BRIGHT LIGHTS OF HOLLYWOOD

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

BRIGHT LIGHTS OF HOLLYWOOD

New Zealand Cinema Man Looks At Californian Night Life

N an American girl going out for the evening is not very certain whether there will be transport home after the party, she pops a

dollar or two into her purse before starting forth, That’s

‘‘mad money.’’ A "flat"? is not an apartment, neither is it a man or woman slow in the uptake. It is merely a tyre puncture, If out for an evening’s fxh in Los Angeles, you decide to do a " pubcrawl," you. don’t. You go "barhopping." These are a few of the thousand and one graphic American expressions which Iir. J..L. ("Len") Warren, of Paramount Pictures, Wellington, picked up during his re cent visit to the film colony. Travelling in your car in Hollywood, Mr. Warren told the "Re--eord," you come to a "drive-in," with a near-by cafe. You remain in. the car, call for anything you fancy from chicken sandwiches to barbecued steak, blow the. horn and hand over the cash. A girl attendant collects the money and away you go. She is not paid; she relies solely on tips. You can go to an open-air theatre in Los Angeles and enjoy the whole show without stepping over the ‘running-board. Taken by friends on an evening’s jaunt, Mr. Warren started with the "Beachcombers"-a shack built in Tahiti style, full of the perfume of the lei flowers. "In almost every place of entertainment as well as in private homes, dim lighting is used," said Mr. Warren. "In New Zealand the lighting in cabarets, hotels, and restaurants is far too bright. From the "Beachcombers,"’ Mr. Warren went to a Russian Club. Vodka was the correct drink, In Chinatown he drove round in rickshaws and ate chop-suey. He went. on to a play, "The | Drunkard,’ famous now for six years in Hollywood, presented in an old type of theatre, specially designed for the purpose. You pay a dollar and sit at tables drinking beer while the show goes on. Refreshments are

served by girls in crinolines and men in Dundreary whiskers. When the curtain falls it comes down with a crash; a bit of scenery comes adrift in the middle of a poignant scene; in fact, it is a wonderful representation of the melodrama of years ago. "And in spite of the fact that all these places are open night and day and that bar hours are from 6 a.m, until 2 a.m." said Mr. Warren, "I did not see so much drunkenness as there is in New Zealand."

Lavish Revues For NZ. London Casino: Carroll’s Vanities Geop news for Wellington people is Sir Benjamin Fuller’s announcement that the spectacular Hollywood Hote} Revue will be a Christmas attraction in the Capital. lt will then continue on a tour of the rest of New Zealand. Nicola, world-famous magician opens a New Zealand tour at Auckland on Saturday next, November 19. He has with him a full company of talented artists, Sir Ben. told the "Record" the other day that he has been in touch with the famous London Casino Revue and it is probable that this lavishly-produced show will be seen in Australia and New Zealand shortly. Another world-famous .show that New Zealand may see soon is Ear! Carroll’s Vanities, a production that is as much a part of New York night life as the Ziegfeld Follies were in. their day. The Vanities would definitely be the biggest revue company to come here.