CIVIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 848, 17 December 1929, Page 17

CIVIC

GALA OPENING A truly spectacular grogramme has been arranged for the gala opening performance at the Civic Theatre on Friday evening. The best in music and the best in pictures will be presented, making a programme, that will be remembered as an event in New Zealand’s theatrical history. The musical features will comprise selections grave and gay on the magnificent grand organ by Fred Scholl, master musician from Graumann’s Chinese Theatre, Hollywood; a novel stage band presentation under the leadership of Ted Henkel, the Civic’s famous -Personality” conductor, and in addition a good deal of incidental music by a specially selected and trained symphony orchestra of 30 players. Other attractive items on this entertainment will include the dancing by the Civic’s own Corps de Ballet, which is at present under rehearsal, and an international vaudeville act by Ramon. Madeline and Pedro. Then comes the main pictorial attraction, which is a big all-talking comedy from the famous United Artists’ studio. The locale of “Three Live Ghosts,’ directed by Thornton Freeland, is laid in London. The motion picture version is based on the famous comedydrama stage success of that name, and features an all-star stage cast including Beryl Mercer, Charles McNaughton, Claud Allister, Joan Bennett, Robert Montgomery, Hilda Vaughn, Shayle Gardner. Harry Stubbs, Jocelyn Lee, Jack Cooper, Nancy Price and Tenen Holtz. , ... Max Marcin, celebrated playwright, who presented “Three Live Ghosts” on the New York stage, wrote the screen adaptation and dialogue.

Fritz Lang has finished cutting and sub-titling the negative of the new UFA super, “The Girl in the Moon, so that the picture can be shown to the National Board of Censorship immediately. The world premiere of 'The Girl in the Moon ’ will take place in Berlin shortly. “Girl in the Moon will be released by Cinema Art Films in New Zealand.