SCREEN and STAGE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17177, 22 October 1923, Page 5

SCREEN and STAGE

NOTES ON CURRENT AND COMING SHOWS

Purchasers of photographs are requested to note that the on-lv photographs remaining from the first batch are those of Beatrice Joy, Jack Holt and. Kodolph Valentino. "If Winter Comes 1 ’ will be staged at the Theatre Royal by the J. O- Williamson Dramatic Company on Saturday evening next. This production will be followed by "The Cat and the Canary.” " The V oman V ho Fooled Herself.” which was filmed on the island of Porto Rico, and which features May Allison and Robert Ellis, will be one of the attractions! at Greater Crystal Palace to-night. At the termination of the season of his musical comedy company at the Opera House on Saturday night Mr Con Moreni presented the manager. Mr Walter Helsdon, with a. crocodile skin pocket wallet as a mark of appreciation of what Mr Helsdon had done company during their stay at the" theatre. One of the most realistic fights ever screened is shown in "Sn oaf drift,” the latest William Fox production starring Charles Jones, at the Queen s to-night-The action at the climax of this picture takes place in a. Yukon dance halt when Jones is trying to rescue the girl fi'om the French trader. The hall is set on fire, and it is in this blazing wooden hall that the men fight for the girl they both admire. To-night's new programme at the Opera House will consist of all vaudeville turns, which will be given by the following: .Toe Brennan and Ida Newton, comedy sketch artists: Ray Kemble, female impersonator; Sinclair Brothers, equilibrists and band balancers; the Hilo Duo. Hawaiian specialists : Billy Elliott, black-face comedian ; Carlton Max. ventriloquist: Jack Bircliley, contortionist: Mable and Malfe, comedy sketch duo : Keith Desmond. monologuist; and Nat Hanley, entertainer at the piano.

Gloria Swanson’s picture in fireworks is one of the novel effects in her next Paramount picture, “ Prodigal Daughters.’ ’ The idea was worked out and put into effect after elaborate preparations with the assistance of a wellknown fireworks manufacturer as one of the features of a. night party on the lawn of an estate in this Sam Wood production. Beneath the fireworks picture is the word " Swiftie,” the name of the character Miss Swanson portrays in the film. At the conclusion of the performance at the Opera House on Saturday night tjie members of Mr Con. Aloreni’s Musical Comedy Company were entertained at supper and a jazx dance on the stage. The supper was served under the supervision of Mrs Edgington and Miss Ida Beggatt. The dancing was interspersed with musical items, Mr Keith Desmond contributing a monologue, Mr Gordon Terry a song, Mr and Mrs Albert Bidgood a ukelele duet, and the six winsome brunettes an hakn, which created great amusement. Music for the dancing was played by Messrs A. Bidgood and Nat Hanley. On behalf of the members of his company Mr Moreni thanked the -neople who had organised the entertainment which they hoped to be aLTIe to return at a future date. The Con Moreni .Musical Comedy Company concluded their ten weeks’ season at. the Opera House on Saturday night and then- were accorded a most enthusiastic farewell. At the end of the performance the members of the company threw streamers out into the auditorium and sang choruses of popular songs in which the audience joined heartily. Meanwhile presents of a most varied nature, ranging from, bouquets.to ukeleles, kept pouring over the footlights to the various members of the company. When all the presents had been handed up Mr Con Moreni in a brief speech thanked the audience for the magnificent farewell accorded the members of bis company that evening. They bad been treated right royally by the public, the Press, the manager, Air Walter Helsdon. and the stage staff, and lie could not imagine that- they ronld be accorded such a. warm welcome elsewhere in New Zealand- Christchurch was the first town in which his company bad played and it was a. most auspicious opening for the tour- The comoa.nv and the audience then sang " Auld Lang Syne.” and the National Anthem, after which the performers left for their dressingrooms with armfuls of all kinds of presents.

