AMUSEMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 15066, 24 December 1912, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

HAYWARDS' NEW FILM. A pleasure almost unique is in store for the picture patrons who did not see the first revelation at Haywards' Octagon .ILJI last night of the extraordinary series of kinematograph subjects obtained by the camera upon the Alaska-Siberian expedition. Here, within 18deg of the Pole, amid the silence of great cold wastes and steel blue distances, man has intruded with his lust for money, for adventure, and for slaughter. The most astonishing feature of the subject was that showing the expedition's encounters with the great Polar bear. They were seen first in the distance—white tilings standing outlined a moment against a livid sky, and then fading eerily away. Closer now, so close that one could see th-i great swinging muzzles sniffing at the iniruders" And then followed a tceie swift and tragic. The shadow of a camera in the kit jonic-r of the picture fell upon the snow; from the right corner stealthily crept a dark figure, gun in hand, and at the close distance ot 50ft, tin heavy slugs tearing thenway through the vitals with a concussion never dreamed of a few years age, laid the three blinking monsters kiciung in the snow, before the sullen powder shrouded the scene; and, when it cleared, the level waste was without movement'. It was a striking epitome of the wen-ess of man, and of his primitive lust" for slaughter. Tlw lighter side of the adventure was shown in the gambolling of the ■bof.is in the water, and nothing quite so good has been seen as the portion shownig how the bear dives and swims under water. He looked ior all the woi-ld like a drowned kitten in a bucket of water, tins new subject obtained by the Haywards is a splendid education, and presents one of the finest attractions we have seen. It is not the onlv one. Comedies, dramas, and topical subjects are all new and first-rate, and the work of the orchestra merits a-special word, particularly the cot net solo of the entr'acte. There will be a sacred matinee to-morrow, and another matinee on Boxing Day. The showis open also every evening. FULLERS' PICTURES. It has been agreeably demonstrated at the Princess Theatre during the past few weeks that the entertainment each evening is something more than a displav of moving pictures. The musical proin-amme by the augumented orchestra adds to the pleasure consistently gained bv patrons. Mr Martinelh appears to be enthusiastic, and provides variety without weakening eflect. ■ Each picture seems to be in step, as it were, with the music, and the audience exercise two senses simultaneouslv. -the new series of films last night went very well with the musical programme, -the list contains a generous variety of cinematographic subjects, and spectators, •in addition to enjoying comedies and light dramas have a peep at many lands. ine first trip in imagination is taken from Oetinje to Rieka. The way lies among mountains and lakes and stone-built towns and villages. Another fine scenic film is A Visit to Dantzig.' The city is shown to the best advantage, the mail with the camera having been a wise judge. (Occasionally cinematographic ' camera-men at i i tlle worst feat "res of cities.) Most of the dramas are of the American open-air kind, which never fail to pleas-. If the story happens to be poor the scenery is -sure to be charming. It is rather amusing, however, to notice, how the American pictorial "dramatists" hang about saloons. The happiest comedy in the new series is ' Broncho Billv's Christmas Dinner.' Broncho Billy is' a sort of JJick Turpm, and although he was killed right out last week, he seems in good torm for Christmas dinner. He earns it, too. A pretty girl returns home for Christmas, travelling by mail coach. Durthe journey the driver and escort call at a wayside saloon to wish the landlord and the boys a merry Christmar. The toys are merry, and their nonsense, including the firing of their guns, startles the mail-coach horses, which bolt. The girl is in charge of them, but her strength is wholly unequal to the task of holding them. Broncho Billy, who had intended to stick up the coach, gallops to the rescue. He leaps from his galloping horse to the box of the coach, and soon stops the runaway team. The girls faints for a moment or two, but recovers before Billv (srr G. Anderson) takes his departure, and invites him home for Christmas dinner. ■ He accepts the invitation, and receives a bit of a shock when he discovers | that her father is sheriff. . He is equal to the occasion, and dines with the parson on his right hand. ' Pathe's Gazette' is a good' edition;. «A Girl's Bravery' and 'Friends' are interesting films. The rest of the programme is up to the standard. ughe same, series ,will be showu.lo-night...

