ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3265, 8 February 1926, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

WIDTH’S CIRCUS. WirtU'B Circus on Saturday night opened to a capacity house, the tent being filled and a large number of patrons wer e seated on the ground round the circus ring. The programme was a Jong and varied one. the outstanding performances being those of Captain Sett's trained seals and the elephants who were put through their paces by Miss Eileen May, A very creditable acrobatic display of tumbling and somersaulting was given by the Honey Family, and later the Honey Sisters gave a “dental" act, hanging by theJr teeth to a swivel Which was connected to a pulley In the middle of the tent. They wer e pulled up to the top of the tent and performed several acrobatic feats which were loudly applauded' by' the audience. PALACE. “SINNERS IN SILK. 1 ' HE LOVED HIS SON’S FIANCEE. Metro-Goldwyn's “Sinners In Silk" promises great entertainment, and backs It up with a big roster of names that will convince anyone that here Is a picture worth seeing. The names: Hobart Henley as director, and the cast including Adolphe Menjou, Eleanor Boavdman, Conrad Nagel, Jean Hersliolt, Miss du Pont, Virginia Leo Corbin, Jerome Patrick and Edward Connelly. That the promise has been well kept may be seen to-night at the Palace Theatre when the picture Is screend. It Is an interesting story Of a .girl loved by a father and his son though the relationship is not known to them at tjie lime, One wins her, but not before eho has been taught a severe, yet well-merited lesson. Many deft touches of, humour pleasingly relieve the mor e dramatic momenta of the story. An excellent supporting programme includes'Fathe Gazette, a New Zealand Scenic of groat Interest, an "Out of the Inkwell" Carton, and the famous “Stereoscopiks,* CARMEL MYERS AND JUNE ELVIDGE IN “THE DANCER OP THE NILE," AND IRENE RICH IN “THIS WOMAN" AT THE KOSY. Over fifteen hundred horses and four thousand people take part In “The Dancer of the Nile," now showing at the Kosy Theatre. The production Is said to be one Of the biggest ever made at Hollywood and used an entire valley to build its gigantic sets. The story Is based on- the romance of the younger days of King "Tut,” and was directed and produced by William PS. Earle, Carmel Myers, Malcolm McGregor and June Elvidge are its featured players with an ideal supporting cast Another outstanding feature Is ‘This Woman,” starring Irene Rich, supported by Louise Fazenda, Creighton Hale, Clara Bow and Ricardo. Cortez. This photoplay Is adapted from the novel by Howard Hockey that made New York’s smart set squirm with shame end fear for Us reputation. “Back State," a very laughable comedy, is also on the programme. i. PARAMOUNT. “THY NAME IS WOMAN," In addition to being one of the most prominent figures In the motion-pic-ture industry, Fred Niblo, director of big screen dramas, is one of US most interesting characters. He is the pro-, ducer of “Thy Name Is Woman,” the Louis B. Mayer-Metro picture, how playing at the Paramount Theatre. An adventurer and soldier of fortune in his younger days, Mr. Niblo has been to many lands. Now recognised as without a peer among directors, the creator of “The Famous Mrs. Fair." “Strangers of the Night," '"Blood and Sand," “The Throe Musketeers,” and “The Hark of Zorro,” also reached the pinnacle of success as a dramatic stage star, as a lecturer and as a vaudeville monologist He Is an American. His mother, born In Paris, was charming and very brilliant. His father, a captain In the Civil War, was wounded In the Battle of Gettysburg. Mr. Niblo was financially interested with George M„ Cohan In th e latter’s first ventures as an independent theatrical producer. The partnership lasted three years. After this Niblo went on the stage, playing in musical comedies and dramatic productions which he brought to Australia. With his colourful experience and intimate knowledge of th e drama as a background for his work on the screen, it Is no wonder that when Niblo took the step that landed him among the busy members of the film colony, he immediately began to become known for his superior results. His first pictures were sixteen releases (starring Enid 'Bennett, whom he had met In Australia. The renewed friendship ended in marriage, and Mr, and Mrs. Niblo are known as one of the happiest couples in Hollywood. His latest film achievement, “Thy Name Is Woman," Is, without exaggeration, his biggest achievement, and with sunny Spain at, Its locale, and with Ramon Novarro and Barbara La Marr in its loading roles. It is fragrant with Spanish romance and warm with Spanish passion. DAME CLARA BUTT. TO-NIGHT’S GALA CONCERT. The turning point of Clara Butt’s career was when—-®, big, shy, awkward schoolgirl of IC—she faced the examiners at the Roval College of

Music for the first time, to try for the coveted scholarship that would be her passoprt into the world of music. How she passed, makes an Interesting story; and what heights she has since risen to most people in New Zealand know, or soon will know, ad Dam* Clara Butt is shortly to tour the Do* minion. "I behaved shockingly that day,” said Dame Clara In the course A of an interview recently. 1 was furious because 1 thought the examiners were laughing at me. They talked and gesticulated and' even shouted while I wan singing ( i did not know it then; but later I learned thattfiey were more or less hysterical about my voice. I thought that even though I were funny, they needn’t be rude about It. At the time I was singing | Hatton's '‘Enchantress" and when 1 came to. the words 'Kings have’ trembled when I came” I let them have it deep and full. I really made them tremble—and I meant to. ,Then they made me still more annoyed by asking if there wasn't something quieter I could sing. But then I was utterly reckless, being quite sure I had lost the scholarship, and so I said rudely, when none of the scores I wanted could be found; ''Surely one of you gentlemen could play ‘Oh. Rest in the Lord,’ from memory. No one was eager; but finally Sir Walter Parratt played. They told me to cogie back at two o'clock, and I did, feel, ing very tired and ruffled. I was sure I hadn't won\lt: but 1 board an attendant say: "Some big l tall girl won—don't know her aamohf* “It was me?'" The' long-anticipated Clara Butt concert wm take pftgd in. the Opera House to-night, when * brilliant "audience Is assured- The programme has been built on popular lilies. Dame Clara Butt will Include •Abide with me." Patrons are advised to secure their tickets at the Theatre. Extra / rows of choice reserved seats available. OPERA lIODSE TO-NIGHT. \f , “ENEMIES OP WOMEN” The entire company of “Enemies of Women,” Including Alma Ruben* Lionel Barrymore, Buster Collier and ma,ny otilers, went to Monte Carlo to film several scenes. Special permission was granted by the management of the Casino for shots to be taken of its Interior, with the result that some unique sequences were obtained of this famous Palace of Chance. Alma Rubens,, who has a prominent part in "this screen version of the famous novel by Ibanez, Is famous both for her beauty and elegant dressing. Most of her lovely frocks in this production were created by the famous Poirot of Paris, and never has the actress looked more lovely than in some of these wonderful models. Lionel Barrymore, who acts the part of the pleasure-loving Prince-of Russia la regarded at the "Irving" of America. and In this wonderful story he has great chances to show hlshtstrlonlc ability. The period of the play is the recent revolution In RuSaia, when thrones wgre tottering and v; the world was ablaze. A duel fought to the death for a woman’s honour in blinding snow, the sinking of the "Lusitania” are two of the manyhigh lights in this 11 reel melo-drama. The heavy music incidental to-“ Enemies of Women” is in ,good bands with Miss Hancock's orchestra.