AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 7 April 1915, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

... peemanentpictub.es. There was again a large attendance at the Empire Theatre last evening, when i "Fires of Ambition/' together with a • good supporting programme, was screened. For to-night a complete change of programme has been arranged. The films of this series are of a very fine order, and of ,grea't variety. A Majestic drama.. •"The Burden," is the story of Mary ' Bennett, one of those -women who.always have someone less fortunate than themselves to live and toil for. Her husband has been unjustly sentenced for a pettycrime, and she is burdened by the care of a ne'er-do-well brother. At last, however, her husband returns to her, and her unselfishness is rewarded. "The Story of the Willow Pattern" is a charming .reproduction of the beautiful old legend which explains the various , figures in the pattern on the quaint old blue plat-es. The star feature is. a Keystone comedy, 2000 ft in. length, entitled "Mabel at the Wheel," featuring Mabel Normand an<T"Charles Chaplin. This is descrfbed as the best Keystone yet screened. The latest Gaumont Graphic and many.other pictures of interest are also included in this programme. A matinee was held this afternoon. MoI tueka- will 'he visited to-night, and Richmond on Thursday. IMPERIAL PICTURES. TWO STAR PROGRAMME. Last night the Lyric Theatre was again well (patronised-to witness'the final , showing of "Monte Christo" and a vau- ■ deville programme: To-night a complete ~change will take place, all hew pictures "foeiiig screened, including two star subjects, viz., "A Splendid Dishonour," featuring Francis X. Bushman in the lead 'with Ruth Sitohehoti.se. The. plot is as follows: Frank Sergeant, a wealthy young club man, is told by his. physician that he has only a short time to live. Oh the point of self-destruction he _ is saved by Julia Annersley.. . Julia's brother, Hugh, is falsely accused'" of murder and condemned to .be hanged. She pleads with Frank to take. her place. Sergeant, admitting that ■ his days are numbered, agrees to do so, • and fakes up evidence against himself Hugh is released, Relieving the actual murderer has been found. One day he discovers his sister in Sergeant's cell ana bitterly upbraids her. Julia has now , learned" 'to love Sergeant and is heart- ; broken to think he is to die for a crime ■ of which he is innocent. A few days, .before Sergeant is to "be executed it is learned that the physician who had : told- ■'. him he was dying .of , heart trouble is insane. . Then it is rthat Frank is •in a ■ terrible dilemma. Fpr Julia's sake ": : 'he dare not refute, his confession of murder. " All appears hopeless • until a • detective gets on. the case, questions the. insane doctor andizrids that'lie is the real -culprit. Sergeanlt is then released and finds Ju'lja waiting for him. The second star, "The Man in Black;" with. Elsie Winters, a girl of good family; and ' a kleptomaniac. She Teads in the newspapers of robberies in the, fashionah-le (triot, which the police attribute to the '?Man in Black," a gentleman burglar. While shopping in a department store Elsie abstracts small articles from .'the counter, and is undetected except by th& keen eye of a well-dressed young, fellow lounging near the doorway. 'He follows. Elsie to her home and discloses himself as the "Man in Black." " : The ! extraordinary happenings that now follow in rapid must 'be seen on-'the . screen to be thoroughly appreciated, but the 'finale is a happy one. Supporting; l pictures include "Pimple's Leap Stb Fortune" and "Those Good Old Days," a j Keystone comedy. The latest War. I Special "will also be screened. Prices afg : circle Is, stalls- 6d, children half-price j to circle.