Admission Charge, One Case Of Fruit

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 24, 25 November 1938, Page 3

Admission Charge, One Case Of Fruit

IF you want to go to a movie at Rarotonga and haven’t any small change handy, you simply take along a case of oranges or bananas. It complicates the eashier’s job, but it seems to work out quite happily for both patron and proprictor. ... That was only one of the Ripleyesque curiosities observed by Bert Vinsen, New Zealand manager of Columbia Pictures, during a recent island cruise on the Matua. He called at Rarotonga, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, and though the trip was entirely a holiday, he naturally took an especially keen interest in the motion picture business as conducted in the islands. At Rarotonga, Mr. Vinsen was the guest of Willie Brown, uncrowned king of the island, who not only runs several plantations and a thriving export business, but controls the local movie house as well. The cases of bananas and oranges brought along by his native patrons are just as convenient to him as cash, At Apia, Samoa, Mr. Vinsen found a picturesque cinema constructed almost entirely of lattice work, and as cool as _a modern, air-conditioned theatre. The films shown were several years old, but the sound was excellent. Admission

was 1/6 for Europeans, 6d for natives, While Rarotonga, Fiji and Samoa appeared relatively prosperous, Mr. Vinsen gained the impression that Tonga was only just recovering from the effects of the disastrous hurricane 18 months ago. A travelling showman with a compact, portable projector would do great business on some of the

He was the guest of Willie Brown. islands, particularly in the Fiff group, says Mr. Vinsen. And if he was forced to accept cases of fruit as payment for admission, he could set up as an island trader on the side.