ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 880, 28 July 1910, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

M'MAHON'S PICTURES. The "ironclad bushrangers"—'"Nod and "Dan" Kelly, Hart, and ,^' r P°,T whom not even Rolf Boldrewood s fictitious "gentlemen of tlio road" surpassed in daring, enacted a thrilling story in their clay, and that story is now being retold at the Opera House by M'Mahon s animated pictures. Everything from the first shooting of Police Omccr Scanlon, right down to the last grim grapple of tho mail-clad ones with the heavy force of police which finally closed in on the Glenrowari Hotel., where three of the gang perished, and the leader was taken, after sustaining twenty, wounds. The interinodiate stages includo the dramatic swoop of the men on the littlo town of Jerilderie, the Euroa bank affair, and the shooting of Aaron Sheritt, who, with an eye on the heavy reward offered by tho Governments of Victoria and Now South Wales, essayed to betray the desperadoes. Last evening thero was a capital house to witness the pictures, , which will be repeated this evening. A matinee is announced for Saturday afternoon. THEATRE ROYAL. A large number of patrons attended to witness F\illers's vaudeville company at tho Theatre Royal last A feature of the bill was tho acrobatic" Teats of the Rogers Juveiiile Quartette, who were greeted with unstinted applause. The eomcdian, Ward Lear, who has become a firmly-established favourite, amused the audience considerably, and the same may bo said of ,£ Himm and Mee," gymnasts and acrobats. JCeilderson, tho quickchange impersonator, was accorded _ a hearty demonstration and Rupert Christie, the buy soprano, .was given an enthusiastic recall. Miss Gertie Johus, ucrio comic, and the Coleman Sisters, i comediennes and dance artists, also helped to make up an entertaining evening. The British fiiograph projected one of the latest dramatic, and two comic films of conspicuous merit. The performances will continue nightly. ■ ' KING'S THEATRE." There was a crowded house at the King's Theatre last night, w)ien tho weekly 'change of programme was submitted. Tho who-le of tho pictures shown are quite up to' the usual high standard, and provide -excellent entertainment for an evening. A beautiful little drama is portrayed in the first part in a picture entitled the "Bride of tho Hauntsd Castle." A young couple are married, and the wadding breakfast over, the members of tho wedding party leave for a rambie anions the ruins of an old castle hard by. Amid the enchanting surroundings, the party decide on a game of "hide and seek," which is to cause a deal of anxiety before it is ended. The bride, in attempting to hide herself, first falls some feet into a cellar, and finding a door ajar, pushes it wider open, and enters another apartment. The door then closes with a bang, and the young lady is horrified to find that she cannot open it. Further search for any possible outlet r-eveals but too plainly the fact that the bridu is imprisoned in a. secluded . and perhaps an unknown part of the ca-stle. To add terror to the situation, she finds the skeleton of a young lady, who it transpires was parted from her lover and .cruelly murdered thero many years before. Meanwhile,, the wedding party has mustered, and tho absence of the bride is noted. .A diligent search fails to discover her,, ami all inquiries as to whero she may be-hidden are futile. Presently a littlo girl comes to the party with a cat in- her arms. The cat has a handkerchief tied round its neck, and the bridegroom is to find that it belongs to-tho missing bride. The child directs the party to a ventilator whenco the cat emerged, and so the lost .brido is found. A I'ealure of tho picture is the benutiful scenery and the dresses of tho persons concerned. Another fine dramatic picture is the "Gold Seekers." The despairing prospector has given up all hope of finding a fortune when his wii'o urges him to make one more 6earch. A rich" claim is discovered and staked ofl, but tho title is only secured byvhoroic efforts of the wife and her young son, aa a pair of scoundrels endeavour to jump the claim. A rather interesting picture is the "Raising of tho French Submarine Pluviose," also "The First Publication of Pathe's Weekly Animated Gazette/' giving a whole budget of news .from ■everywhere. "Huntiiig "Wolves in Rus sia"' specially uppeais to sporting instincts. The comic items are, if anything, above the the top noto of laughter being reached in the concluding picture, entitled "Foolshead's Distraction."

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Tho popularity of the pictures shown at His 'Majesty's Theatre remains unabated, and as the weeks go by the number of regular patrons steadily increases. Last evening when tho week's cliahgo was'presented the theatro was crowded, and tho pictures were received with marked evidence of appreciation. The "star" picture was "Isabella of Arragon," a romantic aud dramatic incident in the lifo of this renowned historical character of Spain. Tho opening scene depicts Antinello in love with a pretty maid. Tho father of (lie girl intervenes, and the devout lover, who is discarded, departs armed with tho idea of making a bid for a fortune. He is eventually admitted to court, aud Queen Isabella, who is charmed with, him, appoints him first. Advisory Minister, with tho rank of a duke. The "old love," however, after an appealing Interview with' tho newly-created duko tells her story in the presence of the Queen and her courtiers, with tho result that Antinello is robbed of his dignified position: However, Queen Isabella's lovo for him is still retained, and she plots a flight with Antinello. The pair, aro about to board a vessel when the courtiers appear, and tho would-be hero is slain. Tho picture is portrayed with very. fine stage elfects. Another absorbing film is that of "Indian Blood," a story of lovo and rovengo which ends in an Indian and his fair squaw far from the haunts of. men, happy and contented in the prosecution of the simple life. A picturesque film showing Sir. Alfred Vanderbilt winning tho- classic English coaching fixture with his fine greys was much appreciated. The beautiful river scenery of the Lachine Rapids,. near Montreal, Canada, .is superbly fine, and the "Gold Seeker" is a splendid American biograpli story of tho "everlasting quest." There are numerous other, scenic and humorous pictures which are in keeping with. the high standard set at Jlis Majesty's. This .set of. kinematograpli pictures will be exhibited throughout the week! .' ' STAR PICTURES.

The bill-of-fare provided at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, by the Star Picture Proprietary this week, is well up to tho standard, tho films having been judiciously selected. Last evening; the hall was. well-filled, and the varied humorous items in particular kept tho audience in a simmer of merriment. Of the dramatic, scenes, "In the Nick of Time" is a particularly good one. Other lending items are, "A Visit to the Gorman National- Zoo," "A Day AVith tho Boy Scouts in England," and "Among the lied Indians." The programme will bo repeated each evening this week. OLYMPIA RINK. ' There was again a crowded attendance at the Olympia . Kink yesterday, that testified to the continued popularity of roller skating. The band pleasantly enlivened the proceedings, and the selections, carefully chosen, mere greatly appreciated. CARRENO. Tho music-loving community and musical students will be pleased to learii that Mr. Benno .Schcrek has arranged for one farewell concert to lie given by Madame Teresa Carreno at the Town ILall on Friday evening, August 5. This will be positively the last opportunity to hear the celebrated pianist in Wellington before her departure for Australia and South Africa. A special popular programme will be presented, and Mr. Scherclt, enabled by the great seating capacity of the Town Hall, announces popular prices of admission and special concessions to students. The box plan and snlo of tickets will be opened at the Dresden on Monday morning next.