ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 184, 21 December 1912, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPEN-AIR ENTERTAINMENT. The Recreation Sports Ground Committee in conjunction with tke Taranaki Garrison Band is promoting a unique entertainment in the Recreation Sports Ground on Boxing Night, commencing at 8 o'clock. A special programme of moving pictures for the occasion, is to be screened in the open-air from a kinematograph installation just erected by Mr.. Holah. The Central School teams, under the direction of Mr.. Lints,, is to give a new setting of the "March of the Flowers," under limelight effect. In addition to ether, attractive items, the committee has arranged that every child buying an admission ticket at the gate will be represented with, a present from a realistic Xmae tree presided over by Father Xmas, who will make a realistic appearance in the ground's.. Charges for admissioni will <be adults Is and children 6d, and under the romantic surroundings and the ideal weather usually obtaining at this time of the year,, the entertainment should no doubt be ap-; preciated to an extent that will give a welcome addition to the sadly depleted exchequer of the Recreation grounds, etc. EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. On the new programme showing at the Empire to-day (matinee and night) is a wonderfully sensational animal picture entitled "Arabian Treachery." The leader of an Arabian revolt pretends friendship with the Consul, and then seizes that official's small daughter, and, aided by his followers, carries her off to * hut in the wilderness. The Consul and several others, set out in pursuit of the Arabs, and the child's mother, aided by a large hound, also follows the chase.; The dog leads the mother to the hut where the child is concealed, and she is about to carry the little girl home again when she discovers that three large lions tave approached the building and are prowling about near the entrance. The mother secures the door, and then prepares a trap for the beasts. She then escapes by another door, and the lions, as they enter the hut, fall into the trap. ' The robbers are captured, and the party return home safely. The. Vitagraph Co. are also represented with a dramatic study, "The Old Kent Road," featuring the popular favorite, Maurice Costello. Other pictures include "The Stolen Ring" (Lubin), "Their Hero" (Edison) and a number of pelasing scenic and comic pictures. ,

" THE BOWSTRING."

A superb domestic subject in the shape of "The Bowstring" was released at the Theatre Royal. It is an effective staging of ancient Rome, the cruelty of the age being dramatically shown and contrasted with the love which exists between one of the Emperor's archers and a girl of the people, the wonderful beauty of whose long locks of dark hair has become famous. The emperor desires to possess her, and one day gives orders for her to be brought before him. Her soldier is in attendance, and to render him harmless the jester cuts almost through the string of his bow. When the soldier sees his sweetheart before the emperor he levels an arrow at the tyrant, but the string breaks under the strain, and he is overpowered and cast out of the town. The two escape but are pursued by the emperor. With his bow broken the soldier is defenceless, but with his sword he severs the girj's beautiful locks and plaits a fresh string. Crouching behind a bush the archer fits an arrow to a bow; it speeds on its way, straight and true, and the tyrant falls. Other films included in the change of programme were three good dramas, "Saved from Courtmartial" (Kalem). "The Sheriff's Prisoner" (Lnbin), and "Western Hearts" (S. and A.), a trio of splendid comics, and "Cotoa Cultivation," "A Visit to Bengal." and "Industries in Sardina."