AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16541, 15 November 1915, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

PRINCESS THEATRE. There was a large attendance at the Princess Theatre on Saturday evening, and the matinee in the afternoon was well attended. A change of programme is announced for this evening, and prominent among the attractions offered will be the first appearance of Herbert Brooks, who has gained notoriety for the extraordinary and mysterious way in which he, in the brief space of about 30 seconds, frees himself, after being tightly bound, from a securely locked trunk, which is placed in a bag securely tied. The performance is regarded as phenomenal, and is productive of wonderment, and is said to go far beyond the usual box mysteries seen on the theatrical stage. Other newcomers of reputedly great entertaining powers in their particular spheres are Vernon and Sinclair, musical and sketch artists, and Daleval and Gilbert, a patter duo of more than ordinary pretensions. The supporting artists to lend assistance will help to make up a strong programme. HAYWARD'S PICTURES. There were large and appreciative attendances at the Octagon Theatre on Saturday. This evening the production entitled "The Escape," which is being heralded with unusual encomiums, will be initially presented. It is a dramatisation of D. W. Griffiths's, and is 7500 ft long. The powerful theme is founded on Paul Armstrong's play of the same name. " The Escape " is said to provide food for thought as to whether hereditary taints and evil environment can be defeated and cast out, when true yearning for purity and goodness is latent. From the opening picture, showing May Joyce longing for a better life, and beseeching her ■father to better the condition of his children; through the years of degradation, until at last the girl struggles up from darkness into light. A special film will be that entitled " The Melbourne Cup, 1915," which was run this month and won by Patrobas. QUEEN'S THEATRE. An attraclive programme will be presented at the Queen's Theatre to-day. " The Million Dollar Mystery" reaches its sixth episode, which is entitled " The Coaching Party of the Countess." The opening of the epfsode finds Braine and the Countess discussing their failures. They discover a strange man watching the Countess's apartments. They plan another scheme to get not only Florence, but Jones too. Florence is invited by the Countess to a coaching party out to an old mansion; Jones is invited also. The members of the " Black Hundred" gather secretly at the mansion to carry out the fiendish plan, and the succeeding developments are exciting. Among the other pictures is a very fine comedy, " Wiffles on the Riviera," " Britain's New Army " (an interesting war-time film), "The European Gazette," " The New Valet" (comedy), and a magnificent picture of the Melbourne Cup, run this month, and won by Patrobas PLAZA THEATRE. The seating accommodation at the Plaza Theatre was taxed to its utmost during Saturday evening to see the final screenings of " The Bank," and expressed pleasure at the entertainment. A completely new programme will be presented at all sessions to-day, and will include the great Essanay feature. "The Inner Brute,' - with Warda Howard in the leading part. The supporting pictures will be: "Is America Ready?" (being a review of the U.S.A. navy), " Fable of the Intermittent Fusser" (comedy), "Trapped" (drama), "The Magio Hat" (interesting), and the "Eclair Journal," which illustrates recent war and other Eropean happenings. The theatre will be open, as usual, from 1 p.m. KING EDWARD THEATRE. The ''Escape," which created a furore recently in both Auckland and Wellington, will be the principal attraction at the King Edward Theatre to-day. This picture is said to be quite up to the standard of those usually produced by Mr Griffiths., The story touches upon the sex problem and the science of eugenics, and occupies the whole of the evening's programme. The opening chapters deal with slum life, and show the elder of two sisters longing for a brighter future and beseeching her father to better the condition of his children. She escapes just in time to avoid a marriage with a villain of the blackest type, but her delicate sister, to her lifelong sorrow, readily agreed to become the wife of the same man. Moving in higher, but even more perilous circles, the elder girl is rescued for a second time by a young ambulance surgeon, whom she grows to love. The theatre will in the future open to the public from 6.30 p.m., as the day sessions are to be discontinued with the • exception of Saturdays, when the usual' matinees will be held. A special extra at to-night'e performance will be an excellent view of the Melbourne Cup, showing the race from start to finish.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Everybody's" is not the least ambitious of titles to give a, picture .theatre, but anyone who saw the new Princes street house on Saturday evening would have been tempted to the belief that the name came pretty near the truth. Thp attendances throughout the day were big, but at night the theatre was packed, and people were waiting before 7 o'clock The fine picture " The Dollar Mark " will be retained during the next fe-w days, but the supports will be changed, the new subjects being- a Pussy Foot comedy "Your Name Brown" and the latest Topical Budget, replete with war and other events. GRAND THEATRE. One of the most-discussed naval pictures that have appeared in Dunedin will be screened at the Grand Theatre to-day under the head "Our British Navy." This is said to be the only authentic picture dealing ■with the life of our sailor heroes that has yet made its appearance in Dunedin, the exclusive rights for its presentation being held by Mr Charles M'Mahon. The picture is the work of Mr Alfred West, F.R.G.S., who has attained the success he desired in producing the only complete representation of life in the navy, illustrating the sailor's joys and sorrows m peace and war in the ■world. In the opening scenes the spectator is introduced to a raw recruit from the country who joins the training ship, and then follows the whole varying phases of maritime activity through which he has to pass before he qualifies as an able seaman. The film goes on to deal in turn with the various drills and duties of the sailor at sea and in action. In witnessing the picture the spectator realises _ what an important part the sailor plays in the_ game of war, and how it is that the British navy is eo renowned as a fighting _ force. The concluding portions of the picture show war pictures of the -work of the marines in the present campaign, these pictures having been only recently added to the film, and without which the history of the navy i would not be complete. OTAGO HIGHLAND CLUB. The basket social held by the Otago Highland Club on Friday evening was highly successful. The M.C.'s, Messrs W. Lefevre and Allan M'Kenzie, carried out their duties in an efficient manner, and Mr J. Yates's dance music was all that could be desired. Piper C. Walker supplied the national music, and Piper M'Millan played for an extra dance. Th? following contributed items during the evening:—Mies Reta Frame (Irish jig), Miss Hope (song), Miss Rosie Bain (Sean Trmbhas), Miss Flynn (song), and Mr A. Hudson (song).