Variety (February 1909)

10 VARlfctV LONDON NOTES N. VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE. 4ii irmurs, w. o. (Mall for American* and Europeans in Europe If addressed care VARIETY, as abore, will ba proifaptlr forwarded.) London, Feb. 0. Evie Greene it the head line at the Hackney Empire this week. Hal Godfrey is in London thii week, at the Tivoli, for a run of two month*. Frederic Melville returned to London tliis week with hi3 "Moto Girl/' playing the Hackney Empire. Henry and Francis, formerly of Herbert Lloyd's "Hooligan" Co., are playing the halls in and about London. Grace Gardener, formerly of Eddie Clark's "Widows," is appearing as a sin- gle turn, at present, in Ireland. Hayes and Wynn have finished a tour of 24 weeks in the provinces, and were at the Coliseum last week. Eddie Clark and his "Widows" play Southport this week, 'fixed by Bert Howell, of the Paul Schultz agency. Les Floridos-Marie and Pepe, as the program says, are from Seville. Whether that is true or not they are splendid , dancers. Ellis Jeffreys and Herbert Sleeth, both of dramatic fame, have an excellent act in the sketch, "Number Two." They were at the Palace last week. Kingsley Benedict, who played the lead in "The Futurity Winner," has left it and will try out an act of his own in the States where he sails for on Feb. 10. "Wed Russell, a ventriloquist, using a dummy in the coster make-up, entertains nicely. His patter is good and bright and quite away from any other in his line. Cyril Clensy, an impersonator of all kinds of actors, was at the Palace last week and showing up well. Mr. Clensy does a perfect imitation of R. G. Knowles. G. H. Chirgwin started an engagement at the Tivoli and was the usual riot. Chirgwin is still singing "The Blind Boy," a song in use by him for the past twenty years. Maud Allan returns to the Palace Feb- ruary 15 after an absence of about four months. There is much speculation as to Miss Allan's drawing powers at present compared with months ago. George Alt, a tremendous success in the Drury Lane panto, will most likely be seen in the English music halls after his engagement at the Lane is finished. Mr. AH expectes to put on "Buster Brown." The 'Terguson and Mack," who Barney Ferguson claimed were unrightfully using that title, have changed their billing to John and Dick Mack. They used "Fergu- son and Mack" for a short while only some time ago. Carrie Nation is sore. She now de- mands a full salary for the two perform- ances, one almost ending in a riot, but the managers refuse to hand it to her. The managers figure that the "souse disturber" is lucky she's living. Callahan and St. George are in Belfast this week, having been placed by the Morris office. It is their second time in the Irish town since the act has been on this side. There is also another date com- ing to them in the fall. Jimmie Britt has presented (from his training quarters at Harlesdon) a punch- ing bag along with the apparatus to Truly Shattuck, who has ha/1 it placed in the property room of the Drury Lane Theatre, where Truly is playing. She wants to lose a little weight. . Another of the smoking concerts was held on Sunday, Jan. 31 at the Vaudeville Club and a big success. Carl Hertz, intro- ducing a scene from "Zaca" with the as- sistance of Arthur Reese, seemed to be the "knockout" of the evening. Most of the music hall artists have taken to skating at the roller rinks. The Aldwych Rink always has a bunch. The other night when London town felt a shock that seemed to some like an earth- quake it turned out to be the fall that Belle Belmont took when she was trying a few burlesque stunts on the rollers. Joe Hart is in Paris (at the opening of "The Futurity Winner.") Mr. Hart will probably arrange time for 'The Rain Dears" over there. "The Ram Dears" closed the engagement at the Hippodrome Saturday and will tour the provinces, hav- ing opened at Birmingham yesterday. Mrs. Joe Hart (Carrie DeMar) is with Mr. Hart. Violet Charlesworth, an actress of the sensational kind, was hissed and not treated any too well at the Canterbury and Hippodrome Islington last week upon her introduction to the music halls. While the English people may not like acts of this sort, at the same time the houses were packed to the doors. Violet isn't so much on looks. Last week the Chief Rabbi of London delegated the Rev. Dr. A. A. Green, of the Hampstead Synagogue, to attend the Ly- ceum Theatre and report on the Hebrew characterisation of Julian Rose in the pan- tomime. After the performance Dr. Green called upon Mr. Rose in his dressing room, complimenting him and saying, "As no Coster could take offense at Chevalier, so no Hebrew could be offended by Julian Rose." The verification of the report in these columns a couple of weeks ago that there might be an Important change in the policy of the London Hippodrome seems to have arrived through notices having been sent out by the Hippodrome management that the big house would close for several months for repairs. This will probably occur at the end of the season. The new Hippodrome will