ENTERTAINMENTS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3898, 7 May 1937, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

AT THE REGENT. AGAIN TO-NIGHT. "LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY.” An old friend in a new guise was warmly welcomed at the local Regent Theatre on Wednesday evening and again last night, when little Freddie Bartholomew acquainted us with a completely de-sissifled "Little Lord Fauntleroy,” bereft of the traditional long golden curls, plush suit, lace collar and baby blue ribbon sash, but none the less lovable for that. This first offering as an independent production of David 0. Selznick, who made such astounding hits as “David Copperfield,” “A Tale of Two Cities,” "Dinner at Eight” and “Anna Karenina," is a doubly important occasion in that it also marks a triumphant return to the screen after four years for the lovely Dolores Costello Barrymore, who is co-starred with Freddie in the role of the Little Lord’s adored young mother, “Dearest.” The picture is released through United Artists. SATURDAY AND MONDAY. "THE DEVIL IS A SISSY.” Jackie Cooper, to appear on Saturday and Monday in Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer’s “The Devil is a Sissy" at the Regent Theatre, enjoys the distinction of being the youngest character star on the screen. It is highly probable that he has inherited some of the unique talent that has made him the outstanding child star of the screen’s history. For his uncle is the famous motion picture director, Norman Taurog. In Los Angeles, just a stone’s throw from the studios where to-day he is a brilliant luminary, he was born on September 15. He received his first education in kindergarten, and when he was older he w-as taught by private tutors. Because his uncle was a director, it naturally followed that he was thought of for a part on the screen. Jackie’s first assignment was a very small one in a Lloyd Hamilton comedy at Educational Studios. Jackie weighs 75 lbs, and has blonde hair and hazel eyes. His hobby is aeroplanes, and when Lindbergh was out in California he and Jackie had quite a talk about them. Jackie's other hobby is tennis, and he doesn’t mind studying geography and history. But he does hate multiplication tables. He’s enthusiastic about athletes, hates to have to sing, but does like dogs.

EMPIRE THEATRE. COMMENCING TO-NIGHT. “THE GREAT O’MALLEY.” The new programme at the Empire Theatre is a well-balanced mixture of comedy and drama. Irish wit and pathos are combined in "The Great O’Malley,” starring Pat O’Brien. James Alyosius O’Malley is a zealous young recruit in the American police force, whose rigid enforcing cf the ordinances and numerous petty persecutions eventually goad John Phillips to commit robbery to keep his family from starving. He is sent to gaol. O’Malley is detailed for duty at a school crossing, where he becomes acquainted with Barbara (Sybil Jason), Phillips’ crippled child. Barbara humanises him, and he secretly sets to work to obtain Phillips’ parole as well as interesting an eminent doctor in the crippled child. Barbara’s injury is right, but when Phillips comes out ef gaol he imagines that O’Malley is hounding him. In a struggle for Philips’ revolver, O’Malley is shot, but although the law tries to pin the blame on Phillips, O’Malley clears him. Judy Nolan (Ann Sheridan) is Barbara’s attractive school teacher, who does much to make O’M'alley realise that justice can be tempered with mercy. SOLES’ CIRCUS. THE BIG SHOW AND SOME OF THE STARS. Sole Bros.’ circus will show at To Awamutu on Monday evening, in Arawata Street. The circus finished a very successful season of three weeks in Auckland, and then went south to keep holiday engagements. Sole Bros, have succeeded in getting together a company of 30 international circus stars, headed by Captain Andrews with his performing lions, lionesses and tigers in a huge steel arena; La Belie Marie, swinging and balancing trapeze artist; Story and Lindsay, head to head balancers and upsidedown equilibrists; the Linten Sisters, sensational flying trapeze performers; the Solver Deleos, tumbling maniacs; famous Ashton, the greatest whip cracker on earth; Coco and Chico, knockabout comedy acrobats; Sole Bros.’ performing elephants; the Ridgway family, whirlwind tumblers; the two Silvesters, double wire walkers; Babette, wonder contortionist, with with her trained pom, together with Sole Bros.’ stock performers, including riders, tumblers, acrobats, trained horses, dogs, etc. The circus is to show at Otorohanga to-morrow evening.