ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1009, 27 December 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

-: » V ■ THEATRE ROYAL, tj A typical holiday audience attended ,' the Theatre Royal last evening, the auditorium beins< packed. This week's change of programme is a Rood one, and anion.? the newcomers is Mr. Alt'. Holt, who is billed as "America's great- V est impersonator and mimic." He n thoroughly captivated his audience and A had to respond to many recalls. One of ei the features of this turn was Mr. Holt's p whistling. He is a winderful siffleur, a but perhaps his gift of mimicing the cry si of any living animal, bo it biped or ,p quadruped, is greater. , Last night The t; Two Rosebuds made their reappearance, b and were, as well received ns on former p occasions. .Martinetti and Grossi still e delight audiences with their musical 1 items on all manner of articles, from bi- a cycle parts to large palms growing in s pots on the stage. The comedy ■ part of e the business is well done, also. Another established favourite is Miss Nada Moret. Others who. go to make up a first-clast programme are \Messrs. Bob Harper, Tim , Howard, Misses Jessie lee, Lilly -loftus, and the "SeylFer Twins." "The Flyin» i Pedros," aerial gymnasts, who executed J some very clever acrobatic tricks. The I same programme will be repeated to- , night and following evenings. . ' HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE, f Holiday-makers .who finished \thcir c day's enjoyment at His Majesty's Theatre j last evening were ' rewarded ■by■ an ex- ( cellent programme of pictures, screened t by Messrs. l'uller and Sons. Tho pictures ( were well selected, and tho audience j showed its recognition of tho fact by t hearty applause. Some time before tho j performance began the house was full, , and would-be patrons had to be refused ' adinfssion. Ono of the best of the pic- j tures of the evening was entitled -"The , Herring Harvest at Yarmouth." This " screening, first showed the herring fleet rolling home in a moderate seaway, and then outlined the scene at tho quayside, where discharging was in full swing. 1 Thence tho whole routine of tho herring * industry including, cleaning, salftng, and ' packing—in fact up to the. tim 0 tho < palatablo fish is 6"n the breakfast • table—was shown. Another capital pic- { ture with a strong dramatic flavour was ! ono giving a glimpse '61 the lilo ot a woll-dressed thV.ef and his depraved associates. The leader of the gang worms his I way into society, where lie meets an ; hoiress whom,he hypnotises and attempts j to force into marriage. The scheme of ' the thief is upset by a female member ' of tho gang, who gives information to ' the relatives of the heiress, in return for a good turn previously done ,her by • one of tho party. The finale is a stirring ; struggle between tho po'.liee and the gang . of desperadoes in the headquarters of ' tho latter, the-result being ■.the' capture of the leader and the rescue of tho heiress. "An Indian Girl's Love" is. a. touching '. story of tho love of an Indian girl lor her white- protector. In "Bee Hunting", an idea is given'of an internsHit l : nv.d exciljing industry. "Hearts of Oak" was ' '. a stirring naval picture which appealed ' , to the patriotism ■; : :e ~. ■■:, i . tho comic side, "Winning a "Widow," a ' ] comedy in which Air. Utorgeuiwsmitii and Miss Jean Alwyn are the actors, and "Tho 'Sleepwalker," were easily '.tho best. A matinee performance is to lio [Viven every day this week, and on Thurs- < day evening a special new picture repre- ' senting Buffalo-Bill's Wild West- Show > will be screened. ' THE KING'S THEATHE. A veritable Christmas feast of picture . was given at the King's Theatre jester- j day, and the management-reaped accord-- - ing to tho offering. In the alternoon a i special holiday matinee was provided, and in the evening an entirely new series of , Christmas pictures was pui.ionvard. Some '; time before the performance began the ' house was full, and orders had to-ho given i to: cease selling further tickets. The new programme is right up to tho highest . standard set by the management, and two - of' tho pictures are remarkably tine ones, i The first is a seasonable screening, -en- ( titled "Christmas from the Birth (if .Christ to the 2iil:i Century." Some beautiful colour.-effects are produced"iu'ii',is.'-pi'ciui!e. - The other picture is "Somiramis," another colour work of special merit, and abounding in strongly ' dramatic situn- . tions'.' Another dramatic screening which appealed the house was "An lndiaii : Girls' Romance," which is the story of : an Indian girl's .love for a white prospector, who lias stood between the girl's. ' father and another Indian in a deal by which the girl was to bo given against her will to another Indian in exchange for a horse and other goods. Scenes in Jersey show tho charm of this island. I'irst the spectator is given a- general view of the channel, and then the famous Jersey cattle, Mount Orgeuil Castle, Covtierc Lighthouse, a beacon oh a treacherous coast, and a number of general views. "A Summer Tragedy" suggests something serious, but tho unwinding of tho' story is distinctly humorous. Two young people of | opposite sex decide to go to a fashionable seaside hotel. Ono is a bartender, and the other a waitress, and each decides to pose as a person of means. Each, attracted by the alleged prospects of the other, is carried away, and an engagement is entered into. The . "tragedy" portion of tho story was in the parties finding out eventually the exact ; social

