FIRST NIGHT-
HEARS THAT
Clark Gable Is Coming To H.K.
0
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, BÁTURDAY, FEBRUARY. 19; 1836-
ENTERTAINMENT
LIOT news straight from Hollywood.
Gather around, all you Clark Gable
fans.
Chief mutineer of the Bounty, Holly- wood's No. 1 thrill-seeker, is making plans to seek new thrills in China.
He will travel to Macao by Pan-- American Clipper, via Honolulu, Guam, Midway, Wake Island and Manila.
Hongkong will be stepping-off point for tour of East.
Plan, long-cherished dream, is no It has longer a dream, Clarkie avers. been carefully arranged and will become a reality within two months.
"The beginning of my vacation In China depends upon MIG.M's. plans for me," he suit in a letter to Far East reprezentative,
"I have just completed work on "Wife versus.Secretary, and have only one more picture to make before I'm free.
"I have toured Europe, I have flown over South America, so I'm seeking a new itinerary.
"Tell my friends in Hongkong, Shanghal and other centres thint eyer alnce boyhood it's been my dream to see China. It opens a new vista for me; and within three months my dream will be a reality." "Gable bas just left Hollywood for a fortnight's holiday in Mexico to hint and fish, before commencing hls last picture prior to visit to Far. East.
TU
Ile is not the only star who has promised us a visit this year. Ginger Rogers is coming; 80 Wheeler and Woolsey, Donglas Falebanks, and our own Wendy Barrie.
welcome.
STAR OF THE WEEK NO. 10 is girl who in making talkie debut in current production at Queen's, "Rose of the Rancho Name is Gladys Swarthout, safe to say that before end of year she'll be Gladys Sweetheart to multitude of cinemaddicts. Pretty and popular young sopration are rare enough, pretty and popular young contralton almost aheard of. Born Christmas Day 31 years ago, likes to cook kidneys, plays golf, skis. An abler musician than most opera singers, she has a mother who dabbles in concert management, a sister who teaches singing, a husband, Frank Chapman, Jr., who took up singing after he resigned from editorial staff of well-known U.S. publishers, thet Gladys in opera house in Florida,
видам
-TALKING OF TALKIES
HOLLYWOOD FINDS
A REAL STAR OF SONG
ROSE OF THE RANCHO
Queen's, To-day.
SEEING Gladys Swarthout at a preview on Thursday made me wonder why Hollywood had not long ago signed her up for a long term contract.
She has all the. Grace of la Moore, the Charm of a We'll give them all a right royal Carmen, the Glamour of a Garbo, the Beauty of a Beauty. Furthermore, she is introduced to a cinema public in Oland will be "Charlie Chan in Shang. a vehicle, revival of a famed stage success of same name, hal" (banned in Hongkong) in reality that ensures success before a camera is turned. within fortnight. Accompanied by
FLASH! Warner "Charlie Chan*
wife, he is enroute to East, transferr- THE Number One Metropolitan ing Thursday from liner Malolo to
Dollar sisip. Itinerary includes Hong-
Opera star has a Latin' ap-
kang-Manila-staying week in each pearance well suited to the story centre. Annie May Wong, who has of Spaniards in California and played opposite Oland in several ple their efforts to hold their an- tures, will probably meet him in Shanghai, She leavea Hongkong for cestral northern centre to-morrow.
estates against early land grabbers. Furthermore, the dual roles of Rosita Castro and Don Carlos, masked leader S most people do when they come of the Spanish vigilantes, enable maintain tradition to Hongkong, Anna May Wong her to has developed a slight cough. And, which she inaugurated at the
&
as most people de, she blames the Metropolitan Opera as the page ubiquitous cigarette. So, just to curb in "Romeo and Juliet", of ap My Lady Nicoline, Anna May has taken to smoking the most expensive pearing in masculine costume." clgarettes on the Hongkong market.
King George- King Edward Film To-morrow
CONCURRENT with presenta-
tion of "Whipsaw," Alhambra Theatre is screening Cavalcade of Life of late King George, in- cidents from life of King Edward VIIL
don
With exception of news reel of King's funeral, rushed from Lon- this is first film screened in with Hongkong in connection recent death of the King. It was rushed to Far East from Unistates as soon as King's illness began.
