Chinese tourists haven’t been much of a factor worldwide. But that is changing. Quickly. “Nationwide, more than 500 million tourists poured into airports, highways and train stations last year. Outbound travel by Chinese tourists reached 16.6 million people in 2002 and is expected to double this year to 32 million. The World Tourism Organization predicts 100 million Chinese will be travelling the world by 2020. The Pacific Asia Travel Association believes that figure will be reached within six years, based on current trends.”
Tag: 10.22.04
One Night Wonder: “Wilde” Flops
With some of the worst reviews ever received in London, a musical about Oscar Wilde opened and closed on the same night last week. “Oscar Wilde” opened Tuesday at the 500-seat Shaw Theatre. It closed the next day after receiving excoriating reviews and selling just five tickets for its second performance.”
The Quiet Conductor
Bernard Haitink is not a superstar in the way that Simon Rattle is, or even in the way that Riccardo Muti has become. But Haitink has quietly cultivated a reputation as one of the world’s top conductors, and the respect with which he speaks of the world’s great orchestras mirrors the love and respect musicians seem to have for him. Still, Haitink has strong opinions about the ensembles he leads, and his peers on the podium, and he isn’t afraid to express them.
This Might Be A Record
A new West End musical about Oscar Wilde has closed ahead of schedule. Okay, that might be understating it a bit. The show, which debuted to scathing reviews and public indifference, was yanked from the Shaw Theatre’s schedule after exactly one performance.
FCC Fines Disney, Viacom Over TV Ads
Viacom and Disney have been fined a collective $1.5 million for exceeding the number of commercials aired during children’s programs. “The advertising violations were discovered in routine audits of cable system operators. Federal regulations stipulate that children’s programming may contain no more than 10 1/2 minutes of advertising per hour on weekends and 12 minutes per hour on weekdays.
Viacom acknowledges that Nickelodeon violated that regulation nearly 600 times over approximately 10 months, representing the equivalent of 1,021 extra 30-second ads.”
NYT Names Grimes As Book Critic
William Grimes has been named the New York Times’ new book critic. “Mr. Grimes, who stepped down as chief restaurant critic at the end of 2003, has spent most of this year writing reviews of consumer products and recounting his experiences under the heading “Just Browsing.”
The Bolshoi’s New Road
The Bolshoi Ballet has had a rough several years. But the company has a young new director, and a corps of new dancers…
Nothing To Watch In The 210-Channel Universe
Tim Goodman says that his TV provider tells him he has 210 channels. “I have no idea. It looks like I’m capable of receiving 400, possibly 700 or so channels, but only half that comes into the house.” But even with 200 channels – shouldn’t the programming be better? Why is it there never seems to be much good on? Why doesn’t it get better? Becase: “It’s the money thing. For future reference: It’s always the money thing.”
A Handful Of New Theatres For NY
New York gets five new Off-Broadway theatres, carved out of a former movie multiplex. Ambitious, but how do they work for the live stage?
Will Movies Change Politics?
This has been the year of the political film in America. “Beyond the partisan bickering and charges that these films are merely political propaganda or media manipulation, some observers even see them signaling a new era in the way Americans choose to be politically informed. Such films, they suggest, may represent a seismic shift in American journalism.”