DEATH AT NEW YORK

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 304, 8 December 1936, Page 8

DEATH AT NEW YORK

FAMOUS LONDON PRODUCER. 40 YEARS OF GREAT PLAYS. Mr. Edward LaurilHard, well known as a London theatre manager and producer, died recently at New York at the age of 6G years. Except for a few isolated productions '.writes the theatre correspondent of the Daily Telegraph) Edward Laurillard has done little in the London theatre since he severed his connection with the firm of Laurillard and Grossmith 15 years ago- . , One of his last ventures was a revival in 1932 of the famous “Potash and Perlmutter” farce, which he was responsible for bringing to London in 1914. lhe revival was not a success, but the original production is said to have made over £70,000. “Potash and Perlmutter” was the first of many plays presented by Laurillard and Grossmith. Its great success laid the foundations of the firm, which for 10 years was one of the most important management; in Britain. It controlled six West End theatres, and ran a series x popular plays, most of them musical comedies. Among them were “Tonight’s the Night” “Yes. Uncle.” “Kissing Time” and “Tilly of Bloomsbury. Mr. Laurillard brought Francis Lcder?r to this country for the first time He remained under contract to Mr. Laurillard until a year or two ago, when he became a star at Hollywood. Born a Rotterdam, Edward Laurillard came to London as a young man. His first venture was ‘"King Kodak” at Terry’s Theatre in A little later he introduced Louie Freear to London audiences in “The Gay Parisienne.” His last venture at London was at the Vaudeville in May. 1934, when he breught over the American company in “The Pursuit of Happiness.”