MAORILAND THEATRE.

Shannon News, 19 October 1926, Page 3

MAORILAND THEATRE.

.“.THE SPLENDID BO AD.” “The Splendid Road,” which Avill he presented to Maoriland Theatre patrons on Wednesday, is a thrilling and romantic story of the gold boom days of California frontier toAvns. Frank Lloyd, avlio produced “The Sea Hawk,” is responsible for “The Splendid Boad,” and all the big ensemble groupings and spectacular scenes emanated from his fertile brain. The gold boom days were responsible for more romance and adventure than any part of the world’s history and this particular play set in a frontier toAvn, tells the story of an adA r enturous girl AA r ho goes among the rough brute men of the fields, Avhc lived among the rough brute men of the fields, avlio liA r ed hard and died hard. Anna Q. Nilsson, who is cast as the adventuress in spite of difficulties, Avins. out ana secures the Avealth and true loA'e she desired. Lidriel Barrymore and Bobert Frazer are also featured. A 2000 ft-comic, a gazette, and scenic Avill Jje screened. “ JOHNSTOWN FLOOD WITHOUT PARALLEL AS GBIM TRAGEDY. CALAMITY OF 1889 FAITHFULLY REPRODUCED. The bursting of a cheap dam on the South Forks Creek in the Conemaugh Valley, Pennsylvania, on May 31, 1889, releasing a perfect tidal Avave from the huge . reservoir, which relentlessly Avrecked cities and towns —destroying millions of dollars Avorth of property am. taking a staggering toll of human lives, created one of the most appalling * disasters in the history of the Avorld — “The JolinstoAvn Flood” Avhich has been incorporated by Fox Films in a pulsating motion picture of highly dramatic seasoning, iioav playing to large audiences cveryAvliere, Avill be screened at the Maoriland Theatre on Friday. While the flood Avas one of the most horrifying calamities of all time, tlie disaster avus really a benefit to people at large. Never having experienced anything o£ a similar nature before, the American AA r as someAvhat ignorant of the feAv dams scattered about the land. The most terrible lesson eA'er giveft to cheap dam building Avas the great Johnstown honor. The JohnstOAvn Flood had no parallel in suddenness and destrueti\ 7 eness save in the convulsions, of the eaartliquake and volcano, agencies which violently act without notice. When the great flood descended upon JohnstOAvn, the people had, no time to flee - Those who saw it at a. great distance had- hardly time to scramble to. the upper stories of their dwellings before they found themselves struggling in the AA r ater, Avliile the vast majority, on looking forth,' saAV buildings, not a half a block above them, already leaping frout“their foundations. Simultaneoius. with the road and rush of the great torrent, came the crash of houses, the shrieks and cries of men, women and children, and then, driven with the speed of a racehorse came houses, furniture, cars, locomotives, railroad tracks, animals—aliA 7 e and dead, trees, lumber and infinite wreckage were rushed on and jammed high at a railroad bridge in a maze of ruin fifty feet high and covering forty acres of ground. « ,With this gigantic theme as a background to the story, Fox Films has constructed a highly dramatic narrative with a sterling cast of screen players portraying the principal roles. George O’Brien, celebrated star of “The Iron Horse,” and many other screen plays, assumes the leading role Avith Florence. Gilbert, Janet Gaynor, Anders Randolf, Max DaA'idson, Paul Nicholson', Elmo Billings, Paul Panzer and Walter Perry in pivotal supporting characterizations.