King's Message From Daventry To-morrow
CHIEF radio event of forthcoming week
will be broadcast through Daventry to-morrow of King's Message to Empire, mentioned elsewhere on this page. King's speech will commence at approximately midnight; will be of uncertain duration. Will be preceded by special musical broad- cast, interspersed by announcements every" ten minutes. ZBW relays original broad- cast at midnight to-morrow; transcription at 9.25 p.m. Monday night,
Back to past week to record appreciation of two outstanding broadcasts. Chief was that of Helen Lockhart, whose deep, rich contralto was heard for first time in many moons last night. Mrs. Lockhart's return to Colony is great boost for ZBW, who should make every effort to please listeners by asking her to again become regular artiste.
DEGINNING of big things seen in
broadcast last Wednesday night
of ZBW Dance Band. Studio dañen orchestra often been mooled at ZBW, never accomplished until this week, It will be a regular feature, aug mented as time goes on. Should be decided asset.
Next
10
week will be quiet one ZBW studio, where announcers will have
little company, Outstanding broadcasts scheduled for next seven days are relays from Daventry, chlof of witch is to-morrow's. Much of to- night's programme will also be taken up with Daventry relays in connection with Dewi Sant's Day (St. David to you!). Dewi Sant ix to Taffy what St. Andrew is to MacWhirter, but there are important differences. The farther the Scot gets from his native heath, the more fervently he cele- brates his national day; Taffy, on the other hand, enlebrates his national day quite as enthusiastically in Wales as in any other part of the world,
been
Since March 1 falls this year on Sunday, celebrations are being held to-day. St. David's Ball has cancelled in Hongkong for first time in many years, dite to death of King George V. But Daventry is putting aver ambitious programme. Keynote will be Wales in action, Welsh music, Welsh literature, Welsh industries,
Welsh Youth.
scheduled Two studio items are from ZBW studio on Wednesday. First is Jazz piano recital by In- imitable Bill Cameron; scoond is Recital of Russiap Songs by Marin Monknienko, whose soprano pleased listeners greatly on her first mike ap. pearance short while ago.-
-Two of ZBW's leading behind-the- scene personalities have booked paa. sages by luxury-liner Empress of Britain next month. They aro Mr. M. J. Breen, Postmaster General, Mr. G. Madgwiek, Engineer, P.W.D., both off on leave. To Mr. Breen goes mest of kudos. for present non-technical efficiency of local broadcasting) Mr. Madgwick equal kudos for tech-
Gical side.
to
Purpose of departures is Home You'll like the story but, best of
Leave. Butholidays wil bo bus They cost us two cents each, but they all, you'll like the times when, with
men's type, because both are going cost her 12 eenta!
and without the somewhat tremulous accompaniment of John Boles, Gladys come to found the first San Francisco to investigate broadcasting in Unis. "I'm cutting out cigarottes," she warthout sings. "If I Should Lose newspaper, Mary Rutledge (Miriam tates, Unikingdom, elsewhere. They sald firmly. (llaven't we all?)'
You," "Little Hose of the Rancho," Hopkins) has come to get what she will return in time to see ZBW's now 2 k.w. transmitter take the air in October or so, and, will almost de- And here's the way she's going to "The Vigilante Song," "Where is My can. Love", do it.
The man she was to marry is dead, finitely bring back lots of suggestions By her singing in this film, Miss and so she attaches herself to Louls for improvement of local broadcast- at high level through Two cents to buy the cigarette. But
(Edward G. Robinson), ing, already ten cents towards the Anna May Swarthout makes it clear that in the Chamalis Wong Cigarette Renunciation Fund current operatic sweepstakes, she will owner of the most notorious gambling their enthusiasm.
not be outdistaneed by the Hollywood saloon and the wealthiest man in the the for each one she smokes.
field. She fa less bouyant
than city.
And while Chamalis robs "Does it work?" I asked.
