ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 253, 24 March 1914, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

GRAND SKATING CARNIVAL. Riiikers will rejoice to learn that on Thursday week next there will he a grand skating carnival in the Coronation Hall. Full programmes will be issued in a day or two, but meanwhile intending participants can get busy in the preparation of poster and fancy' costumes, for which liberal prizes will be given. EMPIRE PICTURES. It is no wonder tluvt such a crowd of pleasure-seekers and picture-lovers attended at the Empire Theatre last night, when "Scrooge," a Christmas carol adopted from Charles , Dickens' well-known work (featuring Seymour Hicks), was screened. Dickens immortalised Ebenezer Scrooge in his wo"dorful story. "A Christmas Carol," and Seymour Hicks, the eminent English actor, has set the whole of London talking by his marvellous' characterisation of Scrooge. The story is so well known that a rough outline will suffice to awai ken the memory. It is Christmas Eve. a good old-fashioned Christmas Eve, in England, with the frost in the air and the snow lying thick on the ground. Scrooge, the miser, who lias buried any kindly feeling he ever possessed, instead of cherishing the peace and goodwill to all, goes about causing as many heartaches as his flinty nature trivet occasion. Midnight has come, and Scrooge tallies his bank book and falls asleen. Presently the ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge's former partner, wakens the miser and portravs the inhuman life that Scroogo is living. Ho leads him through his past life till Scrooge's appeals, in terror-stricken tones, to be given one more chance to atone. The Spirit of God enters the heart of the miserable miser, and the story concludes with Ebenezer Scrooge finding joy in doins 1 kindlv actions. A really good edutional and interesting film is that en-* titled "The Const ruction of a Locomotive." There on the screen is seen every part "f this huge coiistruetun being turned out of the worki.lions, from the boiler down to the very wh"els. "A Wiml'"v in Washington Park" is a very fine ilrnna l) v the Vitagnph Comp:""\ "Sauce for the Goose" is ■'. real sMcsplittc-. and the Empire rocked with the freque'.il outbursts from the audienc". Th" ■■inipnrtin" items are also good. This programme will be shown for absolute! •■ tb" Inst time to-night, and at the us!!.'!' prices.