AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 71, 24 November 1913, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

POUTES AND LAZERN.

A few facts in connection with the career o! the celebrated magician Lazern. who tops the bill with Mr Beebe's Polite Entertainers, who will appear at the Town Hall, Stratford, on Wednesday, should be of interest to New Zealanders at this time. While billed the world over, as the illustrious English illusionist, Mr Emile Lazern is both by birth and at heart a New Zealander. Born in tins country some tirty-hve years ago, Mr Lazern, at an early age,' gave unmistakable evidence of special characteristics which marked

him out at once as one born to entertain, mystify and deceive, and he left his country sixteen years ago for the old world, where subsequent events have proved that better opportunities awaited him for the rapid development of his many natural talents. That he rose quickly to the top of his chosen profession, is amply testified with the splendid reception* he has met with from the "press" and the public the world over, and his great desire to again visit the country of his cliildhood, was nearly as big an inducement for him to make the present tour with the Polites, as the almost princely salary Mr Beebe offered. Since leaving New Zealand, Mr Lazern has spent nine years in the British Isles, and his world's tours has embraced extended seasons in America, the Philippines Islands, China, Japan, India, Java, and the Continent of Europe. Vv.hen in Ireland. Lazern kissed the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle, County Cork, a fact which it does nod jfake Lis audience long to guess when, ithey listen with amusement to 'the sweet flow of blarney that is ever on Lis ready tongue, as he goes with marvellous ease and celerity through his ehthfal'ingly interesting performance. When in India, in 1906, Lazern was engaged by the Xezam of Hyderabad to give a performance before the King and Queen of England, then Prince and Princess of Wales, the tee being lo!)0' rupees and all expenses, which were paid by the Xezam. As Lazern was' driving along the Bund from Secun. d'erbad to Hyderabad, to give his performance, their Majesties being out

driving at the same time, the soldiers that lined the Bund saluted Lay.ern with, much ceremony." Greatly mystified at the homage he was receiving, Lay.ern asked his native servants the reason of the salutations and was told "Sahib, they think you are the English King's son." The engagement of Lazern makes Mr Beehe's company a very large and expensive one, and it is to lie hoped public patronage will be in proportion to the merits of the entertainment. Other particulars are adverised, and it is only necessary to remind intending patrons that reserved seats may be hooked at Mr Grubb's without extra charge.

BERNARD'S PICTURES.

To-night's change of pictures at Bernard's Theatre includes a great

variety from the best film makers In picturedom. The star feature dram i . by the famous A.B. Co.. is a like-like and thrilling story of Indian warfare and early western days. G. M. Anderson will re-appear in his famous impersonation o; Bronco Billy and The Rustler's Child. David Morgan's wife is in a serious condition and must * he taken from the high altitude. An Indian house thief shows David the way to make some money. They steal two horses and the Indian is eapptured by Broncho Billy, tiie sheriff, and ••squeals" ojil Morgan. The sheriff and a posse are soon after him. The cowpuncher crawls up into a loft, Broncho Billy enters, sees Morgan's wife is in a critical state and asks his child where her father is. She says she does not know. The sheriff hearing sounds above him. is about to fire. The child, fearing for her father's safety, tells the truth. Morgan comes down and explains that he stole the horses, so that he might take his wife to a hetetr climate. Dorothy pleads with the sheriff to save her father, and Broncho Billy puts the posse off the scene and later he mails the cattle owneur a cheque for the two horses. Morgan his wife and child leave for a better country. ' The remaining films make a first-class programme The first full programme, consisting of one star . feature 8000 feet in length, will be \ featured on Friday evening next in the favourite new East Lynne, adapted from Mrs Henry "Wood's world-fam-ed novel.