GAIETY IMPROVEMENTS—WESTERN ELECTRIC TALKIES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 169, 19 August 1929, Page 2

GAIETY IMPROVEMENTS—WESTERN ELECTRIC TALKIES.

The 'Gaietv is the . scene of much ac-, tivlty just at presenfc, buiklers, elcctricians, decorators, etc„ all working at high tension speed day and night re-equipping this popular picture palace into a modcrn "talkie'' amusement palace de luxe- This latest form of entertainment is nothing short of wonderful, and the whole ivorld at the present time has simpty gone crazy on "talking pictures." To not only see but to hear all of the favourite stars "speak" is now a. recognised fact, and with this end in view Mr Harrv Thompson, ever on the alert for - the b'est of everything for his patrons'eomfort and entertainment, is now installing the hest -plant pfocurahle , in the world, The. Westerii Electric equip-' rnent, which is now being fitted to suit the requirements of the Gaiety. The box plan is filh'ng very rapidly for the opening night, Saturday, August 24, and the opening programme is tlie picture that played to the most brilliant business tiie nicture world has ever known, "The Singing Fool," with A1 Jolson, well known to all musiclovers by his records. In "The_ Singing Fool," the s'pecial production in which he is presented by Warner Bros. he is revealed as one of the most powerful emotional actors on the screen. In "The Singing Fool" he is first seen as a carefree, wise-cracking entertainer — a ^inging waiter in a New York cabaret — but _ eventually tliere comos to him a weight of sorrow and mental stress that entirelv changes the course of his life. Everything which he has attnined through years of striving is suddenly stripped from him. and the way he meets and copes with his misfortunes makes a story of absorbing heart iiiterest. jMarried to a revue star who falls in lo-ve with anotlier man, tlie singing -waiter suffers "tormeUts, which include the death -.ofthe child to whom lie is passionatel.v devoted. "The Singing Fool" runs the whole scale of liuman emotions. Jolson's amazing gift for .recogmsing those who have. like _ liimself the ability to transmit tlieir feelings to others, was demonstrated in his choice of adorable three-year-old Davey Lee to play the part of Sonnv Boy.in "The Singing Foo^" The child %vas .chosen from among nearlv two-hundred apphcants. Betty Bronson and Josephine Dunn are scen in tlie principal feminine roles, and other well-known player-s in the cast are Reed Ho-wes, Arthur Housman, David Lee, Robevt Emmett O'Connor and Edward Martindel. CGraham Baker made the adaptation from a Tjeslie S. Barrows story. 3 he production was directed by Lloyd Bacon. Patrons are advised not to delay but hook, and hook early. Reserves : Dress circle 3/3 Tlie hox plan for the stalls will he opeiied in a few days.