PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19275, 14 June 1926, Page 3

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Some of the most beautiful .scenes in ‘The American Venus,’ the Empire Theatre's headliner, were made by the technicolor natural process. Several of the outstanding features of the film, notably, the elaborate fashion show and the artistic tableaux, we.ro photographed entirely in color, and present a brilliant spectacle. The story concerns a beauty contest, staged by a group of artists who are desirous of (hiding a. modern American Venus. A small town girl enters the contest. There is a business motive in her desire to win, for her father is a cold cream manufacturer, on the verge of bankruptcy, and her winning would naturally bring a nation-wide demand for his beauty products. Opposed to her is the financial power and sinister scheming of a rival lotion manufacturer, hut to offset that sho has the help of an enterprising publicity man, who is romantically interested iu her. In the cast are many prominent players. including Esther llnlston, Lawrence Gray, Ford Sterling. Louise Brooks, Edna May Oliver, and Miss America (Fay Lanphier). Delightful music, classical and popular, is rendered by the Empire Select Orchestra, under the direction of Mr Charles Parnell. OCTAGM A story of royalty and revolution, is told in ‘ Confessions of a Queen,’ which is drawing largo audiences to the Octagon Theatre. The tiny kingdom of Illyria, on the shores of the Adriatic, is celebrating a great event. Its king. Christian 11., is about to he married to the beautiful Princess Frcdricka, ■ ol Dalmatia. Among the merrymakers is Sophnra, the guiding brain of a hand of revolutionaries, who 1 are stirring the people to revolt. An heir to the throne is horn, and soon afterwards the revolution breaks out. The king is willing to abdicate, hut the queen stops him for the sake of their son. They trick the guards and escape to Paris. There ho learns of a plot of the revolutionaries to kill him, and, despairing, he goes to meet death cheerfully. The queen discovers liis intention, and hastily follows him, arriving in the nick of time. The revolution is suppressed, and the crown is again offered to Christian. The climax is most unusual. Splendid music is provided by the Octagon Concert Orchestra. PLAZA AND GRAND A wonderful picturisation of a story that took the world by storm is .shown in ‘ Stella Maris,’ at the Plaza and Grand Theatres. Mary Pliilhine docs the best work of her career as Stella, and, supported as she is by a distinguished cast, including Elliott Dexter, Jason Kohards, and Gladys Brockwoll, she gives the picture a poise and depth which place it at the head of many big productions for months past. Also showing is a great comedy-drama entitled ‘ The Paco That Thrills.’ QUEEN'S AND KING EDWARD ‘That Devil Qucmado,’ in which the popular Fred Thomson and his horse. Silver King appear, is the attraction at the Queen’s and King Edward^ Thca- ; ties. This .sparkling story provides ex- 1 (•client comedy and many opportunities for the display of this talented pairs’ t equestrian abilities. Fred Thomson is; cast iu a role that is widely different. | from his previous ones, appearing in , romantic garb ns a Spanish outlaw, i in which capacity ho performs the orthodox exploits, and also lays siege to the hearts of fascinating senoritas. EVERYBODY'S Viola, Dana is the featured player in I (he picture, ‘ In Search of a Thrill ’ at Everybody’s Theatre. She takes the ! part* of a" girl who lives'for thrills, so . she dons the rags of a Parisian apache, and visits the slums, where fihe_ has sonic amazing adventures. In addition, ‘The Golden Princess’ is being shown, ami has Betty Bronson in the loading . role. I