ENTERTAINMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1495, 11 January 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

FULLER’S PICTURES. The initial screening of the famous recruiting film, “A Hero ot the Dardanelles,” at Fuller’s last night was responsible for a large and highly appreciative audience. The picture conveys to the onlooker the many difficulties overcome by the Australian and New Zealand troops during the historic lauding at the Dardanelles. Supporting items constitute an exceptionally fine programme which will be repeated to-night. WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY. “THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY.”

The management take great pleasure in presenting the xst episode of what is undoubtedly the finest serial picture ever presented to a New Zealand audience. The following is a briet synopsis of the isc episode (The Airship in the Night): Miss Susan Farlow conducted a fashionable boarding school for girls. Late one night, whilst working on the books, she was startled by a sudden tapping on the window pane. On investigating the matter she discovered that a baby, warmly clothed, had been placed on the step before the front entrance to the school. Taking the infant inside, she found a note attached to its clothing, in which instructions were given for the upbringing of lie child, the writer promising to claim the iniant on her eighteen!h birthday. She was to be named Florence Gray, Stanley Hargreaves was a man ui mystery. In his younger days he had joined “The Black Hundred,” a secret society, in later years, disapproving of their methods, Hargreaves broke away from the gang, disappeared, and in time amassed a .large fortune. The Countess Olga *aud Brains, who were heads of “The Black Hundred” tracked him down and reported the fact to the gang. Plans were laid to obtain his wealth, and when they discovered that Hargreaves had already planned flight, a note was sent anonymously to the hunted man, in which it was stated that the house was surrounded by the gang. He was ordered to hand over the million dollars be had that day drawn from the bank, and which at that moment reposed in the safe in Hargreaves’ bouse. Discovery by “ The Black Hundred” had long preyed on the mind of Stanley Hargreaves. He had previously made elaborate preparations for flight, even in case of the house being surrounded. Consequently giving instructions to Jones, his faithful old butler, conceruing the future of his daughter, Florence Gray, whom he had written that day to come home from Miss Farlow’s school, Hargreaves retired to the bathroom and shaved off his beard. During this procedure, a scene shows mysterious hands abstracting the million dollars from Hargreaves’ sale. The servants have all previously been paid off, and no one apparently is in the house except Hargreaves and Jones, the butler. Some time later the mau of mystery ascends to the roof of the house, fires off a rocket, and presently a balloon comes in response, into the basket of which the hunted mau climbs and quickly sails over the sea. Members of “The Black Hundred” surrounding the house shout imprecations and attempt to cripple the balloon with gunshots. One eventually takes effect, and a scene is shown in which the crippled balloon is seen floating on the sea. In the meantime the conspirators force an entrance iuto the house, overpower and bind the old butler to a chair, open the safe, but only to discover the million dollars has disappeared. Failing to make the butler say where it is bidden they depart in a rage, and the old man chuckles to himself when thinking how they have been outwitted. Bpisode 2, “A False Friend,” will be shown next Wednesday, 19th, for one night only.