ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20609, 6 October 1928, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURES. FRED MAYFIELD’S COWBOY BAND ON THE STAGE. “SALLY IN OUR ALLEY.” "MAN, WOMAN AND SON” AND “THE COLLEGIANS.” Fred Mayfield’s Cowboys and their 37 instruments opened at the Majestic Theatre last night to a crowded house, and were undoubtedly a magnificent success, being recalled again and again even after their second encore. This Cowboy Band is all that a good band should be. It plays in a refreshingly novel setting, and the cowboy costumes lend a realism to the scene. All their numbers were effectively arranged, and several were accompanied by vocal interludes. This show combination is far and away the best heard and seen in Invercargill for many moons. Their season at the Majestic is limited to three nights and one matinee, so that seats are bound to be at- a premium. The picture programme commencing to-day includes Shirley Mason in a role inimitably her own in “Salley in Our Alley,” a hoydenish orphan of the tenement streets, whose loyal loving heart rises above intolerant riches to true happiness. Laughter and heartache, humour and pathos—and youthful love—you’ll find them all in this appealingly human tale. John Gilbert has added typewriting to his many other accomplishments, not the rapid touch system, but the equally rapid though more clumsy “two finger” method of the newspaper reporter, who usually writes with incredible rapidity with his forefingers, having “picked it up” rather, than systematically learned it. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer star uses this art in “Man, Woman and Son,” his new picture which also opens to-night at this theatre, in which he plays a Washington newspaper reporter. Another chapter of the popular “Collegians” will also be screened at both performances to-day so that patrons can be assured of a diversified programme. Plans for this season can be seen at the Bristol. VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURES. AT THE CIVIC. BEBE DANIELS IN “THE FIFTY FIFTY GIRL.” GEORGE LEWIS IN “THE FOUR FLUSHER” AND SIDNEY DAN, THE HUMAN OSTRICH. The Civic Pictures management offers a particularly bright and varied programme for the entertainment of theatre-goers. The star pictures feature Bebe Daniels in “The Fifty Fifty Girl,” and George Lewis in “The 1 Four Flusher,” and the Vaudeville offering is Sidney Dan, who is billed as “The Human Ostrich.” In “The Fifty Fifty Girl” we see Bebe Daniels in a new comedy role. Together with James Hall and William Austin she gets many laughs against a mining background. The story shows Bebe as a modern girl who wagers her interest in a mine against her fiance’s half that she can run it just as good as any man. When they arrive in the one-horse- town to take over the El Dorado gold mine they meet with opposition and find it in the hands of Morgan, who owns the adjacent claim. To keep them out Morgan stages a series of sensational happenings, and hires a trio of his own ilk to frighten the couple away from the mine. Undaunted, hero and heroine determine to enter the mine, when they meet with a mysterious gorilla man who causes many thrills. Finally they rout the gang after a stirring ride on an underground railway, the engine driven by the gorilla man’ who detaches the carriages and drives them into a powder store. The explosion fills the assessment trucks and the aims of the villain, w’ho counted on claiming the mine after rhe owners had failed to fulfil their, assessments, are defeated. “The Four Flusher” is another very bright and entertaining picture. This snaps into action from the w’ord “Go!” running along in a breezy and refreshing manner. As full of sparkling humour as one could desire, which ensures you having a good laugh from beginning to end. Acting, photography and theme of story first-rate. Into the latter is worked a nice little romance between the youthful principals. George Lewis, Hayden Stevenson, Eddie Phillips and Churchill Ross, all figure most prominently here, with a delightful supporting lady in Marion Nixon. The spirit of youth and its consequent peppiness, so noticeable in “The Four Flusher,” will not let your interest lag for one moment in the laughable situations and attractive plot of this comedy drama, that with its naturalness, might well be a page out of life. In Sidney Dan the Civic has a vaudeville act that is well out of the ordinary. A diet of glass seems to be quite natural to this performer —tumblers and electric light bulbs are quite easily disposed of. Mr Dan also performs wonders in the way of feats of strength and human endurance. Huge slabs of rock are broken on his chest with a sledge hammer, solid steel rods are bent between his teeth; and as for agility—well his rapid escape from a straight jacket must be seen to be appreciated. Altogether this programme is one that should not be missed —especially as it is being shown without any increase in prices. Plans are at the Bristol.