AMUSEMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 August 1925, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. “On Time,” which is. being shown at the Opera House to-night, is full of swift, melodramatic action and highly coloured farce, giving one of the most laughable and joyful of entertainments. Richard Talmadge, who performs death-defying stunts as easily as the ordinary person combing his hair. The story deals with the highly imaginative adventures of an ambitious young man seeking success. ■ His ebony-hued valet, Casanova Clay, is played in a distinctly' humorous tone by Tom Wilson.' Through a very unusual twist in the story it is not until the very last scenes after many thrilling adventures, that the hero finally reaches success. The supporting pictures include a new chapter of “The Ghost-City.'” , SUNDAY’S PICTURE BENEFIT.

Made by the same man as the “Sheik,” “Burning Sands,” “Salomy Jane,” and the “Light that Failed,” the nepct George Melford picture will be something different. This is a melodramatic thriller, and features an exceptionally. well, balanced cast. In the cast are Jacqueline Logan, Antonio Moreno and Walter Hiers. It is a smashing melodrama with a romance that grips,.,Woven among the thrills. This wonderful Paramount feature will be shown at the Sunday night' picture benefit. , Coming Monday; apd Tuesday to the Opera House is Betty Balfour in her latest success, “Mold Em’ly.” For entpriainment of a thrilling nature—and laughs that come straight from the heart—and a love story clean as a backgrounds new as tomorrow’s sun —see “Mord Em’ly,” the fascinating story of a little Cockney girl, ..who butted her way from slavery to fame. Betty Balfour, England’s Mary Pickford, plays the part of the Cockney servant. She is so splendid as “Mord Em’ly’ ’that it ranks with her,, impersonation of Squibs. “Mord Em’ly” is a clean, healthy comedy.

PARAMOUNT PICTURES. Fifth Annual Paramppnt Week will bo celebrated throughout New Zealand from August 31 to September 5. “Paramount Week” is a season which has been instituted throughout the world with the object of stimulating the moving picture busines generally. It is a movement .which has now assumed \lafgo proportions, and is being taken up wholeheartedly by exhibitors in theii' own individual interests. Fifth

Annual Paramount Week will be this year iniPQftant event in the destiny of “movies” in New Zealand. A notable feature of Paramount Week will be a competition for exhibitors, for the best enterprise shown during this week. A sum of £250 'n cash prizes will be distributed in the various classes of theatres. In addition, there will be a Paramount Week Exploitation Shield valued at one hundred guineas. This shield will be a fine sanjple of solid silver, beaten gold, and enamel work ,and will be fitted

and mounted in an air-tight glass case. The Shield will travel each year at the expense of the Paramount Company from the relinquishing theatre to the new winner. Behind this the movement will be suported by a big newspaper campaign, in which all the leading New Zealand dailies will take part. The scheme is one upon which Paramount Pictures has been complimented, and exhibitors throughout the country are advised to avail themselves of eevry opportunity that is presented to their own interests, and in the interest of the picture business generally. A further announcement has recently been made in regard to future Paramount products, and it is fully anticipated that their next line-up of pic-

tures will be greater than the present year, which includes such productions as “The Ten Comandments,” “Monsieur Beaucaire,” “The Border Legion,” “North of ’36,” and other such productions. The near future will bring us “Peter Pan,” “The Thundering Herd,” “Madame Sans Gene,” and a number of others, details of which will be announced later. Paramount Week will be celebrated

locally in the Operq .House. A Paramount Picture “Flaming Barriers” will be exhibited- at the Opera House to-morrow night, and will be followed on Monday week by one of Rex Beach’s fine stones “Big Brother. ’ ’ UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT. Mr P. L. Davies, the eminent Christchurch elocutionist and. entertainer, assisted by. Miss Olga Wackea, a pleasing contralto, provided a unique programme, when he made his first appearance, at the Town Hall last evening. It was evident fiijin the l outset, that Mr Davies had a strong

leaning to dramatic recital, which is almost a lost art in the elocutionist of the present day. Mr Davies made judicious use of appropriate gesturea difficult; undertaking for most elocutionists. Opening witKa recital entitled “The Miner’s Revenge.” he followed with a character recital ‘ Across the Bridge,” in which he gave some clever sketches, and, for an encore, the laughable “Kitty O’Toole.” Later, lie..,gave a, dramatic reading of “The Bells,” “Christmas Day in the Workhouse,” and the clever humorous i®cital ‘.‘Snorkins. ” For .an encore “By tlie Y’ukon Trail” was given. In the

second part of the programme, Mr Davies presented a uramatic recital entitled “The Fireman’s Wedding,” a humorous story “How the i Admiral Died,” the evergreen “Oh! Memory, and Bracken’s poem “Not Understood.” He also gave a powerful rendering of “Denver’s Dream.” front the “Silver King,” which is one of the gents of melodramtt. in his choice of selections, Mr Davies made a splen-did-study in contrasts, sarrying his hea-rers from dramatic to humorous situations by the merest word or gesture.

Mr Davies was well supported by Miss Olga-Wacked, who, in addition to possessing a pleasing voice and platform. style, presented a good repertoire. Her first song, “Softly Awakes My Heart,” from “Samson and Delilah,” w;ts sung in true oratorical style. For an encore she sang Hill’s “Waiata I’oi.” Later she sang “Angus McDonald.” “Beneath Thy Window,” “A Dainty Little Damosel,” “Stay, Stay at Home,” and. for encores, “You That I Worship.” and “The Rosary.” Miss F. Broad acted as accompanist.