ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 735, 7 February 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HACKENSCHMTDT. ■ VISIT OF THE GREAT WRESTLER. ; Not, one of" the large crowd , which thronged into the Town Hall on Saturday evening- who ■ takes the least interest in physical culture could .have come away •without having obtained complete satisfaction. ; Hackenschmidt,., the ohampion wrestler, is really a- ' marvellous product,-.. Of ...scientific .'.physical culture, and ,no one who is in the least degree! interred ; in : -the possibilities of, physical development • can afford to miss the , opportunity of seeing this-.splpndid mass-' of - muscle. • Hackenschmidt is the physical; superman—a big,; fellow, nsitur-.-' ally and constitutionally, developed to a condition that amazes.,; On his ;baok,' shoiilders, arms, and thighs , are layers, ridges, rolls, and lumpß of..musole, .corrugating /his 'whole .system,.Under', l -a strong ilight in a .red-draped canopy, Haokenschinidt'. 'stands.; on.' a;; revolving pedestal •to display his' parts.' ."'And' what ;a-/wonderful;display,-it -is! His great arms look- as' 'thick as an ordinary- person's' legs, arid to show.his''perfect' control' over his biceps he.can make.them, jump abOut ''without'moving .a muscle," one is tempted ,to' - say,.. paradoxically. -.Over, .lns;'-shoulder-;blad«'he ;has.developed- masses'of.muscle, iwhich in ■ a.ctio_n 'growth that fiesh in ordinary is not heir ;to....Tct : Hackenschmidt' -is as - neat," arid light oii A his /feot as a "ballot : (iarioer. ; '.-To :prove 'it, he dees ;standirig jumps over the back of 'an Austrian - chair/; He showed his/method of developing the sectional muscular-groups'by exercises' with a.'loolb.' bar-bell, a 751b. iron ball; a chair, and the use of the floOr/ All very simple—only persistence -is needed. But how few have it! Asa champion wrestler, Hackenschmidt, gave an idea' of ,' his style and a taste of-Ms quality by a'coiiple pf bouts with "Gunner" "Moir and' Alei. Bain, both fine specimens! of manhood/and wrestlers, of world-wide fame.' . /The "Russian' -set. himself the.'task -of- -wrestling both .men, one'' after, the..other.(cit'oh-as-; catoh-can 'style),' ,within , fifteen minutes each. • If'-these' bouts were • rehearsed- they were, rehearsed; most'., perfectly, for in both-cases. the,.tussles .were, moit 'spirited, • and ~:there/;,were,.no' ,; beg7pardons", .'oheither ; side.' Moir . struggled.'..'gamely,, mostly. flattened Vout ,on'. the' .mat".,with one'V-wirigl'.extended to : p'reverit'.the turn over..; Weight, : skill, and power at length had' their reward, 'and Moir's shoulders were pinned to the "carpet for the/requisite two seconds in about four minutes. Bain, tho graceful Scotchman, proved a tougher opponent to deal, with. His' defence' was masterly, and his neck power surprising." Bain" threw; 15-storie'. Hackensohm'idt right 'over his shoulders, but as soon .as the. latter landed- on.;his feot .he' threw Bain in the. same manner,., giving hipi'/a .twist thab;laid~ him on liis' baclc, and. spread-eagled;'on: top.-' of/ him, to keep him down. Tho bout with; Bain lasted five minutes.. .' , .-' ■ ,' ■. '

