1936-02-22 — Page 8

THE JONGKONG TELEGRAPH SATURDAY, FEBRUARY #2, -1914.

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 Karlsruhe at the Peninsula Hotel; followed, on Wednesday, by the impressive. rendering of "The Messiah" by the Hongkong Singers, under Mr. J. Anderson Miller, at St. John's Cathedral on Wednesday, which will dong live in the memory of those who attended, 'Chorus and soloists alike were in fine form.

A most enjoyable concert of light chamber music took place at the Helena May Instituto

in Thursday evening.

which threo popular artistes-Miss Prac Lewis, Mra. Arnold and Mr. Lindsay Lafford-gave us a really enjoyable programme,

•

on

STAR OF THE WEEK No. 9 is Ruby Kesler for attractive per- formance in "Shiponates Forever" Warner film opening at the Queen's to-day. On Augțist 20, 1000, Ruby look her first look at Halifax, Nova Scotla 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 and, in the meantime, appeared in Broadway musical choruace. Came to the public eye in Texas Guinan's floor show, then signed by Ziegfeld as chief tap dancer in “Whoopee," Mst and married Al Jolson in 1928. "kind Strøst" presented her to screen audiences and since then life has been just one big musical after another. Of screen is ghy, retiring, modest dresser. Hobbies--fishing, golfing, horse- riding.

CINEMAS PRESENT

PETITION

Astonishing revelations of the difficulties under which the cinema Industry of this Colony carries out its work of entertaining the public are revealed in a petition which was recently presented to the Government.

This is what the petition says!

Shortly, a further attraction is to be provided, when, at the Peninsula Hotel on Thursday, March 5, at 9 pm. the Hongkong Choral Group, under Muestro Cunidi, is to give a concert on behalf of the Society for the Pro- lection 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 rervice organisations.

ENTERTAINMENT TAX

Owing to the deplorable business conditions under which tho Cinema Houses are endeavouring to carry on to-day we, the under- signed respectfully request you to reconsider the entertainment tax as applied to our theatres. Ever since the tax was put into force

Incidentally, our new Governor,wo have all experienced considerable difficulty in carrying on and Sir Andrew Caldecott, himself

'unless some relief is granted to us quickly we have grave doubte talented pianist, has been show

The position has been aggravated by ing his keen interest in musical concerning the future. matters by his presence at several persistent demands from the publle for reduced admission prices to recent concerts.

which we have had to accede. 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 tax and not the public.

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 unt 2 a.m.

It's a real Ladies' Night- date, which only conies once in four years, 021 which the fair sex has the privilege of re versing the usual procedure by taking the initiative in the matter of matrimonial proposals.

Of course, all you eligible young bachelors have already been in- vited by lady friends-and, of

Tu nasist us to carry on we have obtained helpful concessions

in the shape of reduced advertisement charges, etc., but nevertheless

we feel that, unless we can also obtain assistance from tha Government all these efforts to keep the business alive will be unsuccessful.

We would remind you that in addition to providing amusement course, you've all-accepted. But for the Hongkong - Community--we also assist the Colony...by that's nothing to the more serious invitation you may run up against giving employment to a good many people and help other before the evening's over. Stout concerns with our business in advertising, lights, etc., and also pay hearts, my Inds; that's what's the Treasury heavy taxes apart from the entertainment tax. needed 1

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 hins vetoed the sugges- tion.

Secretary H. J. Bost circularised members that the decision was taken only after careful considera- tion.

WAS

Book of new rules of Society enclosed giving President four free seats ns against Vice, Presidents' two.

Instead of commencing the screen- ing of "The Now Adventures of Tarzan" on Sunday, as previously arranged, the King's Theatre is put- ting on "O'Shaughnessy's Boy," the story of which is now raning in the Telegraph as a serial,

News Reel

Stevo Pasternacki, employed by a Hollywood company to detect plagi- arism, claims to know 50,000 tunen. The average 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 'wats of books (including an Encyclo- pandin Britannica); gold bracelet from JM. Schenck, and a berrier. from May Robson Many of the presents will go to orphans.

Statistics will confirm that [C tho 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.

Up to 20 cls.

Present,

No Charge

b cents.

Over 20 cta. La. 00 cts.

Over $1 to $

Over 60 eta to $1

Over $2 to 3

10 cents

20 cents

80 centa

.we

are

We give below the present scale and the amendment petitioning for!-

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. B. Rossolet. Oriental Theatre, Vic, Hugo, Contral Theatro, Chan Kwan Chiu. Star Theatre, H. 3. Law. Majestic Theatre, Fox. World Theatre, Chan, Ta! Ping Theatre, Wan Chuck Ming. Ko Sing Theatre, Lui Wal Lau.

