Variety (May 1924)

CABLE ADDRESS, VARIETY, LONDON f A R L E S 8 St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square ^ "^ " " VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE 2096-3199 Regent Wednesday, May 7, 1924 ENGLISH THEATRICAL UNION BOYCOTT STARTS IN SMALL TOWN-HITS AT V. i F. Barrow in North Country Where Barring Or«3er Is- sued by Labor Chief—Intends to Extend Move- ment—Variety Artists' Federation Not Member of Federated Council—Aim Eventually Is London ■f— London, May 6. Severe Industrial trouble Is brew- ing for the Ihtatrii-al bu.slncss Ken- erally and the jncoinpetcnt and In- •iperlenccd In particular. Strange- ly enough, the storm lia.s broken In the little north country town of Bar- row, where the local labor chief has warned the managers that players, musicians, staff, etc., not belonp- Ing to their respective unions will not bo allowed to appear. The unions in question are the Actors Association, National Association of Theatrical Employees and the Amal- gamated Mu.slclana" Union. These three organizations jointly form the Entertainments Federal Council. No artist not a member of the A. A. Is now allowed to appear in Har- row. The Communistic organizers of tho proposed boycott declare the (Continued on page 36) LEE WHITE'S "COWE IN" RAZZED AND GUYED -Not ENGLISH TAX CUT OF SOME RELIEF Entertainment Tax Probably Halved—Cheaper Seats Getting Preference London, May S. Tho show world is awaiting the Lord Chancellor of the Exchequer's taxation budget with a certain amount of temerity. The entertain- ment tax was Introduced during the war purely as a "war-time" meas- ure, but BO successful was It from the Exchequer's point of view they were unable to let it go when peace came and have resisted all tempta- tion to put It on one side ever since. It remains the bete noir of the theatrical and allied professions. Committees have been formed of legitimate, vaudeville and picture managers, the latter running a little crusade on their own. The com- mittees have had interviews, have Bent delegations to various chan- cellors, have listened to promises, And have spent much good money without gelling a step forarder. Now there is a hope, and financial experts say the tax will be halved, meaning something like $25,000,000 will be taken off the showmen's Bbouldcrs. In making the cut It is said the cheaper seats will have first con- sideration. These at the moment Buffer more In proportion than the higher priced scats, there being a two-penny tax on a six-penny scat, as against nincpence on the aristo- cratic nvc-shilling accommodation. Having got rid of this Incubus, the theatrical and film magnates will next focus their worries on an Increased Income lax and the death duties increa.ies. Opened in London May 1- Much Worth While in Show London, May t. When "Come In," starring Lee "White, the American pop song singer, opened Thursday at the Queens, the galleryites "went after it" in whole-hearted fashion. They gave the show a regular razzing. While the remainder of the house was not quite so rough, they seemed inclined, however, to quietly guy the performance, which has Utile worth while In It. The show Is altogether too talky and nothing got anything excepting the .specialty of Miss White and her husband, Clay Smith. Miss White produced the revue. Its book is by Harry Grattan, lyrics by Fred Godfrey, music by Clay Smith. The supporting company includes Fred Leslie and Mae Baird, Gus MacNaughton, Bob Cory, Haginald Dandy, Fayette Perry, Ella Milne, Irene North, Billie Lockwood, Betty Bolton. OPERA COMBINE Berlin Will Reduce Number of Opera Houses BEN BEYEK, ESTABLISHED 1900. One of the favorites at TONY PASTORS, and still GOING BIG. EDDIE KELLER'S newest act, and at the same time one of the oldest NEW ACTS in vaudeville. HEADLINED in every theatre of Importance In GREAT BRITAIN and South Africa, also two months at tho OLYMPIA, PARIS. TEN TIMES over the Orpheum tour, and many, many times in the B. F. Keith theatres. Still going strong; always up to date. Going to Paris to play six weeks thi's fall and back home again to take the dates that EDDIE KELLER has waiting. FRANK VAN HOVEN, who has just finished the INTERSTATE TIME with me, said: "BEN, you're a wonder. I've seen you in ALL parts of the WORLD, and as a SINGLE LAFF getter you're the SUREST thing I've ever seen. You NEVER MISS, and that line of GAB you've put in is a howl." BEN BEYER Direction EDWARD S. KELLER This week (May 5), Keith's, Phila. Glasgow Made Barring Point For Non-Union Professionals London, May 8. The organizing secretary of Ihe Scottish branch of the Amalga- mated Musicians' Union acting on behalf of the Entertainment!) Fc<lcral Council, has Issued a statement to tho Scots Trade Union