Variety (September 1923)

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l^lwtB3n^ B VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE p A R T F S ^ ^^'^^'^'* ^^53:1'"^**'^ ^^'^'k * u - ,«-- DDRESS VARIETY LONDON V/ rlk O !-• !-• »J 2096 Regent Thursday, September 6, 1923 CABLE ADDRESS, VARIETY, LONDON OVER 300 THEATRES DESTROYED IN JAPAN'S GREAT CALAMITY Meager Details at Capital—Government Unable to Obtain Accurate List of Americans—Larger Film I Producing Companies Represented ' Woshlngrton, Sept. I. "With the loss of life In Japan •long with the destruction of the cities and two summer resorts, con- ditions In Japan following the world's greatest disaster must be appalling. Interest is centered In those con- nected with the theatre, known to be located there either permanently or on brief visits. F. R. Eldredge, chief of the Far Eastern division of the Department of Commercj, who has but recently returned from Japan, states that practically every one of the larger film producing companies Is repre- sented either by some combination or Individually. Americans have been sent abroad to act for these companies and efforts have been niadt) here (o ascertain just who these men were and as to their safety. Due to the fact that reports com- ing through are so very meagre neither the State Department, Jap- anese embassy nor the Military In- te Ilgence division of the War De- partment could give any informa- tion on the men nor their families. Reference to the Japanese commer- cial guide at that country's embassy disclosed nothing covering the Americans. No tabulated lists are maintained at either the State De- partment nor the Japanese embassy setting forth location as per pass- ports nor as to their occupations. The only person definitely ascer- tained as located In Tohio Is Wayne Plerson of this city, who represents the United Artists. Me Is known to have been In Toklo at the time of the disaster. Great anxiety Is felt for him as well as his wife and chil- dren, who were with him. It was not until late last night that the news reached Washington of the safety of Cyrus E. Woods and the staff of the American legation. It may take another week until some semblance of order Is established before reports will be had on other Americans. Mr. Eldredge stated undoubtedly a great toll of human lives was taken In the theatres of both Toklo and Yokohama, as all of the the- atres were located In the devastated regions, coupled with the manner in which Japanese performances are given. Not only do the picture houses give continuous performances, but also the theatres presenting spoken dramas. In these latter houses the performance starts at 11 in the morning and continues until that hour at night, often running longer, the performers practically living In the theatres. The Teigekl or Imperial theatre 111 Illbiya Park, Toklo, Is a com- plete loss. This magnificent white stone structure was completed about five years ago, exquisitely furnished and ranked among the leading the- atres of the world. In Assakusa Park one of the most picturesque spots In Toklo, that city's Coney Island, although not on the water, there were from 30 to 30 frame the- atres offering combinations and pic- tures. These, Mr. Eldredge says, were undoubtedly ail destroyed. The next largest theatre to the Imperial wa.i the Kabukl Za. Za meaning Mat. All patrons sit on mats. In thi.s house one of the most f;jnous in Jap.in, were presented two Japanese plays, and was, what might bo termed, a Japanese insti- tution. Other theatres are the Kongo Za, the Mlcji Za and Shln- ~loml Za. ' The thP.ntrcs of Yoknham.i have also uniloLibtedly been destroyed, states Mr. KldrcdRe, s.aylng one Htreet there kno\/n as the theatre Btrcci has some one half dozen houses and story tellers. These story tellois have come down tlirough generations and until the advent of the picture were the most popular forn> of dmiiscniont • in Japan. They still retain to a Rrrat degree this popularity. "■ These men. without scenery or costumes, tell the ancient history of Japan In th» pure."»t of langungc, , ttmnihMe «»kJ»B th« sasUy.under* 1 stood motion picture a keen rival In attracting the lesser educated pa- tro'ns. Fully 800 theatres must have been destroyed in the two larger cities of Toklo and Yokohama, Theatre Participation A movement was started Wednes- day for n.ation-wlde participation of theatres In the {6,000,000 relief fund set as the first contribution by the Red Cross In succoring Japan. It Is expected leading executives in the legitimate, vaudeville, and picture fields will hold a conference today (Thursday). Augustus Thomas started the machinery for the amusement world's expression of sympathy and aid, and word from Washington may crystallze -he pro- gram. Monster benefit programs have been suggested for the Metropolitan whereby professionals will be en- abled to personallj participate. It Is expected, however, all theatres will be thrown open for Red Cross workers making a direct collection for a special fund. One suggestion was made that $50,000 be donated