ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19218, 6 January 1926, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY'S. The present programme at the Tivoli and Everybody's Theatres, which includes " The Life of Jack Hobbs " and " Stereoscopiks," as well as excellent supporting features, will conclude to-morrow. On Friday Gloria Swanson will be seen in a dual role in her latest Paramount production, " The Coast of Folly." The story opens 20 years ago when divorces were much less common than they are to-dav. Nadine Gathway, then a young, beauti- j fnl and tempestuous girl, is aroused by | the narrowness and rigidity of her stodgy, middle-aged, millionaire husband to desert him and her baby daughter Joyce. The scene then shifts to modern times. Joyce Gathway, lovely and high-spirited daughter of Nadine, has come into the prime of young womanhood with THe heritage of her mother's misstep. Nevertheless she is the pet and leader of tne younger set at Palm Beach, the celebrated " coast of folly." Joyce becomes involved in a situation with Larry Fay, played by Anthony Jowitt, handsome, wealthy and socially popular. The scandalmongers see the two together time and again and interpret the situation to suit themselves. Larry is married and his wife makes the most of the affair, cleverly arranging matters so that the case is blazoned to the world in newspaper headlines. Nadine reads a cable despatch of her daughter's predicament in Paris, where she is now the Countess de Tauro. She hastens to New York to be of assistance. Gloria Swanson plays the parts of both mother and daughter. One of the outstanding scenes in the picture comes in her characterisation of the countess when she blazes up in defence of her daughter, crushing into submission a society woman who would ruin her good name. When her fury subsides she compels tears by her willingness to sacrifice her own name and lose her husband's love to shield the reputation of her child. As the daughter Joyce, she provides scenes that are described as appealingly wistful. With love tugging at her heart and scandal staring her in the face, she pleads with an older woman not to misjudge her—not tc blacken her character in society. And when curtly refused she rises spirited and defiant and lashes her enemy with fine scorn. " The Coast of Folly " is claimed to be Gloria Swanson'a greatest; acting picturo. As mother and daughter she is said to give an extremely finished and convincing performance. She is sparkling, gay and lovely to look upon—a dainty and gorgeous butterfly blown to the verge of destruction by the harsh winds of scandaL Dorothy Cumming has the role of Constance Fay, Larry's lovely wife with a heart of ice. Alec Francis plays the Count de Tauro. Jed Prouty, Eugenie Besserer, Lawrence Gray and Arthur Hausman complete the cast. The film was adapted from a novel by Conigsby Dawson. It was produced by Alia a Dwan, who directed Gloria Swanson in " Manhandled " and " Wages of Virtue." At the Tivoli Theatre the programme will also include " Raffles,' a UniversalJewel production starring House Peters. "THE IRON HORSE." The phrase, "The Iron Horse," applied to a railway engine, and adopted as the title of the great William Fox epic which commences at the National and Lyric Theatres to-morrow, is of Indian origin. As a matter of fact, during the vast amount of research done by the Fox scenario department, it was found that the originator of this phrase was Sitting Bull, the great war chief of the Sioux. Sitting Bull was one of the most indomitable leaders of the red revolt against the invasion of the West by tile white man. As a youth in the 'so's and '6o's he sought to arouse- his people to resist the invasion of their lands and the destruction of the game which was. one of their chief means of sustenance.. Together with Red Cloud and other war chiefs, he led the Sioux in numerous attempts to stop the progress of the Central Pacific railroad. The chief evidence ; n this matter is to be found in the autobiography of Colonel William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill). In this he quotes what was said to him personally by Sitting Bull as follows: —"The white man has taken most of our land. He has destroyed or given away the game that was our meat. In 1858 he arranged to build through the Indian's land a road on which ran iron horses that ate wood and breathed fire and smoke. The iron horse brought from tho East men and women and children, who took the land from the Indians and drove out the game." Numerous histories of tho building of the new west, telling of the first continental railroad, record colourful incidents of that achievement which have been faithfully re-enacted for the screen in " The Iron Horse." As an instance, there is a detailed record in " New Colorado," by Hayes, of an attempt by Indian:! to lasso a train. The incident is shown in the picture as clearly as it occurred. " The graders and track-layers often had to fight their way and there is a tradition current of an attempt to stop an ex press train," wrote Havss. "It is understood that a lariat was stretched across the track, breast high and held by son»> thirty braves on each side, ' hut,' says the narrator, ' when til' engineer fusi see it, he didn't know what on airtli wu7 the matter; but in a minute more ha bustout laughin' and he ketched hold of thai throttle, an' ho opened her out; an' he struck that lariat agoin' about forty miit/ an hour, an' jest piled them braves op everlastin' permiscous, you bet!' " The renovation and remodelling of tho Lyru Theatre has now been completed and :t is claimed to be one of the most up-to-date theatres in the Dominion. The re opening will bo celebrated in conjunction with the first screening of " The Iron Horse" to-morrow. The film will be presented at both the National and LyricTheatres on a scale which it is claimed will surpass anything previously -attempted jin New Zealand. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The great Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer production, "The White Sister," will conclude its season at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. The new theatre's second programme will be headed by Jackie Coogan's latest production, "The Sag Man." "In this picture," sayn a critic, "Jackie Coogan once again appears in the kind of character and maka-up in which he achieved his popularity, that of a little urchin of the streets in ragged, oversize clothes, and the familiar battered cap. It is a different Jackie, however, that appears in this picture, a Jackie who unmistakably shows that he has grown older, and while he has lost much of his winsomeness which was >so evident in 'The Kid,' he has improved in other ways, for Jackie has developed as an actor, revealing a sureness ot touch and a technique m handling situations and putting them over that would do justice to a much older person." 'Che story tells of a little orphan who is missed after a great orphanage has been burned to the ground. The boy, howevfjr, is not dead, but has escaped in his night clothes. He is chased by a policeman and seeks refuge in a waggon ownfjd by Max Ginsberg, a dealer in second;'-hand goods and "junk." The boy quickly dons some of the rags he finds in the waggon, and Max at first appears to be very angry with I him.. But he soon takes pity on the lonely J boy and a fast friendship springs up he- ' tween them. When Tj£ax is taken ill the ! boy shows his abilhjy as a "business i man." and he i? trjreu into partnership •by his adopted pasjent. Max has been I defrauded some ysixs previously by a I clever lawyer, wh./j has robbed him of an invention. Tlr/ough the instramentalI ity of the boy t&e old man obtains his I rights and he rjsid his diminutive partj nor are made wealthy and become dealers | ; n fashionable antiques. An. excellent j supporting pvexgrammo will also be j screened.

CLARA BUTT CONCERTS. It is now definitely announced by Messrs. J. and N. Tait that England's greatest singers, Daino Clara Butt and ill - . Kennerley Rum ford will give three concerts in the Auckland Town Hall on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, January 19. 21 and' 23,. Public interest in tiie return of these artists to the Auckland concert platform is pronounced, and a record season is indicated as already a great number of preliminary applications for seats have been received by Lewis R. Eady and Son, Limited. The celebrated singers will be supported by Marie Antoinette Airssenac, a distinguished French solo pianist, who has won great favour with the. Australian public. Mdlle. Aussenac played before the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace prior to sailing from London. The accompanist is Mr. Hoy Ellett, a young pianist from the Royal Academy. Three brilliant programmes are in preparation. Favourite numbers will be included in addition to a great number of new ballads, which will be sung for the first time m New Zealand. In response to a number i of requests Dame Clara Butt bns consented to sing as an encore at_ her fit - concert " Abide With Mo " with grand and pianoforte accompaniment. Two of the events in the career of Dame Clara Butt and Mr. Kennorley Rumford that stand out with prominence, were their memorable to»tr oi England with the famous Guards Band, during which they gave 100 concerts within four months and Dame Clara's grand opera appearance as " Orfeo " in Gluek s " Orpheus and Euridico" at Covent Garden. The dresses to he worn by Dame Clara Butt throughout, the New Zealand tour were designed by Lady Duff-Gordon, of London, at a cost ot over £SOOO. Messrs. J. and N. Tait announce that, for the convenience of country patrons, a limited number oi: seats will be held in choice positions for the threo Auckland concerts pending reply by letter. EMPRESS THEATRE. A William Fox drama, " The Dancers,". ! featuring George O'Brien and Madge Bel* I lamy, will be screened at the Empress ! Theatre this evening and to-morrow evenS ing. The film is adapted from a popular I stage success of the same name. It has ! as its background the jazz age, and its | attendant evils. It tells a story of _ a | man, who, after keeping ever before him the ideal of his childhood sweetheart, returns to find her a victim of the jazz craze. ORIENTAL RENDEZVOUS. The Oriental Rendezvous at Mangere will open to-tnorrow evening. The dancing floor will be free to the public on the opening night. Music will bo provided. THE MUNICIPAL BAND. The Municipal Band will give a musical recital at .Albert Park this evening at 7.45. A bright and tuneful programme will include- the overture " Marinarella." selections " The Beauty Prize." and " H.M.S. Pinafore," sketch " A Plantation Holiday," bright marches and other numbers.