Hackenschmidt,'it was, announced,'was 'prepared' to, 'give aiiyone ,',£ls.;whom he' could riot throw in'ls minutes," and ,£IOO :to the man 1 who could;throw him within tho same time (catch-'as-catch-can style). It .was notified that Mr. Harry Sandow, of Wellington, would enter the list 9 on Moriday .evening. ' ; - , The company includes others besides' toorig men;;.; Tho delightful vocalisin.' of Madame Blanche' Carelli gavo pleasure .to,- all.; Her voice is a full-bodied musical soprano of exoellent",quality ( , and.'is'.used with much -artistio diseretion..'. Madame Ca'relli's' choice of songs , was as . good as her -.singing.',' ,'They' "were .'"Camssima"; (Ponn),< encore,' -"Kisses," and / "Sincerity;".; encore;', "Killarriey."'Mr. Mark' .QsborneV;,monologne , ; 'performance was' somewhat . handicapped ;by' the' : size of.. tho hall, 'but, he';;appeared' to. give 'every. sai>, isfactio'n' to' tho6e within range. . Mr. Clifford Eskell,'-is ■ a magician- who performs a number of tricks;'in a'neat; and busiriess-like ;• mariner.' ; . His ■ 'card-palinirig' feats were' distinctly .clever, .arid his Bur-, mese. gong was. a decided :• relief rto , the', nerve-shattering revolver. ' Some good kiriematograph'. views. Including "Hackenschmidt aiid., Joe.. Übgers's '-tussla • for ■ the ;wrestling' ohampionship of the; world, and '.'a very 'clear, picture..-of '."Gunner" Moir's battlo with; Tommy .Burns for tho boxing'.ohampionship: ; of 'the' world' completed , a'.' inost . interesting programme. The. company-.will appear .-again'.- -this evening.' "- -

OPERA HOTJSE. , - The ; productidri'' of "The King ' of -Cadbnia 'vby.vl&i''';Willismii)ii'a!.eompaoir' on Saturday night was • witnessed' by an-, other . large •' and - appreciative ' audience' The play. ; went- very, 'brightly:, from;-first to "last; and- the gorgeous- scenery and dresses were much admired. Possibly' there' is no "country; that has naturally the . romantic -atmosphere- /of Cuba, and the fact' that the' new;.musical play,. "Havana," to be presented by; the company on, Wednesday has !• its -, setting in that languorous and beautiful environment-, speaks well / for" the',: appointment and' general-surroundings, of the new play. "Havana" has -been" quoted 'as one of the brightest and best of , recent musical comedies.' -Mr; Bert GilberV: a - tower of strength; in .any; play;' has,-it is said, .the big;part • of- his ■'life' as' Nix,. the -Wore-worn. Bo'suri. r -Mr. .Percy •:and Miss Godwin will make, a - first, appearance, and song, dance," and -specialty are abundant. --. Mr; .Payton,. who-has a fascinating, number and 'dance 'in 'conn'ection ' with, ; Miss .Elsie Stevenson,' Mr. Frank Greene, Mr. VictoT Prince, Mr; Pat i Bathurst,, Miss ' Olive Godwin, . Miss ;Ivy ; Scott, .-and 'Miss. Ada Stirling,'."and numbers of ' others'- help; to swell a cast that is unusually, strong.;, "Havana,": will - be'played .for. six. nights.- . ' v : " '

• • THEATRE, ROYAL. - There '-Will- tie ' a new ' programme' .at the 'Theatre. Royal this evening; when the Martin Sisters/ , 'described v as'"; the "clevercst.-nattiest ' duo"-will r make their initial appearance. On-Saturdayi evening, a large crowd 'enjoyed the entertainment immensely. ' ■ 1 HIS MAJESTY'S. _ Both the' afternoon and' tions ■of the' Royal .'Pictures ak-'-His ■ Majesty's Theatre .on Saturday received a large " share" of. public patronage,' •' the theatre'in the evening being orowded 'to the doors. The present programme; which is one of the best' yet offered for .the,entertainment of the. public, will, be shown to-night and to-morrow evening, giving place,' on Wednesday evening, to an en-tirely-new- series, which may "confidently be expected: to include several star films. : STAR PICTURES. The Star Pictures at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, were shown to a good attendance on Saturday.; The programme includes a number of first-class films, representing various . subjects—dramatic, humorous, pathetic, trevel pictures,'and so on.