Variety (August 1919)

, I-- I I •• BIG FIGHT IMPENDING FOR CONTRO L OF EN GLISH HALLS Stoll Arranging to Build in Opposition to Moss Empires and Variety Controlling Houses in Provinces. Has Secured Three Sites. Liverpool, Leeds and Brighton Scenes for First Clash. Moss to Rebuild Several Houses. London, July 30. The acquisition -by Sir Oswald Stoll •f the Bee Hotel site in Liverpool, the City Square in Leeds and the Clock Tower in Brighton seems to presage a battle royal for the control of the music hall situation in England, with Stoll at the head of the faction that is to give fight to the Moss Empires and the Butt-DeFrece interests in the Va- rietv Controlling Co. " Stoll in addition to having his own circuit and being .a director in the Gulliver Tour (formerly Gibbons Cir- cuit), and of which Charles Gulliver is the managing director, is going to build three halls, each costing a mil- lion dollars, because he was unable to have his own way in becoming inter- ested in the other circuits. At the time of the dissolufion of the Ifoss and Stoll circuit some years ago there was an agreement between the two partners whereby Stoll was to keep out of the Moss towns for a period of years. This agreement has evidently run out. In other locations where the houses of the two conflicted there was an agreement as to the play- ing of acts. . In the building of the three new halls Gulliver is supposed to be interested with Stoll. Frederick Matcham has been engaged to draw the plans. Meantime the Moss interests have" made arrangements for the rebuilding of several of the houses on their cir- cuit with a view to increasing capa- city to meet the coming onslaught of the opposition. SACKS HOLDS MAJORITY. London, July 30. The purchase by J. L. Sacks of the stock of George Foster in the J. L. Sacks, Ltd., gives Sacks the control of that company. This eliminates all of the outside interests with the excep- tion- of those held by William J. Wil- son, the producer, and Arthur Voegtlin, who handles the American end of the affairs of the firm. "LITTLE WIDOWS" MOVING. London, July 30. "His Little Widows" which has been holding forth at Wyndham's moves at the end of this week to the Garrick, succeeding "Nobody's Boy" at that house. The latter piece is to be recast and tried again. Despite failure here, looks good for America. "BANTAM, V. C w IS OFF. London, July 30. "Bantam, V. C." was withdrawn at Martin's, July 24. Albert de Courvilfe revived "The Very Idea" there July 25. Easton, Pickering and Ethel Ward are playing the leading roles. •THE BOY" ENDING LONG STAY. London, July 30. "The Boy" will be withdrawn from the Adelphi Aug. 9, after its 800th per- formance, making way for "Who's Hooper," a new musical play based on the farce "In Chancery." NEW COMEDY AT AMBASSADORS. London, July 30. "The Latest Craze," which Miss Gladys Lloyd has been presenting at the Embassadors is to be withdrawn on Aug. 2, ana sent on tour. The next attraction scheduled for the house is a comedy by John Walton entitled "Green Pastures and Picadilly." BUTT ENGAGES RUSSIAN BALLET. London, July 30. Sir Alfred Butt has signed the Rus- sian Ballet and will continue its en- gagement at the Empire after its pres- ent season at the Academy closes. Butt has arranged with Richard Wal- ton Tully, to produce "The Bird of Paradise." at the Lyric in September. THEATRICAL BOOM OVER. London, July 30. The theatrical boom that began after the armistice is now definitely con- cluded. Many theatres/ are closing. Others are doing badly. The variety houses, however, are still playing to good business-. COCHRAN ANNOUNCES SEVEN. London, July 30. Although he has made no arrange- ment with the Actors' Association, Charles B. Cochran has announced that he will have made seven new productions by February, mostly musi- cal. •:■•■■ TEDDIE GERRAD REMAINS. . London, July 30. Teddie Gerrad. who was to have sailed for New York last week to ap- pear under the management of-A. H. Woods, canceled her reservation at the last minute and decided to remain in London. A new contract for a new play under the management of Charles B. Cochran is the reason. A. H. Woods stated.he has not heard that Miss Gerrad had changed her mind regarding coming to America. Walk Out of Alhambra Rehearsals London, July 30. Huntley Wright and Gus McNaueh- ton have withdrawn from rehearsal for the new Alhambra revue. Both "had disagreements with Oscar Asche, who is staging it. 'Too Many Cooks" for Savoy. London, July 30. Frank Craven, who is here with his wife, has arranged with Gilbert Miller to produce "Too Many Cooks" at the Savoy in August. Rock and White Sailing. London, July 30. William Rock and Frances White, booked to return on the Lapland, will sail tomorrow (Aug. 1.) Rowland Coming Back. London, July 30. Richard Rowland, president of the Metro, is sailing for home on the first available boat. Variety again at the Holborn. London, July 30. Now that the Holborn has given up its revue and pone back to varietv, Georpe Carney is appearing there in a single act. He has in preparation a burlesque of "Cyrano de Bergerac." Hedges Bros, and Jacobson Reunited. London, July 30. Hedges Bros, and Jacobson have re- united after five veers. w ■ s s»3 ••■■'■ —:■-.