AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1915, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURES. Easily the best of the star dramas for some time was screened at the Empire last night, ufidev the title of "The Headliners." The manager of a vaudeville theatre at Coney Island is advised that jthis headline act cannot go on the dates scheduled. Iu the emergency he engages Gabriel Castinara, the wonderful lifeguard swimmer, and advertises him in a sensational diving stunt. An Italian j strolling players' troupe also is featured at the theatre. It includes an old clown. Punelli, with his performing dog. and Punelli's beautiful daughter, Beatrice, who sings Sicilian songs uj Michael Busoni's mandolin. When (Jabriel ."-.id Beatrice meet, they discover in or..* another old sweethearts ljae 1 * m Italy. Suddenly Busoni flings K.nself upon the lifeguard with murj.-rous intent. They ; are separated. Then Gabriel tells the I story of an ancient grudge .which had ; to do with . the killing of • Busoni the' He had promised Beatrice that" 'he would not be avenged, but, taeeting his father's murderer unexpectedly they led to a quarrel, and Busoni had dropped dead of' heart failure. Gabriel had escaped the police and made his way fco America, whither he learned Beatrice had gone. Michael Busoni plots Gab- ! riel's death, but through his own carelessness the theatre catches fire. Gabriel | br*ves smoke and flame to save the girl | and her old father. Michael loses his | life, A number of other films were also i shows.