STALLS GOSSIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1916, Page 11

STALLS GOSSIP.

MIMES, MUSIC AND MOVIES. Miss Beatrice Day, who has been in Wellington for the past few months, is acting-treasurer of tin l New Zealand W'amen's'a Anti-German League. A theatrical company of British sailors interned at Groningen, known as the 'Timbertown Follies," gave their first public performance at Rotterdam •yMiss Marjorie Williamson, daughter of the late Mr. J. C. Williamson, who has been training for a Red Cross nurse in America, has received her diploma of efficiency. There is a likelihood of liev putting her knowledge to use for the benefit of wounded in Egypt. The well-known theatrical firm of J. and N. Tait is about to be exteadc-d by the eo-operation of a third brother. Mr E. .1. Tait. The latter has been for the past few yean general manager for the Sydney theatres of J. C. Williamson, Ltd. This will probably mean an extension of the Tait theatrical ventures. "I am proud aid happy to appear in a motion picture for contemporary and future generations," says Lady de Bathe, the famous Lily Laugtry, referring: to the cinema. To bo enrolled in the famous players' .galiery of artists is a distinction" that will survive myself. Thr«ujh its p#wer «f perpetuity I am immsrtal—l am a Sim!" * * * Harrin»ten ReynelAs. who will be remembered fer his pertrayal of Father Kelly in the "Resary," is under engagement, te the Fuller Vaudeville circuit, commenced a New Zealand tour at the Princess Theatre, Dunedin last week in a dramatic playlet entitled "The Beat Man," in which he is supported by William Thompson, John Knnis, and Miss Muriel Bale. At the mem&rial service at Westminter Abbey #n the anniversary of Lord Roberts' death a lot «f Russian music music was sung. Sir Charles Stanford writes to the Londen Times in protest against this. He thinks English music should have been used on such an 'occasion, and reminds us that the service was held within a few yards of Purcell's grave. * Mr. W. A. Low has made arrangements with the Kingdom and Walker Feature Films f»r the screening through New Zealand, of the famous world's boxing championship between -Tack Johnson and Jess Willard. This picture is at present creating great interest in Australia. Mr. Low is also booking a tour for Jack Waller's 1916 Revue Company, which will commence either in Wellington or Auckland about June 1. Two Australian pianists, Mr. Percy Grainger and Mr. Ernest Hutcheson, have recently been winning more than ordinary praise in tlie United State?, In December last Mr. Hutcheson, at a concert at the New York Aeolian Hall, playea three concertos —Liszt in E flat major, McDowell in D minor, and Tschaikowsky in B flat minor. The distinguished pianists present at the concert included Harold Baueer, Katherine floodson, Josef Hofman, Leopold Godowsky, and Percy Grainger. Mr. Grainger is "well booked" for the 1916 season. It is not all easy sailing producing films. The Sydney Sun instances one little difficulty the directors of "The Martyrdom of Nurse Cavell" had to contend with. There was a fight- scene in which Jack Gavin, playing Captain von Hofffeerg. a Gtrman cavalry officer, attacks Post Mason, playing Georges Renard, a Belgian lieutenant, in the homo of his fiancee. The fight went well—furiously, in fact—but then a poser popped up. ft was a question of weights. Gavin is 18 stone and Mason U stone, and the only logical conclusion of the fight could be the defeat of the latter; but that wasn't according to the scenario. The contest was held up until a decision was arrived at. Ethel Bashford came to the rescue, however, by charging in with a big vase and smashing it over Gavin's 'head. » * *