Columbia's Grace Moore, but she has miners
of their gold and murders Social Activities She sighed, and let me feel the more chic, M.G.M. Jeanette Mac- those who complain too loudly of his publish the weight of a pleasantly full money box. Donald may do better in her under methods, Cobb tries to
Contrallo Swarthout's truth about him in his paper, but "One thing, I'm sure saving money,"
throat muscles do not wiggle. Over finds corruption to streng. Edward IKO-Radio's little Lily Pons, she has G. Robinson is at its best in a part the definite advantage of being ablo such as this, and gives to Chamalis to talk English.
coarse, swaggering conceit, while "Rose of the Rancho" of carries Mirium Hopkins acts with spirit and the this page's heartiest recommendation, and, falls in love with a young pro- conviction as his mistress, who, in the FACTS: Gladys Swarthest mede debut at spector whom she ruins at the tables. age of 11 at school recital. Audience Included Carries this page's recommendation.
she said by way of reply.
"Have a cigarette," I said.
I prepared to depart.
As I closed the door I heard faint tinklo of falling money,
wear,
but
wealthy Kanske Citrii who offered to new manka! education. Thereafter she became
ATEXT time I.sco "Previewer" of indent of Bash Conservatory in Chicago. NEXT
S, C. M. Post, I'm going to sug- where betweențimer she sang in Katz theatre `rirenit, anlaisted with Minneapolis Symphony. gest that next year's popular film became minor amber of Chicago Civic Opera star contest be turned into a U- Comms with Having Opera Company in US- POPULAR film atar contest. Then joined stetropolitan Opers Company, made de people wouldn't be able, to grumble but a blind mether in "La Glorende.” about the wrong person winningg V
*
Iden, wouldn't be new. It was tried
not long ago in London, where 124,-
000-odd people sent in thóir votes.
BARBARY COAST
Radio Star No. 3: Li Chor Chi is one of ZDW's really talented enter- tainers, alwaye sure of big unseen andienes whenever programmed, Cut his public teeth on ZBW's interophone and was one of first to broad east from station on opening night more than five years ago. Thone were the days when etudio was in Post Office building, and rumble of passing trains and traffic used to make listeners gnash teeth. Has talent od brother, James. Zeemin Lee, whom you saw in Hollywood' "Kennel Murder Mystery"; whom you would have seen in M.G.M's "Painted Veil" if centers hadn't got busy. Incidentally, James is revisiting H.K. this year. Both are Australian born.
THE KING'S MESSAGE
Daventry broadcasts of lis Majesty's speech will be AR follows, all times being Hong- kong Tica:
TO-MORROW NIGHT GSD, 11,750 k.c. 25.53 metres G8G, 17,790 k.c., 16.80 metres GSF, 15,140 k., 19.82 metres 11.30 pm. Music, with frequent an-
nouncements.
*
12 a.m. apprez, King's Speech.
** Electrical Transcriptions will be broadcast on Monday a follows:
5.30 a.m. Transmission JV. 8.50 a.m. Transmission V. 11.10 p.m. Transmission VI. 9.25 p.in. Transmission IL Relayed by ZBW.. Relayed by ZEK.
FOR
GRAMOFANS
Gripping: King George's last broadcast, at Christmas last year when he gave his message to the Em- pire. It preceded his death by four weeks. Published by H.M.V.
Serious: Mr. Baldwin's moving oration on the King's death-broad cast on January 21-now published in "His Master's Voice" records. It oc cupies six large sides. Profits from records go to charity.
READERS WRITE TO “FIRST NIGHT”. About The Lack Of British Films
HAVE been deeply in-
terested in your Enter- tainment Page, especially "First Night's" comments from time to time on films.
On the whole, Hongkong is quite well served with pictures; we seem to be getting more up-to-dato filma than ever before.
But what about a few mare British pictures, especially those in which Tom Walls and Ralph Lyan appoart It's a long time since we've seen the Aldwych Players on the screen local ly. After all, Hongkong is a British
Colony, So what about It T
And let me mako a plea for more Nature Study aherta. Occasionally. We got one or two worked into local programmes, but not nearly, enough. One that I saw the other day, entitled "Neptune's Mysterles," depleting real- life, was ly marvellous under-sea most entertaining and instructive. The same is true of another which- showed the strange little creatures which came to life after a wisp of straw had been placed in a tumbler of water. This type of film is of marked educational value. Can't wo have more of them 7-FILM FAN. Clara Butt Records
ZBW should watch the passing of the great; take a leaf from Daventry's programme. Fine opportunity for recital of recorda was missed when Dame Clara Butt died last week--
"I even now am hoping that we can' hear some of her records. Similarly. when Rudyard Kipling died, surely someone could have given a recital of some of his works.-J.M.
islands
Tiny Empire
of our
Will
hear
their new King
THE King's voice when he broadcasts to-morrow will be heard by many more people than were able to hear the voice of his father two or three years ago.
