanni Martinelli, the leading dramatic tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, and a number of well-known songs by popular artists are provided by In a Monastery Cell,” which depicts the recreation of the monk after his day’s labour.

SUBURBAN THEATRES At the Prince Edward Theatre this evening the pictures will be “Captain Dash’’ (Victor McLaglen) and "Drums of Dove” (Mary Philbin, Lionel Barrymore and Don Alvarado). Eve Bentley's orchestra will play. The Capitol Theatre, Dominion Road, will screen "The Cameraman” (Buster Keatan), "Naughty .Baby” (Alice "White and Jack Mulhill) and a "Collegians” picture. The Empire Theatre. Dominion Road, will show "None But the Brave” (Charles Morton), and "Man. Woman and Wife” (Pauline Stark and Norman Kerr}')The Edendale Theatre will screen "The Cameraman” (Buster Keaton) The Grey Lynn Cinema is to show "Take Me Home” (Bebe Daniels) and “Hoof beats of Vengeance” (Rex the wild horse). At the Parisl> Hall, Devonport. the films to be shown are "Tesha” (Maria Corda and Jameson Thomas), also "Someone to Dove” (Charles Rogers).