as a purse for a bout between Harry Wills and Bat- tling Siki, the Senegalese boxer who won fame by knocking out Car- pentler last year, with the entire gate going into the fund. Slkl ar- rived here this week. "PHILI" IS FAIR HIT Thr««-Act Comedy Opened in Paris Sunday Paris, Sept. 5. ~PhlU," presented by Mile. Jean Renourdt, opened as a fair bit at the Theatre Daunou Sunday. The piece Is a three-act comedy adapted from the novel of Abel Hermant by H. Falk an4 Jacques jBousquet. ' The company Includes Vllbert, Paul Bernard, Etchepare, Mmes. Alice Cocea, Denlse Grey, 'Christine d'Or and Mary Hett. CHEVALIER'S RELAPSE Broadway Appearance Indefinitely Postponed ParJs, Sept 5. Suffering a relapse of his recent illness, Maurice Chevalier has been Ordered to take a prolonged rest by his physicians. He Is going to a sanitarium in Switzerland. It necessitates a postponement of his appearance on Broadway under the Charles Dillingham man- a"ement. FABIS HOUSES EEOPEN Paris, Sept. B. The theatres Nouveautes, Bouffes Daunou Trianon and Paris re- opened their season Sept. 1. Orpheum, Minneapolis, Sept. 10; Orpheum, Davenport, Sept. 17; Or- pheum, Winnipeg, Sept. 24. Phil Shepperd Kirk please write also Harry Ashton. FRANK VAN HOVEN MISTOOK "BIRD" FRENCH FILMSTAR .> ^r RETURNS TO STAGE BIscot Again Playing Role of 15 Years Ago—At Renais- i lance, Paris Paris, Sept. S. I<ast night Biscot, the film atar^ returned to the atage in the melo« drama, "Pqrteuse de Pain," witb the revival at the Renaissance. Biscot played the role 16 years ago, then at the Theatre Mont- pamasse. CHARLOrS LATEST "London Calling" Excellently R«« csivsd—Too Much Show other Openings in London Week Successful This ROBERTS' NEW ACT Protean Player's Good Prospects for "Jack Sheppard" london, Sept. B. R. A. Roberts, the protean actor, produced his new sketch, "Jack Sheppard," at the Palladium Mon- day. The turn was successfully re- ceived by a large matinee audience. The playlet Includes five charac- ters and two scenes, with Roberts, who wrote the piece, playing all characters. Running 30 minutes at the open- ing performance, the act, when con- densed. Will probably prove a big winner. Nares and Fay Compton in Leads London, Sept. B. It has been decided Owen Nares and Fay Compton will play the le^ds In the revival of "The Little Min- ister." London, Sept S. E>lna Thomas, American singer of plantation ditties, scored neatly at the Coliseum this week. Edith Wilson, from "Dover to Dixie," received "the bird" Monday afternoon at the Alhambra, which she mistook for applause and gave an additional encore. Bhelton Brooks, from the same production, was received at the Vic- toria Palace. Harold Goldberg, manager of the colored troupe for the Salvins here, notified Brooks and Miss Wilson, through counsel, they would be en- Jolned, but both opened without molestation. London, Sept. 6. Andre Chariot's latest revue, "Lon« don Cilling," has been excellently. received at the Duke of York's. A majority of the 26 numbers In the performance go over big, but there is too much ehow at present and decisive cutting Is necessary. Individual scores were registered by Masle Gay, Gertrude ^wrenc^i Tubby Edlln and Noel Coward. "BLUEBIRD" REVIVAL HSCAL YEAR'S ADMISSION TAX REACHED TOTAL OF $70,148,480 Paris. Sept. 5. Around the middle of this month at the Cora Paparcerie tlieatre (for- merly Mogador) will be revived Maeterlinck's "Bluebird." Worms win play the dog and Nadine Plckard, the cat. EAVE OVEK "AMBUSH" London, Sept. S. "Ambush," produced at the Gar- rick Sept. 1, received fulsome press reviews. George Elton scored as the father, but not as finely as Frank Relchcr in New York. Made- leine Marshall overacted somewhat as the daughter. The piece was produced under the auspice* of the London Theatre Guild. WAN6ER COmNO OVEB London, Sept. E. Walter Wanger sails today on the Homeric for a flying visit to New York to arrange for exploiting American feature pictures. He win return in three weeks to take over the management of Helen and Josephine Trlz for a high class concert tour. VAN DYCK DEAD Paris, Sept. B. The Belgian tenor, Van Dyck, died in Antwerp, Saturday, at the age of 62, Decrease of Over $3,000,000 for Previous Year—In- complete Report Issued by Government for Year Ending June 30—Income Reported From Each State . ^ Gaite Rochechouart Reopening Paris, Sept. B. The new Gaite Rochechouart, de- voted to revue, destroyed by fire some months a);o, is ncaring com- pletion and will be ready during O'lohcr. The openlns show will be another revuo by Georges Arnould, with Scrjius (now replacing Maurice Clicvaller at the Palais Uoyal in "L.