Radio develops fast on the outposts of Empire. In twelve months places that were cut off from all communication with the civilisod globe have been brought into contact with it. New radio stations have been opened: more powerful amplifiers employed.
Now the voice of the new monarch of an island race can reach his vast Empire of islands in the Pacific, the Atlantic and- Indian Oceans.
For example: The descendants of the crew of the Bounty Eighteen who mutinied in the reign of George III. will listen in. members of that crew-the non-mutineers-were put off in a longboat and travelled 4,000 miles before they were picked up. In the end the mutineers settled on Pitcairn Island. The last of the Bounty's crew, John Adams, died there In 1829, but the tradi- tion of loyalty to the flag is carried on.
Our Empire of folanda does not station which has been rehabilitat consist of little stretches of ground ed., New Zealand now administers Hike the Isle of Man. There is New Nauru, The Germans there are Guinea among them. It is the few and far between, and the other Inhabitants have long fallen under largest island in the world.
the spell of the English language, This radio utation, originally in- tended to flash the messages of the
Funny: Stage dialogue for the By Air To The gramophone is a risky adventure. Goldfields. Noel Coward has put two of his "To- night at 8.30" double-triptych on to H.M.V. records; one excerpt fails, the other is gloriously funny.
"Rod Peppers" (H.M.V. C2815) is a dialogue between two of the kind of music-hall performers you love best- the lifth-rate ones. Gertrude Law- rence and Coward cracking auch Jokes as "That wasn't no lady-that was my wife."
"Shadow Play" is not so successful (H.M.V. C2180),
the MAKE YOUR BOY FRIEND
YOUR GUEST TO-NIGHT TO-DAY is big day in feminine world-it happens just once in
every four years.
WHIPSAW Alhambra, To-morrow
gangster film without THIS is a
gangsters. At least,, the gangs- ters you'll see are tame ones, due to a little misunderstanding with the
censors.
King's To-morrow Despite cuts-they don't matter MERICAN atudios go far afield much "Whipsaw" is a slick gangster in search of material for their, melodrama with Myrna Loy at her Thin Man" heights, Spencer Tracy Doubtless the character played had films, but they're always at their best aleo way up above much he has done something to do with the judgment when they're concerned with their lately. Myrna is cast as alluring Fact remains that on balance of own country, 440
crook belonging to gang after famous number the list of most disliked womon was headed by Mao West In "Barbary Coast", as in "Rose string of pearls. The loot is duly of the Rancho, wo ace life as it lifted and the rest of the film is Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Joan was lived in San Francisco in the taken up with the adventures in con Crawford, Constance Bennett and middle of last century, when the gold nection with its return. Marlene Dietrich followed In order rush brought a lawless mob to the
Woat in soarch of a fortune. Kivon,
In those days
If you see a lot of announcements of engagements in to- morrow's papers, if price of diamonds go up, blame Saturday, February 29.
Local girls, judging by bookings at Gripps, have avidly seized upon Idea, suggested by this page a month ago, of reversing ordinary procedure, taking boy friends out instead of vice versa,
Because negotiations with entertainers in Shanghai fell through at inst minute, Gripps were unable to arrange for cabaret items for to-night's galu. But what you'll lose in entertainment will be made up by fun and frolic. Bands are all pepped up for occasion, chef has made supramo effort and it's just the weather for dancing.
".
