THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH SATURDAY, FEBRUART 22, `1925.
ENTERTAINMENT
COLONY'S
MUSICAL
TALENT
The Colony's music-lovers have been well catered for recently. A programme rich in merit and variety was provided at the song and piano recital by Frau Muller and Madame Bonenfant at the Helena May Institute.
Then there was the fine concert of orchestral music by the band of the German cruiser Karlsruh nt the Peninsula Hotel; followed, on Wednesday, by the impressive rendering of "The Messiah" by tho Hongkong Singers, under Mr. J. Anderson Miller, at St. John's Cathedral on Wednesday, which will long live in the memory of those who attended. Cherus and soloists alike were in fine form.
A most enjoyable concert of light chamber music took place at the Helenn May Institute
In Thursday evening.
on which
three popular artistes-Miss Proo Lowds, Mrs. Arnold and Mr.
Lindany Lafford-gave us a rently
enjoyable programme,
•
Shortly, a further attraction is
STAR OF THE WEEK No. 9 in Ruby Keeler for attractive per- formance in Shipmates Forever," Warner film opening at the Queen's to-day. On August 20, 1000, Ruby took her first look at Halifax, Nova Scotia and continued to look at it for three years until her family moved to New York. There she attended public school, Professional Children's School und, in the meantime, appeared in Broadway musical chorusts. Came to the public eye in Texas Guinan's floor show, then signed by Ziegfeld as chief tap dancer in "Whoopee. Met and married Al Jolson in 1928, "end Street" presented her to screen audiences and ince then life has been just one big musical after another. Of screen ia shy, retiring, modest dresser. Hobbies fishing, golfiing, horse. riding.
CINEMAS PRESENT
PETITION
Astonishing revelations of the difficulties under which the
to ho provided, when, nt the cinema industry of this Colony carries out its work of entertaining Peninsula Hotel on Thursday, the public are revealed in a petition which was recently presented March 5, at 9 pm, the Hongkong to the Government. Choml Group. under Maestro
Gushli, is to give a
concert on
This is what the petlilon anya:
behalf of the Society for the Pro- tection of Children. This talented Group has already won golden Dear Sir, opinions locally, and those who attend the forthcoming concert can be assured of a most enjoyable evening, in addition to aiding one of the Colony's most effective social service organisations.
Incidentally, our now Governor, Sir Andrew Caldreott, himself talented pianist, has been show- ing his keen interest in musical matters by his presence at several recont concerts.
Don't forget the Leap Year Galas at the Hongkong and Penin- sula Hotels next Saturday. Special dinner will be served, and dancing will continue until 2 a.m.
once
ENTERTAINMENT. TAX
Owing to the deplorable business conditions under which the Cinema Houses are endeavouring to carry on to-day wo, the under- signed respectfully request you to reconsider the entertainment tax as applied to our theatres. Ever since the tax was put Into force we have all experienced considérable difficulty in carrying on and unless some relief is granted to us quickly we have grave doubts The position has been aggravated by concerning the future. persistent demands from the public for reduced admission prices to which we have had to accode. Had we been able to charge our usual prices and obtain the tax from the public and still maintain our patronage we would have had no reasonable grounds for complaint but the enforcing of the tax immediately caused a decline in our receipts and in consequence admission, charges had to be reduced and therefore the position resulted in our paying the entertainment
.
It's a real Ladies' Night-u tax and not the public, date, which only comes In four
which the FIF1 years, fair sex has the privilege of re- versing the usual procedure by taking the initiative in the matter of matrimonial proposals.
To assist us to carry on we have obtained helpful concessions in the shape of reduced advertisement charges, etc., but nevertheless can also obtain assistance from tha we feel that unless we Government all these efforts to keep the business alive' -Of-course, all you eligible young. unsuccessful..... bachelors have already been in. vited by lady friends--and, of
will be
We would remind you that in addition to providing amusement the Colony by course, you've all accepted. But for the Hongkong Community we also assist that's nothing to the more serious invitation you may run up against giving employment to
before the evening's over. Stout hearts. my lads; that's what's needed!
The Hongkong Philharmonic Society is to rest on its laurels. Following extraordinary general meeting on February 3 when opinion favoured putting on some- thing to keep the public ear, the Committee has vetoed the surges
tion.
Secretary H. J. Best circularised members that the decision was taken only after careful considera- tina.
Rook of new rules of Society was enclosed giving President four free seats as against Vice Presidents' two.
