ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20010, 26 October 1926, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC PICTURES. TOM MIX AND TOM MEIGHAN. “Tony Runs Wild” will be shown for the last time to-night. The story gives Mix and “Tony” an opportunity to perform more of their feats of strength and skill, and thrills that are new even for this pair of film stars make this the most striking of Mix’s long line of thrilling productions. "Tony” is pictured as the leader of a band of wild horses. He is captured and tamed and then released. At the climax of the production, in the final scene, he answers his master’s call, leads his wild mates in a rush that saves the hero and the heroine from being shot to death by desperadoes. Mix himself says this is “Tony’s” best picture and “Tony” says it’s Tom’s best production. In addition to Mix the cast includes Jacqueline Logan, Lawford Davidson and others. Tom Meighan’s latest “The New Klondike” is a laughable comedy of the real estate business in Florida. A baseball player becomes too popular with his fellow players and gets his walking ticket. The player, without employment, finds himself in an expensive locality broke to the wide, and as a last resource engages himself to a real estate promoter and puts across a deal for the latter successfully. With the profit that he has made on this deal, he persuades the other players to go into the real estate business with him, and the venture turns out so well that they neglect their baseball playing and become “go-getters.” The main point of the story shows how the manager plots to break the hero and his associates in order to get them back to their job. He succeeds but in the end the tables are turned on him in an original manner. This is a most enjoyable picture. ALBION THEATRE, PHONOFILMS. A packed house and an enthusiastic audience greeted the initial screening of the Phonofilms at the Albion Theatre last night. That the silent drama has been made articulate was the all-important fact that emerged from last night’s demonstration and spontaneous applause greeted each item. Frank Mansfield’s banjoliers was the first item shown, and the fidelity of reproduction was remarkable. Mr C. F. Elwell, A.M.I.E.E. of London, then appeared on the screen and gave a description of this remarkable invention, every word of his speech being clearly and distinctly heard all over the theatre. “Opera v. Jazz,” with Sam White and Eva Puck, two leading American Vaudeville jartists, was one of the cleverest and most entertaining items ever presented on the screen. The act is one that lends itself admirably to Phonofilm reproduction. During the screening of this item the large audience could not restrain their laughter. “Helen .Lewis and her Jazz Band” is deserving of the greatest praise. All the instruments were remarkably clearly reproduced. “Radio Franks,” America’s leading radio entertainers, sang “Remember” and “Show Me The Way to go Home.” These items were excellent and brought continued applause. Mr Carlton Max, manager of the Albion Theatre, introduced Mr C. Ward, personal representative of the De Forest Phonofilms, who, in describing the Phonofilm, denied any rumours that a phonograph was used for reproducing. The Phonofilm, he stated, represented the photography of sound, and a short description of how the sounds were photographed and reproduced was given. The Phonofilm is without doubt a wonderful invention, and every person in Invercargill should hear and see it. The Phonofllm will be shown again to-night and to-morrow night. There being a complete change of programme for to-morrow night. In addition to the Phonofilm, a programme of one hundred per cent, entertainment was screened. This included a riot of fun entitled “Watch Your Wife” and also “A Broadway Butterfly,” a feature with such well-known screen stars as Dorothy Devore, Louise Fazenda, Willard Louis, John Lilyan Tashman, and Cullen Landis. Tonight is announced as the last night of the current programme.