PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19175, 16 February 1926, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

G&TAGOH It is evident that a great, future is before the phonofilms, which are being demonstrated nightly at the Octagon Theatre. These dims, actual talking pictures, are the invention of Dr Lee De, Forest, an eminent American .scientist. After fourteen years experimenting Dr Forest at last discovered a way to photograph action and sound simultaneously, with the result that the film is made audible. They are given almost human speech. True, the voices and music are not very clear, but the first stop has been taken towards success. The phonofilms include 1 Opera Versus Jazz,’ 1 Cohen on the Telephone,' an Egyptian dance, a talk with De Forest, and ‘ A Little Bit of Nonsense,’ in which a. piano and banjo demonstrate the musical possibilities of the invention.

A first-class supporting programme is also shown. Dorothy Devore, Walter Heirs, Tally Marshall, and Jimmie Adams are included in the big cast of 1 Hold Your Breath,’ n really laughable picture. Miss Devore appears as a young girl working on a newspaper. She has many thrilling experiences while trying to get a. story for her paper, including a climb up the side of a skyscraper. A comedy and gazette are among tlm supports, ami the Octagon Concert Orchestra is responsible for the musical accompaniments. EMPIRE ‘ Kings of the Turf,’ a racing picture, is tlie main film offering on the screen at the Empire Theatre. It is the auto biography of a royally-bred filly, and tome of the greatest thoroughbreds Jji the world play leading roles. The horses included are Fair Play, Man-o’-War, Negofol, Virginia’s .Future, The Finn, and Morvich, each playing him or herself. Among the human actors are Henry B. Walthall, J. Farrell MacDonald, and Gertrude Astor. It w difficult to choose any one incident iu the picture and mark it out as the best. Eaeh .sequence is a little thrill in itself, bo it a racing scene or part of the main romance, which is shown against the glamor of the turf. Under the direction of Mr Uhas. Parnell the Empire Select, Orchestra, plays a programme of incidental music. EVERYBODY’S Jackie Coogan, the world’s juvenile laughter-maker, is at present appearing at Everybody’s Theatre in ‘Little Robinson Crusoe,’ which is the attraction. Jackie as the juvenile counterpart of the hero of Daniel Defoe’s hook, ‘ Robinson Crusoe,’ has a glorious time in his latest role. Also showing is ‘ Old Home Week,’ a story of a hoy who left homo to make his fortune. QUEEN'S AND KING EDWARD The thrilling story of two outcasts from society is (old in ‘The Halfway Girl,’ now showing at (he Queen’s and King Edward Theatres. A strong cast is headed by Doris' Kenyon and Lloyd Hughes. In an Eastern setting u gripping story is told. There are good supports. PLAZA AND GRAND All of the thrills and excitement et a newspaper office are depicted in. ‘The Fighting Cub,’ now being screened at the Grand and Plaza Theatres. 'J he cast includes Wesley Harry, Pat O'Malley, Mary Carr, and Mildred Harris. The .supports are varied and interesting.