AMUSEMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2443, 6 March 1909, Page 9 (Supplement)

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY’S. LOCAL FIXTURES. March 31 to April 3. —Meynell and Gunn. Easter Week—Maskelyne and Devant. Howard Vernon’s Christchurch season proved a failure. The fact is that Christchurch, of late has had a surieit of amusements. Mr Walter Monk, recently touring representative with the Brune Company, having concluded his' engagement with Mr J. C .Wiliam,son, proposes to begin 'business as an advertising agent on his own account in Auckland. He will shortly be joined by another member of the Williamson firm. Arrangements are now in progress by Pathe Freres, the Paris kmematograph firm, to extend their operations to Australia. The intention is to instal a plant exactly similar, although necessarily on a .nailer scale, to that in use at the firn’s factories at Vincennes, near Paris, where 3oUO work-people 'are employi d. In the meantime the experts ai ached to the Australasian expedition are busily engaged with a series of ulms illustrative of Australian resources, which are being taken by th .■ firm in conjunction with the Federal Government. They are now i.i Queensland. The Herald Square Theatre, in tho heart of New York, was on December l 23, the scene of an exciting fire, j winch, but for tho presence ox nuuu J oi tlie members oi rlie orchestra, / would have involved a disastrous panic / among the audience. As it was there was a panic behind the scenes, and the flames were so close up on tne actors and actresses forming the company, running under the management of Mr Lew I’iekls,, that they made a rush tor the open air without waiting to change then- stage attire for street, costumes. The street, tliereiore, was tor some minutes, alive with performers in iancy costumes or stage tights. Inc fire broke out before the play iiad proceeded far, and the orchesua soon became aware of it. The leader of the orchestra cont.nued directing his men, but sent a messenger to the manager, to expedite extinguishing operations. The musicians plajvu With extraordinary calmness aim pi\ sence cf minu. The flames oeliind the scene*., catching more inflammable mateual, rapidly got out of hand. Mr Reginald \ anaerbilb, who w; > in the passage-way oi the theatre with his wife, caught sight of the lire, but fearing to rate a panic, made no sign. Finding the fire getting beyond nim, the manager had the curtain rung down, and under his advice the audience, numbering about twelve hundred, left in an orderly manner. The players lost their personal belongings and some valuable jewellery was swallowed up by the flames. The theatre was guttod.