Variety (September 1924)

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* CABLi ADDRESS, VARIETY, LONDON POP 17 1 C M 8 St. Martin'. Place, Trafalgar Square f V R t 1 U 11 VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE 2096-3199 Regent Wednesday, September -3, 1924 STRIKING GERMAN PERFORMERS CLOSE TWO CABARETS AT KOENIGSBERG • T- Managers' and Artists' Organizations in Another 1 . Conflict—Performers Demand Favorable Contract { Be Continued—Many Foreign Acts in Germany Weaken Natives' Position J Berlin, Aug. 26. The vaudeville performers' strike has begun. The- first casualties took place In Koenigsberg, where the two cabarets, "Fledermaua" and "Dahm's Kuenstlerpiele," were dosed by the strikers. The per- formers demand a continuation of the favorable contract which they won during the inflation period when Germany was cut off from foreign acts by the bad state of exchange and the boycott. The managers on the contrary wish to have this contract changed In their favor. The Artlsten Logs, the vaudeville iaas' organisation, evidently In- tends to fight the matter through as they have. In Xoenlgsberg: by (Continued on page SI) BLACKMAIL CHARGED Eugen Robert Refused Theatre Li- cense in Vienna ■ ' — k —.' .' Berlin, Aug. 21. In Vienna the Berlin theatrical manager' Eugen Robert has lust been refused a license to continue operating the Renaissance -theatre. The reason given for this by the authorities is that be has for years failed to operate this theater him- self. He has dismissed the twenty- five actors Whom he had engaged for performances there. They claim he only has a right to break his contracts with them had he failed to get a renewal of bis license through no fault of his own. As this Is not the case, they are col- lectively, suing him for their full salaries. ./mother angle on the matter is that the Austrian Actors Union has forbidden its members, even those working for Robert, to take "als side in the matter. For this reason Rob- ert has denounced Kurmann, vice president of the union, for black- mall, and the proceedings will shortly come up in court. GUITAE AND JAZZ Paris, Aug. 25. Regina Camier reopened the Nou- veautes this week, presenting . "La Guitar et le Jassband," by Robert Dleudonne and Henri Duvernois, from a novel by the latter, and which has already formed the sub- ject of an lndiftersnt film. It is a love story of a girl who elopes and Jlbbs. ArqullUere, Ca- pellanl, Champel, Betty Daussmond, Pauline Carton, and Regina Camier adequately support the Guitar and Le Jaszband which constitutes a romantic comedy. OPERETTA IN BELGIUM Brussels, Aug. 25. Leon Volterra, directing the local Alhambra, has arranged to bring here the Vienna operetta "Dance of the Dragon Files," by Franx Lehar, played at the Ba-Ta-Clan, Paris, last season. JDfE. SIMONE IN 1-ACTEB Paris, Sept. 2. Prior to returning to America lime. Blmone will appear Friday in the vaudeville program at the Al- hambra. She will play the fifth act of the famous old drama, "Adrienne Lecouvreur." PUCES AT/ BIARRITZ Paris, Sept. 2. Harry Pilcer, at the Casino, Os- tend (Belgium), is arranging to open a cabaret at Biarritz for the coming season, early In October. Keeping Tab in London Washington, Sept. 2. Do they read Variety in Lon- don? Jack Daly, critic for the Washington "Post,", needed a, rest His friends flxed.lt for him to cross the pond on a slow-going Shipping Board ves- sel. When in London he went to the Press Club and intro- duced himself. This is what he heard: "Oh, yes, Mr.'Daly; we knew you were coming over. We read of the -slow boat and all In Va- riety ."v t —^—^— — ' "FATA MORGANA" IN LONDON London. Sept. 2. "Fata Morgana" will open Sept. 15 at the Ambassadors. lAAAf 18M WILLIAM MORRIS AOKNCT INC. Tglun m«l»., MM Broadway, Nut York Ij&ckawanna 1(40-1 •seVwk CMc»M iHAlHiM !■••**■ »»<••> LONDON MINUS IMA CLUB 1ST NOW Famous Place Closed—75 Percent of Members Out of Work . London, Aug. SO. After an existence of nearly three years, during -which "time tae com- mittee and members fought man- fully with their back to the wall, the Klnema Club closed Its doors for good Aug. 16. There is no^ doubt the smash was occasioned more than anything else' by the ghastly state of the business here, probably more than 75 per cent, of its members being out of work op else only doing very badly paid oc- casional work. When originally founded, the club was Intended eolely for artists, pro- ducers, and cameramen, with a small handful . of Journalists as honorary members.' This was found to be almost fatal, and first agents were admitted and then renters and exhibitors. If the lat- ter had been eligible at tbe first, it is probable the concern would have been prosperous, but the men with the money got their backs up at their exclusion, and when they did become eligible, refused to Join. As a last resource, the club became a limited liability company, but here again disaster was speedy. One of the original financiers turned out to be anything but a man of money and speedily vanished. Then four other members took on the Job too