likely be on more exact music hall lines as regards its interior. The Stellings at the Tivoli do a very good juggling act, and finish with "the hats" that Moran and Wiser and the Juggling McBanns have been scrapping over. Stelling is the first to come into London and use these hats since Moran end Wiser left. Henry MoBann was in town last week. He stated he had bought the rights to use the hats in England from the oldest member of The Barretts. The prise item for the past few days among the "Gossipy Talkers" has been the divorce granted Frederick George Fowler, a commercial agent in Leeds, from his wife, Daisy Jerome. They were mar- ried in 1900, according to the evidence submitted in the divorce action. Leaving her spouse to play the halls, Mr. Fowler heard that one Cecil Allen was an ardent admirer of his wife. Fowler wrote to Allen without receiving a reply. He called at the apartments his wife occu- pied in York Mansions, Battersea, and Daisy admitted she thought a whole lot of Cecil. Fowler sought out > n, and said the signs were a divorce action would come off, upon the conclusion thereof Fowler mentioned he had no doubt as to the outcome, and that unless Allen married the then Mrs. Fowler there would be an obituary notice following tho divorce decree. Allen was to be the sub- ject for the obituary. Everything has happened so far except the Allen-Jerome marriage or the obituary. Developments are awaited. BEAT "THE BIRD." Sydney, Australia, Jan. 1. Amber Austa, an English importation, was presented with the "bird" at Mel- bourne Opera House last week. A disap- pointed lad in the gallery shouted "Get off, you waster." The cry was immediate- ly taken up by several others among the "gods." A sympathetic cheer came from the stalls in favor of the soubrette. Imme- diately a host of the conservative stall- holders took up the cry of "Shame.'* The battle then raged furiously between the factions. Through it all Miss Austa maintained her composure, remaining on the stage, and when the hubbub had con- cluded, continued her act to the cheers of the entire house. SONG WRITERS' COMPETITION. The agile mind of Bddie Pidgeon, the Morris Circuit Chief Publicity Promoter, has evolved a song writers' contest to be decided by the audiences at the American Theatre during the week of March 8. The winner will receive as a prize $100 in gold, and doubtless have the music publishers in a mad scramble for the composition. Any song writer is eligible, amateur or professional. The names will be issued in ballots to the patrons of the theatre, who will vote for ten. Those selected must appear and sing their own compositions, the audience also deciding the favorite. SANFORD HAS SKETCH. Arthur Sanford, leading man with Elsie Jan is, at the Knickerbocker, has a sketch and will adventure in vaudeville next sum- mer while the tour of that show is sus- pended. TIN PAN ALLEY JINGLES. By WILLIAM JEROME. Song writers are known by their songs. Mose Gumble is the busiest man in Jin- gle Town. The boy in the gallery has earned many a soubret's salary. Fred Day has gone south for a few weeks. Some publishers have been going south all winter. I don't know who wrote "I Wish I Had a Girl." But I do know that it's going to be one of the biggest hits of the present year. (iOod money never made a bad song. "The Band Played On" is just becom- ing popular in Germany. Jerome H. Reraick is the wisest song bird that ever flew down Melody Lane. He knows a winner the minute he hears it. Jerome has published more instru- mental hits than all the other popular publishers combined. Detroit papers, kindly notice. Andrew Von Tilzer and Harry B. Ster- ling are back together again. Jean Schwartz and Vincent Bryan once sold a song to E. T. Paull; "it was a little dandy." Every Knox is a boost. "ARIZONA" LOST. i Several theatrical managers are on the watch for signs which will lead them to "Arizona." The play of that name has dropped out of sight, although playing somewhere on a "circuit" of, perhaps, "one-nighters." "Arizona" has been the cause of some litigation. Hollis Oooley, Sam Scribner, Gus Hill, Ww E. Nankeville and the Am- sterdam National Bank are all interested in it. Mr. Cooley though he was entitled to some money for his services. The others claim they had obligated themselves to the extent of about $40,000 on the pro- duction. It looked at one time as though "Arizona" would follow the route of many a show before it, but suddenly the wind changed. It is said that the show commenced to make money, and that a good share of the sunken wealth had been recovered, but still no one seems to know just now wtfere "Arizona" is, and those who do won't tell. Wherever there are noticed more than two theatrical men standing together, if you will softly mention "Arizona" a debate will follow which will clear up all points not covered here. DUTY ON SMOKES. Paris. Feb. 8 A decision has been applied by the French Custom officials, going into force May 1, regarding the amount of smoking tobacco allowed by visitors on crossing the fron- tier or landing from a steamer.