HAYWARD'S PICTURES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3015, 27 December 1911, Page 69

HAYWARD'S PICTURES.

The programme presented for the first time on Saturday afternoon by the Hayward’s Picture Management in Burns Hall was witnesses by a fair number of the public, and greatly enjoyed. It comprises several very fine pictures from the “ Gaumont Graphic ” series, including many topical events, which served as an introduction to the entertainment. These were succeeded by a “ toll of the sea” scene, showing how an irritable man in the person of one ‘‘Captain Barnacle,” who had charge of a lifeboat’s crew on a certain dangerous coast, was changed l by a child he rescued from a wreck; becoming most amiable and patient with the changeable whims of his adopted child. The pictures were well shown, .but the audience had something better upon which to feast their eyes when a series of fine views, entitled “ The Sourceis of the Olitumme ” were thrown upon the sheet. These consisted of a number of places in Italy famed for their beautiful scenery, which were rendered the more beautiful by a glorious sunset. The comic element was supplied by “ Perrot’s Punishment” and ‘‘The Beautiful Voice.” The former was a far-fetched illustration of a man becoming infatuated at first sight with a coy little feminine creature fashionably attired in hobble skirt, etc. He is made to pav the penalty for his infatuation bv this damsel, who induces him to “ foot the bill ” for a host of things, which in the end he is decoyed into carrying home. He is rather surprised, upon entering the domicile of the fair one, to meet her lord and master, who is a noted strong man, and when he realises the trick served him consequent upon his own folly he decamps speedily and -without a vestige of his former grace. The second humorous film showed how a young man on hearing a gramophone in operation in a house imagined it to be some fair woman, and, without waiting for an introduction, fired bououets and jewels through the open window, much to the delight of a toothless old maid. He eventually seeks admission to the house with the hope of seeing the owner of the voice, and Hie surprise can well be imagined when he awakened to the fact that things were not as he expected to find them. A feature of the programme was the illustration of Sir Walter Scott’s historical drama ‘‘Rob Roy.” It can safely be said that a more realistic picture drama has, never been witnessed in Burns Hall, and the bagpipe music supplied assisted very materially to make lifelike the various incidents in the piece. On Christmas afternoon, when there was

’ a very large attendance, the programme of Saturday was repeated, with the exception of “ Rob Hoy ” and “ The Beautiful Voice,” in place of which three new pictures were shown. “ The Town of Eriwans ” depicts the customs and pursuits of the people of Persia, and is of special in- . terest on account of the cable news to hand from that quarter recently. “ Athaliah ” (coloured) is a sacred drama. It is adapted from Jean Racine’s tragedy,, and in a film of 1200 ft in length a few of the stirring events of the life of thins unfortunate Queen of Judah are brought before the audience. “-Mount Etna ” is a. picture that everybody should see while the opportunity offers. It gives one an idea of the terrible havoc wrought by the eruption in September last. Roads and railways are blocked b” the streams of lava and the masse® of • ck belched forth from the crater. One road is blocked by a wall 40ft high. Other pictures show the smoking rocks falling down the hillsides In the evening, when the Burns Hall was crowded to th© doors, the programme of the afternoon was again shown, and every item met with a reception that evidenced the hearty and unanimous appreciation of the audience. i