AMUSEMENTS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11806, 16 December 1912, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

HUGARD'S MYSTERIES. TO-NIGHT. Hugard and his company of entertainers, including the great Chinese magician, will open a two-night season at the Opera House to-night. Tne great Oriental act. "A Night in a Chinese Palace," takes up the whole of the second part of the programme, during which the stage is a blaze of Ona'ital grandeur and effect, and not a w-jri is spoken, yet the magician and his assistant flit about performing wonder after wonder in a most amazing fashion, holding the audience spellbound with the effects produced. This act is spokev. of as being weird, fascinating, and spectacular, and has had remarkable runs throughout Europe, America, and Australia. Hugard, as a sleight-of-hand performer, is said to be superb, and his great rifle act is the talk or Australia. In this act Hugard allows three local riflemen to bring their own. rifles and cartridges, load them, also mark the bullets and shells. A committee is selected from the audience to examine the rifles and cartridges and see that they are in proper order. The cartridges are then taken down to the' audience to be examined, and three are asked to put their private marks upon them. The rifles are then loaded, the rifles never leaving the hands of the firers, who march to the back of ■the stalls and fire at Hugard's heart. The spots immediately appear on the velvet heart Hugard holds over his heart and the bullets fall 1 on the floor. The riflemen unload on the stage and| Hugard' picks up the empty-' .shells :and bullets (which are propelled-by corditel, and tlie riflemen and committee certify to the private marks they have put upon them. They are then taken down and identified by the members of the audience who had marked them. The bullets'are hot, marked with grooves df the rifle, and during the act, which is often minutes' . duration, Hugard neyer leaves .the stage, and is view throughout.. This is'said'ito be the only act of its kind in the world, and has created great controversy everywhere it has been performed. An American musical act of note by Miss Myra. Errington''" is included in the programme. Special prices are advertised, and seats may be reserved at the Dresden.

UNIVEIRSAIi PICTURES

■- A large .number was ■present at "the matinee on Saturday, when a splendid , programme., was screened-.- :.Jn. the evening the" Opera House was almost full, and judging by the amount of applause the pictures screened met with the appreciation of all. A double programme was presented, and many fine features, were contained in the list. The chief attraction was the Kalem Company's representation of "Colleen Bawn." The film was excellently acted and had an added interest in the fact that the play was enacted, amidst the surroundings! mentioned in the original story. Th© attention- of the onlookers was drawni to this fact, and the different scenes as they appeared were named and explained in a most interesting manner. Supporting this film, which was 3000 feet in length, were no less than- nine subjects. The dramas were a splendid! collection, and included a Vitagraph story of excellent quality. This was '"The Law for the Lady," which featured the popular-picture actor Maurice Costello. "Lieutenant Rose and the Hidden Treasure" was another splendid drama-. Many fine scenes were introduced into this picture, including the underground cavern in which the treasure was hidden and the demolishing of the hunted stronghold by a man-of-war. "The Scandal Mongers" (Selig) was a powerful and well-told dramatic story. "Picturesque Holland," showing some of the finest of Dutch scenery, and "Tripoli" were the best of the scenic portion, and "Irene's Infatuation" (Vita), "Trying to Fool Uncle," and "Helen's Marriage" were excellent comedies. A picture of a novel andl interesting nature showed first aid- to the injured, demonstrated by an American ambulance corps. The orchestra (which has lately-heen reorganised) provided excellent music-.

HAYWARDS' PICTURES.

There were splendid attendances at Hay wards' Picture Palace on Saturday. At the matinee an interesting recitation competition was held, in which 40 young patrons took part. The prizes were awarded as follow: Girls—Olive Gordon. 1, Janet Denholm 2. Boys— Charlie Eennie 1, Harold Fair 2. The winners, will, it is announced, recite in connection with to-night's entertainment. The Monday change programme includes the second Series of the AlaskaSiberian, motion pictures, the real value of which lies in their educational worth. The pictures will include a panoramic view of Alaska, scenes on Alaska Northern Railroad, a mose hunt,, and a bull fight. "The Cross Roads" is a dramatic picture full of interest. A' good comedy is promised in "Too much wooing of handsome Don." "The Petrol Bandit" features Nick Winter in a sensational detective story; Recent . events will be shown - m the Australian Gazette. '■ " .