AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14856, 10 June 1910, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

FULLERS' PICTURES,

One of the most interesting budgets' of biograph pictures yet soen in the Princess Theatre was shown for the first time to a audience there last evening. Each •film is a triumph, in the" now art of cinematography being wonderfully clear and having alj.va.Ys a pleasingly appropriate setting,, while the selection is. most suitably varied. The audience that a biograph entertainment attracts is satisfied if it can laugh, and its satisfaction is in exact proportion to the extent of its'mirth, In the'programme under notice, pictures' which ■i-ange from quaintly humorous to extremely farcical alternate with photographs of magnificent or gorgeous scenery, or some cleverly faked dramatic presentation. Switzerland has been a subject for the camera man since first cameras oame into .common use; but '"Picturesque '■Switzerland" is a series that, in many respects, stands out. by itself. It gives, in an unusual degree, an idea of,the never exaggerated grandeur and beauty of Swiss* efcemery. "The Falls of the Potomac" and "Land of Eternal Sunshine" (Java) aro other? of a like nature. A picture "'.Eruption of Mount Etna" i« 0 f a most iunusnal character, but we are'assured ; t is perfeotly genuine arid was taken at great •risk to the operators. It shows principally great streams and cataracts of smoking lava moving slowly, steadily, irresistibly down the mountain side and out into the plains. In one place it can be seen engulfing great stone walls as if they were . pebbles and hurling over trees.as if they were twigs, and in another a glimpse is caught of the terrified populace, led by .the priests,, praying to the supernatural 'powers to.remove a menace that is one of ;thc most tremondous forces in Nature ;" Taming .a, Husband," showing 'now a small and pretty wife brought a domineering husband to his knees, and " The Samaritan's Courtship," describing the success that attendee! a purposeful young man are beautifully coloured and sparkling 'with perfectly acceptable humour.'" The Baby Boy and the Teddy Bear," telling the manner in which an enterprising urchin squared accounts with a stupid policeman, and "His Last Burglary," a'fine play* upon, the paternal emotions of an energetic Bill Sykes, are interesting or amusing according to tho temperament of the individual, while tho total discomfiture of an amorous undo isportrayodina "Pair of Schemers." Five _ sensations to the. minute, with an exciting hanging incident as a concluding scene, are provided by "Tho Man Huiit" —which, ; needless to say, deals with heavily-armed cowboys and a despicable Mexican half-breed. Another adventure by the ever-welcome Foofehead, and ■'■'" Calino Plj.ys Billiards" aro other 'laughter-pro-voking items in a really excellent programme. A pleasing feature of the entertainment is tho. work of Mr Frank Martinblli's orchestra, which plays very oreditably a judicious selection of musical items, Tho programme *eierred to will be repeated every evening this week. "LIVING PICTURES." There is evidently an'impression abroad that tho publio taste for pictorial display has reached such a stage in Dunedin that there is room-for-further adventure in that line of entertainment than already exists. An. evidence of this lies in tho tact that' another candidate for publio favour appeared 'on the . scene last,. evening in the' Art Gallery Hall, and drew a patronage as large as the hall—by no means a small one —would accommodate. Certainly. the' exhibition, so far as.it went, was to lie commended, but unfortunately misfortune followed ■ misfortune, and the entertainment finally came to a somewhat abrupt ending. First a tube went, and then a fuse gave out, but by that time it was getting near--10 o'clock, so,that the spectators got full, value .for the modest sum--they had been required to pay for admission to the hall. The pictures; were distinctly good, but the results attained led to the belief that the operator.. manipulating the lantern) was not completely at home in his work. The focussing was at fault, and the pictures were by no •means ns sharp as they might have been when they were projected on the screen. If this was not continuous, it was of sufficiently frequent occurrence to be plainly noticeable. As just stated, no. exception could ba. taken_ t0... the pictures thomselves. They wero quite on a par with what tho publio has been accustomed to seo of late years, and. tho fact that several wero not new did hot detract to any considerable _extent from the pleasure of seeing them.',.,, No.doubt to many of those,present they were all new. The first was a mest interesting picture of a ride, over the Alps, iri which' the photographer had done his work well.' Following' this came "The Dancing Girl of Bute," a 6tory picture in which a captivating danseuse .attracts the attention of a young artist. Mutual' love, succeeds a somewhat romantio meeting, but- the girl's occupation proves a serious bar to the union of the pair. Scoial status is, however, ignored'in the end. "Calino goes Travelling" belongs to the humorous'order of moving'pictures. Tho hero proves quite amphibious, and is riono the' worse for the extraordinary immersion ho undergoes. A more amusing film was, however, "Foolehead at the Ball." This was intensely funny, and caused great merriment among'.the spectators. "Tho Heroine of Mafeking'.'' pourtrayed dramatic incident, and was full of stirring military scenes. The' work carried on in a marble quarry proved interesting, and tho picture following it was. cut short for tho reason before mentioned; It was intimated that those present would be entitled, without cost, to revisit the exhibition this evening, when no doubt such little hitches as occurred, at _ the first performance will have entirely disappeared. ,

NEW EMPIRE VAUDEVILLE COMPANY. ; , The week's programme at the Alhambra Theatre. continues to attract big audiences, the seating accommodation last.night being severely taxed. two most popular acts are undoubtedly the Do-Ec-Mi trio and Guilkumc, Baby, and Co. Tho first is an cccentrio musical act, and the latter a screaming burlesque on "The Great Spanish Bull Fight." Both need to be seen to be realised, and •in their class are the best "turns'" that have been seen on the Fuller cirouit'for some time. The Coleman sisters aro ae popular as ever, and Messrs Heath and Lamb. also contribute much to the success.of the programme. Miss Blanche/ Caifclli (soprano), Miss Ivy Goodwill, Miss Bealtie M'Donnld (song and dance artists), •Mr Joo Lamb,, and Mr Joe Charles earned unstinted applause, .and the British biograph concludes '■ an entertainment that should draw : good business for the 'remainder of the week. " . ST. PETER'S BAZAAR. An entertainment was given last night in connection with the sale of work at St. Peter's Church, Caversham. "Time .16 Money" is the name of a bright littlo oorriedietk, played by Miss Violet Williams, Miss Alice Woodhouse, and Mr C. R,_ Allen, and it was remarkably well received. Iti presentation was preceded by an amusing sketch entitled " A Cooked Interview," written by 'Mr H. A. Rose, in which parts were' taken by Misses Kathleen Ulrich, Ellice Fitzgerald, and Woodl.ouse. BRYDONE HALL SKATING RINK. Business was brisk at the Brydone Skating Rink yesterday, tho three sessions •being liberally patronised. In the evening the prizes for the graceful skatingvcompetiticn, won. by Miss and Mr H. Wocdger, were' presented by Mr' G. Moodie, who congratulated the successful couple upon winning what had proved an interesting and attractive competition. The management announces that on Saturday morning a special matinee will be held, children being admitted at reduced lates.. "THE TERM OF HIS NATURAL ; LIFE." At His Majesty's Theatre next Tuesday, Juno 14, Messrs M'Mahon and Carrol will present Marcus Clarkc'6 famous novel, entitled "The Term of His Natural Life," per medium of the biograph. The success of this abSorbmg 6tory may be gathered, .by the fact that "The Term, of His Natural Life" has been attracting enormous audiences at Auckland, Wellington, and. Christchurch, and it is beyond doubt that the same success will attend its representation lat His Majesty's Theatre 'next Tuesday evening and following nights.