Variety (September 1908)

VARIETY LONDON NOTES VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE. 411 iTEAlTD, W. 0. (Mall for Americans and Europeans In Euroi* If addn-Rited can? VARIETY, as above, will ba promptly forwarded.) London, Sept. 8. Cinquevalli, the juggler, is back in town, working two halls. Warren and Brockway close their en- gagement at the Empire on Sept. 12. Daisy, Maud and Sydney Wood sail on the "Etruria" for America, with their mother, on Sept. 0. Kemp's "Tale of the Wilds" met with a very fair reception at the Oxford, Aug. 31, when the act opened. WSlkie Bard has been successful in his new offering, "I'm Here if I'm Wanted," at the Tivoli and Oxford this week. Josie Collins sang Alice Lloyd's "Love- light" song at the Tivoli last week by per- mission. She scored quite a hit with it Daw's Exchange was visited by burglars on the night of Aug. 29. The thieves got Daw awfully sore and that's about all. Cissy Loftus will open at the Coliseum next week (Sept. 7). Miss Loftus is not new to London and is very popular here. Hayman and Franklyn are back from a tour of tne Provinces. They are at the London Music Hall, Shoreditch, this week. Nothing but the greatest regret and sympathy have been expressed over here since the news of Tony Pastor's death reached London. Richard List's Bears, four blacks and one Polar, are at the Alhambra. The bears present a fine appearance and the act is very popular. W. C. Fields is handing an awfully big bunch of laughs to the Londoners at the Hippodrome, where he has been playing for the past few weeks. The "barring" war seems to be on be- tween the Payne and Gibbons forces. Harry Tate was barred from the Palace Hammersmith by the Gibbons office. Vesta Victoria has been busy all sum- mer procuring songB for America. Miss Victoria promises another "Waiting at the Church" success for New York next sea- son. This week (Aug. 31) is the last for Adeline Genee at the Empire. Genee will conclude her engagement by appearing in "The Dryad," a little piece in two scenes. Alice Raymond is scoring in Liverpool. In the same town Barton and Ashley (Empire) are reported as a riot. Miss Raymond opens in October on the Morris Circuit. bookkeeper that the salaries on the con- tracts are weekly payments, and nut monthly ones. On August 27, a meeting of a committee from the V. A. F. and the agents was held, when an agreement between the two was reached. A contract form was arrived at, satisfactory to both sides. Mose Gumble is expected to arrive in London the latter part of this week. Hugo Morris has arranged with one of London's most popular bands to meet the Music Master at Euston Station. Marie Lloyd's return to the Tivoli has improved the business there. Marie is a big card- -over -here. At the Holborn Empire this week, Fred Karno's company in "The Bailiff" was held over at the top. The Dreadnoughts, a sharpshooting act with three people, make a very good showing at the same house. A report from Berlin says the I. A. L. has suspended Ike Rose, Saharet's hus- band, for declaring himself as the mana- ger of Koepenick, the escaped convict. The lodge does not deem Koepenick proper so- ciety for its members. The big vaudeville merger is almost ripe. A report has leaked out that the man- agers who have joined the combine think that they have sufficient forces now to carry out the original plans, which will be officially announced in about a month's time. "The Ballet of Light," Loie Fuller's new act, was presented at the Hipprodome. The lighting effect is very pretty. There are twelve girls in the act, badly drilled besides dancing poorly. The act dragged during the first opening days, but may have recovered. It runs about thirty min- utes. Bert Levy, the American cartoonist, has been given space by the Paris Edition of "The Herald" since his arrival here. Mr. Levy says be is amazed at the condition of the East End Hebrews, and will commence a campaign of education by lectures in that section, dwelling upon the beauties of America for a homestead. The other night at the Oxford occurred an incident which has started the artists talking who object to "lifting." An or- chestra spectator suddenly denounced an artist for using another's material. He gave the artist on the stage a severe lacing. The gallery caught it immediately, and the artist left the stage without a ripple. The most difficult matter in the William Morris London office is to convince the Mme. Kanake, the Japanese actress, who is so successful at the Hipprodrome, probably says more in her native language in three minutes than an English speak- ing artist could pronounce in half an hour, but the audiences like her immensely, al- though very few understand. She is booked for the Morris time in the States this winter. At the Hippodrome, Brighton, last week, Walter C. Kelly headed the bill and easily carried away the honors. The Mar- tin Brothers, an American xylophone act, also pleased the packed house on Saturday night. This ball seats a few more than 3,000 people, and Thos. Baraaaioivi should be given credit for filling a theatre of this size, due to the style of entertainment pro- vided. George Formby did exceedingly well at the Hackney Empire. He is