THE GAUMONT CHRONOPHONE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8172, 3 August 1906, Page 2

THE GAUMONT CHRONOPHONE.

This is mi inventive ago ; no sooner is one scientific surprise effected than it gives way 1.0 another, fiver on the lookout for "something new," it was not at all surprising that a very large audience assembled .it the Theatre Itoyal list night to witness the opening perform-inec of the Cliroinplume. Tliis wonderful piece of mechanism produces what is termed m theatrical parlance "articulating pictures." The pictures are the ordinary moving ones, which have so long been the vogue, but thoy aspire to greater realism', and sing, laugh, whistle, an I talk in n way that if one paused to think of it, must impress one with the scientific and mechanical exactitude of the artificial moans resorted to. The novelty and realism of the combination is such, however, that artificiality is actually forgitton, and the audience finds itself dwelling on l!i3 moving lips of the figures on the screens, almost forgetting that living actors are not catering for its entertainment. This latest creation, when perfected, is destined to take the place of the popular lunetuatograph as effectively as the latter eclipsed the old-time magic-lantern. The programme given last night was a well-assorted one, of which of course the "articulators" were in greatest demand. The silent pictures, however, were an exceptionally good selection, for the greater part quite new to New Plymouth. The company concludes its season in New Plymouth 10-night, and should again have a bumper house. The novelty of (he entertainment in itself is sufficient to secure large patronage, even if the merit of the chronophone were limited to its novelty.