CIVIC’S OPENING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 849, 18 December 1929, Page 18

CIVIC’S OPENING

BIG PROGRAMME FOR FRIDAY A brilliant programme of varied musical selections of talkies and stage presentations has been prepared for the gala opening performance at the new Civic Theatre on Friday evening. Ted Henkel, the musical and stage director of the Civic, says that the most fashionable Australian and Continental theatres have adopted stage presentations as part of their regular programmes, and the Civic, Auckland's most modern theatre, will follow suit. Mr. Henkel attributes the success of stage presentations to their varied nature, bringing as they do a variety of numbers cleverly combined into one pleasing interlude. Friday’s programme will commence with an overture by the orchestra of 30 players, followed by a film gazette, and selections on the Civic grand organ, which will be played by Fred Scholl, the Civic’s master musician from Hollywood. The stage presentations will be the next item, and the three international dancers, Ramon, Madeline and Pedro, will be supported by the Civic ballet. The audience is in for the laugh of its life when it frolics through London Town with the “Three Live Ghosts,” the rollicking play fellows who will live merry adventure at the Civic for the first week. Taken from the sensational laugh hit of the same name which had Broadway holding its sides for several seasons, “Three Live Ghosts” is one of the most entertaining talking pictures to come out of Hollywood. Everyone will quake with laughter one minute and be held in a vise-like grip of suspense the next as the shell-shocked “Spoofy” and his merry buddies return to Old England only to discover they are supposed to be “dead.” It is not long, however, before all London learns that, if anything, the “g.hosts” are very much alive. Matters reach a gripping climax when “Spoofy” breaks into his own home, robs his wife’s jewels and kidnaps his own son, having mistaken himself for someone else. Auckland will purr with pleasure at the antics of these delightful characters as interpreted by a cast of stage stars including some of Broadway’s greatest favourites. This United Artists’ talking sensation is a great picture. Although every seat has been sold for the opening performance, booking is proceeding rapidly for the first week of the season.. During the morning and afternoon sessions the Winter Garden will be open. This fine tearooms occupies the whole of the ground floor of the Civic and dainty afternoon or morning teas will be served during the presentation of the full screen and stage programme.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer announces that through a special arrangement with Samuel Goldwyri, the services of Vilma Banky have been obtained for a production which is to be directed by Victor Seastrom, Swedish director, who has just returned from an 11 months’ visit to Europe, having last filmed “Masks of the Devil,” starring John Gilbert.