KING'S THEATRE. Continuous pictures between the hours of 7.30 and 10.30 in the evening have " caught on" at the King's Theatre, judging by the number of people who attend this popular picture house. During the hours mentioned some thirteen pictusmaes' screened, and a capable orchestra supply, appropriate music. Last evening the management presented an entirely new programme, the star film being Dion Boucicault's famous Irish drama 'The Colleen Bawn.' The story is faithfully retold and well acted. It is too well knowa to require repeating here. All the characters have been entrusted to actors and actresses who fill their parts in a most capable manner, while special attention has been paid to the scenic effects. The story of the Irish peasant girl's devoted love for the aristocratically-born Hardxess: Cregan and the sufferings and triala it brings in its train kept last night's audience closely interested The programme is particularly strong in I dramatic films. 'Lady of the Camellias'l is another trump card, the part of Mar--iguerite finding a very capable exponent inthe lady artist filling that, role. 'The' College Girl' and 'The S£one of Scone* 1 are two others of exceptional merit. Two interesting pictures are 'The Life of the' Honey Bee' and 'Life in an Aquarium.*: In the scenic and travel class there.; is 'Motoring Over Ben Nevis' and 'ln': Morocco '—two pictures that cannot fail to■< please and interest most people. The pro- '■ gramme also includes 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin' (a picture story) and 'Paper; Cutting' (a novelty picture). The comics,: as usual, are all most amusing. They in-', elude 'Married in Haste,' "The Note in the Orange,' and 'The Motor Chair.' The; programme, as will be seen, is a lengthy and varied one. It will be repeated tonight. Matinees will be given to-: morrow and on Thursday (Boxing-' Day). A special programme of sacred, educational, travel, and dramatic will be presented to-morrow evening. '. NEW QUEEN'S THEATRE. One of the best subjects disclosed at tb» New Queen's Theatre is ' The Rhine' (from Cologne to Bingen), a Paths film in colors, i The programme drew big business throughout the day. To-morrow there will be a specially chosen programme suitable to th» occasion, and on Thursday the third change of the week takes place. THE CRIMSON RAMBLERS. It lias been decided to inaugurate tha vaudeville season at His Majesty's by giving a matinee performance on the after-' noon-of Thursday (Boxing Day) at 2.30 o'clock. Much interest is being shown in< the Approaching visit of Bletcoe's Crimsoni Ka-nblors, which troupe constitute the head-line attraction. They come with a big reputation as purveyors of refined and high-class comedy. Their entertainment is replete with new and sparkling "business," and their songs and concerted numbers are said to be in a class apart. Tha second half of the programme is an excep-i tionally strong one, and will be contributed to by_ " The Five Olracs " (a wonderful team'of Contins.rVil acrobats, who pre-' sei.t an irresistibly funny sketch entitled- ' Fun in a Drawing Room') and Bessie. Slaughter (the queen ot vaudevil'e oontral-j tos, and said to be the only true contralto] in vaudeville). Other artiste new to Dun-] edin are Victoria Cross (a talented low-; comedy ' Scotchodiemr© "). Leonard Nelson-; (the world-remetr.bcred and favorite actor.' vocalist), and Lieutenant Stoff (ventrilo-j quist). Children will be admitted to the.' matinee for half-price, which has been; fixed at the moderate figuie of 3s, 2s, and." Is. The box plan is at the Dresden.

