“CONTRABAND OF WAR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1940, Page 9

“CONTRABAND OF WAR”

REGINALD DENNY'S EXPERIENCE

Reginald Denny has the distinction of being the first movie star to be accused of shipping contraband of war! Denny, who manufactures toy and model aeroplanes, recently received an order for 144 planes from South Africa. These particular models had a wing-spread of 20 inches, and were operated by elastic bands. A few days ago the order was completed and delivered to a Dutch liner for shipment. The next day the consignment was returned to Denny marked: "Shipment refused. Contraband of war." benny is very puzzled about the whole thing, and is wondering if a new use has been found for his model planes by warring countries. ACTIVITIES OF STAGE Pantomime for New Zealand. The pantomime "Aladdin,” with the popular Will Mahoney leading the funmaking, will open a New Zealand tour at Auckland at Easter. “Student Prince” Revived. The melodious "Student Prince" has been revived in Melbourne, with John Howard in the title role. Marie Burke for Tivoli. Miss Marie Burke, the English musical comedy star, has been engaged by the Tivoli circuit in Australia. She will begin a Melbourne season on March 4. Decree for Grade Fields. Gracie Fields, the stage and film actress, has been granted a decree absolute against her husband, Archie Pitt, on the grounds of his misconduct. They were married in 1923 and separated in 1932. Male Ballet Dancer Exempt. 1 Bernard Shaw's anpeal for the exemption of male ballet dancers from military service is widely supported. The London “Daily Telegraph" discloses that one of the principal dancers of the old Vic.-Sadler's Wells Ballet, Michael Somes, who was due for military service last month, was granted six months’ postponement. The hardship committee, in granting the postponement, said it was unable to take cognisance of the loss to the community of artistic amenity, but it considered that the case involved hardship to the individual because he had been trained for 10 years and would be unable to regain his present proficiency after a prolonged absence from the stage.