THE SALVATION ARMY BIORAMA COMPANY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9569, 16 August 1909, Page 4

THE SALVATION ARMY BIORAMA COMPANY.

A SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINMENT. This enterprising organisation which is touring the Dominion witb marked success, under the able management of Brigadier Perry, arrived in Masterton on Saturday morning to fulfil a programme arranged to extendi over a period of three days. It may be said at the outset that the organisation is far superior to what was generally anticipated, comprising as it does, in addition to the pictures a first-class silver band, and strong orchestra. Prior to the entertainment in the Town, Hall m the evening the band rendered a number of stirring; selections in Queen street and outside the Hall. Their efforts were of a bright and tuneful character, display ing evidence of marked ability on the pare of several of the indivdual players, notably the executants of the cornet and contra bass. A programme of such variety and general excellence as the one submitted for the evening has not been produced in Masterton for a long time. The result was that the audience had a most delightful time, and the genuine and unrestrained appreciation which followed the conclusion of every item must have been very gratifying to the management. The animated pictures were the chief attraction, comprising as they did the very latest scenic, comic, and dramatic studies. The orchestra accompanied each picture with music appropriate to the subject. Scenic studies are perhaps more genuinely interesting and certainly more instructing than any other pictures, as the depiction of a number of worldfamous waterfall?, including a beautifully coloured representation of Niagara shewed: Another scenic picture is the "Land of the Midnight Sun. "which takes the audience on a trip to the Arctic regions with all its fascinating wonders. "Hunting Extraordinary" touches on the lighter side of picture studies, and the incidents that befall two valiant hunters in their efforts to shoot a harmless pet eagle keep the audience in a simmer of merriment during Jh progress of the film. Another humourous picture is that in which a persevering father sets out to buy a mattrass and in his endeavours to convey it to his domicile upsets everybody and everything to the alarm and consternation ot the whole populace. "Lilian's Christmas Day" is a really beautiful juvenile production, use being made of the dream motive to introduce what is known as the "dissolving effect," which is done in a remarkably artistic manner. A wonderfully clever trick film is "The , Magnetic Removal," in which furniture is magnetized and totally removed from one housej to another, whilst the family are indulging in morning tea in town, "Life for a Locket" is a pathetic dramatic picture, "Grateful Dog," "Pianist and Suit" and "Motorist" also being" excellent representations. During; the evening Captain Gallagher, who is the possessor of a rich baritone voice of excellent range and quality, rendered "Little Child," the chorus being supplied by the company. "Tying the Leaves" is a beautiful piece, and Lieut. Sharp sang the story in her sweet sopanno voice. the illustrations on the screen giving a touch of realism to the song"Basso" is a humourous quartette song most ably handled by members of the company, the harmonising of the voices being particularly good, this item concluding a most diverting programme.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. The arrangements made for yesterday's proceedings were efficiently carried outvand proved a pronounced success. The "Scottish Covenanters" was presented in picture form to a large assemblage in the afternoon. This fine, film depicts in a realistic manner the stirring adventures, persecutions and sufferings fof the Scottish Covenanters, showing the struggle for religious liberty at that period. The programme was interspersed with sacred selections from the orchestra and harmonised part songs from their most higly trained choral party. The Town Hall was packed to overflowing in the evening, when "The Lite of Our Lord" from the Nativity to the Crucifixion and Ascension were illustrated by the animated pictures, the sacred subject j being in a most reverent I manner that deeply impressed the | audience. The impressiveness of the depictions was intensified by the exquisite sacred music produced by the orchestra during the progress of the film. The choral items were also a special feature. TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. The Company will conclude their Masterton season to-day with two specially selected programmes of entertainments. This afternoon, commencing at 3.30 o'clock, a varied programme '-rill be submitted of interesting pictures and musical items, when school children will be-admitted for the modest sum of threepence. To-night's programme ia a particularly attractive one, and the management have, as a special inducement on account of the last night of the season, reduced the prions to L's and Is. The first half of the entertainment will consist of pictures illustrating scenic, dramatic and humourous studies of a high-class nature, varied with musical selections" from individual members of the Company and the choral party. The second half will illustrate, in coloured pictureform, the martrydom of the early Christians, the text of which ia "Heroes of the Cross."