ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 17969, 9 March 1917, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

POPULAR PICTURE PALACE, There was a very large attendance Ijtst night when the fine programme presAited was receiv.ed with the greatest enthusiasm. The star feature "On the Night Stage” is a gripping Western drama, full of hard knocks, hard riding, and romance. Wm. S. Hart, as "Texas,” the outlaw, claimed the sympathy of the audience from the start, and he is capitally aided by Rhea Mitchell, as the dance hall girl, and Robert Edeson as the parson. The big fight in the drinking saloon, when Texas and the parson fight the mob is wonderfully realistic and exciting, and there are many other stirring and dramatic incidents. The story is vigorously told, and deals strongly with a strong man's love and renunciation that cannot fail to please. There are some splendid supports, including Episode 13 of "The Mysteries of Myra,” “His Friend the Elephant,” an exceedingly funny Christie comedy, and "Winkle's Fascinating Eye” (comic). Patrons are asked to send the children to the afternoon session on Saturday. ALBION —HAYWARD’S. "SHE.” The Albion opened to a large hous* last night to witness the first screening of “She.” To film this wonderful romance was an ambitious undertaking, and the Neptune studios spent a mint of money on the production. The travel scenes, including the wild and barren mountain country in Africa through which Leo Vincey and his companions have to go, are wonderful, and were, as a matter of fact, actually in the Dark Continent. In "She’s” mystic country the huge temples and monster obelisks are most imposing, and the Pillar of Fire scene is an appalling and hairraising spectacle. Madame Delysia has a beauty of form and feature which is peculiarly suited to her part of the Sorceress Queen, and notice must be taken of her supple and wonderful arms. Ther* was also shown a Gaumont Graphic containing all the latest weR- pictures: a Vitagraph comedy was also received with great enthusiasm. The programme will be repeated to-day and Saturday.

GRAND—FULLERS’. “AS IN A LOOKING-GLASS.’’ The special attraction at the Grand ■Theatre yesterday was the presentation of “As in a Looking Glass,” in which Kitty Gordon appears in the role of Lila Dcspard. She not only has shoulder blades that are "a miracle of loveliness,” but her many costumes comprise ornate gowns and costly furs that are worn with consummate grace. Mjtty in the melodrama, screened for the first time yesterday, is a beautiful adventuress, who, in company with her partner Jack Forbes, are compelled, by blackmailing circumstances, to leave Paris, and flee to New York where Lila sets up an establishment that is much frequented by diplomatic officials and Congressmen. She gets rid of Jack in a not very creditable manner, alleging that his methods are those of a common crook, end marries Livingstone, who returns from England with the plans to make the American navy the most powerful in the world, after she has estranged his fiancee (Miss Van Wormer) by a cruel plot. Another diplomat (Dromiroff), in order to secure Livingstone’s plans, threatens to expose Lila’s past life, and she, having reached a remorseful and miserable stage in her career, gives Dromiroff faked naval papers, writes a farewell note to Livingstone, in which she confesses her duplicity, and then later on is fatally shot by the partner of her earlier days. In all the scenes Kitty Gordon is fascinating enough to tempt her victims to commit any folly. Beside her toilets the ballroom belles of New York and Washington sink into tameness. As an actress she expresses the emotions of triumph and remorse in a forceful degree. The drama is remarkably well staged, and the minor parts are well sustained. An educational film depicting

"Spider Life” was most interesting and enjoyable, whilst one of those rollicking free-go-easy Triangle Keystone comedies “Dollars and Sense” completed an exceedingly delightful evening’s entertainment.