Congress to the effect that: "On and after September 1 next no music hafl artiste, actor, musi- cian or stage hand will be allowed to appear in Glasgow unless mem- bers of their respective unions." With a threat of a coming struggle between the unions and no- body apparently knowing what Is what. It would be advisable If American performers coming over here found out how they stand. These more or less rabid socialists are unlikely to listen to any arguments from man, woman or child with Ignorance as its basis. It may easily mean that a small act or a troupe of dancers or a "star" may arrive here to open In Newcastle, Glasgow, Liverpool or else- where and find themselves confronted with either being personally cut out or leaving the theatre dark simply because they had not had time to become a fully fledged member of one of tho antago- nistic unions. (On these pages is a story of a union barring movement In Eng- land, in effect since April 28 at Barrow, and similar in scope to the proposed ruling for Glasgow after Sept. 1.) BASIL DEAN LEHING LONDON THEATRES GO Berlin, May 6. It now seems well within the range of probability that the Grosse Volksopcr and the DeuLychcs Opern- hause are to be combined next sea- son. This will undoubtably mean that to all practical purposes tho Voiks Opera Company will cease to exist as they will then give up the Thea- tre des Wcstcns, in which they have been playing for the last two years and win go over to Join the other organization In the huge Deutsche opera house. Otto Klemperer, the new con- ductor-director of the Volks Opera, will assume the same position in the Deutsches, and Lange, a clever manipulator in the Volks, will take charge of the business end of the Deutsches. A development of this sort has been expected here for some time, as it is quite impo.s.ilble that Berlin can support four opera houses now, where it could barely support two before the war. "A RICH KID," NEW SCRIPT, LIKED, DESPITE Yvain's Production Minus Much, but Retains Like- able Qualities Free to Devote All Time to Im- portant Drury Lane Produc- tion, "London Life" London, May 6. One by one Basil Dean Is relln- quiyhinp his hold on London thea- tres. He recently gave up tho Am- basnadors, after the failure of "The Way Things Happen," and has broken away from the Queen's, which he held with Sir Alfred Butt. "Conchita" did it within a week. At the St. Martin's, Galsworthy's "The Forest" off, and Dean Is trans- ferring "The Conquering Hero" there. He will now have all his energies free for the production of the new Drury Lane drama, "London Life," by Arnold Bennett and Edward Knoblock. Drury Lane, to be successful, ipust be more than a side line in this young manager's life. DUKE AND CHAUFFEUR IN WTTH CHEESEMONGER Berr's 3-Acter Handles Them All More or Less Agree- • ably I'aris, May 6. Georges Berr's three-act melodra^ matlc comedy, at the Renaissance, premiered to a more or less enthusi- astic greeting under the title of "Echelle Casse." Tho story revolves around & cheesemonger's widow who Is tha prospective purchaser of a ruined duke's mansion. She proposes th« marriage of her daughter to thd financially embarra.ssed owner's son. Tho girl prefers an educated chauffeur, and the duke's heir laiei; takes to wife the chauffeur's slater. The cast is comprised of Paul CapellanI, Jean Dax, Armonde Cas- sive, Jeanne Danjou and Andrea Feranne. FOSTER'S AMERCAN SHOW Foil Tour of English Music Halls » London, May 6. Harry FoHtcr l-i arranging a tour In tho inuHic halls of a variety show from Aiiierica made up of teven acts. Tho four principal turns will be ftlgoUtto lirothcrs, Kwanaoii Sis- ters, Eddie Polo and Mystico, tho latter an Illusion act. The show will open In England early In August. "lONDON CALLING" CLOSING IjOn<lon, May 6. "I.,onilon Calling," the .^Chariot revue, is clo.sing. Notice has been posted at ll\o Duke of York's, U will be followed with a new revui> headed by I'ari.sy.'t, a French ar- tiste, supported by Alfred Lester, Billy Leonard and Farrar. _ Est. 1898 }000( WILLIAM MORRIS A<iENC'T, INC. ratBam Dldg., 1403 IlroiUlwaT, New fork LAcknwanna tS^O-l ••w York Ctilcoga Los Angclci Ltniott Syd:ic) SALZBURG FESTIVAL AGAIN Berlin, May 6. Much against expectations, the festival performances at Salzburg will be given again this summer. Under Ileinh.ardt's direction a cycle of farces by Shakespeare and Goldoni will be given. In the siiuare before the cathe- dral, in honor of Uichard .Strauss' 60th birthday, a pcrform.inco of the composer's "Alp Symphony" will be performed under his direction and with tho wliolo of the Vienna I'hil- hariiionic Orchestra as its exoiu- (antp. Paris, May J. The new operetta by Maurice Yvain, "Gosse de RIche" ("A Ilich Kid"), with the