"THE CHARLATAN" AND SHOWLIFE" —GAIETY DE LUXE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 166, 15 August 1929, Page 2

"THE CHARLATAN" AND SHOWLIFE" —GAIETY DE LUXE.

With the approacliuig close of silent mcvie pietures in Napier the pi-o-gramine wliicli was subniittcd at Ihe Gaioty dc Luxe Theutre last night, if auytliing, iinproved 011 the higli stanclaicl which lias been maintained at tliis popiilar liouse of entertainment for many years. Tt was a prograrnme of thrills, combiued with brilliance, the two liiaiu fcatures each being wortbj7 of Iieading a bill on any prograrnme. The principal feafcured lilm was entitled "Tlie Cbarlatan," starring 31argarot Livingston, Holmes Herbert, Rookliffe Fellowes ancl Fred Mackaye. Holmes Herbert was, foatured in tlie title role and gave a very fine portrayal of the pnrt. Rarely lias sucb _a tlirillmg picture been seen in Napier, and tlie plot and story throughout maintained the audience in a constant state oi anticipotion and exciteinent. Dealmg witb tlie powers of tlie niystic Ilinthi seer, the picture rapidly developed into a powcrfnl story, tlie telling of which lost iiothing by its convei sion to tlie sereen. The film was not always dealing witb' sea n ces and tbrilling situations accruing tTierefroni for tlirougliout there was a delightfui story of romauce. 3rargaret Livingston was perfect ui tlie role of a dissatislied wife. her interpvetation of a difficult role being extremely clever. The seconcl great feature 011 the programme again jiresented that lavmirite of the Englisb sereen, Anna Ma.v 5\ong in "Sbowlife." The story was of a piquant little 3Ialay cbild who was mscued from danger by a broken down vaudevillo. artist. The two latev workot[ togetlier in vandcville acts^ and Song, as sho was called, tricd toJmake up for fclie love lost to lier rescuor by (hc faitblessuess of oue, Glnria. Sfrong siluatious dcveloped. a striking fmale being stagcd wlion Song liad a fatal accidcnt upon tlie stage. Tn supnorfc, of tliese pietures tbere was an excollent list of supports, thc wliolc programme being most onioyable. 3YESTERX ELECTR1C SOUND SYSTE3I AT THE GAIETY. Napier is ahuost afc fever heat witb exciteinent. Tlie advent, naturally, is the coming of Ihe TVestern Electi'ie Sound Talkie equipment to Ihe evcr popular Gaietv de Luxe Tlieatre, and tho management have the congratulations of tho wliole town in selecting sucli an efficient and expensive "talkie" apparatus for their entertainmeiit, at tlie cost oi £6000. 3\^pstcrn Eleotric, througli vcars of exjfcriencc in the telephono business, in con.iunction witli producers and exhibitors, bas made jiossible a new art of entertainment — tho development of the lirst suceessful svstem of sound pietures, embracing both 3'itaphone aud Movietone. Aiready 230Q exhibitors in America ancl many other countries have equipped their liouses with thc Western Electric sound system. Australian and New Zealand exhibitors are now taking advantage of 4Vestern Electric technical and scientific cxperi ence in tliis field. Tn a few sliort months the art of talking pietures has thus revolutionisecl the field of entertainment. Hear leading stars of 1110tion pietures, opera. concert ancl stage in lifelike renderings wlien you see them on the sereen. Hear and see ihe world's greatest personalities as they talk, lifelike — 011 thc sereen. Hear •intelligent orchcstral accompaniment to feature pietures — played from the sereen. Henr the actual roar of tlie aeroplane. the thunder of gallopmg boofs, the scream of the locomotive's whistle. AVhat was yesterday's dream is to-day's fact. And to-morrow? Hcre is an art now in cthe early stagos of its development whicli is revolutionising the, field of motiorr picture entertainment, The plant to be in-*

stalled in tlie Gaiety is one of the largest built, and to instal the theatre wil? Iiave to close its doors next Saturdav niglit, after the sliow, and rcojicn on the following Saturday, Angust 21, at 7.45. The opening programme will be hcacled by the sensational world's record-brcaker, "Tlie Simiing Fool," starring Al Jolson, ihe world's greatest cntertaiucr. The box plau for Ihe cntire season will opcn next 31ondav uiorning, at eiglifc o'clock, at E. " Hyde's, Hastings strec't.