AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 16, 19 January 1924, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL THEATRE. Long Tack Sam and his company entered upon the last rew nights or tiieir highly successful season at the National Theatre last evening. During the past week they have presented marvellous and original acts, which it is impossible to describe in j detail. Indoubtedly the whole perform- i ance si something unique in Now Zealand, i ivever have such magicians, acrnb3ts, or jugglers been seen here before. Long I Tack sam eume over from Australlia with ' a reputation of having filled all the houses i in which he played there, to overflowipg, both at matinee and evening performances. He will leave Auckland with the same reputation. Last evening some new acts were presented by Long Tack Sam, one, in which lie swallowed a packet of needles, then a thread, washed down with a glass of water, and gradually drew them all from hi? mouth, threaded on the cotton, mystifying the audience to a degree. He did Hie amazing plate-spinning art with the other artists, and also his thrilling acrobatic acts. The acrobats once more moved the audience to uproar with their wonderful foals on the horizontal bar—■ feats which only- these men can do, and which require gigantic strength. Another man tossed a heavy brass bar about as ir it wore a match, and was received with enthusiasm. The two daughters gave some delightful dances, while one sang "I Wish 1 know" in perfect English, and quite. as well as any English girl could have clone. The audience liked them immensely. Long Tack Sam finishes his season on Wednesday, arter giving Aucklanclcrs a vaudeville act which has left them amazed, and will remain long iv their memories. HIPPODROME THEATRE. Two star pictures are now appearing at the Hippodrome. Tho first is "The Love Brand," starring Roy Stewart, and Margaret Landis; and the second, "The Untamcarjle," with Gladys Walton. The slory or "Slic Love Brand" concerns Don Jose O'Neil, who falls in love with a beautiful girl, Frances Collier. She confesses her love for him, but he later is i led to believe tnat she did this simply to help the ends of a designing rather. In a mad rage he seizes a branding Iron to brand the girl, but love stops him. Then Frances, to prove her love for the man, | takes the iron and presses it to her shoul- i lie!'. "The■ l.'ntameablc" tolls of tho extraordinary experiences of a girl who possessed a dual personality—one good—one evil. Her more natural self was that or a sweet, charming ana generous gin, but she was afilicted with a terrible temper that occasionally got beyond the; grip or her control. In this state or\ mind, she was cruel, selfish and overbearing. Through the hypnotic influence or a skiirul and unscrupulous doctor the vicious side of her nature was accentuated and her nature became virtually the sub- i ject or his will. Her real personality became distorted and was eventually almost entirely masked through the strength or the doctor's mental power over her. The usual supports will also be shown. STRAND THEATRE. "The Third Alarm," which, is now screening at tne Strand, has as it background the exciting and gallant lives or Ure-flgbtcrs. The story has to do with the experiences or a veteran (lre-Ilgtiter named Dan McDowell. Years of long service dimmed his eyes and weakened the iron grip mat held the reins of the plunging horses, and he was cast into the discard. The old white uorso, " Bullet " by name, also went the way nr ins master when the horse-drav.-n vehicles of the department were replaced by motors. McDowell became a ditch digger, "Rullet" was employed in work no less arduous. The troubles of adversity heaped upon old McDowell, but ho kept a stiff upper lip and triumphed in the end. His rescue of his son, Johnnie, also a fire-lighter, and June Rutherford, the daughter or a famous surg-eon, when the younjr couple were trapped in a burning building is beyond question one of the most thrilling , episodes ever created Tor tho screen. Tho usual supporting items arc reatured, and Miss Alice Wilkinson will render vocal items during the intcrludei TIVOLI THEATRE. "Richard the I lon-Hearted," a screen version of Sir Walter Scott's " The Talisman," is now being screened at the Tivoli. Toflrhing the highlights of the adventurous King Richard's career and based on his Third Crusade into tho Holy Land. "Richard, tho Lion-Hearted" has been produced with a lavishness that lends it powerful