AMUSEMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 12874, 25 July 1906, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

ALHAMBRA TEEATKEL Mdme Titos drew artothfer' packed aadkenoe to the Alhambra Theatre last evening Her dever, refined, and varied work drew upon her the practical approval of all sections of the house. Supporting her are the ; Bernards (musicians), Bernard’s performing dogs, A. L. Oropp, Sam Wilson, Aubrey Douglas, the Scott brothers, Nellie Leslie, the Rowell sisters, Millie Bertoto, Rode Bertoto, Craydon, Barton, and little Jackson, and others. The programme will be repeated this evening. ' DUNEDIN LIED ERTAPEL. At the Choral Hall to-night the Dunedin Liedertafel will celebrate the commencement of its twenty-first years work. This concert (the seventy-fourth) promises to be a musical treat. The part songs to be performed include Mendelssohn’s ‘ Thou comeat here _to the land ’ (double chorus from ‘ CEdipus et Colonos ’I and * A message to Phylhs 5 (one of the South London Musical Club’s prize compositions). The lady soloist is Mrs B. A. Power, and the society’s soloists Messrs J. A. Armstrong,' A. Ibbotson, T. J. Hussey, and E. Eagar. Miss Gertrude Meenan will play Wieniawski’s ‘ Polonaise Brlllante,’ and Messrs Tnnson and Taylor, F.R.G.0., will play Mendelssohn’s ‘Military Overture.’ Subscribers and the public are reminded that extra tickets may be obtained from the hon. secretary or at the doors. HES MAJESTY’S THEATRE. When the theatrical history of the present times comes to be written this will surely be known as the era of the show picture. The number of organisations itoning biographs, cinematographs, krietoscopes, and all the rest of the ktn must be legion. In New Zealand alone there are at least a round dozen of them, and' each one is, of course, the best—the very beet. It is .-t class of entertainment, however, ■winch possesses a variety of attractions, and, moreover, Las an educational quality of especial value to the juvenile portion of a community. But the adult mind is eager also to participate in the relaxations offered by the picture show. It particularly appeals because of its inability to be anything else than purely entertaining. It has not got any chances of becoming offensive or of expressing its sentiments in a manner'likely to shock the susceptibilities. It is safe, and consequently has worked its way into the position of the friend of domesticity and the epitome of innocent amusement. There is an evergreen source of lively anticipation about it. One goes to witiiess the latest exhibition with the firm conviction that ho is going to eee something entirely different to anything which has before come into his experience. Of course, this belief does not always roach realisation point, but one is pleased and satisfied, and that’s the main thing. The latest series of pictures was aho-,-n at His Majesty 3 s Theatre last - evening. There was an excellent attendance, and everybody was heartily appreciative. The views follow* each other with quite shutting rapidity, and the waits between the pictures are very slight; in fact, in a good many cases there are none at all. This result is attained by the manipulation of two machines, so that as soon as one fin kbps tike work of the moment the other takes up the running. The majority of the films shewn are humorous, and some of them are emphatically novel. Another charm about them which must iko be mentioned is their almost entire freedom from the fatal Tl flicker. ” Some of the views presented are astounding in their realism, one remarkable instance being the reproduction of a great lire in Now York. This is a wonderfully long .film, and the incidents portrayed are so striking as to elicit the most sincere and enthusiastic recognition of the audience. The San Francisco pictures are somewhat familiar, as they are with perhaps two exceptions exactly similar to a series quite recently' shown here. That, however, does not detract from their interest. and it must be acknowledged that the ’quake sensation possesses a peculiarly intense attraction., * Coney Island ’ is bound to become one of the most popular of the whole series. A party of schoolgirls, under the chaperonage of their mistress, are seen leaving their college. They enter a motor car, and the spectator is then taken with them on their drive to the celebrated seaside resort. Here their revellings are of a, most diverting character, and create the heartiest of laughter. A picture more on the sober sido'of things is that programmed as ‘ Stolen by Gipsies,’ the subject being the kidnapping of a child and its subset quent restitution to its parents. The subject is most graphically presented, and the scenario is varied and complete. ‘City Ghetto Pish Market, New York,’ and ‘ Fifth Avenue on Easter Monday ’ are marvellous reproductions, while a railway ride over Brooklyn bridge is one of the finest pictures ever shown liere. ‘Stopping a Runaway’ leads up to quite a dramatic, and romantic situation, while ‘An Escape from Sing Sing ’ contains enough sensation to make a melodrama of the most lurid description. Two exceedingly amusing and mirth-provoking pictures were ‘ Fve Lori, My Eyeglasses ’ and ‘ The Dream . of the Rarebit Fiend.’ One could go on quoting subjects almost innumerable, and exhaust a dictionary of adjectives in complimontaiy comment, for the exhibition is bountifully endowed with excellences. Personal, experience is, however, infinitely preferable to mere report, and wc can conscientiously recommend' 1 Edison’s Popular Pictures’ to cur readers- Mr Avalon Collard makes a single appearance during the entertainment, in which he sings ‘ To be continued in our next.’ while some well-selected and excel-lently-arranged music is contributed by a capable orchestra under the direction of Miss Olivo Merton. The pictures ■will l>r>. shown again this evening and during the week, and in addition a matinee performance has been set down for Saturday next. MR BURTON’S LECTURE. Mr A. H. Burton will deliver his lecture ‘ The Spacious Times of Great Elizabeth in the Garrison Hall to-morrow evening. The proceeds will be In aid of the widows and orphans and aged Freemasons’ fund, and His Excellency the Governor, who is Grand Master of Freemasons, will preside. The Grand Master and his officers will enter the hall at eight o’clock, when the Citizens’ Band will play a march. His Excellency is to deliver an address. Of the lecture itself it need only bo said that Mr Burton has been an enthusiastic student of the Elizabethan era, and that the stirring ©vents of that period will receive able and dramatic treatment. At the conclusion of the lecture Mr Burton will deliver a fine passage written by Mr A. Wilson, rector of the Boys’ High School, ‘ Two Dying Queens, Three Centuries Apart,’ At an interval during the evening Mrs R. Hudson, jun., and Mr F. Hendry will contribute vocal selections. Members of the Masonic Order are requested to attend in the full clothing of their respective rinks.

Dalfio the Great will commence a Aott season at the Piinoeas Theatre on Saturday next, introducing the aerial cycle act and many novel illusions.

Arrangements are complete for Mr Sidney Wolf’s concert, at the Garrison Hall to-night. Part, of the front of the gallery has been refitted, and set apart for His Excellency and suite.