ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4799, 14 January 1925, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

GAIETY THEATRE, TO-NIGHT. The famous Dixie Jubilee Singers will appear to-night at the Gaiety Theatre. This is the very first genuine all-coloured company of jubilee singers to tour the world for over twenty-six years. We have been informed that the Dixies have proved themselves the most popular organisation of their kind throughout both Canada and the U.S.A., drawing capacity houses, and in certahi instances have played to record-breaking audiences. This is not to be wondered at, as we are told that they present a splendid programme which meets with general approval and caters-for all tastes. Madam Buckner, who possesses a heauitful soprano voice, has starred irr some of the greatest productions in America, and only on account of her preference to travel with her husband, Mr W. C. Buckner, the leader of the Dixies, has she accompanied the troupe ojn this tour. Mr Buckner is considered the greatest basso of his race, and, so we are told, receives tremendous applause when he sings such songs as ’’Old Black Joe” and “Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep.’ ’ The contralto, Miss Helen Smallwood, is said to fairly captivate her audience when singing the old favourites of the South, which she sings with delightful abandon. According to reports we have received the members exert themselves to please their audience, and never refuse an necore no matter how difficult or strenuous their previous number had been, and undoubtedly their courtesy is appreciated. American audiences are extremely difficult to please, and their musical tastes run from the classics to the jazziest varieties of jazz, and when one considers how the Dixies arc applauded by the people, and their wonderful drawing power wherever they show, speaks for itself. GAIETY THEATRE PICTURES. THURSDAY NIGHT. “THE CALL OF THE CANYON.” The featured players in the production to be shown to-morrow night are Richard Dix, Lois Wilson, and Marjorie Daw. Mr Dix and Miss Wilson also played leading roles in “To the Last Man.” Heading the supporting cast arc Noah Beery, Ricardo Cortez, and. Fred Huntley. “The Call of the Canyon’’ tells the story of a definite phase in current American history following the great war, when a wave of jazz swept over the world. Most of the scenes, however, are laid in the mountainous districts of the West. The picture is dramatic, thrilling, and intensely appealing. ST. LEON’S CIRCUS AND RODEO. THF GREAT TUMBLING ACT. "Phew ’Tis warm, my braves ; how did the show go ?” Addressing this remark to some of the other artists, the star performer began to divest himself of his glad clothes even as he made his way behind the wings. The scene was the great tent of St. Leon s Circuc writes an Auckland Correspondent. "Good, oh, Bill,” said someone, who went on to explain. The man ir. the sombrero hat standing b> the main entrance had blown a shrill whistle, and the gathering of performers broke up hurriedly, no longer interested in the narrative. Attendants began to appear from all directions. There were some who scaled poles with the agility of monkeys; others swung on the ends of ropes, rolled up carpets, packed gymnastic props and band instruments, and generally worked as if possessed, by the desire to clean up- the universe. “Hustle said.the man at the door laconically, nodding to me. And it was hustle, but organised hustle, for there were no two men taking tne ball, to adopt football parlance. In a very few n.niutes, it seemed, the tent began to sag, and we went into the outside air. Shortly that great piece of canvas had becomes many pieces, and soon it had taken its place along with the rest of the paraphernalia in the waggons that rolled out of the darkness into the sickly torchlight. When the List waggon rumbled off stationwards the man who still stood where the door had been became quite human ; in fact, he almost smiled. “Almost a record— forty minutes,” he confided.

The same combination will appear in the Paeroa Domain to-morrow evening. The circus band will play se’ecticns before the commencement of the performance.