-.'■•■■ — L L 9 AGENTS AND MANAGERS COMING. London, July 30. There is an influx of English agents imminent, many • planning shortly to sail for New York. >* Ernest Edelstein sails Aug. 10 on the Baltic, Tommy Dawe a fortnight later, and, in turn, others from the firm, in- cluding Paul Murray, Jimmy Tate and Julian Wylie. Others sailing shortly are Percy Reiss, Joe Shoebridge, . Harry Burns, and Willie Edelstein. Producing managers are also sail- ing, but all are keeping their British tailings secret in an effort to forestall the others. Among these are Albert de Courville, Albert Sacks, Andre Chariot, Gilbert Miller, Edward Lau- rillard and probably Sir Alfred Butt. J. GRAYDON DEAN DIES. London, July 30. J. Graydon Dean, one of the best known music hall managers here and director of the Palace, died July 28, aged 76. PANIC OVER DELAYED SAILINGS. London, July 30. Among American artists there is a panic here brought' about by their in- ability to return home, doe to post- poned sailings. V. A. F. CHAIRMAN RESIGNS. London, July 30. Fred Russell, Chairman of the V. A. F., has tendered his resignation to the artists' organization and the same has been accepted. It is to take effect at the end of September. The nomina- linns for his successor close on August 7. The V. A. F. will hold a meeting Aug. 10 to choose Russell's successor. The - meeting will decide whether to select an honorary chairman who will be practically a figurehead or make the office a strictly business one with the occupant of it from commercial lines and on a salary. Anyone elected will be debarred from stage appearance during his-term. RECORD CROWD AT HIGH PRICES. London, July 30. At the command performance at. the Coliaeum July 28 there was a record attendance at the record price of five guineas. BURTON MANAGING LORRAINE. London, July 30. Percy Burton has become business manager for Robert Lorraine who is appearing at the Duke of York's in "Cyrano" under his own management There is a possibility that Lorraine may visit America during the coming season and present the piece there. New House Opened by Prince Albert. London, July 30. Prince Albert opened the new Princ- ess theatre at Crayford, Kent, this week. It was erected for the Vickers work people. Louis Calvert is produc- • ing the American play, "Dadlums," there. Novelto Trio Is New Musical. London, Tuly 30. At the Palladium, Marie Novelto is presenting a new artistic musical act, billed as the Novelto Trio. She is at the piano, Ethel Varick is the violin- ist and Philip - Simmons the tenor singer. New Leading Lady in "Buzz Buzz." London, July 30. "Buzz Buzz" at the Vaudeville has passed its 300th performance with Heater Thatcher,'the new leading lady, making a highly successful debut Successful at Euston. London, July 30. At the Euston, Copland and McLeod and the Two Cases Boys recently made successful debuts. Al Stern Is Now Al Lewis. London, July 30. Al Lewis, the character comedian, opened at the Palace successfully. He is known in American as Al Stern. Beauty Contests in Gulliver's Halls. London, July 30. Gulliver's Halls in Polar, Putney, Will-Esden and Islington are featur- ing beauty contests this wek Romanian Tenor at Drury Lane. London, July 30. At the Drury Lane, Constantin Stroesco, a Romanian tenor, has suc- cessfully taken the part df Angle PeWut. - TETRAZZINI REOPENING. London, July 30. Luisa Tetrazzini, the prima donna, reappears at Albert Hall, Aug. 2, after five years' absence from the concert stage. Soldiers at Savoy. London, July 30. Gilbert Miller intends to present the army entertainers known as "Les_ Rouges et Les Noir Program" at the Savoy. It consists of short plays and bur- lesque. Soldiers impersonate chorus girls. "Keep 'Em Alive" Opens. - London, July 30. At the Finsbury Park, Albert de Courville produced the touring revue, "Keep 'Em Alive," this week with Jack Gallagher, George Manton, Mabelle George and Lillian Major in the prin- cipal parts. "Latest Craze" Coming Off. London, July 30. 'TheLatest Craze" will be withdrawn from the Ambassadors Aug. 2 Aug. 6 Agnes Piatt will present there a comedy called "Green Pastures and Piccadilly." "Business" Going to Prince**. London, July 30. George B. McLellan will transfer "Business Before Pleasure" from the Savoy to Prince's, Aug. 4. Yorke and Leonard are continuing as Potash and Perlmutter. "Jack O' Jingles" in the Fall. London, July 30. Leon.Lion will present "Jack 0' Jin- gles" in the fall at the New theatre. He and Malcolm Cherry are the au- thors. Palladium Leads with Victory Bonds. London, July, 30. The Palladium headed the variety theatres selling the Victory Loan, se- curing $155,000. Helen Ferrer* Is Back on the Stage. London, July 30. HelenFerrers, a war nurse for three yeaxSi > .has returned to the stage. "Lady of Lyons" Revival. London, July 30. Nettlefold will revive .'The Lady of Lyons" at the Scala, Aug.2, "Naughty Wife" Ending Run. London, July 30. 'The Naughty Wife" will be with- drawn at the Playhouse Aug. 2. Kingsway, London, Dark. London, July 30. The Kingsway is closed pending a new produetHm is the autumn. ■ ^'■.. J^.. :--