ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3286, 4 March 1926, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

SYDNEY CHAPLIN IN CHARLEY’S AUNT. AND HOOT GIBSON IN THE SPECIAL WESTERN PRODUCTION. “TAMING THE’WEST,” AT THE KOSY. An amusing sketch of an Easterner in the West utterly unconscious of the fact that lie is a tenderfoot, is presented by Hoot Gibson in his latest release, “Taming the West," a (Universal-Gibson Special, which opens at Ihe Kosy Theatre to-day. The picture is a virile out-of-doors [story jammed with fasjt action, built | around a well-knit plot and emhel- ! lishocl with cleverly thought-out incidents. Hoot Gibson is given many opportunities for showing his versatility as a star in Westerns, To his famous ability with horses he has added some roaring auto racing scenes to “Taming the West.” Gibson is as clever with the steering wheel as he is with the bridle. In this picture he has combined some wild riding, with a series of exceptionally daring speed scenes. Racing over a boundless prairie, he dashes through a strong fence and takes many perilous skids, raising, in a portion of the prairie, a veritable dust storm. “Charley’s Aunt,” the big feature farce, with Syd. Chaplin, which is being shown at the Kosy Theatre today, is a picturisation of the celebrated play by Brandon Thomas. As a play, this hilarious vehicle broke all money-making records for the stage. If is said that the sun never sets on “Charley’s Aunt.” meaning that it is always being played somewhere in England, United States, Canada, Australia. New Zealand, or some outlyjpg place where good comedy entertainment is enjoyed. “Rambler,” writing in the "London Bioscope,” declared that "Charley’s Aunt,’’ with Syd. Chaplin in the title role, will infuse such new blood into the old lady that she will continue to keep running for many generations. ' PALACE THEATRE. ' "’-eat and special treat for music 1 .dll be provided at the Palace T next week, when the “Americ:i itilla Jazz Band” will render programmes of special jazz music for their entertainment. The personnel of this famous band includes some of the foremost jazz specialists of the United States, which, of course, is the veritable “Home °f Jazz.” The band was constituted to accompany the American fleet on its cruise round the world. After filling an engagement with the. Ambassador Cabaret in Wellington, they have becom e available for engagement, with the result that Palace Theatre has secured their services for a season commencing on

Monday night nexf, The detailed programmes will be r dished at a later date. PALACE THEATRE. “THE TALKER. Anna Q. Nilsson has played many splendid roles in her screen career, but none more so than the one she plays for Sam E. Rork, producer of several successful First National pictures . Anna Q. is his “good luck charm." Whenever this astute producer has a hig production planned, he hastens to secure Anna Q.’s signature to a contract long before the date on which the picture is scheduled to be started- So it is quite obvious why Anna Q. is featured in “The Talker,” the Rork production which First National wiU show at the Palace to-night. Ever since th e day some two years ago that Rork decided that Miss Nilsson was the “one’’ woman in pictures who could successfully portray the exacting role of the “boy-heroine” of “Ponjola,” she has been the producer's “good luck charm.” Then along came “Inez From Hollywood,” Adela Rogers St. John's delightful and tradition-breaking vampire. Alive to the picture possibilities of this new author’s story of real Plollywood life, Rork bought the screen rights and as speedily signed Anna Q. to play the vamp. Lewis S. Stone, who was featured opposite Miss Nilsson in “Inez From Hollywood,” again plays opposite her in “The Talker.” Shirley Mason. Truly Marshall, Barbara Bedford, lan Keith, Gortriide Short, Harold Goodwin, Lydia Teamans Titus. E. H. Calvert, Cecille Evans, Charles West, and Lloyd Whitlock are other notables in the big cast, OPERA HOUSE TO-NIGHT. LEE TCHUNG FOO CO. A troupe of Chinese vaudeville entertainers touring the Dominion under the direction of Mr. James Teddy, late of J. C. Williamson’s, Ltd., and known as the Lee Tchung Fo Co., will appear to-night and to-morrow night at the Opera House. The Oriental settings, but more especially the costumes, are . said to be lavish in the extreme. Lee Tchung Foo is a magician of no mean ability, mystifying the audience with his remarkable trickery and juggling, time after time. / 3 feat of threading three packets of needles in his mouth, threading them behind his back in quick, succession, making an egg dance along a cane, and balancing a beer bottle on the side of another were ones to marvel at indeed. Although he was a magician first, he.was an athlete after, and his fancy jumping, striking matches held ten feet high with his feet, and the like, earned every round of applause he received Lue Che Quong, late instructor of physical culture to the Imperial Court of China, will give a demonstration of the Chinese method of boxing, and

when he got a couple of knives to add to the eeffet the crowd went into fits of laughter. Jing Wee Quong, the lightning calculator, by a little mental telepathy, can give correctly, the ages of any members of the audience. Lillian and Renee are two juvenile dancers and tumblers whose supple grace will be appreciated. One of the most popular members of the| company is Mdlle. Regnier, a French lady artiste, whose pleasant voice is heard to the best advantage in ‘‘Mexicali Rose.” Her saxaphone selections always receive a good reception, and among her best numbers with this instrument are "The Sheik of Araby,” “Annie Laurie,” and “Maori Moon.” The box plans .are at the Opera House. PARAMOUNT EXTENSION. “WILD MORSE MESSA” EXTENDED UNTIL SATURDAY. Owing to the large number of picturegoers who have been disappointed by not being able to see this gigantic super Zane Grey picture. “The Wild Horse Mesa," special arrangements have been, made for the season to be extended to the end of the week. This picture is without a doubt the greatest Zane Grey picture that‘has ever been screened, and probably the finest out-door Story of th 0 American “Wild West” presented before the picturegoing public. The proof lies in the enormous attendance at the Paramount Theatre this week. The story depicts in gripping manner the barbarous scheme of a gang of horse thieves and outlaws to capture several thousand wild horses by stanipeding them into a barbed wire trap. Under the shrewd and intelligent direction of George B. Seitz, this scheme is developed and embroidered with an assortment of such tremendous climaxes as to chill the blood of the most hardened plcturegoer. . The final thundering thrill, showing 1 the » terrific charge of wild steeds, is, in itself, a masterpiece. . ' Jack Holt, who portrays the lead* * ing role, covers himself with dramatic glory, and gives a superb exhibition of horsemanship skill. Noah Beery handles the “bad man” part with his usual finesse; Billie Dove charming and lovely, furnishes the delightful love Interest. . iBookings for this picture can be made at the Theatre as well as at C. G. Swallow’s, and th e prices are as usual.