ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19158, 26 October 1925, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS.

DIXIELAND CABARET.

The official opening of the new Dixieland Cabaret at Point Chevalier will take place to-day, the afternoon session being from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the evening from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The fine dancing floor from Dixieland, Queen Street, has been enlarged to 3600 square feet, and, judging by the favourable comments of dancers, has lost none of its many desirable qualities. Beautifully light and airy, with a pleasant outlook over the water, Dixieland has accommodation for approximately 600 people, and arrange.nents for the comfort of patrons are of a v.ny high order. The electric lighting has been the subject of very careful attention, flood lights throughout being a feature, and the general effect at night is altogether charming. The decorations are nicely achieved, the various blends of colour harmonising to produce a delightful setting for patrons. The culinary arrangements are in the hands of a very capable chef, the whole of the cooking being done on the premises with electricity. Home cooking is a special feature, and everything supplied will be the very best. Music will be supplied by Dixieland's famous internationals, so well known to patrons. Taken altogether, the new cabaret, with its 15.000 square feet of space, may very safely bo termed the most up-to-date ami best-equipped of its kind in Australia _ and New Zealand. The cabaret is easily accessible, there being a frequent and efficient bus service to the door. HIPPODROME THEATRE. An attractive series of vaudeville items will supplement the current double-feature Western programme at the Hippodrome Theatre this evening. Bill Cody heads a strong cast in " The Fighting Smile," the first of the featured pictures. The film tells an exciting story of cattle thieves and the manner in which they are circumvented. The hero is a young man who returns to his father's ranch after an absence of two years and finds that cattle are constantly disappearing. He discovers that the foreman of the ranch is in league with a gang of cattle thieves, and persuades him to leave his associates and assist in breaking up the gang. There follow a number of desperate gun fights, which end in the death of the leaders of the gang. An attractive romance adds to the interest of the picture. The second feature is " The Devil's Bowl," a story of adventure on the Mexican border. STRAND AND TIVOLI. Mary Pickford, " the world's sweetheart," appears once more in the type of role that made her famous, in " Little Annie Rooney," which is now being shown at the Strand and Tivoli Theatres. The popular actress proves that she is just as charming as ever in the rags and tatters of a little girl of the tenement district of New York. It is a role that gives ample opportunity for both comedy and pathos, and Mary Pickford makes the most of every opportunity of either type. Her acting brings home with compelling force the drama that may exist in the lives of even the poorest of children. The film as a whole gives the audience almost as clear an understanding of life in New York's poorer districts as is possessed by those who actually experience it. An excellent supporting programme at the Strand Theatre includes a Spat comedy and a Pathe review and gazette. Vocal items are given by Miss Laura Walker. At the Tivoli a Universal picture, " Let 'Er Buck," featuring Hoot Gibson, is also screened. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The famous stage play, "Aren't We All?" by Frederick Lonsdale, has been transferred to the screen by Frank Tuttle for Paramount and is now being shown at Everybody's Theatre. A strong cast is headed by Adolphe Menjou, who has been seen recently in "Forbidden Paiadiso" and "The Swan," Aileen Pringle and Lillian Rich, who was starred in "The Golden Bed." The film is a com-edy-drama of delightful, irresistible humour. The kiss which forms the climax of the picture was actually filmed at the height of the recent total eclipse of the sun. The acting honours of tho production go to Adolphe MenjoUj who has another role of the typo in which ho has lately become familiar. SUCCESSFUL ORGAN RECITAL. An encouraging example of what tho blind can do when properly trained was given at St, Mary's Cathedral on Saturday evening when the Rev. E. Cbitty, M.A., himself blind, played a programme, including items by three blind composers —Hollins, Watling and _ Wolstenholmo. The recital was given in aid of the funds of the Blind Institute and was very well received by a moderately large audience. The programme comprised tho following items: —"Grand Chorus in D" (Guilmant). " Andantino " (Lemare), " Andante With Variations" (Wolff), " Toccato " (Bach), " Intermezzo " (Hollins), " Prelude and Fugue in C Minor" (Mendelssohn), "Pastorale" (Watling), "The Answer" (Wolstenholmo) and " Festive March " (Henry Smart). The programme was long, involving no small effort of memory, and was played not on tho organ to which Mr. Clntty is accustomed, but on ono almost entirely new to him. Yet his playing was wonderfully good, the Bach toccato in particular being admirably rendered. "THE ABBESS OF WHITBY." " The Abbess of Whitby" will be staged by the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society oil November 14, not November 24, as previously stated. EMPRESS THEATRE. There will be a matinee at the Empress Theatre this afternoon, when a William Fox special production will bo screened. The principal attraction this evening wih l)c "A Thief in Paradise," starring Doris Ken yon and Ronald Coleman. EMPIRE THEATRE. An attractive double-feature programme will be screened at the Empire Theatre, Dominion Road, this evening. The principal attraction will be " The Heart Bandit," a thrilling comedy-drama starring Viola Dana and Milton Sills. " Youthful Cheaters," a Selznick picture, with Glenn Hunter in the leading role, is tho second feature. Tho programme also includes an excellent two-reel comedy. OPERA HOUSE. The programme of vaudeville and revue which commences a week's season at the Opera House this afternoon with a special holiday matinee contains some excellent items. George Ward's bright company, of versatile performers will present, another musical comedy, the ninth of tlio series, entitled "Not Yet." On the vaudeville side, June Mills and WilHam Innes appear, and as they have already established themselves as a capable duo, they will lie again welcomed. Other items will be contributed by Reno and Arta, xylophone players, Grace and Keats, comedy artists, and Charles Sherman.