Variety (May 1909)

10 VARIETY London, May 11. May 10 a wire was received in London from the Mauretania at Queenstown stat- ing that Walter C. Kelly was on board, and immediately the summer season started. Romano's is reported to have taken in more stock. Maud Hall and Oarleton Macy made their first London appearance this year this week at the Coliseum. They are play- ing "The Magpie and the Jay." The act received all that was coming to it at this house, the audience not missing a point. Though full of American slang and ex- pressions the piece had them laughing all the time. Hall and Macy will sail for America on the Prince Frederick Wilhelm May 23. Walter P. Lewis, the Cbrbett-looking fellow in 'The Star Bout," has left the act, and will sail back to the States im- mediately. There was an argument about salary (when the act was to play two halls a night) between Lewis and Taylor Granville. Ernest Bellini, called "The Telepathic Phenomenon," opened at the Palace this week. He is showing an act rather new to vaudeville in this country. Bellini in- vites a committee on the stage and then asks people to think what they would have him do. The person who does the fMitMwg informs those around him what he will think about. After this Bellini leads the thinker about the theatre, per- forming all that the thinker desired him to do as he goes along. In one instance the man he selected made Bellini get the trombone and hand it to another man in the audience. A lot of this is attempted, but on Monday night there seemed to be too much of an inclination to "kid" the show. Bellini had a hard time of it. The act really is a good one, thanks to its comedy possibilities. Bellini at the finish was applauded very generously. It looks as though this "mind-reading" act is going to cause a whole lot of talk in London. Clarice Vance certainly has got to 'em at the Palace, where she opened this week. On Monday night Miss Vance was on at 0:20 and a real hit. On Tuesday it was seen that Miss Vance's name on the pro- gram was shifted to the best spot on the bill. The singer is second after the inter- val, and had no trouble in holding the position up. When Percy Williams was asked if he had booked any acts since landing on this side he replied that he didn't come over to book acts, but just to get a flash at what not to book. The Juggling Mowatts are playing a four weeks' engagement at the Alhambra, and are doing a lot of things to the audi- ences there. Spissell Brothers and Mack have re- turned! from the Continent, playing the Oolisemn, and again very successful there. Oanova's "Living Porcelains" leave the Coliseum this week, after a run of eight weeks there. Pope-Stamper and Valli Valli are get- ting one over at the Palace that has them all talking. The sketch is named "In a LONDON NOTES VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE. tit irmurD, w. a (Mafl for American* and Europeans In Europe If addressed care VARIETY, as store, will be promptly forwarded.) Mirror," and is possibly the most daring piece of work that has ever been tried out in Mr. Butt's house. The piece shows a newly married couple the night of the wedding. It is said the original of this act was found somewhere on the Conti- nent, but there were afterpieces in bur- lesque shows at one time sounding some- what like this one. It is very well done, though, by Mr. Stamper and Miss Valli. There are songs, also a disrobing scene, cleverly arranged to make it seem like a reflection in a mirror. Summed up, it probably means they can hand them very snappy stuff at the Palace, if it is done nicely. Hal Godfrey is scoring this week at the Tivoli in a rather early spot on the bill. Daisy Wood is making her first appear- ance in the West End since her return from America. Miss Wood has acquired a real Yankee style, and could be very easily mistaken for an American artist now. H. B. Marinelli is spending a few days in London. George Gray, who recently received a judgment against the Water Rats for ex- pelling him from that order, has agreed to settle the matter for $600 and resign from that order. "The Rain Dears," after finishing their four weeks in Paris, will play Brighton and sail for home the second week in June. Ernest Edelsten engaged an American act for a trial show at the Surrey, and is very angry about it. Ernie claims the act had lots of letters of recommendation that sounded immense, but he afterwards found out that the act couldn't show the letters to the audience. The turn is a musical one. The Zancigs, who have just returned from the States, will open on the Stoll time at Glasgow, May 27. Henry, formerly of Henry and Francis, has taken a new partner, calling the new act Sydney and Melbourne. Stella Mayhew was held over three extra weeks at the Coliseum and has been offered a return eight weeks during the summer. Miss Mayhew and the Stoll office are having a little argument about the money at present. The comedienne is also considering a few offers from the legitimate fellows for next season in London. The management of the Empire an- nounces that there will be an entirely new scene for a finish of the ballet "A Dav in Paris," to go on to-morrow. The Otto Brothers opened last night at the Hippodrome, Liverpool, and were re- ported a success. "The Country Choir" opened