And now I propose to deal with a subject far removed from ships and submerged rocks - the introduction of the phonograph to Hongkong. On August 11, 1893, a gentleman named Professor Sers gave the first public phonograph recital in Hongkong. There was a miserably poor attendance, which a contemporary newspaper attributed to two causes. The "Hongkong elite" said the journal, "were either in the Theatre Royal, enjoying a free show at the dress rehearsal or at home, trying to recover from the ill-timed Belilios oak-walk which wrecked the Ratepayers' Meeting and even interfered with the work of the Courts."
Page 2037
Of the recital itself, the paper had this to say:
"The phonograph was most successful; in fact no praise could be too high for it. The instrument shown by Professor Sers is much smaller, but far better than the original crude machine. There are many points of difference to be noted by the non-technical observer, but the principal distinguishing feature is the vast improvement in the volume and clarity of the sound.
"An unfortunate incident occurred during the recital. M. Sers invited members of the audience to step up and hear a few items through the ear-tubes, in order to compare the softer sound with that from the ...
While about a dozen gentlemen were grouped around the lecturer, a crash was heard as the stage collapsed, by courtesy of the wretched soap box which in the Hongkong St. Andrew's Hall does duty as a platform for speakers and singers who are deluded into paying for the use of the hall under the impression that it is decently fitted. It is fortunate – both for those who were present and those who are responsible that no injury was caused to the machine or those around it.”
'Stage' is an **enormous term** applied ...
Professor Sers spent some time in Hongkong, giving recitals in private homes, and it was reported that when he left Hongkong, he had secured a large number of orders for phonographs.
An industry that has made rapid progress in Hongkong as elsewhere has been the cinema.
Many residents will remember the old Bijou Theatre in Wyndham Street, when this thoroughfare was "Flower Street", and the Kowloon Theatre in Nathan Road the present day Duro Motor Garage. There were also the old Empire, Zetland, Victoria and Hongkong theatres.
Cinema pictures first came to Hongkong on October 11, 1902, and in the Hongkong Telegraph of that date I find the following reference to the Projectoscope:
The paragraph reads: It must be gratifying to the management to learn of a big demand for seats at the forthcoming entertainment of the 20th Century Projectoscopic Company announced for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next. Among the many pictures to be shown is one of the Coronation ceremony which is said to extend over five miles of films! It is a brilliant series of photographs giving a very faithful account of the many scenes in London at Coronation time. Then there is the Passion Play as performed at Oberammergau, and realistic pictures of the battle of San Juan, and of President Roosevelt's Rough Riders in operation. In addition to all the latest novelties of the cinematographic sphere, Alva, the King of Coins, will present his original creation, the Beggar's Dream, which created quite a sensation in the Empire Palace Theatre in London three years ago.
And now I propose to deal with a subject far removed from ships and submerged rocks - the introduction of the phonograph to Hongkong. On August 11, 1893, & gentleman nemed Professor Sers gave the first public phonograph recital in Hongkong. There was a miserably poor attendance, which a contemporary newspaper attributed to two causes. The Hongkong elite" said the journal, "were either in the Theatre Royal, en joying a free show at the dress rehearsal or at home, trying to recover from the ill-timed Belilios oake-walk which wrecked the Ratepayers' Meeting and even interfered with the work of the Courts."
).
2037
Of the recital itself, the paper had this to say:
*The phonograph was most successful; in fact no preise could be too high for it. The instrument shown by Professor Sers Is much smaller, but far better than the original crude machine. There are many points of difference to be noted by the non- technical observer, but the principal distinguishing feature is the vast improvement in the volume and clarity of the sound.
"An unfortunate incident occurred during the recital. M. Sers invited members of the audience to step up and hear a few items through the ear-tubes,+in order to compare the softer sound with that from the tị
Thile about a dozen gentlemen were grouped around the lecturer, a was beard as the stage collapsed. by courtesy to the wretched soap box which in the Hongkong St. Andrew's Hall does duty as a platform for speakers and singers who are deluded into paying for the use of the hall under the impression that it is decently fitted. It is fortunate – both for those who were present and those who are responsible that no injury was caused to the machine or those around it.”
+
'Stage' is **endous beng
#
term applied
Professor Sers spent some time in Hongkong, giving recitals in private homes, and it was reported that when he left Hongkong, he had secured a large number of orders for phonographs.
An industry that has made rapid progress in Hongkong as else- where has been the cinema.
Many residents will remember the old Bijou Theatre in Wyndham Street, when this thoroughfare was "Flower Street",
and the Kowloon Theatre in Nathan Road the present day Duro Motor Garage. There were also the old Empire, Zetland, Victoria and Hongkong theatres.
Cinema pictures first came to Hongkong on October 11, 1902, and in the Hongkong Telegraph of that date I find the following reference to the Projectoscope:
The paragraph reads: It must be gratifying to the managemen ment to learn of a big demand for seats at the forthcoming entertainment of the 20th Century Projectoscopic Company announced for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thesday next. Among the many pictures to be shown is one of the Coronation ceremony which is mid to extend over five miles of films! It is a brilliant series of photographs giving a very faithful account of the many scenes in London at Coronation time. Then there is the Passion Flay as performed at Oberammergau, and realistic pictures of the battle of San Juan, and of President Roosevelt's Rough. Riders in operation. In addition to all the latest novelties of the cinematographic sphere, Alva, the King of Coins, will present his original creation, the Beggar's Dream, which created quite a sensation in the Empire Palace Theatre in London three years ago.
#
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