AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 2 July 1924, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

A 1 use;ROVE VAUDEVILLE j COMEAN 1. , Another well filled home ! the second perform!)nee of the Mmgrove Vaudeville Company a •• ' Theatre Royal last evening, ami the enterUimnont was received with y same spirit of approcintion *» »«» evident at the opening pertonnaiv.fc. Signer Barti again proved an nnmemo success, and in several . v,•ell-selected numbers demonstrated his oapabilU c. ns an operatic tenor to the utmost vantage. His rendering ot the popular “O Sole Mio” (Beneath Thy V ind.m ) necessitated an additional number before the final turn could be proceeded with. Mias Ronie Riano, oi Music Box” revue fame, was again m popular demand, and her song and dance items were received with general approbation. The combined turn pro vided bv Messrs Windsor, Edgar, am Kellawav proved a big hit, the musical representations proving exceptionally pleasing to the audience. Miss dune Solly 'added to the programme with several pleasing vocal muiioers, that showed to advantage a well com trolled contralto voice. Mr Collms peiformed’ sleight-of-hand and juggling tricks of an entertaining nature wun consistent success. The Alton Sisters ao-ain delighted the house with their exceedingly graceful movements on 1 tie silver wire. ' The performance concluded with the turn provided by Guiliv and Jeanny on the top ol their miniature Eiffel Tower, a round of am plause signifying the appreciation of the audience. “LONGd)DDS” AT FULLERS’ TO-NIGHT. Expi-lienee teaches that the Tilin'.ni picture-going public love a good sporting film, and in offering to Theatre /Royal prjtrons to-night the British racing special, '‘Long Odds,” the Fuller management do so with the utmost confidence that it is the finest of all such productions, and further, is all-British throughout. Advance reports point, to “Long Odds” as some thing well away from the ordinary run of racing pictures. It is a Stoll release produced by A. E. Coleoy. from an original story written by himself. and contains an exciting steeple chase, a number of very novel effects and at least one big, surprise, even for those who are familiar with such things at race meetings. The story of Gus Granville, a “bookie,” whose honourable dealings on the turf gained him universal respect. A cloud is cast ovet him by an action with which he is mu concerned, but finally ho is exonerated The race is so well done and the suspense so cleverly arranged, that long before it is. over it should have the audience worked up into a state of high excitement. In a critique, the London “Evening Nows” said: “Tho most exciting horse race I have evei seen on the screen. The race is un usually well photographed—-really looks like a race, and illustrates a littleknown rule of the National Hunt, that a horse which has thrown its rider may be mounted by another qualified person if he is on the course.” .Not content with being both author and producer of “Long Odds,” Mr Coleby fills an important role in the picture as Guv 1 Granville, the owner of “Black Beauty,” the horse that wins a Tig race and re-establishes the fortunes of the Granville family. Pretty Edit)) Bishop is the leading lady-. 'Another film of importance is , a Mermaid comedy, “Look Out Below,” in which Tige Conley is featured, . “Look Out Below” is beyond doubt the funniest and cleverest comedy of this: year. Other supports include .“The Pathc Gazette” and an, educational subject, “Oyster Culture.”; - . The Royal .<r chestra. under Mr Edgar Collin’s direction. Seats inay be booked as usual. UNIVERSAL. SUPER-JEWEL. AT THE:GRAND. “Happiness depends on good thoughts.” This formula, laid down in countless phrases for centuries, Is still a new lesson to mankind. Confucius preached it. Mahomet voiced it. Philosophers have proclaimed it. 1 And still mankind has seldom followed it. A striking lesson based on this principle of mental well-being is given in “A Chapter in Her Life,” Universal’s new production based on’Clara Louise Burnham’s novel, “Jewel,” to be seen at the Grand Theatre, commencing to-night. "A Chapter in Her Life” tells of a little girl, grand-daughter of an embittered millionaire, who, through the necessity of her parents’ travel-' ling, is sent to his home. The millionaire is at outs with his sons, and is bitterly quarreling with the widow and step-daughter of one son who has died. Into this home, armed with nothing but faith in the good in people, comes the little girl. She is cruelly treated, but her faith in the good in others works a miracle. The leading male role, that of the rich grandfather, is played by Claude Gillingwater. It is a character of a gruff, determined, and proud old financier, deep-rooted in his likes and dislikes, and selfish to the core. Little Jane Mercer, latest find among j child actresses, plays the title role of Jewel. She is said to be an attractive child, although perhaps she might not be called “cute.” In fact, as Lois Weber, the director of the play said, she is “just natural.” “She might be anybody’s child — that’s the reason of her charm,” one actor said. Jacqueline Gadsden, who plays the dead son’s step-daughter, Is another “discovery” of the season, elevated from the ranks of the extras. Miss Weber scenarized it from the original novel, and chose the locations and scenic settings. The exterior scenes were taken on a famous old Californian estate, while for the interiors an old New York mansion was copied in detail. Supports include a Star comedy, entitled “Spring of 1924,” the latest “International News,” and a tworeel Century comedy “Checking Out.” Patrons are advised to 'phone their reserves early to 486.