ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1922, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EVERYBODY’S.” “PECK S BAY BOY.” MATINEE TO-DAY, AT 2.30. What a wonder kid is Jackie Coogan! This is the feeling all must have whio saw “Peck’s Bad Boy” at Everybody’s last night. This little six-year-old youngster, who carved a niche in the hearts of all picture fans who saw him as “Tire Kid,” has done even greater work in “Peck’s Bad Boy” than he did in the Chaplin success, if such a thing'., is possible. How he manages to get to the circus at the expense of his “Pasl causes the escape of a lion, and general futore at the tent show, and throws church ..into an uproar, by introducing. A collection of live ants, are some of Me high lights in this comedy. The subtitling is the working of Irvin S. Cobb, the famous humorist. “Peck’s Bay Boy” shows at a special matinee this aftefV noon, commencing at 2.30,. and agaJn this evening. Special reduced prices are advertised for the matinee. ■ THE PEOPLE’S. DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS IN “THE MARK OF ZORRO.” Douglas Fairbanks has been an absentee to picture-goers in New Plymouth of late, but he makes a very welcome re-appearance at the People’s to-night. Since we knew him last, he has become one of the Big Four, in which he is associated in the film production business with David Wark Griffith, Charlie and Mary. “The Mark of Zorro,” the first production, proclaims Fairbanks as having excelled any of his previous performances. In a dual role, “’Doug.” is given opportunities of displaying his remarkable athletic ability. When he appeared in it at the Capitol Theatre, in New York, it established records that will take many years to break. Son of a wealthy Mexican, “Doug.” returns from Spain, and while posing before his father as a vapid youth, whose blood has turned to water, he spends his spare tir*e in a masked garb, as helper of the oppressed, and saviour of the people against cruel Spanish rule. The Caballeros quickly rally to his standard, but not before he has had some tremendously exciting experiences, which include ordering a magistrate to be flogged, and imprinting the letter Z on the flesh of many of the oppressors. There are plenty of thrills as he breaks into the gaol and liberates the political prisoners, only to be pursued to the housetops, even to the steeple of the church. His athletic feats are bewildering. Eventually he rids the country of the pests that claim the blood of Aragon and the inheritance of Castille, and gains the love of a fair lady, who spurned his suit in his other role of the vapid youth. THE GREAT McEWEN. On Thursday evening, at the Empire Theatre, the Great McEwen will present a unique entertainment, including demonstrations of mesmerism, auto-sug-gestion. magic, sleight of hand, interspersed with humorous recitals in which the pawky wit of the Scotch predominates. As a mesmerist the Great McEwen will introduce a series of experiments which are claimed to be both interesting and amazing. It is generally supposed that a mesmerist or hypnotist can, against the will of the subject, put the latter under control, but the Great McEwen states emphatically that this is not correct, and insists that the subject must be in sympathy with the demonstrator, have faith in mesmerism, and accept willingly auto-suggestion; otherwise success cannot be achieved, and from the medical point of view no benefit can be obtained if these conditions are not fulfilled, proving a good, sound brain makes the best subject, because it is able to induce self-pacificy and harmony of mutual concentration. These are the days of miracles, and feats are accomplished which a few decades ago would have been considered impossible, and their attempt ridiculed, and this applies to mesmerism; it has been, and is still, unfortunately, sneered at by those who have taken no trouble to investigate and study if. It is an entertainment, and the Great McEwen an entertainer of great versatility, and it is claimed for his entertainment that there are more laughs to the hour than the minute hand of the clock can show. Students of the occult will find much food for reflection, amusement seekers will find no lack of good fare, and even the most captious critics will admit the Great McEwen is a most extraordinary, interesting,, amusing and entertaining man, and hi s visit to New Plymouth will be greatly appreciated. The season is but a brief one, and the box plans stre now open at Collier's.