Insload of commencing the screen- ing of "The New Adventures of Tarzan" on Sunday, as previously arranged, the King's Theatro in put- ting on "O'Shaughnessy's Boy," the story of which is now running in the Telegraph as a serial,
News Reel
Stove Pasternacki, employed by a Hollywood company to detect plagi- aris, claims to know 50,000 tunes. The averago person knows between 50 and 100,
*
*
*
Shirley Temple had nearly 500 Christmas presents. They included a 4ft high Guatemalan doll, 118 other dolls, three portable gramophones, 42 Rots of books (including an. Encyclo- pasdia Britannica), a gold bracelet from 3 M. Schenck, and
Lorrier
a good many people and help other
if
concerns with our business in advertising, lights, etc., and also pay the Treasury heavy taxes apart from the entertainment tax.
Statistics will confirm that the entertainment tax was! entirely removed our profit in the business to-day would be a very modest one but at the same time we quite realise that the depression under which the Colony is suffering is also affecting the Government revenues and therefore we are not venturing to suggest that we be entirely relieved from the tax but we would respectfully suggest that you amend the existing scale of charges.
We give below the present scale and the petitioning for:-
Present.
No Charge 5 cents 10 cents
20 cents
Up to 20 cts. Over 20 cts. to 60 eis, Over 60 ets to 51 Over $1 to $2 Over $2 to $3
30 cents
Suggested Amendment.
Up to 50 cta
No Charge
Over 50 cts. to. $1
5 cents 10 conta 20 cents
30 cents
Over $1 to $2
Over $2 to $3
Over $3 to $4
amendment
We arc
In concluding we trust you will give our request your full consideration at an early date as the matter is of considerable importance to us all..
Yours faithfully, Queen's Theatre, J. E. Noronha. King's Theatre, Liang Chi Hao, Alhambra Theatre, Chas. S. Ronselet, Oriental Theatro, Vle. Hugo. Contral Theatre, Chan Kwan Chlu. Star Theatro, II. S. Law. Majestic Theatre, Fox. World Theatre, Chan.
Tal Ping Theatre, Wan Chuck Ming. Ko Sing Theatre, Lai Wai Lau. Kau Yue Fong Theatre, Yau Heung
You will see from the present scale that the chargo for a 56 cent seat is seat at whereas for n G cents double the price i.c. $1.10 the
20
ог cents tax
four times the amount, we have therefore Shek. worked the scale on a more equitable basis that is to say proportionato to all values.
Pel Ho Theatre, Le Hok Kwong. Lee Theatre, Lee Hy Lap..
The Government replied to the petition stating that after careful consideration they, had decided not to adopt the suggested amendmente.
YEAR'S LOSS EQUALS TAX
Freely expressed opinion among the industry was given by a
from May Hobson. Many of the spokesman to the Telegraph.
presonte will go to orphans...
.
"No one industry, importation or business in Hongkong is
"It seems to me that talklor nood-soaked to the same extent as the cinemas. Before we can make any lessly imitate
the stage: Talkien profit in our business we have to find 25 per cent. of the gross takings admit dialogue, 'nothing, eino, I 'would like to introduce on the screen and set this aside for Government-after that, if possible, we the author himesif-that is, put in make a profit! What business in the world can do that?” patcher of explanation instead of dialogue."Charles Chaplin.
Eddio Cantor, in drawing a per- contage of the profits on "Strike Me
Fink instead of a salary. He says that n'star who might save £10,000 in four years out of his salary could make £200,000 from, perbentages...
⠀⠀ "One company here shows a loss of $45,000 for last year, the same amount within a few dollars, as they paid the Government in this tax in that periodi
"Our cinema licences may or may not be granted: they can be withdrawn without notice or explanation although we are committed perhaps for several years ahead to landlords and distributors to the extent of several hundreds of dollars a day?”
DISGUSTEDI
The Editor
Dear Sir:
You, on this pago, and tho Tele graph generally very rightly con Kratulated the Queen's Theatre on its enterprise, not only in accuring so rapidly the film of King George's funeral, but of arranging a suitable Accompanying programme of music by the band of the East Lancashire Regiment. On Tuesday I seized an opportunity of attending a perfor mance, but the whole thing was ruined by a crowd of inconsiderato peoplo, whment
apparently falling to find any in listening to a very fine rendition of Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony" ог to appreciate that the music was not only incidental to the film, but was an essential part of the programme, talked consistently in loud and unbeautiful voices.
