ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 50, 21 August 1911, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

SAUNDERS' PICTURES. Whiteley Hall was again crowded on Saturday night to view the new selection of films. Tile programme is well varied with scenic, dramatic, comic and novelty pictures. A splendid illustration of fancy shots is shown in "Scientillc Billiards," the cueist being Tom Recce. "Historic London, Part 2," is a fine clear film, reproducing spots in the British capital of interesting and historical importance. The star dramas include a fine Edison picture, "The Test of Friendship,'' an A.B. masterpiece, "Three Sisters," and two star romances by the Essanay Co.. "A Girl of the West" and "The Road Agents." In the latter two outlaws, one an Easterner, the other a Mexican, plan to rob a certain stage, supposed to contain valuables and money. The opening scene shows the Easterner mixing with the passengers, wishing them a pleas-ant journey, and then the stage driving away. The bandit then meets his confederate, and they take a short cut and head off the unsuspecting i travellers. After relieving the .passengers ' of their valuables, the outlaws remount their horses and escape. A messenger U dispatched to the nearest town, and the sheriff notified of the robbery. The outlaws quarrel over the division of the money and valuables, the Mexican fatally wounding his accomplice. The sheriff and his posse start in hot pursuit of the surviving bandit. The Mexican espies the posse from afar, and leads the pursuers a most exciting race over the mountains before he is finally captured and brought to justice. A star comedy by the Selig Co., ."Merry Wives of Windsor," was also universal!;, popular. Other pictures were: "The Alps region,-Sweden," "Bobby as an Apache," "The New Cook," and "Hank and Lank make a Mash." This series will be on view again to-night and to-morrow night. ROYAL PICTURES. There, was an excellent Saturday night crowd at the Theatre Royal when the Royal Pictures screened a programme that has not been excelled here. The selection of pictures was good, including several masterpieces of color cinematography by Pathe Frores, nofcalbly "The Merchant of Venice" and the '"Magic Fife." The projection of the pictures, too, was superb, the lighting brilliant and steady. Perhaps the most popular picture, and one that should appeal particularly to the menfolk, depicted the marvellous work of the Kromats, said to be the mast wonderful acrobats in the world. Such feats of strength and skill as were reproduced on the screen on Saturday night have never been attempted locally, and yet we have' had on the New Plymouth stage some clever performers in this part, of the entertainment business. "The Merchant of Venice" was a fine colored film, and a$ nearly everyone knows the great Shakes, perian drama to a greater or lesser extent, this series was followed with close interest. "The Magic Fife" told of the successful intervention of a beautiful fairy in order to bring about the marriage of a princess and one of the royal musicians, the match having been opposed by her father. The dressing in this was superb. In fact, the present programme is most educative in the matter of costumes worn by our forefathers. Side-splitting comics abound. "The Rival Tecs" stood out as one of the best humorous films the syndicate has had. These are only a few selections. from a programme of undoubted merit, and one which should draw well to-night and to-morrow.