Speaking at the graveside of the late Mr. George Tithcradge, Mr. Walter Bentley said: "Friends who surround this crave, I have been asked to expresv, on behalf of the brothers and s' ; -!"v s of the profession, our regret tin- dearlv-beloved brother has away, and our gladness that his sorrow and pain are now over. He has left behind noble lessons for lis to profit by. In the hour of his extremity Frohmann said: 'The greatest adventure of life is death!' Our dearlyloved friend who now lies in tljis, his narrow cell, said towards the end that his duty had !•-«»» done. His was a good ending (c grand career; he was a prince among actors, and a gentleman among gentlemen. His' mode, of life was such as to leave a legacy of profit to us. I trust that in the future state we shall all meet again, where there is no more pain, no sorrow, no suffering. In that great hope I leave this beautifully-situated grave, so near to the home that he made and loved so well. May he. rest, as he lived, in peace." 'Titlvs" place of burial is in that most beautiful of all cemctries in Australia, that at South Head, overlooking from the heights the mighty expanse of the Pacific Ocean. # * •

The decision of the J. C. Williamson management to convert the Sydney Theatre Royal into a picture house is a significant piece of theatrical intelligence. Mr. Hugh J. Ward states that it in no way alters the general policy of the firm. '"The Theatre Royal ha s been a booking hause for some years," be says, "it has been at the disposal of other managements, as we always have believed in encouraging opposition if only for purpose af comparison." He states that the booking has not been availed of to an extent that would justify .ts continuance. "We have, for some time considered the question of converting the Royal into a picture theatre," Mr. Ward added. "Its unique position in the heart of the city makes it a remarkable, site for this popular form of entertainment. However, the prestige of the firm demanded pictures only on the highest scale of excellence b.i'ore we could make this departure. When I was recently in America I saw Uie Fox films, which arc generally recojjr'.wl in the moving picture world as ih« finest standard of pictures. Upon the representatives of the company coming to Australia, 1 negotiated their films with them, and in a fortnight we will have the Royal in shape to accommodate lovers of pictures. We intend to do everything in the matter of presentation of the pictures to give them their full value. Our presentation will be en the lines of the Strand Theatre, New York, which is the last word in showing pictures. We look to the experiment as meeting a large public ready far the very best that the world can produce. In tire Fox features ve can safely say we have that. We will commence with a fortnight keccs.''-

C#»plote rain has evertakea .Tgnac« Paierewski's estate in Poland. Of the park only stusips of trees remain, » » »■ It is stated that Miss Ethel Dane, of "The Glad Eye" is at present engaged in developing a play with which t» startle everybody iu Australia. Miss Edna May, knows to the theatrical world as "The Belle of New York," is to star in a VitagrapU feature film. For her appearance in this picture, Miss May is to receive 100,000 dollars, which is said to be the highest amount ever paid a phots-play acter, anil which she will turn over to the Red Cross and other worthy charities. » • » Allen Doonc and Edna Keeley left Sydney for America on January 20. They are due back in Australia at Easter. Allen Doone has this year boaked the New Zealand race dates. He opens in Gisborne oh June 14, and finishes in Auckland on September 1(5. His repertoire will include four new plays: "The B»uld Soger Bey," "The Colleen Bawn," "Too Much Johnson," and 'ii'Leary, V.C," * • » The market for film story writers lin-p is practically dried up (says the Projector in the linden Daily Mail). A goad story writer can obtain anything >rom £lO to £IOO for a stery which the magazines will accept, but if the csmparatively unknown writer were to offer a similar story to a- film pr#ducer he would probably get half » guinea or a guinea, with the certainty that when he saw his storv screened lie would never be able to recognise it. » • • The day of the melodramatic "thrills" on the screen, with its shipwrecks, train collisions, and desperate deeds of daring and peril, is rapidly drawing to its close. So, too, is the era of photo-dramatic adaptations of popular novels and oldtime plays. Virile and vital dramas of modern life, written by men and women who have given the best of their brain to the study of the possibilities and limitations of the film, are rapidly coming to the fore. » • • An ancient story, but bright enough to bear re-telling: A dramatic author, who was reading' a new work before th« company of the Comedie Franchise, was disturbed at seeing that one of the members, Monsieur Got, had gone fast asleep. The author stopped and reproved the sleeper. He was reading his play to the committee in order, he said, to obtain their opinion. How could a man who was asleep give his opinion? Monsieur Got rubbed his eyes and remarked, "Monsieur forgets that sleep is also an opinion." That ended the discussion. * » • Nor ca,n it be said that many of the producers on both sides of the Atlantic really understand- the importance of the cast. They will have women stars, whom they dot about the cast without any regard to their suitability for the characters. You will see a star in the thirties and forties go through a passionate scene of courtship, which only excites derision. And it is the same with the men. Not long ago two stars appeared in a picture as a courting, and subsequently married, couple. He is at least fifty-five, and no makeup could make him look younger. She is nineteen, and make-up could not conceal her youth. • • •

