STALLS GOSSIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1915, Page 11

STALLS GOSSIP.

MIMIES, MUSIC, ANR MOVIES. When last heard from, Mr. Hugh J. Ward, accompanied by Mr. Claud McKay, ■was in Pictureland at Los Angeles.

The Cinderella Company has concluded the annual pantomime tour of the J. C. Williamson firm with a visit to Kalgoorlie, where business was particularly bright. * * * *

One of the most successful comedies in America is "It Pays to Advertise." It has now reached its 450 th performance at George M. Cohan'B New York Theatre. "It Pays to Advertise" is held by the J. C. Williamson management. * *' * « .

One lady, who is not a resident of Wellington (says an Empire City exchange) was recently approached by a Wellington inquirer about her services for a certain musical performance. The lady in question, after asking for a fe* that a first-rate London artist would grab at, stipulated besides that her name should be "starred" in every advertisement about the performance. Needless to say there was nothing doing. * * * »

Mr. Davo O'Connor, who has visited New Zealand with a small but capabl* little opera company, is due again towards the end of this month with several of the latest musical comedies in the repertoire. Under the terms of his contract with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., Mr. O'Connor is prohibited from playing in the four principal centreß of New Zealand, but his advent in the provincial towns with such lively bills as "The Girl in the Taxi," and "The Girl in the Film" should be welcome.

Miss Amy Castles sang at a popular concert at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, in aid of the wounded 1 soldiers recently. About 26,000 people were pre< sent. Unfortunately, many were negligent in the. charge of their: children, with the result that the prima donna was interrupted. She stopped in the middle of her first item and appealed to the attendants.' . An injured soldier called out: "Don't you sing, Miss Castles. It's up to the crowd to keep quiet." Quiet was restored, and at the conclusion the public was most generous in its applause. * « * •

J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have already a strong hand in regard to their moving pictures of notable productions. Fred Niblo's fine acting In "Get-Hlch-Quiok Wallingford" and "Officer 666" has been put into permanent record by the film. "Within Our Gates," now being shown all over Australia, haß scored a wonderful success, the landing of the Australians and Hew Zealgnders at'the Dardanelles being the climax to a series of exciting and thrilling incidents. The latest production is "Within the Law," with Hiss Muriel Starr in h«r original role of Mary Turner, »*■ * *

The most momentous musical festival ever held in San Francisco took place on August 6, 7, and 8, in honour of Beethoven, who is to music what Shakespeare is to the drama. The Americans measure everything by dollars, and when they say it was to cost 80,000, dollars they give you an idea of the standard o( the function.' The local choir consisted of 800 voices, but on the Saturday evening this was swelled to 2000 by the arrival of 1200 from Los Angeles, There' was an orchestra of 100 players, and Madame Schumann-Heinle was the soloist. Song and ceremony marked the mveiling of a bust of Beethoven, in Gelden Gate Park on the Friday. The festival took place in the Civic Auditorium. * * '. * »

"O'Leary, V.C." is the title of Mr. Allen Doone's new play, which will see the stage-lights for the first time in Melbourne at Cup time. In the meantime he has registered the title, and the play is in the throes of completion. The hero will, of course, be the great O'Leary, V.C, over whom London went crazy for a day, and Ireland for a week. There is good red blood in the title, and with Mr. Doone's native cleverness to weave the story there should be more than a "V.C," in it for him." Mr. Doone, who is now in Sydney, will play Brisbane and New South Wales centres, opening in Melbourne at Cup time, at Hobart at Christmas, Sydney at Easter, and back to Now Zealand in June next year, opening at Gisborne, and then coming on to Napier, Hastings, and Wellington, with' the West Coast to follow.