historical and entertainment appeal. In stupendous settings, constructed with a keen appreciation of conformity to historical records, tlio scones of conflict between Kin? Richard's valiant kniplits and tho swarming Saracen infldel3 who had gained possession of the Holy Sepulchre, have been screened with inspiring realism. The stirring action or the picture,, com- j hined with the throbbing romance or the story, carries a tremendous "punch" that I cannot fail further to endear Scott's fam-1 ous novel, on which it Is based. Costumes j of unsurpassed beauty have been used throughout the production. Forty thousand dollars was spent in providing tlie magnificent robes of velvet, satin, silk and fur worn by the king, the queen and the court ladies. Tho chain mail suits worn I by the knights proved even more costly than the fabric costumes, as they had to bo. made to order for the production. Wairord play ' the leadir.fr parts. The usual supports are featured. LYRIC THEATRE. The first or the 1924 Paramount productions, "Homeward Round," featuring Thomas Meighan and Lila Lee. is the present attraction at the Lyric. .llm Bedrord takes command of a yacht which his employer has presented to Mary Brent, his daughter, for a birthday present. But old Brent, who had no idea that Jim was taking over the yacht, orders his immediate, return to port. He is sent to Costo Rica in an old tub, and discovers, when out at sea, that Mary has stowed away on board. Some thrilling adventures follow, and Jim and the girl return, to a>V Tather Tor his ronsent to their marriage. He refuses point blank, but Jim has a little plan up his sleeve, which, when he unrolds It quietly to the old man. leaves the latter in such a position that he can only say " Yes " to the proposal. A Stan Laurel comedy. "When K-nights were Cold," and Burton Holmes' Travelogue are on the same programme. PRINCESS THEATRE. "If Winter Comes," a screen version or the famous novel, .is the picture, now at the Princess. The story, which is now so well known, concerns Mark Sabre, who married "Mabel." It. was not long before he discovered that his wife had not the power to understand him. She thought little things he did in pleasure's namo were ridiculous, and generally found fault with him. This, coupled with business unhappy onn, but he did not complain—she was'his wife; he had always to remember that. Then, hack into his life, came a girl he. hart once loved and proposed to — Nona—now Lady Tybar. She, too, had made an error in her choice or a mate. The war comes, snd with it a tragedy in the shape of EITle. a servant girl, who comes to the Sabre home with a child. The man takes her in. and. as is so natural in the world, the finger of suspicion is pointed at tho girl's benefactor. Later lie is tried at tho. coroner's Court on a charge of being connected with the death of the girl and her child. This is one of the most dramatic features in the 111 m. especially when Nona comes crying. "Marko. Marko"— discovers that the rather of Edlo's child was young Twyning. son of a business partner, who wss the instigator of the court proceedings. He poos to denounce llv. man. only to find Twyninc- mourning a r-on killed in action. A breakdown follows, but the end comes when Marko finds himself in Nona's arms. Tho picture is a ing Sabre with iife-llke reality. The usual supports aro. also shown. GRAND THEATRE. The, two pictures now phowlns at tho Grand aro. "Love's Penalty." starring Tmn<--1 Hampton and Percy Maniioni. and 'The Poor ?imp," with Owon Monro in the lead- • ing rolo. "Love's penalty" wna now a ■ girl, driven to mad despair when her sister commits suicide because the man she loved marries another woman, and her motnei riles of fhock. sots nut on a plan nl geance upon the man she believes r-spon- ■ sihle for the double tragedy. How she sots about her task, anrt tho ultimate outcome is the story. 'The Poor >imp is a re-mocly drama, with Owen Moore In a typical' rolo. The usual supports are there EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Tho Man With Two Mothers." starring Mary Amen. Sylvia Breamer and Cullen Landis. which Is now at Everybody s, is the story of a man who i? brought rrom the country" to the palatial homo or an aunt in Sew York. He brings his old mother with him. but. tho haughty aunt will not admit hor. How the son meets the position with the alrl of a beautiful girl, the exciting adventures which follow, and the ultimate betrothal of tho man and girl, i= tho story which thp picture reflects. Tte usual items of support are featured. I