N addition to the numerous private Leap Year Day parties, four public functions are advertised for to-night. First and foremost, of course, the Gripps and Peninsula, rendezvous of the upper 800,
a Gala K.C. always purveyors of bright entertainment, are holding Dance, while a Plain and Fancy Dress Carnival is scheduled at the China Flout Club Theatre. St. Andrew's Hall will be scene of social gathering, proceeds of which will go to charity,
BUROPEAN Y.M.C.A. Is proceding quietly with arrangements for Inter
national Night next month...It will bo one big splash to end winter In between there is a wealth of season, and promises to be folliest evening YM.C.A. have attempted for delightful by-play, between Myrna many moons, Noticeable in Y.M.C.A. functions lately, is absence of bicker we were foot Loy and Spencer Tracy, their work Ins, cliquum that once threatened to wreck all social activities. These days Jimmy Cugby was on the top of deep in mud, money was quickly made dominating the admirable blend of the Women's Section works in with the men and good time is had by all. ** the most disliked men's list. Len and more quickly lost, human life was slick, gangsterdam and genial roman- Tracy came next and then Adolphe cheap, and a white woman almost tie comedy. Myrna Loy I strongly Through the thick for reminiscent of Thin Man", Spencer Rafting
banging over the harbour a sailing Tracy shows himself the pastmaster A Here's hinti local theatres. ship picks its way to land two basson of picudo-truculence. A well-knit More than 80 per cent of voters in gors with very different aims.
climax will give you, plonly of aus London questionnaire wanted organsa
Menjou and
unknown.
playing to be feature of cinema pro- Colonel Cobb (Frank Craven) is pense...__________ grammes, replacing canned overtures, a journalist, and an idealist, who hasCarries this page's recommendation.
USTRALIANS, Enzaders, are polishing up floor of Association Rooms in Gloucester Building in preparation for dance and social on March. 12.. when President Dr. II. D. Matthews will be farewelled. Opportunity will ba taken at same function. in farewell Mr Miss Ingram, leaving for Australla, welcome Harold Brokenshire, one of the founders, just returned from South.
Its vast stretches of forest, jungle Kaiser to his marauding cruisors in and marah Infested by reptiles, the Pacifle In 1914, will in 1936 be beasts of prey, with here and there harnessed to hear the voice of King a village where cannibalism is still Edward. practised, were a closed book to
There soldiers from Fort St. the white man till the airplane came. Now every morning. the George and anilors from Fort miners leave for the distant gold. Hamilton will gather with the fields by air, and return each night coloured populace outside the white to Rabaul, the capital. A few white terraces of Government House to people, however, are left behind in hear the voice of the King-through
the powerful Admiralty aerial. charge during the night. They have a radio station at the mines. Not far from where Napoleon was luld temporarily to rest in St.. and another at Rabaul.
Britone living in the midst of Helena there now soar high above radio station. There la-ro- the world's last cannibals will re the willow trees the tall masts of main awake until 3 a.m. to hear the the volce of their King. We in mance in that. The King's volca grave at Longwood, over which a night.-..
Tricolour flies day and night. An Hongkong will hear him at mid- will come floating over the emply A powerful radio station has Empire which is alive will speak to bean set up at Nukalofa, the capital one that is changed. of the Friendly Islands, where, in
During the Silver Jubilee year, the grounds of the Queen's palace, without the firing of a shot or the la still preserved a tortoise present sacrifice of one life, there slipped. ed to her great-great-great-grand- into the British Empire the ancient father by the celebrated Captain State of Hunza, situated on that Cook,
frontier where India, China and Near where the famous navigator Russia meet. was housed, Queen Salote will wait
for the valca of King Edward. She Descendant Of la the Empire's only reigning Alexander Queen. Her dynasty was reign-
Ing before the Norman Conquest
They Passed The Hat Round
::
The Mir of Hunza claims descent over a vast domain of islands now from one of the captains of Alex- part of the British Empire, andor the Great. He has blue eyes. and golden hair. His palace. In stocked with Greek sculptures which Englishmen have dug out from the valleys to prove that that territory The Gilbert and Ellice Islands, was once held in thrall by Alox. also in the Pacific, recently passed andor the greatest figure of the the hat round and sent the home ancient world.
Ve country a contribution of about Since Britain took control for £150 for strengthening the Royal strategic reasons last May a radio Navy Fifty years ago the father station has been erected. The volca of our new King, then a cadet of the new King will reach over aboard the Bacchante, visited these the Himalayan anowa, to the now. remote domains of his grandmother, outpost of the British Empire. A Queen Victoria, a
half-dozen Britons, surrounded by In Nauru, in the Samoan group, Mongolian coolies will wait and thore is a powerful: German radio-Hatenate