One would probably be safe in saying that the four men ■who have made the most money in writing for the English stage are Sir W. S. Gilbert, Sir A. W. Pinoro, Sir J. M. Barrie, and Mr. Henry Arthur Jones. Sullivan's operas provided Gilbert with on income of - £12,000 a year. "The. Second Mrs. Tanqueray" alone brought Pincro something like £OO,OOO. In addition "Sweet Lavender" poured £40,000 into his pockets, and although the late Mr. Edward Terry paid this sum in fees to the author, he clearer! £60,000 out of the play, and probably half as much again from provincial tours. "The Little Minister" earned Sir J. M. Barrie £4OO a week for a number of years, and long before the curtain fell on the last performance at the Haymarket the net profits had reached £IOO,OOO. « # •

Flora Finch, the well-known comedienne, who will long be remembered as the quaint partner of the late John Bunny in many a good comedy, and who recently left the Vitagraph company to take a much-needed rest, lifts announced her intention of dedicating her vacation to the furtherance of her plan to establish a chain of moving picture theatres in the slums of many large cities, wherein the price of admission will be but two cents. Miss Finch has already interested several well-known charity workers and philanthropists in her plan. Says Miss Finch: "I am endorsing twocent- movies, so that the woman with a shawl over her head and the laborer earning one-fifty a day, and feeding a family of six, will have some place of amusement to which they can afford to go."

Miss Mary Pickford has decided to remain with the famous Players Film Company, the first feature organisation with which she was identified. The new agreement into which Miss Pickford has entered with the Famous Players Company includes the formation of the Famous Plavers-Mary Pickford Company for the making of feature productions in which Miss Pickford is to be starred, and in which the star retains a half interest. Ever since Miss Pickford became a Famous Player star, the end of each year has been the occasion far a ceaseless chain of rumours and doubts concerning the renewal of her contract with the producers. She is always said to be about to join some other company at a fabulous salary. The formation of the new organisation puts a permanent quietus on all such rumours, as Miss Pickford is new a member of the company and is interested ill the pictures themselves instead of being a salaried star.

A theatrical scribe retailing a talk with R. 0. (Dick) Knowles, that entertainer who was so popular in Australia and New Zealand (he is now at the Ardwick Empire), gives this tale of an experience that befel the raconteur in a way-back town in Montana. The township boasted one hall, and the lull boasted an orchestra, and at the rehearsals on the first day Knowles found that the music was not so bad with the single exception of the flute. That flute was a ; yes, all that. "R. 0." looked down at the leader, and said, "You'll have to cut out the flute, pard." Mr. Leader, however, looked a bit funny, and said, "Better try him iust one more?" "All right," said Dick, "fire away." Same old result, and Knowles said to the leader, "It's got to be done, boy, that flute must be cut out—right out, see?" Then the player of the unhappy flute looked up. "You want me cut out, do you f" "Yes," said Dick. "Sorry, but you can't- play a hand in this show, you'd better quit the band." "Oh," said the irate musician. "Well, see here, mister, I'd have you to know that I'm the mayor of this yer town, and if I don't play this yer flute you don't, get yer blamed license to play in this yer theatre, see 1" Dick ■TW. The flute placed. '