QUEEN'S THEATRE. "Conrad in Quest of His Youth." starring Thomas Meighan. is the main item on the nueen's programme this week. An additional drama is "The Sin or Martha Oneed," while a Mack Sennett comedy. "£lie Sighed by the Seaside," starring the cross-eyed Ben Turpin, completes an attractive programme. # •• QUARANTINE." That Aucklanders appreciate high-clas? comedy dramas they manifested by the manner in which they patronised the plays recently staged here by Miss Gertrude Elliott, and it is not surprising that considerable interest is being taken in the reappearance here of the brilliant and eminent London actor Mr. Lawrence Grossmith in the very successful play "Quarantine, which recently created a sensation in Sydney, and wliich last year proved one or the outstanding triumphs of the English stage. "Quarantine" was described by a southern critic as a charming production, which on occasions becomes quite tragic. The 'flrst act Is intensely interesting, and as the comedy proceeds situation after situation arises, keeping the audience in a constant state of expectation Tor the -worst to happen. That it does not happen, but is always avoided, lends "Quarantine" much of its pleasant suspense, and at the same time its rich humour. Dealing with lire upon an Atlantic liner, the author, F. Tennyson Jesse, displays more than a passing acquaintance with the whims and rpibles or Humanity as reflected in the little company which constitute the world on board an ocean-going teamer. Owing: to the brevity of the season only four representations can be staged or "Quarantine," as during the season will also be revived "The Silver Fox" and "Ambrose Appiejohn's Adventures." The box plans will be opened at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd., on Monday, January 38. MADAME LIPKOVSKA. Madame Linkovska, the distinguished Russian prima donna, who so completely captured Auckland music-lovers at her flrst concert on Thursday night, will give her second concert to-night in the Town Hall, when a popular programme will be presented. A feature or the" programme will be a group or old English songs, sung in an Early Victorian costcme, including "Long, iLong Ago" (T. H. Bayly), "Sarabande" (arranged by Phillips). "'Twas April" (.Nevin), and "When I Was Seventeen." In a Russian costuirre Lipkovska will sing "Vision" (Arensky), "Pretty Maiden" (Dargomijsky), "The Islet" <Rachmaninoff). j "The Snownakes" (Gretchaninoff). Other items include the "Jewel Song" from "Faust," "Song: of Gruzia" (Rachmaninoff), "Solveig's Song-" (Grieg), "Sadness" (Chopin), and Valse from "Coppelia." The third concert will take place on Tuesday. Mr. GravestocK announces that, cwinff to the Town Hall being: required on Thursday ' nig-ht for a reception to the Prime Minister, the fourth concert will be given nest Saturday night. " TUT-ANKH-AMEN." "Tut-ankh-amen." the "lyrical echo of ancient Egypt," which the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society presented m September last, and which was described as being , on a level with many professional performances that have been witnessed here, is, at the request of the War Memorial Commtttee, being repeated for five night, commencing January 24. The original cast will fee featured, and improvements on ail its original mag-nlfleence are promised. This, together with the noble cause for wliien tlie play is being- staged, should ensure "Tut-ankh-amen" a greater succese even than on past occasions. AMUSEMENTS GUIDE. opera house— George Wallace's Revue ana Vaudeville. CONCERT CHAMBER (TOWN HALL)— . Humphrey Bishop Comedy Company. PICTURE THEATRES. NATIONAL —Long Tack Sam, and all-star cast in "Broken Chains." HIPPODROME—Roy Stewart in "The Love Brand," and Gladys Walton in "The I'ntameaDie." STRAND—RaIph Lewis and Johnny Walker in "The Third Alarm," and Miss Alice Wilkinson. LYRlC —Thomas Meighan and Llla Lee in "Homeward Bound." TIVOLI —Wallace Beery and John Bowers in "Richard the Lion-hearted." PRINCESS —Percy Marmont in "ir Winter Comes." EVERYBODY'S—Mary Alden and Cullen Landis in "The Man witb Two Mothers." QUEEN'S —Thomas Meighan in "Conrad In Quest or His Youth," and "The Sin Of Martha Queed." GRAND—Hope Hampton in "Lovp's Penally," # " " ' — CAPITOL —Mary PhilMn in "Merry-Go-Round." BROADWAY —AII-star cast in "Ebb Tide." EMPRESS—"The Woman Who Fooled HerI self." lARCADCA —Elsie Ferguson in "Tne OutI cast." WEST END—Jacinc Coogan in "Oliver Twist."