-« Hanf), Hurry Wills, Hurnler. Sl- donar, Mmos, ,Nir.a Myral, Itinre Fauon, Jane M^ithony. Alrxi.inc. Grand Giiicnol Star Undecided Paris, Sept. B. Local I'cport.s are circulating to the effict that Mmc. Maxa will not visit New York with the Gr.ind Qulgnol troaiiO' this season, i Variety-Clipper Bureau, Evans BIdg., Washington September B. The sum of 170,148,480.35 was paid over to the United States Gov- ernment by the amusement own- ers as the tax collected on admis- sions under the Revenue Act of 1921 during the fiscal year of the Treasury ending June 30, 1923, in- dicating a gross of $700,000,000 as having been done by the amuse- ments of the country. These figures have been issued in a preliminary statement for Secre- tary of the Treasury Mellon by Commissioner of Internal Revenue Blair, and are subject to revision on the verification of the several collectors' accounts. The fiscal year shows a drop of $3,236,47B.26 from the preceding fiscal year ending June 30, 1922, during which period the collections totaled )73,384,9BS.61. Contributing to this decrease was the repeal of certain sections of the Act of 1918 In the later Act of 1921, coupled with the depression In busi- ness In 1921. These changes In the later art, undoubtedly making this material decrease in the revenue collected from the source of amusements and entertainment admissions, was not wholly unexpected. : Under the Special Tax of Title X the theatres disclose a de<:reasc In the amount of tax paid, while the circuses rontributcd an addi- tional amount over that of 1922. From the theatres, muscum.'i, crbarets and concerts payment totaling Jl,711.782.11. in 1923, were made against $1,725,302.46 In 1922, a decrease of $13,610,35. 'The cir- cuses, apurogatiun of rnlirtain- ments, etc ," (.as they are cl.i.ssiticd by the Treasury Department) this year paid. In $152,468.96, against $137,859.80 In 1922, an. Increase of $14,S99.16. Combining the two a net increase of $988.81 is noted. The collections from all sources for 1923 totaled $2,621,74S,227.B7, a decrease from the previous year of $57B,706,8E5.43, during which pe- riod $3,197,451,083 was the total amount of the revenue collected. The decrease in amusement admls- sl n tax collections, therefor, tak- ing a slump along with the other sources of revenue of the govern- ment, and would not necessarily indicate a considerable dropping oft ill attendance at the nation's amusement places. This preliminary statement of the Commissioner of Internal Rev- enue does not go into any greai de-; tall on the various source's of col- lections, rather making general groupings under the several class- ifications of the Revenue Act. As information by which produ- cers can gain an insight as to the conditions prevailing In the sev- eral States in connection with the payment of the Income and Profit Tax, as well as the miscellaneous taxes collected under the Internal Revenue laws, the following table Is presented, the collections beitiii set forth In round figures for the purposes of clarity: Income by States Alabam.a, $7,000,000; Arizona, $1,000,000; Arkansas. $5,000,000; California, $114,000,000; Colorado, $15,000,000; Connecticut, $35,000,000; Delaware, $4,000,000; District of Columbia, $10,000,000; Florida, $13,- 000,000; Georgia, $19,000,000; Idaho. $2,000,000; Illinois, $125,000,000; In- dlaryi, $45,000,000; Iowa, $17,000,- 000; Kansas, $23,000,000; Kentucky, $26,000,000; Lnulsi.-ina, ' $16,000,000; Maine. $11,000,000; Maryl.nnd, $37,- 000,000; Massachu.MCtts, $139,000,- 000; Michigan, $187,000,000; Minne- sota, $30,000,000; MiesisHippi, $3,- (Contlnued on page 14) SHOWMEN IN JAPAN ' (Continued from page 1) R. H. and P. D. Cochrane, of Universal) was the Famous manager and R. E. Mclhtyre was his assistant. Both of the film men lived at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, supposed to have been quake-proof, but which was destroyed. E. B.. Rowe was the Uni- versal representative in Japan, but he is at Universal City, Cal., on hia way back to Japan after having visited New York. Particular anxiety is expressed regarding the other Universal office employees, for while the other offices In the film district usually closed for the day on Saturday, the Universal's was always kept open. The representatives of other picture organizations were In the habit of spending the week-ena at one of the resorts outside of Tokyo during th« heated spell, and l>ecause o£ this practice it Is believed that the majority may ,be safe. A, ■ cable received In Los Angeles) on Wednesday stated that botli '■ Mrs. Rupert Hughes and Ruth Rennlck, actress, were safe. ' With T. D. Cochrane In " Japan were his wife and her sister. ! Another picture executive in the quake zone was FranK V. Chamberlain, managing dl^ ; rector of the Peacock M. P. ' Corp. in New York. The home offlco received a letter front him dated Aug. 10, statinc that he was leaving China for Yokohama the next day. fif,:;- SAILINGS Sept 24 (London to New TorhJVl Edna Maud (Homeric). •«* Sept. 12 (London to New Yor*]^ John McCormack, Lionel Tertli' (Majeetlc). ' Sept. 18 (London to New York); Gilfoll and Lange (Leviathan). Sept. 9 (London to New York)*,. Kimberly and Page (Caronia). i Sept. S (London to New York>i j Edgar Allen (Homeric). I Sept. 1 (New York to London) Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Malevlnsky (Majestic). WII.KTTK KERSHAW OUARANTT TnUST CO. ^, 531 rifili Avenu* New Tor« THE TILLER SCHOOLS OF DANCING 143 Charing Cross Road LONDON Director, JOHN TILLER IS