position of each other. Other good comics aro also shown. A special matinee performance is announced for this afternoon. STAR PICTURES. ' The Star Pictures, are still showing. to good business at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, and this happy state of things' has been accentuated by the holiday season. The prices are popular, ones, and the programme good. QUEEN'S PICTURES. A very fine Christmas programme was exhibited to a good liouso at Victoria Hall, Newtown, on Saturday evening, and will be repeated this evening. A grand matinee will be held at-'2.30 to-day. "PICTURESQUE SYDNEY." During the currency of each programme of films in which tho two scries of "Picturesque Sydney" pictures wero shown by Messrs. Fuller'at his Majesty's, hundreds of people were unable to obtain admission, so, in order to comply .with the wishes of numerous would-be patrons, and not wishing to' break the rule-of "no repeats" at their permanent picture-house, the management decided to include both series in tho entertainment at. tho Town Hall to-night. The films are as near perfection as anything that has been screened here, and, take forty minutes to whirl the spectator round Sydney and its .environments. Every.. ; placo. of t ..u-torest is visited. The films in-

eluded in tho programme' fire: "La.- r trosso Goes to a -Ball," "Scene; in tho Far East," "The Elopement," "First Love is Best," "fortune's Fool," "Flower of tho Ranch," "A Trip L'p Mont Blanc," Ellison's "Mule Driver." • Wood's orchestra will play the incidental music. ATHLETIC PARK. { All arrangements are now complete for 1 West's Pictures, Ltd.'s, special entertain- . ment of fireworks and pictures at the Athletic Park this evening. . A special 1 electrical plant has been installed for < picture projection and lighting tho Park, } and,, at the trials, everything worked !j smoothly. The picture portion of the ] programme contains novelties, to suit all 5 tastes, those having been specially selected ; by the management. The fireworks (lis- ] play is- in charge of an expert, who Ims 1 everything in readiness for to r night. The Tramways Band will supply the music, ; anil, given a lino night, young and old : should be able to. spend an enjoyable j evening, . , KARORI GARDENS. J Many people ' who did not desire to ! travel far afield in their holiday quest spent a pleasant open-ai" day yesterday in the Karori Gardens. These grounds are conveniently placed within easy reach of the tram terminus, and their area, by careful cultivation, has been formed into a very agreeable range of pleasure-grounds. Among the attractions of the place may be named water-lily ■ ponds, tenuis and croquet lawns, and swings for the juveniles. Th addition, all the conveniences that picnickers require are provided by tho proprietors. Yesterday these various attractions induced many holidaymakers, old and young, to pay a visit to the gardens, and they appeared unanimously well satisfied with the fashion in which their' holiday' had feen spent. The Karori Gardens are no?. - open to the public every day, and subject to a small charge for admission. WONDERLAND. Wonderland resounded with joyous peals of laughter all day yesterday when several hundred juveniles abandoned themselves fo a rollicking day's pleasure amidst the numerous attractions at the Miramar pleasure resort. The adults also throw care to tho winds for the time being and entered whole-heartedly into the pleasure of the moment. Tho fact that tho side-shows were free naturally led to a roaring business all round. The boats on the water-chute were loaded tin as fast as the busy attendants co-diii get them up to the top of tho incline and down the boats came, one after another, each laden with a lianpy, shrieking complement of merrymakers. The toboggan likewise was in great demand; also the 'Katzenjamnrer Castlo and helter-skelter. The miniature railway train puffed in and out of the Wonderland Station with crowds of merry juvenile trippers. The more serious minded found joy in the beautifully-arranged little fernery which was visited and admired by several hundred people in the gardens. Refreshments and afternoon "tea were obtainable in the grounds and the picnic parties wero supplied with hot water free of cost. The same attractions wliich were so thoroughly enjoyed yesterday will be offering to the public again to-day. ORGAN RECITAL AND CONCERT. Concerning the organ recital and ■ concert at th-i Town Ilall last night, when the names of participants are mentioned rt is.unnecessary to add any compliments. Tiio chief part of the programme was occupied by the citv organist (Mr. Maughnn Barnett) and "the other contributors wove Mr. John Pronso (vocalist) and Mr. J. 11. Clark (elocutionist). The organ'selections comprised the "Mareho Triomnhalc" (Lommens). "Idvl" (Rheinbergor), Mr. Maughan. Harriett's fantasio on the well-known hymn tunc "Mendelssohn." "Pastorale" and "Andanvino" (Lemare), "Toccatn from the Fifth organ symphony (Widor), Storm Faniaisie" .(.Woly), and ."Overture to Zanipa" (TTcrold). Frouso's soles we're "Na?aroth" (Gounod) -and "The Harbour Bay" (Molloyi. Mr. Clark recited "Christmas at Sea" and "The Volunteer Organist." There was a large attendance. ..,/' h , ri MA?ON : 'S GARDENS. There are few more, delightful spots in which to spend a day of leisure, when weather conditions arc agreeable, than Mason's Gardens at Taita... Yesterday, many picnic parties, large and small, resorted to this pleasant retreat, and in the event had every reason to be satis-' tied .with the manner in which they had chosen to spend the holiday. The management had done everything pos- , sible to meet the needs and" study the comfort of visitors, and this, combined, with the influence of beautiful surroundings and perfect weather, enabled alt concerned to spend a most enjoyable day. • BELLEVUE GARDENS. The well-known ißellerue Gardens at Lower Hutt have long been a popular resort with Wellington - holiday-makers, and yesterday sustained their reputation by attracting 11 big crowd of visitors. The material needs of visitors were well catered for and they found ample scope for enjoyment in viewing the beautiful trees and shrubs and carefully-tended flower-plots in which the gardens abound. [ Selections played by a string baud, which was in attendance •> throughout the day, . added to the enjoyment .of the occa-

sion. Hie band will again lie in attendance to-day and on New Year's Da v. A frequent train service facilitates 'a V1 ?, 1 , t *?. tne 'gardens, and buses connect' with all trains. .