Two gentlemen took the opportun- ity of telling the world" how much they preferred real music to "that canned stuff". It was a peculiar method of displaying their appreciat ion. Belind, a group of women laughed and chattered through the entire performance of the band.
an
Such behaviour was not only insult to beautiful music and a fine hand, but revealed distinct lack of courtesy to other patrons of the Queen's Theatre who were there for the purpose of enjoying an unusual, entertainment.
It is a pity the management on such occasions does not feel it incumbent to atop such wrotched and disorderly conduct. I too much prefer real music to "that canned stuff", but my preference in rendered futile when I am surrounded by people who want to indulge in a conversazione,
Most sincerely I hope that on auch future occasions theatre managements
Chinese Lesson Jams B. B. C.
Who was the expert in Chinese who succeeded in getting his voice superimposed on a musica! broadcast from the B.B.C. studio:
astonished The Interruption listeners throughout the country, and the B.B.C. broadcast apology at the end of the pro- gramme,
Music was being played by a string quartet when a strange voice broke in and began to ex
plain how certain words were sald in Pekin. After a few minutes the volca faded into that of Mr. Baldwin's, giving his broadcast on the late King.
SCREEN BALLOT
Public Does Not Need Love
Following the ballot for the most popular, screen ́actor or actress conducted by our morning contempor ary, the results of the National Film Ballot organised by London Film Productions, Ltd., show another in- teresting aspect of public reactions,
In response to the question, is a Alm dull unless it contains love in- terest? 8,893 persons replled no, After three or four minutes the as against 1,257 who said yes, ne- trouble was rectifled and there cording to an analysis of roughly 10,000 typical answers. No less than woro no further interruptions
8,049 declared themselves interest- Exactly what happened is noted in the alming of such works na known even at Broadcasting House, H. G. Wells's "The Shape of but it was established that one of Things to Come," while 1932 were the Empire transmitters was at not; 6,414 hoped for something in that time radiating a recorded the nature of a serious message from the screen, and 6,666 expect- veraton of Mr. Baldwin's talk.
od nothing more than entertain- ment
"We do not know exactly what ar how it the interruption was became superimposed on our pro- Bald an official at gramme.' Broadcasting House.
will take steps to "gag" these in- considerate patrons so that others can obtain full pleasure and benefit from the programme.
DISGUSTED.
·
Mr. Wells's book has already been made into a picture by Lon- don Film Productions, and the re- plies to their questionnaire, which was circulated in many national periodicals, have led them undertake the Aiming of an au-
ENGLISH CHILD. ACTRESS SHOWS EXPRESSIONS
A series of snapshots of Deidre Gale, the six-year-old English actress, who has a remarkable range of or» pression. She has already appeared in several films.
SHOULD ENGLISH FILMS
BE
RELEASED EARLIER?
Those people who lament for more British pictures (and we are one of them) are not alone in blaming late releases as one of the drawbacks in the industry.
This is what they say at Home.
At present there is usually a gap of at least three months between the time a new picture is shown in the West End and the time it reaches the suburbs or the provinces.
MR. MURRAY SILVERSTONE, managing director of United Artists, hopes to alter this custom, and will make a beginning with "The Ghost Goes Weat," now at Theatre.
the Leicester-square When its run there is ended it will be Immediately available to other cinemaa
"Mr. Alexander Korda suggest- ed this to me," said Mr. Silver- "Pictures are recently. stone
not held up in the United States, and here there is less need for the delay.
"Besides, the big-money adver- tising losas much of its pull when several months elapse between the and London production first general release."
IN AGREEMENT, BUT—
Other companies share Mr. S#1- 'verstone's views, but are less sanguine of being able soon to put them into practice.
MR. MONTAĠUE · GOLDMAN (Paramount sales manager); It would be impossible to reduce the time-lng unless there was.com- pleto co-operation between renters. and exhibitors. Exhibitors like. to book their programmes for at least three months ahead, and as things are they would not have dates free oven if they.could book pictures at onco.
MR. ARTHUR DENT (manag- ing director of Wardour Films, which distributes British Inter- national films): It is not fair to the public, especially in London, to hold back pictures for several months. But to start with, there is the law which prevents a book-
lag until after a film has been trade-shown.
My company has sometimes de- a London showing for a ferred month or so after the trade show to make it possible for general re- lease to follow the London gro- release. But in the ordinary way we can't do it.
Older Alm-goers will remember that some years ago it was not uncommon for a film to be held up for a year or more after its first London showing.
