AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1916, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL MCTOBEa. "THE UNWELCOME MRS. HATCH.'' Pew, if any, of the fllm-producine coin l panies in America have reached ito standard set by the "Famous .Players" Film Co. in the production of high-elass photo-plays. It may not be known to the general public that every artist appearing with this noted company has had experience on the stage of one ot the big Broadway theatres. This, indeed, is the qualification that every actor and actress must attain before venturing before, the producer for "Famous Players." The next action of the company is to secure only the very firstclass photoplays written by the leading playwrights'. Therein lies of secret of success of sudi pictures as "Teas of the Stprm Country," "Behind the Scenes," and numerous other "feature" Sims shown in New Plymouth during the past year. At the Theatre Royal to-night the management will introduce another big "Famous Players" film, a production of the great American stage Buccess, "The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch," featuring the famous emotional actress, Miss Henrietta Crossaian, in the title role. This filw will prebably prove one of the greatest successes yet screened at the Royal Pictures, and intending patrons will do well to book seats at Collier's during the day.

"THE MASTER KEY." A SERIAL PICTURE AT THE ROYAL. On Thursday next the management of the Royal Pictures will introduce a thrilling and romantic mystery picture in fifteen episodes, entitled "file Master Key." No pictures are more popular at the present time than the serial, which week after week unreels the mystery of the previous instalment only to leave still deeper mystery for the next number. In "The Master Key," the Royal management have secured one of the most excitingly interesting films it would be possible to imagine, and the success of this thrilling and sensational siory has been phenomenal throughout the Dominion and Australasia. There is little doubt that it will have quite equalsuccess in New Plymouth, and picture patrons are reminded to be sure and view the screening of the first episode during (!•" three nights it will be on view this week. "The Master Key" will be added to the usual programme making an exceptionally strong selection each lattel half of the week at the Theatre Royal. EMPIRE THEATRE.

The first episode of the lengthy seriaT? "The Million Dollar Mystery," was screened at the Empire Theatre on Saturday. The title Is "The Airship in the Night." Tlie story eentres round a man named Hargrives, who in the days of hia ■callow youth becomes a member of a secret society named the "Black Hundred." Later he abandons the "cause." and the story is built upon his persecution by his erstwhile comrades. In iha first episode Hargraves escapes from an attempt on his life by means of a balloon rescuing him from the roof of his mansion. The pint is exciting. Some valuable securities, estimated to be worth a million dollars, are mysteriously stolen, the search for them carrying the picture through twenty-thrive epiiodea, one of which wjll be screened each week. The American Film Manufacturing Company's drama. "Saint-: and Sinners," coirvcys a pood lesson, showing how a fashionable "saint." who distributes floral tokens to men in prison, turns haughtily away from a poor girl with a child in her arms. She is. however, befriended by n card-playing "sinner." Supporting subjects include "A Question of Clothes" (Vir-figrnph comedvi, "Putltc Gazctte*(topical), "For lVtier—But Worse" (Keystone laughtcr-vai-ier), and two others.