Suggested Amendment.

Up to 50 cts

No Charge

Over 50 cts. to $1

Over $1 to $2 Over, $3 to $3

Over $8 to $4

5 cents) 10 cents 20 cents

80.cants

You will see from the present scale that the charge for a 55 cent seat is 6 cents whereas for a sent atį double the prico 1.c. $1.10 thej tax is 20 conta ΟΙ Your! times the amount, we have therefore worked the scale on a moro equitabla basis that is to say proportionate to all values,

.

Kau Yue Fong Theatre, You Heung

Shek.

Pel Ho Theatre, Lo Hok Kwong. Lee Theatre, Lee Hy Lag.

The Government replied to the petition stating that after careful consideration they had decided not to adopt the suggested amendments.

YEAR'S LOSS EQUALS TAX

Freely expressed opinion among the industry was given by a. spokesman to the Telegraph.

"It seems to me that talkies need aoaked to the same extent as the cinemas. Before we can make any "No one industry, importation br business in Hongkong: in lonely imitate the stage Talkies profit in our business we have to find 25 per cent of the gross takings admit dialogue, nothing 000; would like to introduce on the seroan and set this aside" for Government after that, if possible, we the authier himself—that is, put. In make a profit! What business in the world can do that?” patches of explanation instead of "One company here show dialogue." Charles Chaplin,

shows a loss of $45,000 for last year, the same amount within a few dollars, as they paid the Government Eddie Cantor is drawing a per- in this tax in that periodi

centage of the profits on "Strike Me Pink instead of a salary. He says that a 'stor who might save £10,000 în four years out of his salary could Amake £200,000, from percentagon.

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 page, and the Tolo- graph generally very rightly con- gratulated the Queen's Theatre on its enterprise, not only in securing 50

Chinese

Lesson

Jams B. B. C.

Who was the expert in Chincae rapidly the film of King George's who succeeded in getting his funeral, but of arranging a suitable voice superimposed on a musical by the band of the East Lancashire broadcast from the B.B.C. studio; accompanying programme of music Regiment. On Tuesday I seized an

The Interruption astonished opportunity of attending a perfor: lateners throughout the country, mance, but the whole thing was ruined and the B.B.C. broadcast an by, a crowd of inconsiderate people apology at the end of the pro- who, apparently failing to find any enjoyment in listening to a very fine gramme. rondition of Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony" or 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.

Music was bolng played by a

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..

string quartet when a strange voice broke in and began to ex- plain how certain words were said in Pekin. After a few minutes Two gentlemen took the opportun-the voico faded into that of Mr.

In response to the question, is a ity of "telling the world" how much Baldwin's, giving his broadcast on

film dull unless it contains love in- "that the lato King. they preferred real music to

terest? 8,893 parsons replied no, canned stuff. I

'It was poculiar

After three or four minutes thens against 1,257 who said yes, ac method of displaying their appreciat

therecording to an analysis of roughly -lon. Dekind, group of women trouble was rectifled and

10,000 typical answers. No less than laughed and chaitored through the were no further interruptiona

8,049 declared themselves interest- entire performance of the band.

Exactly what happened Is. noted in the filming of such works as known even at Broadcasting House,

H. G. Wells's "The Shape of but it was established that one of Things to Come," while 1932 ware the Empire transmitters was at not; 6,414 hoped for something in that time radiating a recorded-

the nature of a various mossage version of Mr. Baldwin's talk.

from the screen, and 6,666 expect- od nothing more than entertain-

A

Such behaviour was not only an insult to beautiful music and a fine band,, but revealed distinct lack

of equrtesy to other patrons of the Queen's Theatre who were there for the purpose of enjoying an unusual antertainment.

It is a pity the management on such occasions does not feel it incumbent to stop auch wretched and disorderly conduct. I too much prefer real music to "that canned stuff", but my proforence in rendered futile when I am surrounded by people who want to indulge in a conversazione,

Most sincerely I hope that on such future occasions theatre managements

"We do not know exactly what or how it the interruption was became superimposed on our pro-

Bald

on official at'} gramme,' Broadcasting House. —

will take steps to "gag" those in- considerate patrons so that others can obtain full plensure and benefit from the programme.

DISGUSTED.

mont.