'NEWBURY CHRISTMAS NIGHT • CONCERT. At this festival concert, to be given in the Garrison Hall to-morrow evening, Madame Spada and Mr Philip Newbury will be heard in the 'Miserere,' from thoi church scene in ' 11 Trovatore,' with organ and chorus. Mr Newbury will sing selections from ' The Messiah,' ' The Holy City,' 'Where'er You Walk,' 'The Message,' and popular selections, including Adams's Christmas song ' Noel.' Mr - . Newbury will be assisted by Mrs R. A. 1 Power, Miss Lizzie M'Laren, Miss Violet 1 Myers, Mrs John Gilchrist, and the new soprano Miss Madge Hopkins. The doors, will be opened at 7.15, and as this may bos the last appearance of Mr Philip Newbury, who shortly leaves for a concert tour in America, a crowded house is anti-' cipated. » BLUEJACKETS'. CONCERT. After turning out yesterday morning; i at 5.50 for the purpose of " coaling,! ship," which duty lasted till late in the j afternoon, a party of bluejackets and I marines belonging to H.M.S. Cambrian [ ungrudgingly and cheerfully presented ! themselves last night at the Early Settlers' Hall to give an entertainment, the pro-tj c-eeds of which are to be devoted to the j Christ-mas for poor and sick children J of Dunedin. There was a large attendance'| of the public, including His Worship the..' Mayor (Mr J. Wilson) and several other ■ prominent citizens. Captain J. E. Drum-; mond and his officers were also in attend-.*! anee. All through the proceedings were; of a very pleasing nature, and it was quitoo evident'that each Jack Tar whose nameappeared on the programme was bent on' displaying to the best of his ability his! powers to entertain. On every occasion* there was a demand by the audience foe a recall, but, owing to the lengthy pro-' gramme, these, with the exception of one--, or two, had to be refused. During thai interval the Mayor took the opportunity of thanking Captain Drummond and M&men for so generously giving their ser-. ; . vices that night, and also announced that"; the sum of £l7 9s was collected at the; door. This, with the Government subsidy j of £2O 18s 6d, would bring the total to! £SB 7s 6d. This amount would be handed I over to the Hospital and Charitable Aidj Board. He further mentioned that thanks' l ' were due to Sir James Mills, Messrs T.I W. Kempthorne, P. R. Sargood, G. j Ritcliie, A. Moritzson, JMiss Williams, the! Dunedin Jockey Club, Messrs A. and T.' Inglis,. G. and T. Young, C Bogg and' Co., Hallenstchi Bros., J. Speight and! Co., Herbert, Haynes, and Co., and J. i Wilkie and Co. for sending subscriptions.; to defray expenses contingent on advertis-1 inn;, printing, rent of hall, etc. Then; His Worship called for three cheers, and I the audience responded very heartily.; The first portion of the programme com-'-prised a. selection, Victoria,' by a band of 20 performers, and comic songs -by J.; Gibson (leading seaman), J. Hall (A.8.), : , A. Windle (private R.M.L.1.). W. Jeffrey: (leading seaman) contributed a ballad, and W. Warden (signalman) and A. Doyle! (A.8.) a vocal duet. W. Beran (private H.M.L.1.) gave a very good exhibition of Indian club swinging, while J. Loughs (A.8.) rendered a saxophone eolo in, a very capable manner. A sketch, entitled 'Would-be Actors,' in which fourmembers of the party were engaged, terminated the first half. After the interval W. A. Johnson (pettv officer first class), J. Wilson (stoker), W. Jeffrev (leading seaman), A. Smith (private R.M'.L.L), and J. Gibson (leading eeaman) amused the audience with comic songs, and descriptivevocal solos were sung by J. O'Mahoney (leading stoker) and C. Clark (A.8.). A..Mobbs (A.8.) danced a sailor's hornpipe, and Sergeant A. Wright <R.M.L.L) and' C. Branch (leading seaman) played a mandolin duet very effectively. A recitation was also given by G. Bennett (A.8.). Chief Engine-Toom Artificer H. Vinson R.V, conducted the band, while Miss L. M'Laren made a very efficient accompanist, • A word of praise is due to the organiser? of the concert, Mr G. N. G. Arber, whose; efforts assisted greatly in making the entertainment a signal succcse.