AMUSEMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 303, 23 December 1941, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

"CABOLIXA MOOX" ROXY Gene Gene Autry Prog Smiley Burnette Caroline June 'Storey Patsy Mary Lee Stanhope . Eddy Waller Wheeler Ha r die Albright Director: Frank McDonald (Republic). Also: "HANDS ACROSS THE ROCKIES " with Bill 'Elliott. As tuneful, entertaining and packed with action as ever, "Carolina Moon." starring Gene Autry, whose admirers have elevated him to the position of Public Cowboy No. 1, came to the Roxv Theatre to-day as top billing in the theatre s new all-Western programme The picture will also film at the Tivoli Theatre from to-morrow onward. Aided and abetted by Smiley Burnette, his genial comedy pal, and the charming June Storey, Gene gives one of his most outstanding performances to date, one which will not only retain his legion of admirers, but win him many more. His adventures as a rodeo worker take him into the deep South where he meets Miss Caroline Stanhope, a genuine Southern lass who is in a predicament occasioned by a mortgage on the family home. Her father, letting his impetuosity, overcome his discretion, has contracted gambling debts with a gang of city crooks and paid them off with Betsy, a valuable horse. Gene, arriving on the scene, pays off the crooks and takes the horse. Caroline believes he is in league with the crooks and out to cheat her father. So she packs the horse in a trailer and ups and runs away with it. Gene, needless to say, will not permit any girl—even a beautiful Southern one—to make off with a horse he has just paid a thousand dollars for, so he pursues her and the complications that ensue make for a most exciting and thrilling film. June Storey is charming as Caroline and Srtulfey Burnette contributes one of his perennially ■popular comedy portrayals. Mary Lee moppet songbird, puts over two song hits in fine style. „ Als° screening is another of the "Wild Bill Hickok" series, "Hands Across the Rockies," starring, as usual. Bill Elliott, who has made such a success of the main role in previous films. "ALADDIN" OPENING A specially selected combination of British Empire artists, including notable comedians, specialty stars, singers, dancers, acrobats, pantomimist s and a brilliant ballet—not forgetting a host of outstandingly clever "moppets"—are to give the premiere presentation of J. C. Williamson's pantomime "Aladdin" on Friday. The outstanding magician, the Great Levante, who has not yet been forgotten in Auckland, has the rich role of Abanazar, the wicked magician, heading a cast of 100 talented players. The management has gone to great lengths to provide audiences with something out of the usual and several novelty turns never before witnessed in Auckland are included on the programme.

A special preliminary performance is being held on Wednesday at 2 p.m. for the orphan children of Auckland and tho inmates of benevolent homes.