Mr. Wolla's book has already been made into a picture by Lon- don Film Productions, and the re- plies to their questionnaire, which was cireulsted in many national periodicals, have led undertake the filming of an au-

ENGLISH CHILD ACTRESS SHOWS EXPRESSIONS

them to

A sorios of snapshots of Deidre Gale, the six-year-old English actress, who has a remarkable range of ex- 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, ing until after a film has been

trade-shown. director of managing Artists, hopes to alter this custom, and will make a beginning with "The Ghost Goes West," now at the Leicester-square Theatre. When its run there is ended it will be immediately available to other cinomas

United

"Mr. Alexander Korda suggest ed this to me," said Mr. Silver- recently, "Pictures aro stone

not held up in the United States, and here there is loss need for the delay.

"Besides, the big-money adver- tising loses much of its pull when several months elapse between the first London production and general release."

IN AGREEMENT, BUT—–

Other companies sharo Mr. SII-"

Icas verstone's views, but are sanguine of being ablo soon to. put them into practice,

MR. MONTAGUE GOLDMAN (Paramount sales manager): It would be Impossible to reduce the time-lag unless there was com ploto co-operation between rontera and exhibitors. Exhibitors like to book their programmes for at least three months ahead, and as things are they would not have dates free even if they could book pictures at once.

MR. ARTHUR DENT (manag- ing director of Wardour Filma, 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 provente a book.

My company has sometimes do- 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 pre- release. But in the ordinary way we can't do it.

Older film-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 Films 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.

is

so a singor, but the lattor keeps Jan Klepura has a brother who their relationship in secret in order to be able to create himself a career. He is Vladislaw. Ladin, above.

Helen

thoritative account of the daroom. of Col. T. E. Lawrence of Arabia fame, in which there is to bo no conventional romantic interest of any kind. The scenario is to be written by John Monk Saunders, who was at Oxford with Lawrence, and Mr. Siegfried Sassoon, the satirist, is to supervise it.

An endeavour to learn at the same time who is the most popular writer of Im stories in England has put Mr. Wells (8,253 votes), J. B. Priestley (7,767) and John Buchan (now Lord Tweedsmuir) (2,837) at the head of all rivals. They are followed by Noel Coward, Somerset Maugham,. A. E. W. Mason, Rudyard Kipling, Warwick Dooping, G. Bernard Shaw, Hugh Walpole and P. G.. Wodehouse, In that order. Each of those writers received more than 1,000 volca...

It is regarded as significant that four of these writers (Wells, Buchan, Kipling and Deeping) are not playwrights; Indeed, drama- tists have not come out of the test so well. Sir James Barrio is only fourteenth on the Hat with 608 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 Rcenario writing. Thus, Aldous Huxley reis 198 votes, John Mase 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 slowing down their, rate of pro- duction is discounted by the ro- sults of the ballot, the sponsors feel. Of those who answered the questionnaire. 169 went to the pictures daily, 113 went four times week a week, 819, three times a 2,760 twice a week, and 3,792 once a week Only 416 went as-in- frequently as once a month, and 824 occasionally. The need for rapid changes of programme, and therefore large productivity in the film world, seems thus appar ent.

Twelvetrees'

Sydney (N.S.W.). Frank Woody, husband and manager of the Hollywood film actress Helon Twelvetrees, now atarring in an Australian film, 18 on his way to New Zealand-by police order.

This is the sequel to a remark- able series of events.

Woody was removed by detoc- tives from the flat in a fashionable suburb of Sydney which ha and his wife took on arrival here.

have He is alleged to 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 anil- ing direct to America, going to Melbourne to await the arrival of another liner, or going to New Zealand.

►

›

Detectives took possession of à revolver found in his flat.

Woody was visited at his hotel be- fore he sailed. He made no secret of the fact that he had been ordered from his flat at 9.80 in the morning

while asleep on a divan.

DROOM

IN LOCKED

Husband

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 star. As for being jealous of Leighton or threatening to shoot him, the matter is absurd.

"I have told Leighton over the telephone I have no grudge against

him.

I phoned Holen and she has phoned me several times a day.

I love her and my child. I have lost pounds in weight over this worry. I cannot eat or sleep."

POLICE PROTECTION

Mias Twelvetrees said, “My busband is living at an hotel ba 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 never asked for police protection "LOG She laughed at the suggestion. of romance between her and lock-Leighton.

His wife was sleeping in a ed room on the advice of detectives who had paid a visit when Woody had not returned home..

i

"They did not even give me time to pack a bag," said Woody, N

Woody Is Helen Twelvetresa second husband. Her own name was Jurgens. Hor first husband's" name was Twelvetrees.":{

She is

is twenty-seven. She

married Woody in 1881. They "The trouble started when wo have a three-and-a-half-year-old were on location. 1a objected to