THE OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1046, 24 March 1910, Page 16

THE OPERA HOUSE.

FULLER’S WORLD-WIDE PICTURES J.■ ■ ’-H ( It is astonishing what a hold the picture shows have iipon the people; they never seem to pall or w.eary those who have taken to this form'bf amusement, and, in spite or the dictum of the wise men, that there is “nothing new under the sun,” they are always presenting new features of interest and unexpected developments that make them very acceptable to ithe public. This is the case with Fuller’s World Wide Pictures, which are (always good, and which bring us into touch with events of, old world interest, that are still of quite’irecent i occurrence, as witness the . Paris floods pictures that are being shown this week, the series being a remarkably fine one, and showing the tremendous extent of, and the damage done by the phenomenal inundatiofls of which we were reading in the cablegrams only the other day. Then, another remarkably good series forms an interesting objest lesson of the work of the railway construction as it is carried on in Northern Canada,at the rate of two miles a day, every stage of the operations being graphically illustrated. From Canada, the sightseer is carried across , to Rangoon, the famous capital of Burmah, whose pagodas shrines, temples, praying pilgrims, priests and beggars are brought forward in quick succession. Again we are transported back to America and introduced first to the sowers of the wheat; then to the famous Chicago “Wheat Pit” where the notorious Patten successfully “cornered” the wheat supplies of the world, the “ Corner in Wheat” being illustrated in a very striking series of pictures, introducing the Wheat King in his office preparing for the coup;

then carrying on his gambling operations in the “pit” ruining more than one unfortunate speculator in the result; then showing the “Wheat King” receiving the congratulations of his friends, and contrasting the subsequent feastings and junketings with the increased burdens put upon poor people, in some pitiful pictures fraught with tragic interest; and in the final set showing a party of the Wheat King’s friends being escorted over the wheat elevators, where the gambler meets with a well-merited judgment, by falling into one of the elevators and being buried alive in the wheat that showers down upon and suffocates him. In another series the advocates of “Tariff Reform” present a number of striking pictures representing John Bull being crowded out at his own table by the foreigners, who, taking advantage of his “open door” policy, drive him to the wall, until his son from over the seas comes upon the scene and the pair jointly turn the crowd of foreigners out. Instinct in dramatic interest are the pictures illustrating the “Judgment” of Lynch law and Its fallible side in the execution of the wrong man (the scenes being enacted in wild and rugged country that adds greatly to the awe-inspiring nature of the scenes) and the story of “Fenton of the 42nd.” “ The Experiments in Liquid Air” and “Memories” are alike clever. In the humorous line “Jane made one of the Family,” “ The Test,” and “The marriage of Coco” prove very diverting. The incidental music given by Mr. E. J. Burke’s orchestra adds much to the enjoyable nature of the entertainment, and, as already hinted the programme is one of the best yet presented. The management has, it is stated, made special arrangements through Messrs. John Fuller and Son’s London office, whereby they have secured the exclusive New Zealand rights of a remarkable series of films dealing with notable Public Men, and incidents of national importance. These Pictures will be exhibited in Auckland, at the Opera House only, and the first of the aeries will be exhibited shortly. A special programme is announced for Good Friday (to-morrow) when the pictures shown will include “Nero, or the Burning of Rome,” and “The Way of the Cross. Mr. John Fuller is to sing “ The Holy City” and “Sally in Our Alley,” and also with Madame Blanche Carelli, who has been specially engaged, the ‘Miserere’ duet. The - usual change of programme will be made at the Matinee on Saturday.