The Flims Act of 1927 altered this, but it was not until 1930 that it became illegal to book a film more than six months ahead, or before it had been trade-shown.
Helen
to
thoritative account of the daroor of Col. T. E. Lawrence of Arnbla fame, in which there is to be no conventional romantic interest of any kind. The scenario is, to be written by John Monk Saunders, who wasnt Oxford with Lawrence, and Mr. Siegfried Sassoon, the satirist, la to superviac' It.
ř
An endeavour to learn at the armo, time who is the most popular writer of Alm stories in England has put Mr. Wells (8,253 votes), J. B. Priestley (7,757) and John Buchan (now Lord Tweedsmuir) (2,897) at the head, of all' rivals. They are followed by Noel Coward, Somerset Maugham, A.. E.. W. Mason, Rudyard Kipling, Warwick Demping, G. Bernard Shaw, Hugh' Walpole and P. G. Wodehouse, in that order. Each of those writers received more than 1,000 vates,
It is regarded as significant that four of these vrliers (Wells, Buchan, Kipling and Deeping) are not playwrights; indeed, drama. tists have not come out of the test so well. Sir James Barrie is only fourteenth on the list with 663 votes. The recent Dickens boom has carried him no higher than the sixty-seventh place, with 78 votes.
The public has shown that it would like some prominent writers, who hitherto have avoided the screen, to try their hand at scenario writing. Thus, Aldous Huxley gets 198 votes, John Muse- field, poet laureate, 124, and H. V. Morton, author of popular travel books, 107,
The idea that the general stand- ard of films might be improved by Blowing down their rate of pro- duction is discounted by the re- sults of the ballot, the sponsors feel. Of those who answered tho to the questionnaire, 153 went pictures daily, 113 went four times a week, 819 three times a week 2,760 twice a week, and 3,792 onco 416 went as in- a week. Only frequently as once a month, and 824 occasionally. The need for rapid changes of programme, and therefore large productivity in the film world, scoms thus appar- ent.
Twelvetrees'
Husband
Sydney (N.S.W.). Frank Woody, husband and manager of the Hollywood film actress Helen Twelvetrees, now starring in an Australian film, is on his way to New Zealand--by pollca order.
This is the sequel to a remark- able series of events.
Woody was removed by detee. tives from the flat in a fashionable suburb of Sydney which he and his wife took on arrival here.
He
to have is alleged threatened violence towards his wife and to have threatened to shoot Frank Leighton, the handsome young Australian actor who is playing opposite Miss Twelvetrees in the film.
Woody moved into an hotel under the name of Wilson.
..He was given the choice of sail- ing direct to America, going to Melbourne to await the arrival of another liner, or going to New Zealand.
Dotectives took posscasion of a }^ revolver found in his flat..
Woody was visited at his hotel be Tore he sailed. He made no secret of the fact that he had been ordered from his flat at 9.80 in the morning while asloop on a divan,
IN LOCKED ROOM His wife was sleeping in a lock od room on the advice of detectives who had paid a visit when Woody had not returned home.
Jan Klepurn has a brother who in also a singer, but the latter keeps
es relationship in secret in order to pack a bag," said Woody.
"They did not even give me timo
to be able to create himself a career. He is. Vladislaw Ladie, above.
"The trouble started when we wero on location. I objected to
Helen keeping late hours, and after a quarrel I returned to Sydney.
"She arrived at the flat at 3.30 in the morning. I objected and smacked her.
"I have looked after her like a child since our marriage. She can do nothing for herself. "I believe a husband must dominate his wife... "Late hours are no good to a atar. As for being Jealous of Leighton or threatening to shoot him, the matter is absurd.
"I have told Leighton over the telephone Thave no grudge against him.
"I phoned Helen and sho has *phoned me several times a day.
"I love her and my child. I have lost pounds in weight over this worry. I cannot cat or sloop.".
POLICE PROTECTION.
Miss Twelvetrees said, "My husband is living at an hotel bo- cause my hours are irregular.”
She denied all knowledge of the detectives visit, and, asked if her husband had slapped her, she said, "All I can say is that I have gover asked for police protection" wi She laughed at the suggestion. of romance between her and Leighton,
Woody is Helen Twelvetrees second husband. Her own name was Jurgona. Her first husband'a name was Twelvetrees.
Shefay twenty-seven. Sho #married Woody in 1981, They
have a three-and-a-half-your-old- son.
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