late and without suitable knowl- edge. What will happen in the future no one knows, but the fact remains that, although the big pro- vincial cities have the kinema clubs, London has nothing devoted to the industry and its members. Meanwhile the majority of the members have gone next door where William Bankler, known in vaude- ville circles as Apollo, has re- opened the Knickerbocker as the Radio. This club originally came into being after the collapse of the Vaudeville, whose premises are now occupied by the Actors. The Radio, well furnished und comfortable, will be run on lines stricter than hitherto. The Qarrlck is exclusive, and the Eccentric and Green Room are al- most beyond the reach of the aver- age player. Several very small clubs have come into existence and pretended to be devoted to the In- terests of the player and producer, but their lives were short and any- thing but sweet. Among these the Screen and the St. Martins, merely gaming and drinking dives camou- flaged, met an ignomlmious defeat before police magistrates and van- ished, while others tucked into odd corners of Soho and even less de- serving generally ceased to exls' when the brewers refused credit. FRANK VAN HOVEN Fordham and Rockaway. The mad magician is going great. He is well .known the world over. Letters by, the hundreds pour In weekly asking for his photos. His book contains write-ups by the greatest critics. He is copied by the copy- ists. He doesn't"even given "'em" a thought. After his return from England he. will have a big- act. This is a bum - ad. I wrote it in a hurry. Tou're never a success un- til they talk about you. ' Even If they "roast you" It's great. FRANK VAN HOVEN Ne xt Week, Albright and Harte . ■ ' ' 1 ' . ■■■" ■ ' ' ■ " =T RODEO IN PARIS Paris, Sept. 2. i Opening Sept. • at the Buffalo Velodrome, about the same Amer- ican Rodeo bunch as appeared at the London Coliseum will stage a rodeo for Paris. , Among the riders so far an- nounced, all Americans, are Rube Roberts, Tommy Kirnan, Howater glim, Vera McGlnness ' and Bea Kirnan.' •■••'. i . • DEATHS ABROAD Paris, Aug. 20. Henry Ceard, French author, died Aug. 16, age 73. Henri Collen, French picture ac- tor, deid In Paris, aged 46. Marcel L'Heureux, Journalist, ed- itor of "Cri de Paris," died at Eng- hien lea Bains, near Paris, aged 58. Rodolphe Reuss, writer, born at Strasbourg, Alsace, died at Ver- sailles, France, aged 83. Marina Fasce (known as Marius Sauveur), pianist, formerly accom- panist of Mayol, died at Marseilles. 0. B. S. SEASON EXTENDED Paris, Aug. 25. The Charles Macdona Players, giving Shaw's plays In English at the Theatre Albert I, have extended the season for a further three weeks at the Theatre Michel (more centrally situated). Shaw's repertoire has attracted the entire Anglo-American colony in town. Esme Percy has Joined the com- pany as assistant manager. Tom Mawbray remains as producing manager. . ■ » SAILINGS Sei t. 3 (New York to London), Gloria Swanson and children, Gloria and Joseph; Georges Carpentier, Leach Cross, Giovanni Martinelli of the Metropolitan opera house; Pauline Blair, Jane Green (Beren- garla). Sept • (London to New York), Robert Loraine (Aquitania). Sept. 6 (New York to London) M. L. Malevinsky (Leviathan). Sept. 5 (Cherbourg to New York), Mr. and Mrs. Harry Puck (Cleve- land). Sept. 3 (London to New York), Herbert and Charles Wilcox (Olym- pic). Aug. 30 (London to New York), Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fulgora (Lan- castrian Aug. 30 (New York to London), Frank Sylvester (Homeric). Aug. 27 (London to New York), Frank Vnrdon (Majestic). CAFE DE PARIS SOLD London, Sept, 2. Tbe Cafe de Paris cabaret, play- ing to capacity, has been sold at a handsome profit to a syndicate through the Foster Agency. Experienced Actors and Work London,, Aug. 21. There is no hope for the experienced actor In this country, at any rate not for the present. Experience, reputation, ability amalgamate Into one big crime In the eyes of the present day manager and the directors of the mushroom syndicates which spring up weekly. These gentry know very little about the business or have learned it while snugly wrapped in cotton-wool. One of these issued a plaintive wall a little . while ago that., although controlling several West End houses and being mixed Into anything else he could find, the hardest part of his day's work was "teaching actors to set their parts." . The man knows little or nothing about acting and tbe shareholders la some of the houses he controls are beginning to wonder whether he knows much about production, or management. This magnate might well be the hero of the following story: An actor of many years' experience in London and the provinces and an old actor-manager was engaged for a part. Everything was o. k. until Just as the actor was leaving the manager asked him what sort of a baritone lie was. The actor answered he was no baritone, knew nothing as far as singing was concerned, at which the manager told him the engagement was off. Not unnaturally the actor, who wanted wcrk badly, used language no actor should use to a magnate and demanded why he was engaged when a singer was wanted; The answer showed the manager's'vast experience: ■ .