script naming Falk and Bousquet as the authors, was created at tho Theatre Daunou Sat- urday. The piece was accorded a warm greeting, despite the plot is trivial and the music unimportant. Tho theme concerns a portrait painter marrying a profiteer's daughter, following the usual French love intrigues. Included are Vilbert as the wealthy arti.st, Alice Cocea playing the daughter and Jeanne Chelrel, an un- Hubstantiated baroness. PROLOG BECOMES ACT Picture Predecessor Will Play at the Coliseum London, May 6. The prolog of the Hepworth pic- ture, "Coming Through the Rye," at the Scala, has been turned Into an act for vaudeville. This is the first time anything like this has been done In British theatrical his- tory. Sir Oswald Stoll la enthusiastic about the show. After a provincial opening and tour It will,come to the Coliseum for three weeks. The prolog, which la dumb, con- sists of the Introduction of the char- acters In Helen Mather's work and a few brief episodes giving the key- note of the picture. The original players appear. At tho Scala the prolog was more Interesting than tho picture. R. G. Anthony Dead London, May t. Richard G. Anthony, author of "A Message From Mare," died here last week. He was 87 years of age. EUROPEAN EXCHANGE OF ACTS ~ STARTS HRST IN GERMANY WALTURDAWS BANKRUPT Pioneer English Blows Picture Up Firm London, May C. Walturdaws, ono of the oldest firms In this country and In tha earliest days of the bust .ess on tha producing side, have gone bank*, rupt. The smash is due to tha action of a holder of dc'jenturcs, up to $130,000, named Abrahams. In the days when t'-e firm waa prosperous, anyone who had a story took it to the firm, who read It, and If they wanted it generally paid about $250 and made the feature lo a day. These were the days when copletf of the film were sold to exhibitors^ not rented. MISS PARRY AND AUSTRAIIA I.orKlon, May 6. Charliitlo Parry, who leoenlly cre- ated a lilg Kuocess here In her pro- tean sketch, "Into tho Light," and li.as had an exceedingly suocessfiil run during her 18 months stay, loaves for AiiHlr.-ilia In July to play the Williamson circuit. During the tour slio will piny "In- to the Light," and also "Tho Corn- .■ffock My.stfry." Miss Terry will take hor English eomp.iny with her. NATIONAL OPERA IN JUNE London, May 6, A two months' se.ason by the Dritl.sh National Opera Company will he inaugurated at the Majestic early In June. May Bills in Berlin Holding British Turns—Eng- land Not Expected to Make Heavy Drafts Before Fall liorlin,. May J. Tho r.-ilslng of tho b.'in on lOngllsh .acts in llcrm.iny to(jk effect linine- diatcly. Some Kngllsh aet'i h.ivo been erig,igoii for the M.iy bills In liorlin. Ah yet no 'iornian acts have been origriged for I'lngland and vci y little Is oxi)retcd ijofore the fall. It Is claimed liore tli.it 'lormany has ft roudh larger l\fUi tor Kngllsh turns than I'ingl.-ind for (Jcrmany, owing to t)io ni.iny varlctio^i of shows In which they rnay work, these rimnlng from stialght vauile- vllle houses (like the .Scala) through every form of cabaret to the smaller picture houses, cairying one or two acts on Its bill. This statement, however, I?) probably exagcrated as otherwise the Clortnans would not h.ivo been so hot for the last two years to got the ban lifted. That Italy, franco and lielglun\ have not yet lowered their boycott against Germany is looked upon with at least simulated indifference In vaudeville circles here, but there seems to ho a little of the sour grapes In this attitude. It Is thought tho raising of the Knglish L«n will gradually force the othorii to drop theirs; from six months to a year is tho time gen- erally eatlm.itcd. SAILINGS May'7 (New York to Paris), B. H. Sothern, Julia Marlowe, Jean Bcdlnl^ Dorothy Earle, Pierre Monteu«< Leon Gordon, Lydia Van Gilder^ Angelo Bada and wife (Aqultania). May 7 (New Tork to Bremen)^ Anna Pavlowa, Carl Melnhafd (George Washington). May 6, Barry Macollum, Maurlcci Greet, Mrs. Arthur Hornblow! (Pittsburgh). May 6 (New York to Bcrmud.i) * Florence Greene, Jack Bobbins and/ Abe Meyers. May 8 (New York to London) Barry McCullom (I'ittsburgh). May 3 (New York to London) Elsie Janis and her mother; Tsa-to F. Marcasson, Conde Nasf, Kather- Ine Onslow (Olympic); Mrs. A. M. S, McLellan (Celtic); P. Scott t'ltz- gerald, wife and daughter (Mlnnc- waska). May 3 (New York to Naples) Alan Dale (President Wilson). May 3 (London to New York) Burr and Hope, Nat Ayer and Tommy Dawe (Herengarla). May 3 (London to New York) Jacob Wilk and family (Leviathan). May 3 (New York to I.«ndon) Tom Terrlsa, Pedro dc Cordoba, Bcneo Adoree, Manuel Granada, Dorothy Ruth (Leviathan). THE TILLER SCHOOLS OF DANCING 143 Charing Cross Road LONDON Director, JOHN TILLEB