‘ Boston Blaekie.'* a story of prison life, featuring Wm. Russell and Eva Novak, will be shown at the Queen's to-night. "Souls for Sale.” which boasts an exceptionally strong cast of characters, will be the leading attraction at Everybody's to-night. There will be three attractions at the King's Sydenham, to-night. Charlie Chaplin will be there in " Pay Day." “ The Old Nest has Mary Alden in the leading role, while " The Idle Rich ” claims Bert By tell as its star. Myrtle Stedman is a member of the cast of " The Dangerous Age." the First National attraction now showing at the Grand. She Avas engaged for the important role she essays when she returned to California, from the East Coast, where she made a personal appearance tour. In " The Dangerous Age ’’ she has a vital role as a social climber in New York society circles. In " Pay Day ” at the Biberty Charlie Chaplin appears in one of his inimitable labourer roles, looking forward to pay dav with anxious face. His comedy carries the 6tory at a swift pace f rom a huge construction plant where a skvscra.per is being erected and finally to the haunts where the workers hang out on pay day, and finallv home to the wife. From pach set the star obtains a maximum <lf fun at a minimum Of apparent effort. In "The Cave Girl.” showing at the Liberty. Teddv Gerard has the role of a primitive girl who has ensconced herself in the secureness of the wilderness. Unfortunatelv for her ideals, a party of New York social highbrows bent upon bridge and match-making invade her retreat. AVhen their cabin burns up they come to her for refuge and in the cultured company of society the care girl emulates her ancestors in fighting for the man she loves.

"Tile Old Nest,” one of the most popular of Bugert Hughes's novels, has been adapted to the screen and is being shown at the Liberty this iveek. Here is how one critic described this very appealing picture : We have seen Alary Alden as the mother in " The Old Nest.” It was one of the occasions of a lifetime. Her performance is so extraordinarily realistic that one, unconsciously forgets the artist behind the character. Never before have we seen pathos and resignation am] the indescribably something called mother love interpreted so simply and so beautifully. " Sawdust,” which is Miss Walton’s latest starring picture for Universal, affords the diminutive star one of the strongest roles of her screen career. She has the role of Nita, the little circus " tight rope ” dancer, whose life is made very unhappy by the manager of the show, ivhn is the girl’s guardian, until she leaves the " Big Top ” fox her new home. The role is particularly difficult because in addition to skilful dramatic arting the part- calls for many difficult gymnastic stunts, whiph Miss Walton essays with the grace of a regular " trooper.” "Sawdust” is being shown at Greater Crystal Palace this week. Ricardo Cortez. Paramount’s newly acquired leading man. makes bis debut in Walter Hiers’s latest star comedy. " Sixty Cents an Hour,” which will shown, at Everybody’s to-night. Mr Cortez portrays the role of William Davis, a real estate agent endeavouring to promote the sale of land in the little suburb of Hollywood called Zarina. It is be who draws up the lease on a tract of land on Avhicli the energetic. Air Hiers, as-Jimmy Kirk, the soda clerk in Jenks's establishment, has determined to set himself up in business, a. strip of land that, plays an all-important part, in the climax of the picture. Supporting the star in a featured role is Jacqueline Logan. while the rest of the cast, includes Charles Ogl<y Bucille Ward. Robert Dudley. Guv Oliver, Clarence Burton and Cullen Tate.

Alanv are the tales that are told about Tony, To m Atix's beautiful and intelligent, horse appearing with thatstar at the Grand this week. Mix was once shot in the leg by a drunken cowboy. The bullet troubled him only for a. dozen years ; then one day. after a rodeo performance, bis leg gave out and he bad to go to a hospital to have the bullet- removed. Tony’s distress at Tom’s absence was so great, that he refused to eat. Pat Chrisman. in care of Tonv. went to the hospital and told Tom. and the tAvo arranged to have Tony brought, to the hospital so Tom could feed him. The superintendant of the hospital allowed Clirisman to take Atix out. on the Idavii in a wheel chair, and' there be fed Tony the first meal the animal had eaten in several days. Thereafter, until Tom got out. the feeding of Tony was the big e\-ent of the day at the hospital. TO-NIGHT’S SHOWS. Queen’s—" SnoAvdrift ” and " Boston Blaekie.” Grand —" The Dangerous Age ” and Greater Crystal' Palace "The Woman Who Fooled Herself” and "Sawdust.” Liberty—" Pay Day,” " The Old Nest ” and "The Cave Girl." Everybody’s—" Souls for Sale ” and "Sixty Cents an Hour.” King’s, Sydenham—"Pay Day/’ " The Old Nest ” and " The idle Rich.” Opera House—All Veudeville.