AMUSEMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 May 1925, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

• OPERA HOUSE. •: ?. —/ „ ‘‘Queen of the Moulin Rouge, a Master Picture, will be shown at the matinee’ to-day and again to-night. When the business man was asked, as he was about to sail for Paris, whether ;he was talcing his wife along, he replied Would you take a ham sandwich to a banquet?” His mind was on the, Montmartre—the whirly-girly; 'midnight-to-dawn, champagne-bathed section of gay Paree—-and not on the daylight glories of that most beautiful •ofcities. . The supports include a further episode of “In the Days of Daniel •Boone.”' • Sunday.—/The plain attraction at the Picture benefit oh Sunday is a five reel Paramount film “Salomy Jane.” Mary Pickford.—The enormous attraction on, Monday is Mary Pick- . ford's? latest production, “Dorothy .Vernon of Haddon Hall,” based on the ‘..popular novel of the same name by Charles Major. The book was\one of America's most sensational “best sellers,';’and tlie photoplay is one of the .high’ spot's. In support of Miss Pick. ford is‘a cast which reads like a Blue * Book : .of Screenland, no expense having been spared 'in the selection of players.' Alan Foriest portrays Sir .'John'Manners; Marc MacDermott is - Sir Malcolm Vernon, cousin of Dorothy; Sir .’George Vernon, " father of Dorothy, is ably handled by Anders •Rahdolf; and Wilfred Lucas plays the Earl of Rutland. ' Other celebrities include ’Clare Eames, Estelle Taylor, Courtenay Foote, Mlle. Carrie Daumery, Lottie Pickford Forrest, Malcolm Waite,'< H,oward Gaye, Colin Kenny, .-Erie'’.Mayne, . Jack Fowler, and Olaf . Shavian. Mary Pickford gives her greatest -screen characterisation, for 'this picture offers an appeal to men, women and , children alike, and my patrons will bear me out that it is the rtipfet stupendous picture the star has I .4ver‘ made. , ? \ EDNA'THOMAS. , ■ First among the galaxy of stars tq .visit New Zealand this season is Edna Thomas, the .celebrated mezzo Contralto from New Orleans, whose negro spirituals apd creole melodies have won her > fgihe in three Continents. Few young singers have travelled.the, path to fame as-speedily and surely as the magnetic f ‘liady from Louisiana.” A few years ago 1 she had just finished some years of study at the New York Consbrvatorium of Music, and had decided tq, devote her attention to classic song recitals,'jbiit Destiny intervened, for it/happened that at the critical period iri'-her. career. Edna Thomas attended a recital 'of negro spirituals in New York. ’ To the young Southerner, both the' songs' and their singer were all wrong. She had heard these songs sung by the coloured people on her father’s plantation in New Orleans, 'since her early childhood, and knew just;how they should be sung. It was the' turning point of her career. She resolved to sing the lovely old spiritand. creole melodies to the public j list', as the negroes sang them in the cotton fields of the South in that halcyon period. “Befo’ de war.” The knowledge and love of .the songs, and the rare technique that she brought to tljey singing of ‘them, made her first New York recital an emphatic success followed by an equally briliant season in /London, where she speedily became the'rage,., and is said to have received more, flattering press notices than any Aipbrican artist who has ever appeared'in that city. Press and public alike acclaimed her, and Edna Thomas and her negro spirituals have, become household words in London, New York and’Australia.;; The quaint old. crinoline? that are worn by Miss Thomas at Ker .recitals, and form such an ideal setting for . her Old World loveliness, are copies of those worn by a female ancestor, just as the melodies'that she sings so entrancingly were passed down from the slavery days. Miss Thomas, ■ who, has just concluded phenomenally successful seasons at Wellington; Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill, will appear in. ~the Opera Mouse, Greymouth,, on May 19 and 21, when she will be assisted by Lucile Lawrence, ’ a brilliant young American harpist, and Constance Piper, a pianist of remarkable attainments. Box plan at Webley, Son, and Gofton. The season is under the. direction of E. J. Carroll, the well-known Australian ' entrepreneur, who-is directing the tours of Kreisler, the .violinist,. Pauline Frederick, actress of stage and screen, and.'Sir Harry Lauder. '

.? / . HARRY LAUDER. , Mr E- J. Carroll announces that Harry Lauder, the world’s greatest entertainer, will open for/ two nights a t the .Opera House, on -Monday and Tuesday, May 25 and -26 at 8 p.m. Nothing else is being talked about and the great Scottish entertainer is sure of.a welcome that will make v him feel quite at home. Not only will bur, Scottish friends be in evidence, but everybody who is' l anybody will be there. Sit Harry has just come from the Far East. In-India, China, Japan, British Settlements, and other countries in the East,- vast crowds gathered to hear him everywhere. All records for the theatres he played in were broken and people flocked to hear him from hundreds of miles away- from his playing centres. Apai't from ’the fact that he was singing

'over 12 songs every night, Sir Harry was in great demand as"* an orator, opening new buildings, bazaars, addtessirtg "stock exchange members, hpmely- gatherings of British setters ; there ;ahd. every where.' You will see _4 manyfsided individual when you see. : Harry Lauder on Monday, May 2&^ ; KA^ ; great'artist,'a great pblitici4n'',a ".‘'Statesman, ■ a . patriot, and, above:'.all,' 1 a . loveable, simple, plain, homely man with an intense love fdr his 'fellpw-'ihan/ his native home and ey.drythirig that goes to the making of a< ppbld - nature. .• About, his songs, qh'mdtey. studies; stories, • etc., we wil 1 to say later on. A '-supports Sir - the box plan opens on , j ■' CALEDONIAN INGLESIDE. " ' ■ ' ■ . Ingleside of the Greymqu|b,/Caledonian Society was held laat'\4v6ning» ,when<there was a very l£bge jatt'endancfe, \ including a num/.(visitors from Hokitika and BUckbaji. (The. evening’s programme ■wtestin .the. hands, of Piper Hay. The ?was spent in dancing, with rptisical items . interspersed, the following , contributing, to the prp...Pipers" Hay/and Hodgkiss, selection; /W? "i Kifchingham, violin solo;' 'songs/;. Misses ; C. Tennent, B. Mri' T. Tennent A pleasingA featureof’ this •' season’s pro/js; the revival of Scotch d‘an'cep/.jWith, which a large proporof; the members are becoming Chief, Mr. 0. McLean, annauncied that it was proposed to visit the Hokitika Society next month, also>’that,the next monthly Ingleside would be in the hands of the bachelors. He also took the opportunity. qf formally wishing “good-bye” to- Mr. and Mrs. A, Clark, who leave

Greymouth shortly. During the evening ample refreshments were handed round. DANCE AND EUCHRE. The Ngahere district branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union will hold their anhual ball and euchre ana bridge tournament on Friday, May 22. Special prizes will Ire given. Members of sister branches of the Union are invited. RUNANGA DANCE. The Miners’ Hall, Runanga, was largely attended last evening, when the Rover League Club’s plain and fancy dress ball was held. Although the number of fancy dresses was not great, those Worn showed considerable merit. The prize (manicure set and brush and comb) was awarded' to Misses K, Garvey and R. O’Neill, who appeared as “Dad” and “Mum” attended by their “family.” An excellent supper was provided. Steel’s orchestra provided the latest dance music, extras being played by Mesdames O’Neill and Mclvor, and Mr Havbittle. Mr G. Topp acted as M.C.