at the Hip- podrome, Birmingham, and pleased, though it is said the act will have a hard time over here through being a "straight" sing- ing turn. Paul Murray has returned from a book- ing trip through the provinces, and has a bunch of new dates for actors on his books. The Harmony Four certainly have the act for this side and they are proving it every week. This week at the Empire, Holloway, there isn't a minute the turn is on the stage that the audience isn't laugh- ing. The four do very little of "straight" singing, though they can sing. Friend and Downing last week in Brad- ford caused a real sensation in that town. After the Monday show special "ads" in the newspapers were put in for them, and circus bills scattered all over. Billy Ritchie, the bicycle rider, arrived in London this week with lots of time booked over here. George Lask is in London and will man- age "The Naked Truth," to open at the Coliseum. It looks as though the Stoll tour has taken to "kid wonders" now. Two dif- ferent acts, one a little boy, and another a girl, are at the Empire, Holloway. Neither act pleased. Vesta Victoria will play a few weeks on the Stoll time, appearing this week at the Empire, Stratford. Carl Hertz returned to London this week after a long tour of the provinces. Maude Hall and Carleton Macy will sail for home May 23. I had a regular feed last night. Jim- mie Britt and I were invited by Blake and Amoer to drop in their home and toy with Yankee food. We had some real eating and some real lemon pie. If there 19 a better cook in the world than Maud Amber you will have to show us, and I'll sic Jimmie on to anybody who tries. Britt is arranging for a return match with Johnnie Summers. received money from this fund for an honorary service, it is against the principles of a brotherhood, which is placing its hands into the pockets of the poor, whom the officials propose to serve." Certain of- ficials, declared Gray's attorney, took these remarks as referring to them and at a sub- sequent lodge meeting Gray was expelled. Gray was not present at this meeting. Gray is known as "The Fighting Parson." In the King's Bench Division, London, George Gray was recently awarded $526 damages against the "Water Rats" who were in addition restrained by the court from interfering with his privileges as a member of that organization. Evidence adduced before the court was to the effect that Gray had written a letter in ref- erence to money alleged to have been paid members for attendance before Arbitrator Askwith during the hearing into the music hall controversy. "I desire to know," wrote Gray, "if it is true that sums of money have been paid to members who attended before the Arbitrator. If any member has The Middleton-Spellmeyer Co. may go over the Payne Syndicate time, starting in a few weeks at the Oxford. There is a small difference in opinion as to the sal- ary, but it is a side issue this time. H. Curline Baldry, formerly manager of the Empire, Shoreditch, has left that house, and is now in charge of the Gibbons Olympia in the same place. HOLBORN EMPIRE. London, May 11. A fair show last week at the Hoi born hall but witlt the same fault—too many single acts. Luna Love was the first of the "singles" to appear. She sang and she danced. The Three Merrills show a good number in their bicycle act, the comedian as the messenger boy securing a lot of good laughs. Mr. C. is a raonologist with a fine delivery, and outside of telling a few very old ones does a splendid talking act. A girl from the musical comedy is shown next. Some one tried very hard to put on an act for her. Maie Ash is doing a single act, having a few girls with her to help the songB along. They don't help any. George French, a comedian on the style of George Formby, ib a funny fellow. It seemed as though he was held in for some reason or other. This comedian should be given more time on the stage for he does well enough to deserve it. The Musical Courtiers, with four pianos and six singers, have a lot to do with "The Bo- hemian Girl," getting away well with it. Harry Webber, an English Hebrew come- dian, is probably the only funny English- man attempting this work. "The Sicilian Singers" (said to be survivors of the re- cent earthquake in Sicily) have good voices. Without that "survivor" story the act is a find. Ethel Beech sang- a song with a chorus that the audience could sing with her. It's growing a bit tiresome now to hear these "singles" "kid" an audience into singing. Clark and Hamilton arc always a riot before they do anything at the Holborn. It is noticed that Clark has another girl since playing here last, about four months back. She is a good-looking blonde, who does the "straight." Clark is a very funny .man and always a bit, still he says that he doesn't like peas because they roll off his knife. Maud Courtney just sang a medley of popular songs, among which were "The Banks of the Wabash," "The Girl I Loved in Sunny Tennessee," and a few others of the new ones. She was helped by a falsetto voice from one of the boxes. Maud probably could get along better it they gave her more than four minutes. B. A. Rolfe's "Ten Dark Knights" closed the show working finely all through. Tin* act is growing decidedly popular on thi^ side. Frank and Free, comedy artists, were there.