AMUSEMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9322, 24 August 1908, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

♦ i WIDE WORLD PICTURES. The matinee entertainment of the Royal Wide World Pictures at the Opera House on Saturday drew a very large audience and an excellent programme was very well received, some hundreds of children and a largo number of adults applauding the pictures enthusiastically. In the evening tho entertainment was repeated and the theatre was again well filled. The same set of pictures will be presented every evening until Thursday, when the weekly change will bo made. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. THE ROYAL PICTURES. There was such a large audience at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday evening for the opening entertainment of the Royal Pictures that the city inKpectors had to stop the sale of tickets. The entertainment was in every way a success, and the audience applauded the pictures vigorously. The chioi picture, entitled "Nero, or the Burning of Rome,"' was a very good dramatic study dealing with the trials of tho early Christians. It concluded with a realistic representation of the burning of the city and the saving of the Christian prisoners in the amphitheatre by a Roman soldier. A film showing views of canals in Holland was another very good one., the pretty windmills and lazy barges being dieplayed most effectively, and the film was loudly applauded. A dramatic picture, entitled " A Romance of the Fur Count] I }'/ 7 was acted in the frozen north of Canada, and some of tho snow effects were remarkably good. Several views of the recent Sydney tramway strike gave an excellent klea. of the enormous crowds that blocked the streets, und a series showing the oyster industry in France gave the audience an. opportunity of following the shellfish from the oceau bed to the wouti. oi

the " taster." A picture entertain ment without a series of humorous filnn would be nowadays lamentably incom pk-te, and the Royal Pictures eon tain some films that are ver funny. '"'Father Buys a Picture," ; very clever series dealing with the ad Ventures of a gentleman who essayed t< carry a largo picture through crowde< [streets, was one of 'tho best, and "_Th< j Loafer's T/ucky Day ; " describing th good hick that pursues a tramp, am " She AVo^uld Be an Actress," whkl told of the ambitions of & freckled farn hand, were also decidedly clever. " Thi Billiard Fever." "A Good Candidate ' and several other humorous and dra matic films made up a thoroughly en joyaljle programraej and the incidenta effects and well-timed accompaniment: by the orchestra did much to make th< entertainment enjoyable. The pi'O' gramme will be repeated this evening.