AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 20, 23 January 1914, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S PICTURES. To-night will ho “the” night at Bernard’s Pictures. The mighty motion picture monarch, adapted from Victor Hugo’s immortal masterpiece, being the life story of -lean Valjean (“The ({alley Slave,”) entitled “Les Miserable*,” will be screeiiod in one series. The picture is 12,00 ft. in length, and occupies over 2V hours, The story, (which was published in last night’s “Post”) is quite sublime, and is stated to be the most flawless photo play ever screened, and a realistic picture depicting the heart-throbbing history of the convict, Joan Valjean. Owing to the length of the programme, doors will be open at 7 o’clock, the performance commencing at 8 o’clock precisely. Special music will bo played for tins mammoth production. Mo halfprice tickets will be issued.

THE ELLWOOD TRIO. Last night a beggarly a fray of empty benches greeted this clever trio on the rising of the curtain in the Town Hall. The night was a wet one, but the support of the public was nothing less than disgraceful, in so far, of course, as it represented a fair average of the music-loving portion of the community. The depressing effect of the position as it affected the fifty odd people present was, however, soon dispersed by the merits of the performance, and the result was an enthusiasm and warmth of welcome that found concrete expression in numerous encores. The trio opened the programme in their respective places, Mr Harry (violin), Mr George (’cello) and Miss Polly at the piano. All the items throughout were thoroughly enjoyable, and evinced marked improvement in the playing of each member of the trio. Mr Arthur MacDonald contributed two or three vocal items in his usual well-finished style, being heard to the best advantage in his singing of “Annie Laurie.” Regarding the poor attendance, it is singular that concert companies invariably are ill-advised as to their business movements prior to appearance. These performers, who appraise their services as among the most valuable in the profession and demand from the public other than ‘ “popular” prices, do not know' the first rudiments of thebusiness. Two cases arise in our mind at tbe present time, and these show that practically no “billing” was clone in the town, while a small advertisement was inserted in tbe newspaper and practically no,piatter for notices was supplied, and in one of these cases, indeed, tbe prices of admission were raised in a subsequent issue of the paper a day or two prior to the performance, the result being that in .quite a number of instances, patron? arrived at. the,,Halt doors under a misapprehension as to the prices. Strut ford suffers in reputation as a “show” town mainly because any old tiling not worth advertising is. not good enough for them.'.’if Stratford has nothing else it has opinions-,/and doesn’t take tilings for granted—especially in matters theatrical. It likes to see even | “shows” run well.