ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2718, 25 January 1910, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

GEORGE HACKENSCHMIDT. The entertainment given by the George Haekenschmidt Company in His Majesty’s Theatre last night was most successful, and attracted a very large audience, the building being comfortably filled. The series of athletic displays were of a high order, and the “Russian Lion” clearly demonstrated the advantages of his weight-lifting system as a means 'of producing an extraordinarily large and yet beautifully supple set of muscles. Haekenschmidt was first seen in catcli-as-catch-can wrestling bouts with Gunner Moir and Alex. Bain, and received a great ovation on making liis initial how to a Gisborne audience. In liis bout with Moir the champion exhibited wonderful strength, combined with agility surprising in one of his massive build. Both men earned frequent applauso for clever work, and the bout resulted in. a win for Haekensehmidt, who threw the boxer in 2min 55sec. Alex. Bain, the 17 stone Scottish champion,, followed immediately oil Moir’s dismissal, and he proved a tougher opponent lor the champion. Tlie big Scotchman earned rounds of applause by twice lifting Haekenschmidt and throwing him on to the mat. This bout was a mostinteresting one, a great variety of bolds being shown, but eventually Bain succumbed to a most artistic fall, in 7min 52sec. The applause at the conclusion of the bouts was long and sustained, and Bain came out and bowed his acknowledgements.

In tbo second part of the programme , Haekenschmidt gave an exhibition of muscle culture, showing his methods of development and training, a 1201 b barbell and a 751 b weight being manipulated as if they only weighed so many ounces. Mounted on a revolving pedestal, the champion gave a series of postures, which admirably 'illustrated his magnificent development. The various muscles of the

arms legs, neck, back, and abdomen were’ not only thrown into relief, but were also moved independently to demonstrate that in addition to strength flexibility was cultivated bv the sjstem From an educational standpoint the display was exceptionally good. The vaudeville portion of the programme was, on the whole, good. Mark Osborne, described as a musical monologuist, was encored for each of his contributions, and Madame Blancjie was' accorded a similar cornpiment for her singing of “Carissima.' She responded with the ever-popular “Killarney.” Clifford Eskell, billed as “the mysterious man in white and his Burmese gong,” gave a decidedly good display of conjuring, ms manipulation of cards and a number of brass rings being remarkably clever. _ A number of excellent biograph films were shown during the entertainment, including such subjects as “Swedish Free Exercises,” 'World s V resthng Championship between Haekenscnmidt and Joe Rogers, the American champion.” “Wrestling in Japan” (showing the famous exponents of ju-jit.su), and the “World’s Boxing Championship between Tommy Burns and Gunner It was announced {that Hacken-sc-hmidt is prepared to forfeit £ls to any wrestler who stands before him for minutes, and £IOO to any wrestler who succeeds in throwing lain in lo minutes. The conditions are pin lalLs, both shoulders to be held on the mat for at least two seconds. The challenge was accepted by a Native named Tawa Porter, who is a •well-known local wrestler, and consequently he will meet Haekenschmidt during the performance to be given this evening.