ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 125, 14 October 1912, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURES. A good all-round programme wa« submitted at the Empire Picture Palace oil' Saturday night before a packed .house. One of the best films included in th§ change of programme was a Lubin drama "llice and Old Shoes." The leading lights in the picture included several favourite American actors, and the piec# itself, which had a broad vein of oomedv running throughout it, iwas of the happiest description, and was rounded-ofl witli a well-pointed moral which was of such a nature that no one could cavil at it. An engaging young couple tired of each other, largely on account of th« husband's nocturai habits. The family lawyer was called in in order to draw up a bond of separation, which both parties, agreed, however, not to put into effect until after the wedding of a mutual friend. They attended the wedding, and' a mischievous bridesmaid covertly deposited rice in the wife's muff, headgear and sundry other places. On th« way home from tJhe wedding some of the telltale rice disclosed itself to the view of their fellow passengers in a railway carriage, with the result that they were taken for a honeymoon couple. This involved them in several humorous situations the point of which, however, did not appeal to the couple about to enter' into a 'bond of separation. Arrived* at home more rice fell, recalling to both fond memories of their own wedding day, when they had pledged to remain steadfast and true to each other. In the end' the ridiculousness and laughableness of the whole situation so appealed to them that they buried the ihntchet and were happily reconciled. In "Attacked by a Lion" the setting was different, the locale of the drama being in Northern - Africa. It had to do with the hero's exciting fight with a lion, while on his way tack by the robbers, and the subsequent beseiged by marrauding Arabs. The attack by the robebrs. and the subsequent hand-to-hand struggle in \vhich they were put to flight, iwere also excitingly depicted. Another feature film was released* in the shjrpe of "A Humble Hero"—adog which relief to a prospector whose claim had been jumped. Some beautiful old-world scenes were shown in the screening of glimpses of Frieburg, a German beauty spot, and those of a sporting turn of mind were greatlv interested in an excellent picture of th® Royal Ascot, 1912. There are some people who enjoy a good comedy, and in "The Honeymooners" persons of this persuasion were well satisfied. It was a delightful little photo-play, and its humorous turns, although excrutiatingly funny, had the virtue of not being too extraordinary to ever happen in real life. An Italia comic, "Is Life Expensive," detailed the daily round of a droll "WearyWillie" who, unawed by thoughts of the cost of living, showed how it was possible to have tliree meals, enjoy a smoke, a ride in tthe park, a visit to the theatre, and a night's rest without involving an outlay of a single cent. "Mr. Christen Wurehill's Experiment" was a semi-po-litical skit opening up wide possibilities for reducing the number of lodgers in the State prisons.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. The new programme to be shown tonight at The Royal will undoubtedly create a sensation amongst local picture patrons. It features a Selig picture that for realism and thrilling episode stands alone. The picture takes the form of a railway story adapted from the book bv Elliott Flowers, "The Girl With The • Lantern." Miss takes the leading part, and has never appeared to better advantage. One part of this picture snows Miss Williams fainted on the line and the giant engine rushing down towards her, and. stopping only two feet from where she is lying. It takes nerve to play these parts, 'but Miss Williams has already proved her fearlessness in the animal pictures Selig's produced some little time back, in one of which, picture patrons will remember this darinsi girl was badly clawed by the leopard, Tom. Another picture sure to prove n. , draw is the Vitagraph comedy. "The Picture Idol," in which Maurice Costello shows some of tihe penalties of popularity, the Living Picture Hero. Amoncrst the other new films are "Broncho Billv and the Girl," and the latest Pathe London Gazette. Photographs of Miss Katihlyn Williams and the Vitagraph ' Players will be on sale in the TheatreRoyal to-night.