- "Dear boy," he said, '7 thought you looked like a singer!" The actor became terser and was curtly told that the expert knew other West End managers who would not think of engaging any- body who had had more than eight years op the stage.. After this period players became stale and old-fashioned. Sueh ideas prob- ably explain why experienced actors and actresses are always "out" and have to rely upon a day's film "crowd" work occasionally to keep what little life is left In them. "50-50" as Magic Breathe « Even the saving day's "crowd" work is being eut from under the player. Producers are taking advantage of the general need to cut the man or woman wanting work to a point which would rouse a howl of Indignation if a' tradesman did It with his employes. . People who do It for the fun of the thing are getting more and more popular, labor exchanges supply "types," and blessed Is he who breathes ""fifty-fifty" into the so-called-casting director's ear. Men and womei- are insultel st will by cade In high positions who know the victims must put up wit;, it or starve. , , . People p'aylng big paajui are treated with little more courtesy. In one case r. man, now playing an important part in the West End, had worked in several pictures for a big company. He was re- engaged anil went for his usual pay-envelope to find Just half his previous salary. Thinking a mistake had been made, he spoke to the studio manager and was told it was quite correct—"he could take it or leave.lt." The actor left it and as he was walking out was shouted after: "One of these days you'll crawl to me for work, you will!" This man is all-powerful at the moment and expects even hi* leading people to call him "afr."' Tjp to now few of them do It. l *\ Editor of "Referee" Out; Disagreement with Stoll London, Sept. 2. , George Curnock, editor of "The Referee," (London), following a dis- agreement with Sir Oswald Stoll, owner of that paper, resigned. Mr. Curnock was paid' off in full on his contract. "MUSIC BOX" IS^MELODY BOX" London, Sept. 2. A firm of producers of provincial shows have secured the scenery and book to .the first "Music Box Revue" and are sending it on tour under the title "The Melody Box." Joe Hayman is adapting the book to suit the mentality of British country audiences. VALENTINO GETS TO WORK Nice, Aug, 25. Rudolph Valentino is expected here (after a very short stay In Paris), for the production here of the Rits-Carlton pictures for which he Is booked. HACKETT'S FLAT COMING OFF London, Sept 2. "Pansy's Arabian Nights" will close Saturday at the Queens, after three weeks. It Isy Walter Hackett's play. Little Tich Returning to Paris Paris, Sept. 2. Little Tich has arranged to play a return date at the Alhambra in November. PARIS VAUDEVILLE Paris, Aug. 25. Alhambra.—Will Frost and girls; Joseph Gorsky, Olivette and. Dany Fer, Cole de Losse, Togan and Geneva, Laurie de Vine, Fred Lind- say, Mutt and Jeff, Peggy Le Blanc, Lys Gauty, Molse and company, Russian Coq d'Or troupe. Otympia.—Sokolff's Kouban choir (Russian), Iris Delysla (dancer), Maria Valente, Alfred and Leonid Strqganoff, Pla soeurs, Auntie (cy- clists), Ryan and Burke, La Kas- chouba, Jaap-vnn Laren and Wil- hebnlne. Alberta, Fanellas, Rene Sarvil, Pomles, Miss Athea, Marysa Antonettl, Josane. BILLIONS IN CROWNS LOST ONOPEN-AIR OPERA Italian Managers Speculated in Vienna—Jeritza Reap- pearing in "Fedora" .*! •jui Berlin, Aug. SI. The performances of "Alda" on an open-air stage in Vienna net tea the Italian managers, responsible for it, a loss of three billion crowns. The stage was set on the "Hohe Warte,"- and the auditorium had a capacity, of 25,000. The cast was excellent (Included such artists as Zenatello and Maria Gay) and the orchestra, under Mascagnl, received only praise. t However, the organisation was bad, the managers did not under- stand Viennese psychology, and the weather was miserable. Franz Molnar's latest play, "Der. Glaeserne Schuh" ("The Glaus Shoe"), will be produced by Director Baer at the Vienna's Deutaches Volka theatre. The leading role will be played by Max Pallenberg. Lothar's comedy, "The Werwolf- (current In New York), has been re* vlved at the Theatre am Kurfuer- stendamm, with Ida Wuest In her. original role of the countess. The* farce seems to have caught on again and is drawing good houses. . Maria Jeritza will begin her en- gagement at the Vienna' State Opera .by singing the title role In Giordano's opera, "Fedora." "Sheik of Shepherd's Bush'* Musical Comedy London, Aug. 21. When "The Sheik of Shepherd's Bush" opens at Brighton early In October, it will star Martin Adeson. The catchy title covers a musical farce comedy, with book by Arthur Shirley and music by Arthur Wood. TKLKPHONK BNDICOTT MZS THE TILLER DANCING SCHOOLS JOHN TILLER President MART RIAD Secretary OF AMERICA, Inc. TEMPORARY ADDRE88 225 West 69th Street NEW YORK Directors MART READ IlKNB TODO Attorney NATHAN BUP.KAN