a first water comedian, and in a good position would go on any bill. There are three songs sung by him in a Lancashire accent, the best being "John and Willie, Come On." Another protean sketch called "Who is Guilty?" made an interesting number at the same house. Theo. Bouwmeester played it. The Hiatts are at the Pavilion for a few weeks, where Itie musical act gets away, very nicely. HOLBEIN EMPIRE. London, Aug. 31. The program at the Holbein Empire last week compares favorably with those in the London halls of the higher priced admission. The Empire gives a perform- ance of this grade nearly every week, and the shows' are very praiseworthy. Last week at the Empire Fred Karno's ''Bailiff" walked off with the honors. Fred Kitchen, the comedian, was chiefly re- sponsible for this result. Mr. Kitchen is an excellent funmaker, and in his line no one over here leads him. Kitchen has a capable assistant, not programmed. Another well-liked number was Hadji Mohammed Arabs. The size of the stage proved a drawback, but they managed to "whirl" as well as any similar act seen around here. A rather good mimic is Chas. Norton, who illustrates how different well-known music-hall stars place bets at the races. His act is called "Pros, at the Races." Norton's impersonation of R. G. Knowles is unusually well done. King and Benson did very well, also Joe O'Gorman in a monologue, the latter containing some very good material towards the finish. Nine colored men compose "The Tennes- see Guards," who work like a Zouave act. "The Musical Comedy Girl" is Mill!* Legarde. The billing tells where Millie belongs, but vaudeville will stand for her some time yet. Her voice and appear- ance are away above the average. Bessie Slaughter is another girl with a voice who did well in an early spot. "Why Do They Sing a German Song?" trilled Edna Latonne, the lyrics explain- ing that there are many good English se- lections which might be sung, etc. Since Miss Latonlie's style and voice are both pleasing, it is rather remarkable she does not practice what she preaches. Miss Latonne is a Vesta Tilley imitator in dressing. (This is confidential: There are as many "Vesta Tilleys" over here as there are "Salomers" in America.) Winifred Norman, Ella Retford, Jug- gling Gcraldos and Griffin and Ardell made up the remainder of the Empire program. GERMAN NOTES By OLD NICK. Berlin, Aug. 26. The new form of contract agreed upon by the managers to pacify the I. A. L., and remove the boycott, is said to contain no cancellation clauses, and the "28 day" condition for February has also been elimi- nated. A sort of Arbitration Board among iue managers ptjiiuiize"s*iHl5* , ttrt*.A- ger breaking the agreement by 3,000 marks ($300; not $75 as previously reported by cable). This penalty is to be enforced against a manager who breaks the agree- ment or cancels an artist. It is consid- ered too low an amount to be wholly bind- ing. If an artist breaks a contract, he will be placed upon a '"blacklist," there to remain until in good standing once again. The struggle between the I. A. L. and managers will continue until a fair con- tract is "O. K'd." Everybody hopes this latest one will answer the purpose. It will be given out shortly. Until then the boy- cott against the six halls continues. Whether the managers will book I. A. L. members as freely in the future, of course, can not be foretold, but the best talent is a member of either of the three big or- ganizations in Germany, England and America, respectively. The I. A. L. has been fighting for an equitable contract during the past seven years. It is in sight now. All the German managers will be forced to use the form of contract adopted by the I. A. L. There are sixty members in the managers' association. The Wintergarten opened Aug. 19 with a boom, including the following acts: Okabe Troupe of Japs; Boyer De Lafory, vocalist; Carl Herz; Cornalla and Eddie, American eccentrics; Eph. Thompson's El- ephants; The Zancigs; The Mowatts, club jugglers; 12 "Tiller Girls"; Joseph Josephi, Singer, and "The Futurity Winner." Most of the acts are known on Broadway. They are drawing business. The Wintergarten is full every night. Berlin is full of excitement just now, a large number of managers are here from all over Germany and Austria. Eph Thompson is feeling much better after his illness. His act is going so well that Eph wears a bright smile. Both Ronacher'a and the Apollo, Vien- na, opened Aug. 17. The weather was cool and people were turned away by hun- dreds. Both theatres have first clas pro- grams. Saharet is the attraction at the Apollo. She is a great drawing card all over Eu- rope. Severin, the great French panto- mimist is also there. He is a fine artist. The other turns are: G. Raglus, eccentric juggler, making good. The "4 Black Dia- monds," American song and dance, pleuBe greatly. De Gracia's Royal Sinm Ele- phants, very good. This is a very fast working act. Rolf Rafaely, sketch urtist, and Lillian Hoerlein, soubrctte. The Bounding Gordons arc at the Wei- ll's summer park with a good program. It is a very large place, with a stage in the opening, also a l.'ircc sfajje in a hall where they show when the weather Is un- suitable for outdoors.